UPDATE: Farmers Market Owner Continues Fight with SCDOT

UPDATED

On Monday morning GPATS deferred a decision on the road widening project related to the Mauldin Open Air Market.

SCDOT Program Manager Tommy Elrod, who has been working on the project, said that revisions to the project are still being made. Elrod added that he hopes that a revision can be found that is satisfactory to Chandler. He also said he's optimistic that ground can be broken on the project early next year.

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Joel Ann Chandler shows no signs of giving up the fight to protect her business.

For well over a year, Chandler has been on the roads that border the , which she owns.

Chandler's long-running dispute could be entering a new phase, however. In January, , and SCDOT's plans were put on hold.

As a result of that appearance, SCDOT's plans were order to undergo revisions. At least three different changes were made and presented to Chandler, none of which did anything to lessen her concerns. According to Chandler, one of the revisions featured a proposal that would include an extension of Bridges Road bisecting the property she owns across the street (see photos). That property is a 35-acre farmland. Chandler deemed that proposal unacceptable.

Chandler said another proposal sought to eliminate the right-turn lane from Corn Road on to East Butler Road. That too was unacceptable to Chandler.

This week, Chandler traveled to Columbia twice to speak to SCDOT's commissioners and share her frustrations. "It's just not fair for SCDOT to come in here and hurt a small business like mine," Chandler said. "Especially a business like mine that has been around for so long."

Chandler indicated that officials told her that if the matter is not resolved by June, it could go back to the drawing board.

On Monday, Chandler will again appear before GPATS. While the future of the road-widening project is uncertain, what is clear is the importance of the intersection to the City of Mauldin, which believe it is a key component of the city's growth.

John Gardner, director of planning and economic development for Mauldin said, "We'd like for the parties to work out something agreeable because its an important project to the city," he said.

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