City of Columbia modifies plans for Ridgemont Park Subdivision to include cul-de-sac
The City of Columbia is moving forward with plans to build a subdivision in West Columbia, although modifications have recently been made to the development plans.
In a 4 to 3 vote Tuesday evening, the Columbia City Council changed plans for the Ridgemont Park Subdivision to include a cul-de-sac. The council will vote on the subdivision in February after the developer presents the new cul-de-sac plans.
The proposed development originally included plans to extend Ridgefield Road to Ridgemont Road west of the intersection of College Park Drive. ABC 17 News previously reported on residents’ concerns that speeding would worsen in the area of the plans were approved.
“There are some very serious traffic safety concerns in that neighborhood,” Ian Thomas, 4th Ward City Councilman told ABC 17 News. “I came down on the side of not connecting thej subdivision to the cul-de-sac on Ridgefield, keeping the new subdivision as a cul-de-sac itself but also increasing the traffic calming and protections for the whole neighborhood.”
“Everybody who is on this street–they were all worried about it because there are no sidewalks, they’re hilly, windy roads,” one Ridgefield Road resident told ABC 17 News.
While some said the cul-de-sac is a welcome solution, others were opposed to any new development in the area.
Both Ridgefield and Ridgemont are already on the city’s neighborhood traffic management program list as priority streets. They are currently ranked 11th and 12th, respectively.
