Home Care In Chapin, SC

CHAPIN — A developer is proposing almost 100 new homes just outside town limits. The plans are just the latest as the town has grappled with growth in the area.

Developer Pat Vella has submitted plans to build 99 homes on about 32 acres over three phases along Murray Lindler Road just outside Chapin. The developer also wants to annex the property into the town limits.

The Chapin Planning Commission is expected to review plans for the subdivision, called “Murray Lindler Road Homes” in documents, at a Dec. 11 meeting.

Chapin, a town of around 1,400 people, has been rife with tension over balancing the community’s traditional, small-town identity with the slew of new homes and residents flocking to the area.

The Murray Lindler subdivision, like many developments in the area, has already attracted ire on social media.

“We don't need anymore neighborhoods, Chapin doesn't have the road ways to accommodate,” one person commented under a post linking to plans for the subdivision. “Its going to be a Cluster (expletive) of Traffic in Chapin (sic). Another Malfunction Junction in Chapin.”

The newly-elected mayor in November issued a pause on all new permits to the town’s water system, which services the areas outside of town where the bulk of new homes have been built.

One of the most controversial individual projects, the Brighton development, is also expected to be reviewed by the Planning Commission on Dec. 11. Developers of that complex of nearly 400 homes and commercial property have been negotiating details with the town for over a year.

The Planning Commission will recommend Town Council approve, deny or impose special conditions on either of the projects. Town Council will have the ultimate say.

Amid the tension over growth, the town has also run into political turmoil.

Mayor Bill Mitchell Jr., who had promised to be tougher on developers, was sworn in as mayor in an impromptu ceremony on Nov. 7 — some three months before the town’s codes would normally dictate.

Mitchell has argued that the sudden death of previous Mayor Al Koon days before the election, and the subsequent vacancy of the position, called for the expedited swearing in.

The town’s clerk of court has filed charges against Mitchell after he allegedly “grabbed her by both shoulders” during the inauguration, according to an incident report. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating.

Chapin also eliminated its town administrator position in late November, carrying out another of Mitchell’s campaign promises.

A proposed development could add almost a hundred new homes to an area where growth is already a concern.

Developer Pat Vella has submitted plans to build 99 new homes on Murray Lindler Road off of Old Lexington Highway, if the town of Chapin agrees to annex the property into the town limits.

Approximately 30% of the land would be open space, double the amount required under the requested zoning classification. That space is necessary to accommodate a stream running through the middle of the property, the developers told a meeting of the Chapin Planning Commission on Thursday. The wetland will be protected with a permanent conservation easement, with the streets, homes and amenities wrapping around the stream.

Lot sizes for the proposed homes would range from 0.8 to 2.65, with space set aside for a playground, a picnic pavilion and a sports field.

Members of the Planning Commission were hesitant to approve such a dense development, especially as the requested zoning might allow for the future development of townhomes and duplexes on the site as well.

“It looks like you’d have about 14 feet between homes,” said Chairman Caleb Pozsik. “That’s not a lot for a half-million home.”

Commission members suggested developers look at a density similar to the nearby Boykin Hills neighborhood that previously received town approval.

A traffic study will also be required from the S.C. Department of Transportation to determine the impact all those cars will have on Murray Lindler Road, commissioners said.

Chapin residents have long chafed at development around the small town of less than 2,000 north of Lake Murray, which has increased traffic on narrow roads and strained the small town’s infrastructure. Shortly after he took office this fall, newly elected Mayor Bill Mitchell placed a pause on Chapin issuing any new sewer taps in an attempt to halt further housing construction in the area. The Murray Lindler Road homes would be added to Chapin’s town sewer system.

The proposal will now move to Chapin Town Council for consideration.

CHAPIN, S.C. — The Town of Chapin’s Planning Commission voted on December 11 to conditionally approve the application for the proposed Brighton Planned Development, a multi-use project that would add 377 residential units to the area. The decision comes after more than a year of meetings, revisions, and public discussions. The proposal will now move to the Chapin Town Council for consideration.

The project, submitted by Mungo Homes, would cover more than 160 acres on both sides of Columbia Avenue and Brighton Boulevard. Plans include single-family homes and senior-living units as part of the large-scale development.

“We’re happy to be able to come together tonight with the Planning Commission,” said Austin Monts, Land Acquisition Manager for Mungo Homes. “We know we still have to deliver on what we’ve worked on to provide something good for the community in Chapin.”

Commissioners approved the application contingent upon several conditions being met by the developer. Among them is the completion of a traffic impact study that includes the entrances to Chapin High School. The commission is also requiring clarification within the planned unit development (PUD) documents regarding rezoning requests, the percentage of single-family homes, and which portions of the property would be annexed into town limits.

Monts said the traffic study is expected to be completed in May 2026 once school is back in session.

Despite the Planning Commission’s approval, some residents expressed ongoing concerns about how the development could affect the community, particularly traffic on Columbia Avenue.

“Once that’s done, there’s no going back,” said Chapin-area resident Sandy Wade. “It’s going to create a huge amount of traffic on Columbia Avenue, which isn’t even widened yet.”

The Brighton development proposal will now advance to the Town Council for further discussion and a final decision. News 19 will continue to follow the project and provide updates on when council members take up the proposal.

There is a first high school football coach opening in the Midlands.

Chapin High coach Ryan Cole has stepped down after two seasons, the school said in an email sent to parents Wednesday. Cole will remain at Chapin and as an assistant principal.

“Coach Cole brings a wealth of educational and leadership experience to CHS, including time as a teacher and administrator in our district,” the school said in the email.

Last season, there were 13 coaching changes in the area. Cole’s is the first of this offseason.

Cole was hired in 2024 and replaced longtime coach Justin Gentry.

Chapin went 6-6 in Cole’s first season and made it to the second round of the Class 5A Division II playoffs. The Eagles went 0-10 this season, the school’s first winless year since 1998.

Chapin was hurt by injuries and lost some of its top players via transfers. The Eagles also have been in the same region with likes of state championship programs. Dutch Fork, Irmo and White Knoll. Dutch Fork has won four straight Class 5A Division I titles while Irmo has played in two title games and White Knoll one in recent years.

Before being head coach, Cole was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator in two different stints from 2001-08 and from 2022-23. He also was Chapin’s safeties coach from 2012-13 and from 2017-20 and at Dutch Fork from 2010-12 and 2014-16.

“He has consistently proven himself to be a supportive servant leader who believes deeply in the power of building strong relationships and offering respect and dignity to all whom he is charged with supporting and leading,” Chapin principal Ed Davis said in the email. “His development and deep involvement with our Chapin Athletic Leadership Institute (C.A.L.I.) demonstrate his passion for helping young people become the best version of themselves. These qualities, along with his high work ethic, will serve him well in his new role.”

SC Football Coaching Openings

School — Former Coach — New Coach

Chapin — Ryan Cole — TBA

Colleton County — Adam Kinloch — TBA

Conway — Josh Pierce — TBA

Lake Wylie — (School opens in 2026) — N/A — TBA

Liberty — Paul Sutherland — TBA

McCormick — Leroy Collier — TBA

Ninety-Six — Matthew Bennett — TBA

North Myrtle Beach — Greg Hill — TBA

Union County — Quinnon Isom — Bryan Robinson

Wagener-Salley — Blaze Gillespie — TBA

Whale Branch — Willie White (interim) — TBA

The council voted on the change at a special-called meeting.

CHAPIN, S.C. — The town of Chapin has eliminated its town administrator position as it moves toward a full-time mayor.

The town made the announcement Wednesday, a day after they held a special-called meeting that was all in executive session, which means the discussion was not in public.

"The Town of Chapin is under the direction of newly elected Mayor Bill Mitchell Jr., and with this leadership transition come organizational changes.," the town said in a statement. "At a recent special-called meeting, the Town Council unanimously updated the town’s organizational structure, removing the town administrator position."

"These changes reflect Chapin’s transition to its first full-time mayor and align operations with this new model of governance."

"The town looks forward to the future and remains committed to serving residents with transparency and accountability."

The town administrator position had been created back in 2022, with Nicholle Burroughs assuming the job until this decision Tuesday by the council and mayor.

Mitchell was elected back on November 4, where he received 68 percent of the vote.

Mitchell replaced Mayor Al Koon, who passed away earlier this fall. Koon had filed to run for re-election and his name still appeared on the ballot. However, election officials told News19 any votes cast for him would not have counted.

Since taking office, Mitchell put in a hold on new sewer tap permits and connections. He said it was necessary to do a comprehensive review of the sewer system's current capacity, maintenance backlog, and growth projections. Mitchell had told News19 that one of his top priorities was addressing upgrades to the town's wastewater treatment plant.