Parents say proposed businesses could bring crime to area near school

FORT MILL, S.C. — Several neighbors spoke out in front of Fort Mill town leaders Monday hoping to stop a 7-Eleven and a self-storage business from being built behind an elementary school.

The land has already been cleared for the two businesses behind Doby's Bridge Elementary School.

Parents said they are concerned about crime and the appearance of the businesses that would be so close to the school. They feel like it will make the school less safe.

"My first concern was the crime that kind of comes along with those places," said parent Kate Colosi. "It's just not place I would want to back up to my child's school."

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Fort Mill town leaders said the land has been zoned for commercial use ever since the southern bypass was laid out in 2003.

"At first I was excited, I was like, oh they're gonna put some stores in there, restaurants, coffee shop, maybe an ice cream shop for the kids to go to," said resident Rick Hayes. "We understand it's zoned commercial, but come on.  Keep it a family community."

[2018 COVERAGE: Parents alerted when Fort Mill student diagnosed with whooping cough]

Town leaders said they can't show preference to one business over another.

"Many of the folks out there like myself  would love a Starbucks, or a coffee shop or another grocery store, but I wouldn't be able to legally, nor would you, to select which one comes," said Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage.

The mayor said she expects to tell neighbors who speak out that they want to hear concerns, but there have been opportunities before now for them to learn about what kind of development is allowed on the bypass.

Neighbors said those kind of businesses won't benefit the community.

Cox Media Group