Battle Over Downtown Camden Housing: Developer Sues City and County

In the heart of Camden, South Carolina, a legal battle is brewing over a proposed housing development. Carlyle Development, the company behind the project, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Camden, its Planning Commission, and Kershaw County. The lawsuit, which runs 23 pages, accuses the city and county of violating due process and equal protection laws. It also points out potential civil conspiracy. The dispute started in November 2022 when Carlyle Development proposed building nearly 700 homes on the site of the Camden Training Center, a property used by equestrians and located on both city and county land. After facing public pushback, the developer scaled back the plan to 152 homes for adults aged 55 and older. However, the Planning Commission still rejected the revised proposal. Carlyle Development believes that the city and county have been making zoning changes specifically to block the project. They allege that while negotiations with the city were ongoing in 2023, the county changed its zoning rules to hinder the development. The city also made additional changes that further blocked the project. Stuart Grant, the owner of the Camden Training Center, had hinted at legal action if the project wasn't approved. In a previous interview, he explained that he expected the Planning Commission to follow the zoning ordinances strictly, not just decide if the idea was "great" or not. Grant's attorney later stated that the conduct of the City of Camden and Kershaw County had been unacceptable, and they would let the lawsuit speak for itself. This case raises important questions about property rights and the role of local governments in development projects. It also underscores the challenges developers face when trying to navigate complex zoning laws and public opinions.