Restraining order lifted on Opus Development
The status of a controversial downtown development in Columbia changed several times Friday.
Friday morning a fence was put up and side walks blocked off around the perimeter of the Opus project on Eight and Locust streets.
Around 3 p.m. Friday, Judge Kevin Crane lifted a temporary restraining order against the developer.
ABC 17 News has been reporting Opus got its permits to build, and planning to start at 7 a.m. Friday but a lawsuit filed Thursday afternoon brought about the court action.
A 21-page lawsuit filed Thursday by Betty Wilson and Michael MacMann detailed the Columbia residents disgust with how the city handled the Opus Development.
The two plaintiff’s want the court to:
1. Declare the demolition and construction permits invalid.
2. Stop the city and Opus from taking any action on the project.
3. Prevent any new building permits for the project for another six months.
“I do not believe that the permits were unlawful. The developer has proposed to build an apartment complex on property that they own that was zoned C2. They met all the requirements for that zoning. They also went through a public hearing on that process,” saidAssistant Columbia city manager Tony St. Romaine.
St. Romaine said Opus has sent building plans to the city like any developer would and have been approved by the city plan reviewers.
“We believe they are fully compliant with the building code which is one of the reasons why we have issued all the permits for that particular project,” said St. Romaine.
The lacking infrastructure in the downtown area is a concern for Wilson and McCmann.
They feel how the city appropriated money to expand the downtown sewer in July was wrong.
St. Romaine told ABC 17 News the city is the process of improving infrastructure needs.
Earlier this year changes were made to the Flat Branch sewer system.
“Along with the I&I project we are doing right now will ensure that by the time Opus is ready to their building in August of next year that there will be sufficient capacity to support that particular project,” said St. Romaine.
The hearing of this lawsuit has been scheduled for Monday.
ABC 17 News will be there and report on the latest developments.
