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On the council's April 14 meeting agenda is the second and final reading of an ordinance annexing and zoning two properties near May Royal Drive and approving a concept plan for a subdivision to be built on them . The properties are southeast of the Columbia Highway-May Royal Drive intersection . Shaffer Builders Inc.
owns one of the properties. The Shaffer Builders property is 39.15 acres according to Aiken County property tax records .
The property surrounds a property owned by Jennifer Williams that the developers are working to acquire and incorporate. Leslie Garnett and Rebecca Robbins own the other property. The Garnett-Robbins property is 12.
46 acres according to Aiken County property tax records . Midland Valley Development, a Georgia company led by father and son Jerry and Chad Gibson, applied for the annexation and concept plan approval. The company sought and received city council approval in 2024 to build a larger subdivision on the properties and an adjoining property to the south.
When the city council approved those plans, it included a condition that the company had to acquire the properties within six months which did not happen. Aiken County zones the properties Rural Development. If annexed, Aiken would zone the properties Planned Residential.
The concept plan calls for a 185-home subdivision. The homes would be a mix of one- and two-story homes on lots 50 feet wide at maximum. Available siding materials include cement board, stone, brick, stucco and vinyl.
Sidewalks will be built on one side of the roads in the development. Planned open space includes an activity field, walking trails and a detention pond with a fountain. Ingress would be provided via May Royal Drive.
The company plans a 25-foot undisturbed buffer for the residential properties along May Royal and Osbon drives. Midland Valley Development plans a 10-foot undisturbed buffer for the southern undeveloped property and a storage unit business to the southwest. The city council voted 7-0 to approve first reading of the ordinance March 24.
Councilwoman Kay Brohl made the motion to approve the ordinance. Councilman Ed Woltz seconded her motion. Six neighbors along May Royal and Osbon drives expressed concerns about the effects the development would have on the area before the Aiken Planning Commission voted to recommend approval March 11 .
Concerns cited include increased traffic, stormwater runoff, increased litter and potential decrease in home values. Brohl's motion included changes to several of the Planning Commission's recommended conditions. The Planning Commission recommended an entrance median that's a minimum of 10 feet.
The city council changed it to be be maximum of 15 feet. A six-foot privacy fence along the development was recommended by the Planning Commission. That was changed to include an eight-foot privacy fence where the subdivision borders residential properties.
The Planning Commission recommended a second entrance on May Royal Drive. This condition was removed. A right-of-way easement was recommended to the undeveloped property to the south.
This was change to include an easement there and on a neighboring property along Columbia Highway. Also on the agenda are the second and final readings of ordinances: rezoning two properties near the York Street-Kershaw Street intersection and approving a concept plan for a subdivision ; • rezoning 724 Richland Ave. W.
to allow an antique store ; • amending city code to allow a 20-year special tax assessments for rehabilitated properties ; • annexing 122 Vivion Drive and zoning it RS-15; and • amending the city's budget to include opioid recovery funds. On the agenda for first reading is an ordinance amending the city's budget to account for Aiken County's increase in the sewer plant fee charged to the city. There are also proclamations designating April as Fair Housing Month and April 22 as Earth Day on the agenda.
The council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on the third floor of the Municipal Building at 111 Chesterfield St.
S.W . The council will meet for a 5 p.
m. worksession to discuss the 2025-2026 budget. That meeting may take place in a different room but on the same floor of the same building.
Parking is available on Chesterfield and Newberry street and in the parking lot next to the Municipal Building..
