The Clinton Planning Commission has voted unanimously to allow developers of a baseball fields / subdivision complex east of Clinton to use Old Colony Road as a point of travel into and out of the subdivision.
The commission met Tuesday night for a Public Hearing on converting the zoning of 4 parcels into 1 Planned Development parcel as its pertains to zoning.
The notice in The Chronicle sent by the City says the property affected is 446 acres, but at the meeting it was designated as 677 acres. Negotiations are still on-going between the City and the developer, John Suter, to buy the property. The sale was approved by ordinance by the Clinton City Council without a public hearing.
Originally, residents of Old Colony Road were assured that they would not be affected. But Suter said there is no other secondary point of access other than off Highway 72, near where it crosses I-26, and even that road will have to cross what is now a one-lane road over a dam. There is another road under I-26 but it would require extensive widening and improvements work.
“We’re going to have those fields in and we’re going to be calling balls and strikes by 2027, God willing, and the weather holds up for us,” Suter said.
About accessing the proposed subdivision portion with Old Colony Road, Suter said, “Obviously, I can’t use Whitten Center, they’re not going to let that happen. I looked into going behind the high school, there is a 30 ft gorge back there. That ain’t going to happen. I tried talking to Chip Cooper, tried to buy that property to come in over there. He didn’t want to sell it. I ran out of access points - unless I use a helicopter.
“I will improve that road. I will do whatever I have to do to make that road useable and try not to use it as much as possible.”
Parents taking their kids to school or residents going into the city to eat dinner are those expected to use Old Colony Road. All the other traffic — to and from the Elite Diamond Dawgs baseball fields and the hotels and restaurants envisioned to cater to thousands of baseball fans and visitors each year - is expected to enter and empty out onto Hwy 72, beside the Starbucks that is across the highway from QT.
“It’s just a matter of time and work,” Suter said. “I may ruffle a few feathers on Old Colony Road but if I make the road as good as possible and limit the traffic over there, I think we will be fine.”
Asked if he has enough cash-flow to carry this project through to its ultimate completion, Suter said, “Cash is flowing in it right now. My investors have more than enough money. I am putting millions and millions of dollars into this and it can’t sit there (not making a profit).”
Suter was told, “You’re gambling with your money, not mine,” and with that the Clinton Planning Commission voted 7-0 to allow the rezoning to PDD (Planned Development). Site plan documents have been presented to city staff, which imposed some recommendations which the commission added in to the motion.
No one registered to speak about the matter at what could be (under the city’s current ordinance) the one and only public hearing related to this PDD rezoning that moves the overall project forward.
