City officials approve recommendations for new subdivision in southwest Columbia

Columbia’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve recommendations to the city council for a proposed subdivision development in southwest Columbia Thursday night.

Members voted 6-2 in favor of annexing and rezoning about 90 acres of land off Scott Boulevard near Smith Drive and Louisville Drive. The rezoning would include approximately 80 acres to R-1, or single-family residences. The remaining land would be zoned to PUD, or Planned Unit Development.

The commission also voted 5-3 in favor of a preliminary plat of land that would include about 130 homes in the R-1 zoning and 45 homes in the PUD zoning. The new subdivision would be known as “Breckenridge Park.”

Several residents from nearby neighborhoods expressed their concerns for the development during the meeting’s public hearing.

Many said they were worried about the increase in traffic along streets like Whitefish Drive with more homes in the area.

There’s also concerns about the land the homes would be built on.

So far the city has found six sinkholes within the 90 acres and said it’s possible there could be more. The city was also informed of an Indian burial site in the area as well.

The developer has agreed not to build anything over the sink holes or the burial site.

The proposed development will now go before the city council for a vote.