Planning Commission | June 11, 2026

The City of Columbia Planning Commission held a meeting on June 11, 2026, primarily focused on land use and zoning amendments related to pending annexations and development projects. Key procurement-related discussions included recommendations on zoning classifications for various properties, such as assigning general commercial and residential zoning districts to parcels along Old Leburg Road and Wilson Boulevard. The commission also considered a council member-sponsored zoning map amendment to remove a design overlay district to facilitate a development project, and a request to rezone a vacant property on South Saluda Avenue for residential use within an airport overlay district. Additionally, a significant portion of the meeting was devoted to discussing a proposed text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance concerning the reestablishment of non-conforming non-depository personal credit institutions (payday lenders). This amendment aimed to allow such businesses to relocate within 600 feet of their original location under certain conditions. The proposal faced substantial public opposition due to concerns about encouraging the survival of non-conforming uses and potential impacts on community development plans. The commission engaged in detailed deliberations on the compatibility of zoning requests with existing land use patterns and community plans, but no direct contract awards, RFPs, or vendor selections were discussed. Motions were passed to approve several zoning recommendations and amendments, with the text amendment on payday lenders being a contentious issue with strong public input against it.