Developer approved for 235 new Seneca homes

A developer’s plan won out last night over neighbors’ concerns that 235 new homes in Seneca will likely add to traffic congestion. After hearing their administrator highlight a pair of traffic impact studies, the city council approved a planned development residential zoning classification for Jon Boyd’s plans to build homes between the former Covidien building and the South Cove Road. City Administrator Scott Moulder said a consultant hired by the city to review the developer’s traffic study, as well as compile one of her own, rendered an opinion that congestion on two-lane S. Cove Road can be lessened by deepening the existing left hand turn lane that leads traffic from the road onto the Keowee School Road. After hearing that, one concerned neighbor said, at the least, the developer should be billed for the yellow paint to re-align the turn lane. That man’s comment wasn’t the only concern placed on the record. County planner Adam Chapman, speaking on behalf of county administrator Amanda Brock, gave the mayor and council a petition signed by several nearby residents worried about the long-range traffic impacts. Charlie Smith last night asked the Seneca leaders to consider the likelihood of a worsening bottleneck nearby where 188/the Keowee School Road channels traffic to the Bountyland traffic lights.