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COLUMBIA- Students may be living somewhere new at the beginning of next school year.

The Columbia City Council approved a new student apartment complex. The new housing, Red Oak of Columbia, will be located by Walmart and Kohl's in south Columbia.

Debate sparked two years ago when the original plan drew traffic concerns. After studies and tests were performed on a new stoplight, it was found the the traffic generated from the Red Oak project is no more than the alternative project's traffic. The Planning and Zoning Commission now has the nine council member's unanimous vote.

Crockett Engineering has designed the apartment to have 152 units and 552 beds. The local engineering company has designed other successful student housing complexes such as The Reserve, Campus Lodge and The Grove. The company recently received the Small Business of the Year award from the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Tim Crockett, project engineer, said he is excited for this new complex.

"Unlike a lot of the other typical developments in the area that have ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen different buildings with a clubhouse, the difference in the Red Oak development is it comprises of only four buildings with an internal clubhouse and internal courtyards so the buildings are much larger and more connected," Crockett said.

Crockett said the new complex will have a high end pool and exterior amenities. A bus route will be available to get students to campus.

Crockett Engineering is waiting for minor final approvals. Crockett said they should hear the approvals in the next two weeks. Construction could start as early as next week. Red Oak of Columbia is expected to be completed by August 2013.