Tiny homes, massive subdivisions, big signs for retailers ahead for Lancaster Co
The latest in Lancaster County growth goes from tiny homes to massive subdivisions. There also may be big signs ahead for new retailers.
Combined, several ongoing projects would add about 260 homes, townhomes and apartments. They’re also south of the Indian Land panhandle. The city of Lancaster and surrounding areas have been attracting residential construction the past few years, after it was largely centered in Indian Land prior.
Here’s a look at the latest proposals:
Tiny house subdivision planned for Lancaster
Lancaster City Council unanimously gave initial approval to a rezoning Tuesday that would allow for a tiny home subdivision. The property at Emmons Street and Umpire Lane would allow for five homes between 700 and 1,000 square feet. The property sits between South Market and South Main streets, south of Emmons Street.
“This is a great opportunity for our city, something new,” said Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Harris.
Harris has gotten questions unrelated to the project about tiny homes in Lancaster, and she sees the trend in tiny home construction as a move toward affordable housing. Marshall Burns, the builder behind the plan, has had discussions with York County about tiny homes but currently only has the Lancaster project ongoing.
Homes would be stick built with crawl space and siding, Burns said. He hasn’t determined the price for the homes. They’d be built as spec houses, with local buyers given 90 days once homes are available before investors would be allowed to buy them.
“We want to give this a chance for many first-time homebuyers,” Burns said.
Submitted information shows possible layouts, including a 492-square-foot cottage with a 200-square-foot loft. Burns’ company bought the property in January, county land records show, for $10,000.
Edgewater to get more townhomes
Monroe, North Carolina-based builder True Homes applied to build 155 townhomes as the next phase of Edgewater. South of Lancaster, Edgewater is the massive development originally approved for more than 16,000 homes along the Catawba River and Fishing Creek Lake.
The new townhome proposal is the ninth phase of Edgewater. It’s on 30 acres along Catawba Ridge Boulevard, south of the community clubhouse. The new phase would replace initial plans for 255 homes on the site.
Submitted plans show two access points off Catawba Ridge Boulevard and a road connection from the property to future development. The northernmost townhomes are between the golf clubhouse and an area marked as a future short course for the golf site.
The county planning commission will hear plans on July 15.
Shadow Moss to add new homes
Prestige Development & Site Works applied to build 98 homes off Hilldale Drive. The Shadow Moss subdivision would go on 52 acres north of Flat Creek Road.
Submitted plans show a large creek running through the center of the property, south of Hannah’s Creek. Two access points off Hilldale cross the stream and create two roads marked for future development. Shadow Moss will go to the county planning commission for a decision July 15.
New apartments for Lancaster
Lancaster City Council gave initial approval Tuesday to zoning change that would allow for new apartments. MTB Investment Trust proposes a $3 million project at 405 Chesterfield Ave. It would have 15 apartments in one three-story building. Nine units with three bedrooms each would be about 1,700 square feet. The remaining units, all two-bedroom, would be about 1,300 square feet.
City planners recommended the project despite city planning commission concerns about how it fits into the neighborhood. The commission voted 4-1 against the rezoning due to neighbor complaints about aesthetics. Council was unanimous Tuesday in its initial approval.
Big retailers, hospital coming to Indian Land
▪ As buildings get larger in Indian Land, the companies building them want bigger signs, too. The developers behind a new MUSC Health hospital and a Lowes Foods grocery store asked the county to allow wall signs more than 10 times larger than what rules permit now. The proposed rule change would let large-scale retailers and hospitals have up to 800 square feet of wall signage split into two spots. Large grocery stores would have up to 500 square feet in two spots.
The new rules would impact the Medical University of South Carolina hospital slated for a 2027 opening at 9258 Charlotte Hwy., and the Lowes grocery store coming to The Exchange across Charlotte Highway from Possum Hollow Road. It also would impact the Costco under construction at The Exchange and a Target next to it, in CrossRidge Center.
The county planning commission has a decision scheduled for July 15.
