A new 400-home subdivision is coming to Chester County. Not everyone is happy about it
Hundreds of new homes in Chester County got the green light this week, despite concern from people who live in the area.
Chester County Council voted 4-2 on two new zonings needed for the Gaston Farms project. Dream Finders Homes brought a plan to council this summer for 400 homes on more than 170 acres on Gaston Farm Road in Richburg, just west of I-77. It’s the same property Fielding Homes proposed to build Richburg Meadows on this spring, before that version was withdrawn and a new builder sought by the property owner.
The new subdivision plan includes $5,000 per home the developer will pay to the county to offset growth costs, similar to impact fees in neighboring areas.
The zoning change came despite considerable protest from people who live in that area, including some who presented a list of more than 400 names of people they say oppose the plan.
Dorothy Neely, who lives on Friendship Drive in Edgemoor, said the subdivision plan doesn’t fit Chester County.
“It’s rural,” Neely said. “It’s country. And it’s still people love the country. It’s still people want to keep yard.”
Neely said highways have become more dangerous as people who aren’t from rural areas move to Chester County, evidenced by how many memorials there are along those highways.
“You don’t have peace when it’s so much traffic in and out,” Neely said.
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Council members offered their own concerns on lots sizes and safety with so many homes so close together. Chester County hasn’t had the influx of new subdivision development as Fort Mill, Lake Wylie, Indian Land, Tega Cay and even of late York.
Council also had concern about what the property could be used for under the previous zoning.
“My decision is made because I do not want to see industrial on that property,” said Councilman Corey Guy.
Guy also was adamant that the $5,000 per home be used primarily, if not solely, on the areas closest to the new development. They could pay for fire, park, police or other services.
“That area is the area that’s impacted,” Guy said.
Councilman John Agee voted against the plan, along with Councilman Mike Vaughn.
“There were 450-something names on the petition,” Agee said. “It says they don’t want anything to do with any money that’s collected. They want it to stay just like it is.”
Those people voted for council members, Agee said, and he isn’t going against the will of the people regardless how much the developer pays.
“They have a right to say they don’t want this in their community,” Agee said, “and I’m going to vote that way.”
Councilman Pete Wilson said he’s largely been in favor of the plan throughout the process.
“It’s a hard issue, and I hear the concerns in the room,” Wilson said.
The ideas of limited government and property rights play big for Wilson.
“There has to be a balance,” Wilson said. “If you really want to have property rights that means you get more to do with your land, which includes selling it, but it means that you have less to do with your neighbor’s land. And that’s hard.”
Chris Robusto, speaking for the developer, told council the quality of planned homes is a level above what’s being offered now in the market. The 10-foot side yards are as large a requirement as anywhere in the Charlotte region, Robusto said. Homes will follow three product lines.
The least expensive will open in the $315,000 to $345,000 range. A ranch option will be about $335,000 to $370,000. The higher-end homes will be from about $350,000 to $400,000.
“Those will be base prices,” Robusto said. “We typically see 10-12% options (price increases for added features).”
The community will have a pool, recreation area, playgrounds and extensive trails, Robusto said.
Wilson said last year the county had 11 zoning change requests from citizens and approved them all, so the move to make way for the large subdivision isn’t specific to this developer or any finances of the deal.
“If somebody wants to live in that dense environment, and it’s safe, it’s following the rules and the fire codes,” Wilson said, “then I’m not sure it’s up to us to say no to that.”
