Estate Jewelry in Summerville, SC

An ordinance to rezone a former sawmill site from Heavy Industrial to Planned Unit Development passed first reading at the Oct. 8 Summerville town council meeting.

A second reading is expected during the Nov. 12 council meeting. If the project is approved when it comes to a vote, it would usher in 830 new homes and the town’s first sports complex.

The 60-acre site, owned by Interfor Corporation, is being purchased by River Development. Mayor Russ Touchberry previously told the Journal Scene the sale should close by the end of the year.

The property is located at 200 North Maple Street, with West 5th North Street running through it. A development narrative does not specify the types of housing planned for the 830 units or the acreage set aside for them.

However, planning maps show that the residential portion of the Interfor project will sit on the northern half of the property, with West 5th North Street as the main access point.

The types of commercial uses also have not been announced, but the proposed centerpiece to the development would be a large indoor recreation complex.

Touchberry said last month the complex will fill a need for a recreational third space, outfitted with things like basketball courts, rock climbing walls, Olympic-size swimming pools and other features.

No timeline has been set for construction, though officials hope to break ground by 2028. A traffic study has been requested and is expected to be completed in early 2027. Updates to transportation needs will be made as stages of development progress.

Plan documents also indicate all designs will comply with the town’s Comprehensive Plan goals, as Touchberry confirmed. He said the developers are willing to work with the town and consider its input.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) — The Summerville Town Council approved an ordinance Thursday night allowing people to carry beer or wine while walking through designated areas of the downtown business district.

Under the proposal, open containers would be permitted Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in a defined area around the town’s main square.

Mayor Russ Touchberry said the council looked at the impact a similar ordinance had in Hartsville, S.C., before moving forward.

“This council has been working extraordinarily hard to create a business-friendly environment and to make sure that the atmosphere of Summerville is vibrant for all users,” Touchberry said. “And it creates opportunities for folks to come into town and enjoy our shops and our restaurants and all of our businesses.”

Touchberry described the ordinance as opt-in and opt-out, with the open container zone confined to the business district. That includes parts of South Cedar Street, West Doty Avenue, East Doty Avenue, South Magnolia Street, South Main Street, East Richardson Avenue, Central Avenue, West 2nd South Street, and West Richardson Avenue.

“It’s intended to kind of increase foot traffic, create a vibrant atmosphere, and it’s completely opt-in, opt-out as people deem necessary,” he said. “But the area will be very confined to the business district and a lot of structure around that.”

Some residents and business owners have raised concerns about enforcement and liability. Community members Diane Frankenberger and Amy Pereira questioned who would be held responsible if someone drank and drove.

“Who is responsible then?” Frankenberger said. “Is it the town or the business? Where they’re last served. Is it all of the above?” Pereira said.

Frankenberger, who has worked and lived in Summerville for decades, said she was hesitant when she first heard about the proposal.

“The first time it was brought up at a town council meeting, I thought this is nuts and who does that benefit,” she said.

Since the first town council meeting, however, Frankenberger said she trusts the mayor, police force and council to make the right call.

“I want to see accountability of did business really improve?” Frankenberger said. “What has made the difference?”

Touchberry said he does not expect behavior to change among bar owners or consumers.

“I know our bar owners are all very good professionals and they’re not going to serve somebody who’s already indicated that they’re overserved,” he said.

The ordinance takes effect immediately.

Copyright 2026 WCSC. All rights reserved.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) — Growth in the Lowcountry is nothing new, and the same goes for the town of Summerville.

The five-year review allows officials to see the big picture of where they see the town headed.

The town of Summerville is voting on the five-year review of its “Our Town, Our Future Comprehensive Plan” for the final time.

“The five-year update to our comprehensive plan is our guiding document for land use decisions and how we want the town to look and feel as we grow,” Russ Touchberry, mayor of the Town of Summerville, said.

The update includes expected changes in housing options, infrastructure updates and new business spaces.

“Some of the changes that we made are closer to the Nexton and Interstate area; we increased some of the commercial footprint along some of our corridors where the transportation sales tax is going to be winding roads,” Touchberry said.

He said there will also be pockets of downtown getting rezoned and other commercial spaces.

The updates come after several public input meetings and data collection since September 2025.

Kathy Lindell, a longtime business owner of Simple Treasures, said that with so many events that happen in the heart of Summerville, she hopes to see more people stop and stay a while.

“Growth has been fast and big,” Lindell said.

Although good for business, she wants to see families and the community have more areas, like micro-parks.

“The more family-friendly places we have for them, the better off we are, the more we can bring people back. We love to see more space being made, our growth and making space for new businesses with more of the creativity, ingenuity, things like that coming in so that everyone has their own ideas of what is new and exciting,” Lindell said.

If approved, the plan will be put in place immediately. The drafted plan can be found .

This comes from the 2020 Comprehensive Plan, when it was adopted.

The next time it will get updates will be for the 10-year review in 2030.

Copyright 2026 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Rosters for the 90th Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas were announced on Sept. 27, and seven local seniors were named to the South Carolina team.

The Shrine Bowl is the nation’s oldest high school all-star game. The game between North Carolina and South Carolina is scheduled for Dec. 19 at Spartanburg High School.

James Island and Summerville each had two players selected. James Island players are offensive lineman Israel Harris and tight end Sam Crumpton, while Summerville selections are running back Jayven Williams and offensive lineman Nolan Giet.

Lucy Beckham offensive lineman TJ Johnson, Woodland defensive back Jeremie Jean and Oceanside Collegiate receiver/defensive back Jaiden Kelly-Murray also will play for the Sandlappers.

Six players have previously committed to colleges. Harris has pledged to Liberty, and Crumpton is headed to Charleston Southern. Giet is an Army commit, and Johnson has committed to Georgia. Kelly-Murray has committed to Colorado, while Williams is pledged to James Madison.

The other prominent all-star game involving in-state players is the Touchstone Energy North-South game, which consists of 88 in-state players from the upper and lower state. The game will be played on Dec. 12 in Myrtle Beach. Rosters will be announced in mid-October.

2026 SC Shrine Bowl roster

Quarterbacks: Xavier Means, Northwestern; Jaxon Knotts, Dutch Fork.

Running backs: Jayven Williams, Summerville; Trenton Lynch, Spartanburg; Tiyon Fanning, Luoff-Elgin.

Receivers: Kyson McLeod, South Aiken; Khristian Jackson, Ridge View; EJ Richardson, Lugoff-Elgin; Tajah Watson-Martin, Westside; Xavier Huggins, Powdersville; Royce Williamson, Gray Collegiate; Ty Shannon, Fairfield-Central.

Tight end: Sam Crumpton, James Island; Ja’Shon Williams, Hampton County.

Offensive lineman: Nolan Giet, Summerville; Israel Harris, James Island; TJ Johnson, Lucy Beckham; James Ross, Ridge View; CJ Brooks, Gaffney; Reed Paolucci, Blythewood; Hayden Crockett, Hilton Head; Jeffrey Williams, Loris.

PK/P: Noah Hardy, Fort Mill.

Long Snapper: Charles Breda, White Knoll.

Defensive linemen: Shannon Jones, North Augusta; James Porter, Dorman; Tyronne Jennings, Irmo; Jaden Weurth, Dutch Fork; Jaiden Bryant, Irmo

Linebackers: Kendaris Bailey, Gaffney; KJ Burg, Northwestern; Antwone Terrance, Dorman; Mijae McCoy, Marlboro County; Yachin Gamble, Crestwood; Jayden Wertz, Powdersville; Andrew Massey, Hilton Head.

Defensive backs: Kaiden Watkins, South Pointe; Jeremie Jean, Woodland; Amari Dogan, South Pointe; Jaiden Kelly-Murray, Oceanside Collegiate; Brian McMillan, Bamberg-Ehrhardt; Christian Chancellor, Daniel; Michael Pemberton, Andrews.