Citing the critical need for university student housing, Orangeburg County's deputy planner says discussions are ongoing with a local developer in an effort to accommodate a variance request that would allow construction of a townhouse complex to move forward.

"It is still pending," said Harold Young, the county's deputy administrator for community development, after the May Orangeburg County Planning Commission meeting.

"We want to help the university out because it (student housing) is a critical situation," he said.

Stephon Edwards of Paragon Inc. of South Carolina, appeared before the commission in March asking for a variance that would allow him to build four townhouses behind S.C. State and Claflin University next door to University Village.

Edwards wants to build a four-unit, 16-bed townhouse complex on .41 acres of land on the 400 block of Frederick Street.

Orangeburg County requires a minimum of one acre for a townhouse project. The townhouse units would house university students.

Young said a number of issues have been discussed with Edwards such as the purchase of additional easements and upgrading the property's infrastructure so the land would be more amenable for a variance.

"I am very optimistic," Edwards said of the direction in which conversations have gone with the county. He said the focus of the talks has been the need for student housing.

"South Carolina State does have a need for housing, and they do plan to work toward increasing their enrollment. And Claflin University has a need for housing as well. The county is looking for ways to work with us," Edwards said.

The developer said he would need a decision on the status of the variance within the month to meet the deadline and in order to have the housing available for the fall semester.

Young said discussions are ongoing in light of the slowdown in the progress of the student housing project planned on U.S. 301 near the U.S. 21 Bypass. That project was held up by the economic downturn. The 13-building, 300-bed apartment complex was scheduled to be ready for occupancy later this year.

Also during the meeting, commissioners tentatively approved Southeastern Construction Solutions LLC's zoning ordinance variance to change 15 acres off Kings Road from single-family residential (RS) to general residential (RG) to build multi-family units.

The area already has a number of apartments and duplexes. The board lacked a quorum needed for an official vote.

Commission Chairman Jim Albergotti asked if the property was posted and if there were any concerns raised by single-family homeowners in the area and was told no concerns had been raised.

"It is perfectly reasonable unless a group of single-family (homeowners) are opposed to it," he said.

James Ray, a property owner in the area, expressed his support of the project.

"As long as it is for the betterment of the community," he said. "It could use improvements for better housing."

Albergotti said, "It will be difficult for a project to back-pedal and become less attractive or a nuisance to the neighborhood."

Also during the meeting, commissioners approved a rezoning request from Carolyn Collier to change property off of Catamount Road near Holly Hill from general residential to forest and agriculture for the future placement of single-wide mobile homes.

In other business, it was announced that former Commissioner Perry Arant was named chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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