by Jennifer Miranda
As you know, we have been rallying SCNPS members to join the fight against the development of the Inn at Altamont on Paris Mountain. The proposed site for the Inn is currently in an environmentally protected zone in Greenville County. The Divine Development Group has proposed to circumvent these environmental protections by annexing the land to Travelers Rest.
On April 24th, members of our organization —among them SCNPS leaders Rick Huffman and Frank Holleman, pictured above— and representatives from other local conservation groups such as Save Our Saluda, Naturaland Trust, and the Southern Environmental Law Center made their voices heard at the Travelers Rest Planning Commission meeting. In this crucial meeting, the Planning Commission voted on the proposal by the Divine Development to annex the land to Travelers Rest. Citizens and conservationists shared information about the negative environmental impacts the proposed development would have. According to our Upstate president Rick Huffman, “The conservation community and citizens showed up in mass and spoke to the issues concerning the proposed hotel development… [they] all spoke with grace, passion, and facts.”
We are happy to report that our community’s efforts were not in vain! During this meeting, the Travelers Rest Planning Commission voted 5-1 to deny the annexation– thanks in part to our local conservationists who showed up and made their voices heard!
What happens next?
Now that the Planning Commission has voted to deny the annexation, the next step is for Travelers Rest City Council to vote on the proposal. This vote will be complicated by the legal protest recently filed by Travelers Rest residents against the annexation (1). Because of this protest, the Travelers Rest City Council would need a supermajority vote to approve the annexation– meaning 7 out of its 9 members would need to vote in its favor. The TR City Council will meet on May 15th and June 18th to vote on the annexation (2). Because of the new supermajority voting requirement and the recent veto by the Planning Commission, we are hopeful that the denial of this proposal will be official soon! Stay informed about the upcoming city council meetings by checking out the Save Paris Mountain website.
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