The Rincon City Council heard arguments both for and against a Master Plan Revision for Williamsburg Townhomes at a meeting Monday night before ultimately deciding to decline the approval request submitted by Ernerst Communities, LLC.
Speaking on behalf of Ernest Communities, LLC was Phillip McCorkle of McCorkle and Johnson, LLP.
McCorkle explained to the council that Ernest Communities wished to revise a Master Plan for Williamsburg Townhomes off of Fort Howard Road and include in the new plan additional plots of land to build on.
Numerous residents of the community expressed their disagreement to the request.
Citing heavy pedestrian foot traffic as well as traffic from automobiles getting into and out of the community, residents asked the council to decline the request.
McCorkle, who expressed that he was not issuing the Council a threat, stated that the Council did not have the authority to decline the right to build additional properties because the Master Plan was approved many years ago and that if it came down to it, he would take the matter with the Council to Superior Court.
In the original Master Plan, the property was zoned as MXU (mixed use), meaning that private homes as well as offices, businesses, etc. are all allowed to be built.
One member of the council, Reese Browher, abstained from voting on the issue because he is a resident of Williamsburg Townhomes.
After hearing arguments from both McCorkle and residents of the community in question, Councilman Levi Scott made a motion to deny the permit. Councilman Paul Wendelken seconded the motion and the council voted to deny the permit.
Other issues were also voted on during the meeting.
The Council approved pay requests from PINCO in the amount of $13,590.00 and $36,458.10 for the Lower Floridian Wellhouse and Main project.
The Council approved a pay request from HHNT Consulting Engineers in the amount of $3,998.75 for engineering services associated with the Lower Floridian Well project.
The Council approved a pay request from Whitaker Laboratory, Inc. in the amount of $5,150.00 for environmental testing associated with the Lower Floridian Well project.
The Council approved a pay request from Y-Delta, Inc. in the amount of $254,895.47 for work completed on the Fort Howard Road Utility Extension Project.
The Council approved a request to purchase 30 grinder pumps from Grainger in the amount of $23,807.40.
The Council approved a request to award a contract for the purchase of turn out gear for the Fire Department to Municipal Emergency Services in the amount of $32,536.00.
The Council approved a request to pay Worker’s Compensation Final Premium in the amount of $11,907.00.
The Council approved the reappointment of Mr. Herb Jones to serve as the non-public representative of Effingham County and the cities of Guyton, Rincon and Springfield for the Coastal Regional Commission Council.
The Council will meet again on June 26 at 7 p.m.
