Dispute Between Farmers Market Owner and SCDOT No Closer to Resolution

Joel Ann Chandler, , is stepping up the pressure on the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). Over the last several months she has met with SCDOT representatives to negotiate how to minimize the effects of road construction on her business and personal property.

Plans are in the works to widen the road at the intersection of East Butler and Corn Road and at East Butler and Bridges Road (see map).  Chandler owns a 30-acre farm that will be affected by widening at East Butler and Bridges. She estimates she'll lose approximately an acre of property due to that part of the project.  But it is her private property — the one on which the market sits — that has her most concerned.

According to Chandler, recent discussions with SCDOT have revealed plans by the agency to cut off a portion of her property that would make it impossible for her to park her tractor-trailer on site, which is the primary means by which she delivers fresh produce to her customers. She said instead, SCDOT has proposed to build an access road behind her store, which she said will be extremely difficult to maneuver her truck into. In order to build the access road construction crews will have to level a six foot high embankment on the edge of Chandler’s property.

“It’s not viable,” Chandler said. "And it’s going to jeopardize my business.”

In response, Chandler recently has penned a letter to Gov. Nikki Haley and retained legal counsel. She also spoke during the public comment portion of Monday night’s city council meeting. City Administrator Trey Eubanks has scheduled a meeting with SCDOT that will include a report to Mayor Don Godbey in time for the Sept. 6 Committee Meeting.

Perhaps just as frustrating to Chandler as her impending loss of property have been her dealings with SCDOT.

“They aren’t interested in compromise,” she said.

The intersection has been labeled a “Gateway to Mauldin” and deemed critical to the city’s plans for growth and thus, marked for beautification projects.

Scott Crosby, a candidate for City Council Seat 4 against James Kennedy, finds the whole process unacceptable.

“If they want to use public property to make the area prettier that’s one thing. But this is affecting a business owner’s private property. Prettier property isn’t more important than private property.”