Zoning request withdrawn after commission won’t delay vote

A controversial request to rezone land in west Columbia was yanked on Thursday by the developers that submitted it.

Engineer Tim Crockett withdrew the request from Phil Teeple to rezone the Teeple’s land in the 4200 block of Savoy Drive. The rezoning would have changed Teeple’s home to a class that would have allowed for multi-family housing units. Residents in the nearby Villas at Vintage Falls opposed the request due to fears about what might be built and its impact on traffic and property values.

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 8-0 to deny their request to delay a vote for the second time. ABC 17 News was there when the commission tabled the request, with two commissioners voting against it. Crockett and Teeple can still resubmit the plan to the city later.

Details remained slim on Thursday as to why Teeple wanted to rezone the land, even as Teeple and Crockett explained the reason for the tabling. Teeple wanted more time to talk to residents about what would and wouldn’t be allowed in an R-MF-zoned property. Crockett said the new unified development code would give residents some protections, such as limitations on the height and distance the building must have from others.

“It’s not going to be scary and ugly or the worst thing in their imagination,” Teeple said. “It’s going to be beautiful.”

Residents remained steadfast in their opposition to the plan. Art Quillo, head of one of the homeowners associations at Vintage Falls, said a meeting between residents and Teeple didn’t bring them many more answers. Quillo said that Teeple had planned to develop the land only when his children had graduated high school in 15 years.

“How can the commission agree to pass a plan drawn up in 2017 that will not be acted on for 15 years?” Quillo said. “To say that makes no sense, obviously, is an understatement.”

Commissioners also seemed skeptical about the plan. Brian Touhey did ask the commission table it, but did not receive support for that plan. Many wanted to hold a full hearing on Teeple’s request.

“I have to assume that it’s going to be the densest use that they can use it for,” commissioner Joy Rushing said.