Aiken City Council to consider east Aiken development projects Monday

Matthew Christian, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·4 min read

Oct. 6—The Aiken City Council could give its final OK to three economic development projects Monday evening.

On the agenda for the 7 p.m. council meeting are the second and final readings of ordinances amending the zoning of a property east of Aiken and approving a concept plan for the property and annexing and zoning three properties on East Pine Log Road.

Hotel and townhomes

The council approved the first reading of the ordinance amending the zoning of a property east of Aiken on Sept. 25.

The property to be rezoned is located southeast of the intersection of Richland Avenue and Beaufort Street. It is vacant but was previously the home of a mobile home retailer.

Yancy and Rogers LLC owns the property.

Yancy and Rogers is a South Carolina limited liability company. Its registered agent is Ben Le Clerq of Mount Pleasant.

Equus Holdings LLC applied for rezoning and concept plan approval.

Equus Holdings is also a South Carolina limited liability company. Its registered agent is Karl McMillan of Aiken.

Aiken currently zones the property Light Industrial.

Equus asks the city to rezone the property to Planned Commercial.

The concept plan calls for the property to be split into three parts.

First, a four story, 125-room hotel and a 149-space parking lot would be built on the northeast corner of the property near the Gaston Livery Stable.

Because of its location, the Aiken Design Review Board must approve the concept plan and design later in the process.

The name of the hotelier is unknown.

Second, the concept plans call for the construction of townhomes in an L-shaped portion of the property stretching from Beaufort Street behind the hotel to the property's border with an existing home.

The concept plan shows 48 townhomes spread across nine buildings.

McMillan said two weeks ago the starting price point of the townhomes would be $500,000.

Third, the northwestern corner of the property would be developed into a retail or mixed-use development which will have to be approved later.

East Pine Log development

Two of the East Pine Log Road properties are located on the southeast corner of the road's intersection with Banks Mill Road.

The properties, 1103 and 1123 Banks Mill Road, were previously the location of Carolina Fresh Farms.

Carolina Fresh Farms received approval from the Aiken Planning Commission and City Council in 2021 for a site east of Citizens Park.

Fogle Family Real Estate LLC owns the properties.

Aiken County property tax records indicate the company purchased 1103 Banks Mill Road on Sept. 28, 2009, for $300,000, and the company purchased 1123 Banks Mill Road on Oct. 28, 2014, for $260,000.

But WTC of Banks Mill LLC submitted the annexation and zoning request.

Records of South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond's office indicate the company is based in South Carolina. The records add its registered agent is Thomas Goforth of Graniteville.

Aiken County currently zones the property Urban Development.

WTC of Banks Mill asked the city council to zone the property General Business.

It is unknown what development is planned for the properties.

Planning Director Marya Moultrie told the Aiken Planning Commission a developer does not have to submit a concept plan for City Council approval if the property is zoned General Business.

The third East Pine Log Road property is located southeast of Citizens Park.

The 9.13-acre property is currently vacant.

Aiken County property tax records indicate the property is owned by Canterbury Crossing LLC.

Canterbury Crossing is a South Carolina limited liability company. It is registered to Aiken attorney and developer Ray Massey.

Canterbury Crossing submitted the application for annexation and zoning.

Aiken County zones the property Urban Development.

Canterbury Crossing asks the city council to zone the property light industrial.

A man who said he represented the developer said two weeks ago plans were to establish an HVAC distribution store and a fabrication shop on the property. He added the property is adjacent to a horse trailer dealership that is a large client of the fabrication shop.

The council is also expected to consider the second and final readings of ordinances:

—annexing and zoning four properties on Coward Road where homes could be built;

—approving an amendment to the city's budget to include the spending additional accommodations tax revenues on a new trolley and other tourism-related projects; and

—annexing and zoning single-family homes located at 623 Boardman Road and 1249 Evans Road.

There are no items scheduled for first reading at the meeting.

There is a request to approve a memorandum of understanding with the Savannah River Site Retiree Resource Center.

Donna Wesby, co-founder and CEO of Umoja Village is expected to make a presentation to the council.

There is a work session scheduled for 6 p.m. to discuss homelessness as requested by Councilwoman Gail Diggs.