More rooftops could be coming to Aiken's Northside.
The Aiken City Council is expected to consider the first reading of an ordinance Monday evening annexing and zoning five properties between May Royal Drive and Crosland Park.
The ordinance would also approve a concept plan that calls for a 338-home subdivision to be built on the properties.
The subdivision would be constructed on five properties totaling 90.45 acres.
The Gary and Mary Fulmer Family Trust owns two of the properties. Shaffer Builders owns one of the properties. Multiple people are listed as the owners of the remaining two properties.
The Shaffer Builders property surrounds a home, owned by Jennifer Williams, that is not included in the development. The developers plan to preserve her access to May Royal Drive and install a fence to separate her home from the development.
Midland Valley Development LLC submitted the application for annexation, zoning and concept plan approval.
The company is a Georgia limited liability company registered to Warren Gibson.
Aiken County zones the properties Rural Development. Midland Valley Development seeks to have the city zone the property Planned Residential.
The concept plan shows 338 single-family homes according to a memorandum prepared for the city's Planning Commission. Provided architectural renderings show one- and two-story homes with one- or two-car garages, the memorandum adds.
There would be two access points. One would be on Columbia Highway and one would be along May Royal Drive.
Five people from the area surrounding the potential development addressed the Planning Commission before it voted 4-3 Feb. 13 to recommend City Council approve the ordinance.
Their concerns include an increase in traffic on nearby roads, particularly Osbon Drive, the ability of residents within the development to make a left toward Aiken on Columbia Highway and its fit with the existing developments in the area.
Commissioner Pete Messina said the development's homes are mostly quarter-acre lots while many of the homes on May Royal and Osbon are half- or whole-acre lots.
Commissioner Steven Simmons made the motion to recommend approval. Commissioner Sam Erb seconded Simmons' motion.
Commission Chairman Ryan Reynolds, Vice Chairman Jason Rabun, Simmons and Erb voted to recommend approval. Commissioners Clayton Clarkson, Charles Matthews and Messina voted against recommending approval.
The Planning Commission's recommendation comes two months after the commission voted unanimously to table the request for annexation, zoning and concept plan approval.
The commission said it wanted to see a full traffic study and the concept plan to be refined to include fencing and a 25-foot buffer around the development.
At that meeting, 13 owners of surrounding properties addressed the commission with concerns about traffic, stormwater runoff, the potential of more crime and rental homes.
The developer provided a traffic study — the South Carolina Department of Transportation still needs to approve it — and a new concept plan before the Feb. 13 Planning Commission meeting.
The Planning Commission noted the number of homes increased from 333 in the November concept plan to 338 in the February concept plan.
There are three more subdivisions planned or under construction nearby. One is across Columbia Highway from Crosland Park, one is on York Street closer to the city center and another is planned for Rutland Drive.
The Aiken City Council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday on the third floor of the Municipal Building located at 111 Chesterfield St. SW.
