County ‘Confused’ Over Notice
BLYTHEWOOD (April 7, 2016) – Residents in the rural Abney Hills neighborhood of Blythewood called The Voice this week asking for help in obtaining meeting packets and other information from Richland County Planning and Zoning regarding a hearing set for Wednesday, April 6 at the Richland County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) for a special exception to the neighborhood’s current Rural zoning classification.
After placing a call on Monday morning to the County Planning Department to inquire about how the information regarding the meeting was being distributed to Abney Hills residents who might oppose the special exception, The Voice was told the information packets were not ready but could be picked up at the hearing on Wednesday. After explaining that would be too late for those who might want to prepare arguments against the special exception request, The Voice was transferred to Thomas Delage, the County’s Assistant Zoning Administrator who did not return the call until Tuesday afternoon.
“There has clearly been a misunderstanding about the information going out,” Delage said, apologizing.
He said he would send the agenda and packet out immediately. He also told The Voice that the County had decided to postpone the meeting until further notice and that notices of the postponement would be posted on the property Tuesday afternoon.
At issue is a request by Amy Gerberry, a licensed counselor and Director of Selah House of the Carolinas, to establish a day treatment program on a 6+ acre parcel in the middle of several large-acre rural home sites in Abney Hills off Blythewood Road. The program would include lodging options for women and girls suffering from eating disorders. The property is currently zoned Rural (RU). The County’s BZA packet lists the special exception as a continued care retirement community.
The facility would provide partial hospitalization for up to 12 women and girls ages 12 and older, according to Gerberry’s application.
Gerberry was previously associated with Hearth Center for Eating Disorders that opened in Columbia in 2013 and closed less than three years later. She recently became associated with Selah.
The Richland County Planning staff recommends approval of Gerberry’s request.
