Rezoning rejected in Seneca

Seneca’s planning commissioners have decided that town homes would be a poor fit on fewer than two acres that slope downward from By-Pass 123 to Lake Keowee. They voted 6-0 last night to reject an application by the property owners to change the property from highway commercial to RM-16. Of 25 audience members opposed, six of the opponents spoke. Much of the opposition came from residents across the cove in White Oak Cliffs. Additional motorized traffic and an increase in watercraft were cited by opponents. Speaking on the side of in favor were a realtor and the project developer. J-D Mainous, project developer, said the town homes would target empty nesters and to others nearing retirement who would use their town homes as vacation homes until the time they would retire and move their permanently.