The Columbia Planning Commission on Nov. 13 approved S Plat 2025‑00537300, a preliminary plat proposing 243 detached single‑family lots on about 61.7 acres east of Patterson Road.

The applicant, Kevin Singletary of Great Southern Homes, summarized outreach with the Church of the Cross and neighborhood meetings and said engineers are working on parking schematics for the church. Singletary described two SCDOT‑recommended mitigations tied to Burnside Elementary: realigning the school entrance to the Trinity/Patterson intersection and adding a left‑turn lane from Patterson into Trinity and the school entrance. SCDOT also requested converting the Patterson/Leesburg intersection to right‑in/right‑out only.

Staff told the commission the preliminary plat is in substantial conformance with the approved sketch plan and UDO standards; staff recommended approval with conditions and standard staff comments.

A neighbor, Jean (Jim) Harmon, told the commission he had not been notified of the church‑hosted meeting and cited existing traffic problems and school overcapacity, saying that adding about 244 homes will increase congestion and accidents at local outlets.

A motion to approve the preliminary plat with staff comments passed by voice vote.

Next steps include final engineering, SCDOT approval of the mitigation measures and any required encroachment permits; staff noted coordination and DOT approvals will be required before construction.