600 homes approved for Chapin industrial park

A mammoth mixed-use development with at least 600 homes is planned for the Chapin Business & Technology Park after Lexington County agreed to sell more than 200 acres to a real estate development company, but Chapin’s mayor says the town can’t provide the required sewer connections.

The Lexington County Council voted Tuesday, Aug. 11, to sell 203.7 acres in the Chapin industrial park to Brighton Capital Partners for $20.4 million as an ordinance authorizing the sale contract received its third and final reading.

The property is intended for “a mixed-use development consisting of multiple residential and commercial uses,” according to the contract.

Potential job growth

Lexington County agreed to a zoning request for the property “containing not less than 600 residential units and not less than 25% of the net usable acres for commercial, retail or office uses” as a condition of the sale, the contract states.

County council members gave preliminary approval to the project — which faced initial skepticism from the town of Chapin — in April.

The Brighton Capital Partners project could bring more than 2,500 jobs to the sprawling site through a mixed-use village featuring businesses, retail stores and restaurants, Councilwoman Beth Carrigg previously announced.

“Your County Council has worked hard to ensure that the jobs going in the park will be in technology and that there will be no data centers or heavy industry,” Carrigg said in an April news release. “This is a huge win for Chapin and Lexington County.”

Developed in the early 2010s, the Chapin Business & Technology Park hasn’t attracted any large-scale industrial projects.

Carrigg said the $20.4-million purchase price “offsets the $16 million taxpayer investment, ends 16 years of marketing campaigns by Lexington County Economic Development and brings a one-of-a-kind, multi-million-dollar investment to Lexington County.”

On its website, the town of Chapin said the Mungo Co. was planning a residential and commercial complex adjacent to the park.

Chapin Mayor Bill Mitchell previously told the Chronicle that the Mungo project would account for 390 homes.

Chapin sewer snag?

The contract between Lexington County and Brighton Capital Partners says the county has an existing agreement with the town of Chapin to provide sewer service to the property.

“Seller agrees in good faith to use its best efforts to enforce the sewer service agreement with the town of Chapin to provide sewer service to the property at the required capacity rates for purchaser to develop the property,” the sales contract states.

Chapin’s mayor, however, said new wastewater taps are in short supply, raising questions about whether hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses could actually be built.

In a 20-minute Facebook Live video streamed Wednesday, Aug. 12, Mitchell said the town can only extend sewer service to 170 new properties.

“So I'm telling you we got 170 taps, and there are three people in line right now that want 1,500,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the town of Chapin is at 97% of its permitted wastewater discharge capacity and can’t be forced to provide sewer service beyond its ability to do so.

“I don't need a moratorium,” he said. “I don't need a vote from anyone. I don't need a study done. I don't need a committee meeting. I don't need to negotiate with anyone.”

Mitchell said the project would likely stall because Chapin’s sewer capacity is limited for the next five to 10 years.

“It could be 2036 before we issue another tap,” he said. “Town, if you feel the same way I do, it doesn't make any difference who wants what or whose name is on the deed for a piece of property. We are not selling those taps.”

Mitchell added that controlling growth by keeping a tight rein on Chapin’s sewer taps was a plank in his campaign platform last year.

“I ran on a promise that I would look into the possibility of controlling the fast-paced growth here in Chapin by looking at the pattern of how we sell taps, the rate, the criteria for selling such a tap,” he said.