Many of you have seen the City of Aiken yellow signs alongside Silver Bluff Rd. between the Fire Station and the entrance to The Village at Woodside announcing a new Village at Woodside Concept Plan that will be discussed at a meeting on Sept. 13th. The concept involves the annexation into the Village of a 5 acre tract adjacent to the Fire Station, combining it with existing Village property along Silver Bluff Road, and building a proposed “specialty” grocery. A small “specialty” grocery was an acceptable part of the concept plan approved in May 2022.
The annexed tract was zoned Residential in the county, and several unsuccessful attempts were made to get this tract rezoned Commercial. People simply did not want to open the door to additional commercialization of Silver Bluff Rd.
Through the flexibility of the Village PUD, this annexed tract will now be easily designated Commercial. The proposed concept now includes a 47,000 square foot grocery store that is 34% larger than the current Fresh Market. Attached to the market is a “mini strip mall” of 7 units at 1,600 sq. ft. each. Two commercial outparcels for future use are also included.
In front of these buildings, and very close to Silver Bluff Road, is a 339 car parking lot that will be lighted seven days a week. The astronauts going to the moon could probably see this lot. This new mall will be adjacent to and highly visible to residents of Pin Oak Farms, homes in Gem Lakes, and multiple houses in Woodside.
Since this is a large commercial enterprise, it requires that a new traffic light be installed adjacent to the Fire Station on a new Pascalis Place entrance road. Poor Pascalis can’t get a break. Yes, this is a very short distance from the traffic light recently installed at the Richardson Lake Road and Village Green Blvd.intersection. Another entrance to Silver Bluff Road will also be placed between the two lights.
Placement of the structures on the tract is also an issue, since they are proposed to be placed right on the boundary with residential neighbors, approximately 300 feet closer than in the May Concept Plan.
In the past, The Village at Woodside has done a good job of being a positive contributor to our community. The proposed concept is out of character, and initiates blatant large-scale commercialization of Silver Bluff Road, and should be rejected. If approved, it puts a stake in the heart of a beautiful Silver Bluff Road. Everyone who lives or drives on Silver Bluff Road should speak loudly now.
Dr. John Veldman
Aiken, SC