Kudos to the Travelers Rest Planning and Development Committee for voting 4-1 on May 5 to deny an annexation request for a proposed $600 million luxury resort, Inn at Altamont, atop Paris Mountain, following roughly five months of community pushback.

The vote stopped the 40-acre proposal from advancing to the Travelers Rest City Council, thereby ultimately halting its progress.

TR Mayor Pro Tem Grant Bumgarner was the only committee member to vote in favor of moving the matter forward. 

After the vote, Bumgarner stated, “The overall scope and intent of this project meet the parameters that we as City Council have given to our staff for economic development within the city. The benefits to the city of TR and the entire northern Greenville County area to have a hotel, including lodging and banquet and meeting facilities, is one of a kind.”

To the contrary, City Councilwoman Catherine James’ viewpoint really resonated with us. Specifically, she said, “There are too many red flags. This project does not fit our comprehensive plan. It doesn’t connect. It doesn’t make our streets safer, our sidewalks safer. It does not align with the goals and priorities set forth by this body.”

Since the proposal was unveiled earlier this year, more than 13,000 people signed an online petition opposing the resort, with one petition-signer writing — spot-on, we think — the following:

“The road is already dangerous with the many turns. Not to mention that there is a state park on this mountain for a reason. It is full of flora and fauna that is unique to our area. Paris Mountain makes TR feel like home to me, and I fear that this project will ruin that.”