20 subdivisions in works at Lake Wylie

Residential construction is booming in Lake Wylie, and residents are concerned.

York County planners want to know what Lake Wylie should look like in 20 or 30 years. A public meeting was held March 5 on an ordinance overhaul. Another is planned March 19 on a comprehensive plan update. But Lake Wylie could look far different sooner, before any new rules could go into effect.

The county has 20 subdivisions either active, approved, pending or proposed for construction on the lake from The Coves and The Bluffs on Mill Creek to Lakeside Glen and Palm Tree Cove on Little Allison Creek.

Rapid residential growth is one reason for the meetings, as population growth effects roads, schools and other public services.

“That always equates to development pressures,” said Eddie Moore, county planner.

Existing projects cover 1,524 acres, and include 2,407 homes and 899 apartments, for 3,306 units. Plus, there are four projects more than 50 percent complete and five recent rezoning requests covering another 500 acres. One of those latter projects would allow up to 600 homes.

Lake Wylie and other areas like Tega Cay and Fort Mill are leading a countywide trend. From its low dip of 2,556 building permits issued in 2009, the county has seen a steady increase. The 20 percent jump from 2013 to 2014 was the largest.

“Every single year the numbers have increased,” Moore said.

In 2010, the Lake Wylie area from Little Allison to the Gaston County line had 7,224 homes and 16,272 residents. By 2040, the county projects the same area to have 11,923 homes and 27,190 residents.

York County Councilman Bruce Henderson, who represents Lake Wylie, called for a moratorium and stronger residential building restrictions last fall for properties near the lake. Neither effort succeeded, though it led to the ongoing work to change county codes. Henderson spoke to residents at a March 9 public meeting in Fort Mill, saying they share concerns with Lake Wylie.

“We’ve got a major problem here,” Henderson said.

Resident Jim Schoolmeesters was one of many at the March 5 meeting in Lake Wylie who wanted to see construction slowed or even stopped. People moved to Lake Wylie for less traffic, less crime and lower taxes than they would find in a city, he said.

“What are they going to get in 10 years? Congestion, crime and higher taxes,” Schoolmeesters said. “Change now.”

Much of the new development hasn’t welcomed its first resident yet. Paddlers Cove, an almost 400-acre Crescent Communities property near Crowders Creek Elementary School, will bring 650 homes and 300 apartments. Lakeside Glen, on Little Allison, is slated for 617 homes while Revere at Lake Wylie will bring 444 apartments to the former Golf Masters site on Charlotte Highway.

Densities range from more than 5 acres per home site at Kiowa Pointe off Lake Wylie Road to more than 15 units per acre at Revere.

This story was originally published March 13, 2015 at 10:34 AM with the headline "20 subdivisions in works at Lake Wylie."