City seeks public input on rezoning proposal

Aiken City Council will review a rezoning ordinance that narrowly passed on first reading earlier this month.

The first reading of an ordinance to rezone 18.85 acres on S.C. Highway 19 north of University Parkway as residential multifamily high density (RMH) was passed by a 4-3 vote on Jan. 23. Opposed to the ordinance were Councilmen Dick Dewar, Reggie Ebner and Steve Homoki.

Tonight, Council will conduct a second reading and hold a public hearing regarding the matter.

The tract of land, currently zoned residential (RS-6), is owned by CSW Inc. and is north of the Grand Oaks subdivision. A prospective buyer of the land intends to build multifamily units on the land, according to City documents. CSW representatives said that would allow them to move forward with their intentions of developing the remainder of Grand Oaks as planned, according to the minutes from the Jan. 23 meeting.

The developer would be willing to purchase land if it was rezoned to 16 units per acre in multifamily development, which would be permissible under RMH. Under planned residential, a maximum of 12 units per acre would be allowed.

In 2006, City Council adopted a resolution that states "any tract of land 4 acres or more for which annexation, rezoning or City utilities are requested to be used for primarily residential purposes be zoned planned residential," according to City documents. As stated before, the rezoning request is for RMH zoning, not planned residential.

Planning Commission reviewed the application in early January and, due to the 2006 resolution, recommended that the ordinance not pass.

Residents who live near the site have expressed a variety of concerns in regards to the possible development that has been discussed for the 18.85 acres through letters and at the last Council meeting. Some feel that the proposed apartments would hurt the quality of their neighborhood.

Council will have the options of approving the request as is, adopt it with certain conditions or deny the application all together.

In other business, a presentation to Council about the proposed schedule to reapportion City Council districts will also be held during the meeting tonight. In November, residents voted in a referendum that would change the Council format from four single-member districts, two at-large districts and the at-large mayoral seat to all single-member districts and the mayor at-large.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. tonight in Council chambers, located upstairs in the Municipal Building, 214 Park Ave. S.W.

Amy Banton is the city beat reporter and has been with the Aiken Standard since May 2010. She is a native of Rustburg, Va., and a graduate of Randolph Macon Woman's College.