[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6327515,"mediaKeyId","2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526","parentId",2322356,"title","Commissioners warned Keystone’s Phase 2 faces sewer-capacity limits; county cannot build a plant due to intake protections","audioSeconds",164,"startMs",3807810,"endMs",3972425,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526&start=3807&end=3972","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526/thumbnail_3807810.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6327515/Edgefield-County/South-Carolina/Commissioners-warned-Keystones-Phase-2-faces-sewer-capacity-limits-county-cannot-build-a-plant-due-to-intake-protections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327515-e3dc4fac15ceb9c71645017f1c6fea2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773661385&Signature=HN7g0MULcsIYw9BaQJ5IWSySIx~rppXJ-g~lnURbwis5h5HcQ9ByK9OfyawqC68~g3eGB9WFe1jhpj0NRHQ3JGYVCX8QJC2blbSH~FyBUKVJfuYYMn6nxr4dTkOYEYDCLByjI8NNZsEe9IJNeVH8uaHJe2XJocQ1g8s7fNuj1DlkOUWSSFs0vS9hgZ5MQy-LnRkgOVFmE5sPDMOx7tdQsbEpbwRMba6JaE5Pc9zsxCuffO7mQ8GHmIhtSLn-53sFvMXbCccdnEoxztwIMb7WS4EsIlLAMR3FNZsPN-dTxSYr05KnKOLtiSw7F07zZHwEnjmqEgAwWUEWN6sf7aK2Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Edgefield County Government","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","Planning staff told the commission that Keystone’s Phase 2 does not yet have sewer approval and that the developer may need to wait years while capacity is addressed. Staff said Phase 1 (current construction) is moving forward and county officials do not foresee issues, but Phase 2 will require additional sewer capacity that is controlled by neighboring jurisdictions and regional authorities.

Staff explained the county cannot simply build a separate wastewater treatment plant because the Savannah River intake points for North Augusta and Augusta are downstream of potential discharge locations; regulators would not permit a county plant that would risk those intakes, staff said. Commissioners and staff discussed alternative technologies (closed-loop systems and sludge fields), but staff said those are either unpopular with the public or not practical at county scale. Staff also said the available capacity from regional plants is being retained by North Augusta and Aiken and is unlikely to be sold except in emergencies.

The commission was told staff are working with the state and regional partners on capacity planning but emphasized that infrastructure expansions are long-term projects and that Keystone’s later phases may be constrained until capacity increases are completed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 13, 2025 Planning Commission Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Staff said Keystone’s Phase 2 lacks sewer approval and that Edgefield County cannot build its own wastewater plant because downstream water intakes for North Augusta/Augusta would be affected; capacity is tied to plans by North Augusta and Aiken.","taxTitle","Edgefield County, South Carolina","taxId",71124,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327519,"Commission hears update on hurricane debris: FEMA covering 80% now; county and DOT coordination continues",219,3101000,3320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526&start=3101&end=3320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526/thumbnail_3101000.jpg","/articles/6327519/Edgefield-County/South-Carolina/Commission-hears-update-on-hurricane-debris-FEMA-covering-80-now-county-and-DOT-coordination-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327519-0e29df136b577fd771d8d41d1cde3c97/orig.mp4?Expires=1773661385&Signature=W490fIgZt66g88wLS1k7Xu9dw7jZxtxWWzsIblwB7AHz1~m90CIXkclpRhKp6JohFZjrprVXBEGiyFfnlRU1R9zMCz--o1AHNF~zbi21xlDqKWHUKv571pWXXBg35-HVxnZs9ZxsbsnOZz2zEKxCEUrEHnUdxgKVVYKMjEvj6IabJwh09XBwxYYIKqp5TEIvlimJchxxI9x9NwfvDR1o2lylOOT6dptbtwNv4Rg3Jzstq7PxObQOvAjCBXw~umVp~LIGjDNB1QSCD5HuxWVZHvSk6UBh7wFImQVwzimLvOubrRKdj29dCGb6DuL8O9z9Rg4HQWG4W8idLawFOU-nmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff briefed the commission on post-hurricane debris removal and grinding operations. Staff said contractors have completed about 80 percent of the work for FEMA reimbursement; FEMA will cover 80 percent of eligible costs and the state has indicated it intends to provide the remaining 20 percent for the current cleanup phase. Staff warned that FEMA’s coverage steps down by deadline and that counties risk losing reimbursement if extra debris is placed after the last pass.

Staff described a very large pile of ground debris at the county FEMA drop site behind the Generac industrial park and advised commissioners to inspect the site if they wished. “If you just want to see an absolutely enormous pile of debris, just drive behind Generac at the industrial park,” staff said. Staff said the pile is still green wood and very acidic; piled green material can self-heat and smoke and might ignite if allowed to accumulate.

Staff explained that debris already counted by FEMA is FEMA property and not available to the public; what happens to the ground material after FEMA concludes its operation has not been decided. County staff said other counties have contracted hauling operations to move ground material off-site for reuse, but Edgefield’s pile will remain under FEMA control until FEMA completes its process and relinquishes the material.

Officials also said that a substantial portion of storm damage remains on private and public lands outside collection sites, including the national forest and large tracts where downed trees will rot in place.","Staff said most debris collection has moved into an 80-percent FEMA coverage phase; a large grinding pile at the county site is a fire and disease risk and remains FEMA property until final disposition.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327525,"Planning commission discusses tightening planned-development rules, tree preservation and mass-grading limits",545,1619045,2164184,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526&start=1619&end=2164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526/thumbnail_1619045.jpg","/articles/6327525/Edgefield-County/South-Carolina/Planning-commission-discusses-tightening-planned-development-rules-tree-preservation-and-mass-grading-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327525-3c0f8dfce19410ef6e76992cc350b556/orig.mp4?Expires=1773661385&Signature=TZyt5bhwM6D6SC3Q3q9BC4PhxXPEfTKK~iPjHJarw~DzZQnGcmCUEw2-OwupvYZQdKsv6bq3DlmPpqSQUjVf7qRDwy3mbgVp43bATp4lBzJbwomP3iN1ziBDwqtXQoEjCWqlmrGzg51qBNh8DDYIPZCCtEYh6YHR-tTbjXvAfI1zNJytvhO1OSKXMrehjHZdZIKHmD69Kp0mRCD7N0h001HTj6A8PkRM0q7K0-Q9geYxHi4U85AFuWWhbVqNE~pduqHcu-c-UOoAnbAx~iZ~xyOFfHuzMsI~vHyQsGDB7KjS3vB9OPZbHaYjywtFTC4xwUMb0sgPl3Sw8oaOei4jEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The planning commission discussed revising Edgefield County’s planned-development (PD) rules to better reflect the state statute’s intended “mixed-use” concept and to add clearer local requirements for commercial components in PDs.

Commission members raised concerns that PDs have been used to allow developments that are entirely residential and that the state law’s term “mixed use” is vague. One commissioner said: “When I read the state law and it says mixed use, yes, I take that to mean residential and commercial,” and recommended the county add a percentage requirement for a separate use (for example, 10–15 percent commercial) as part of PD eligibility criteria. Planning staff noted that even if the commission adopts language requiring commercial uses, county council retains final discretion because a PD becomes a site-specific ordinance at council.

Commissioners also reviewed the county’s PD ordinance language (minimum parcel size, open-space and impervious-surface limits) and suggested adding separate PD categories for commercial/industrial planned developments and for residential PDs to avoid one-size-fits-all rules. Staff recommended adding clarifying text under development standards to apply residential density standards only when the PD is residential in character.

On tree preservation and mass grading, commissioners said tree-preservation rules should pair with an approved list of locally preferred species (oaks, magnolias, dogwood were discussed) and that mass-grading rules are more complex and may not translate directly from city examples. “If the goal is tree preservation, then really mass grading has to go out altogether,” one commissioner said, noting grading often kills existing large trees. Staff said they may bring a specialist to draft mass-grading language and recommended adding preferred native trees to the ordinance to guide landscaping and preservation requirements.

The discussion produced no formal vote or ordinance changes at the meeting; staff said the commission will place special-development districts, tree-preservation and mass-grading on future work lists for drafting and potential ordinance edits.","Commissioners debated clarifying planned-development (PD) rules to require a percent of commercial mixed use, updating PD design standards, and adding tree-preservation rules and a preferred-species list; mass-grading provisions were described as complex and may require outside drafting help.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327529,"County says Star Park, rail-trail connection moving forward with grants, in-kind county work",124,641320,765475,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526&start=641&end=765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526/thumbnail_641320.jpg","/articles/6327529/Edgefield-County/South-Carolina/County-says-Star-Park-rail-trail-connection-moving-forward-with-grants-in-kind-county-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327529-92210b8712a98da705adc74847ece92b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773661385&Signature=TaIioR0Ce-7o4o5CJ3sp8silAm805BGyqEw1pK7GFK1btP7d9fqo9kZsTkj5jHM4vYLMj3FTDds6vl-rsGDgcSxpVW2DbgaAmkadQvUNmXt~ANGiob5lSBuRGmnVmCw272gjeyF-KbIlMNu1dBZfPsx4xi0V7DcSLRSIRo3WHNpHVsni5Do63Jb4AlQThYWjKFOEs8eaODo2WegqizgcoZpslcqYXNtACxVUrE5xcNrFrADWGHLgRsBxemaAeCw9L0GHviTpKOU93Oqdj6O9IC~KrloKqvOab1aiZligrmeRyqtwPKdEeCtO7F32U2v5gmXDJq3ct0ll8s6xcpqUkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Edgefield County staff updated the planning commission on plans for Star Park and an associated extension of the town’s rail trail, saying the project is a partnership between the county and the town of Edgefield. Staff said the town owns the rail-trail corridor and the county is leading the park development, with the county offering in-kind labor such as tree clearing and some paving.

Staff reported that the mayor obtained the last parcel needed to make the final trail connection and that the town and county have received grant awards for the trail and park. “We have roughly half a million dollars of it already, through state grant and appropriation. With that, plus the appropriation from the state, plus what we already had set aside for the new park, we're sitting at just around a million dollars,” staff said. The funding is expected to make substantial progress but not finish the park; staff said the project will be multiyear and additional grants may be needed.

Officials said the county has an agreement with Edgefield County Water and Sewer Authority to provide water for a splash pad without recirculation, which reduces equipment and maintenance costs. Staff estimated grading and infrastructure work will take about five months. Lighting for ball fields, they warned, is a major cost driver: “Ball field lighting is obscenely expensive, like quarter million dollars for one field,” staff said.

The trail extension follows an old rail bed; most of the new trail consists of clearing and paving the existing corridor. Where a wetland lies in the alignment, staff said an elevated footbridge will be required to avoid wetland disturbance and avoid lengthy permitting (endangered-species surveys, delineation). The planned trail will, when complete, make the system about two miles long in total, staff said.

Staff said the county will assist with clearing and expects town crews to begin trail work; the park and trail work will be scheduled in phases depending on funding and in-house capacity.","Edgefield County and the town of Edgefield reported grants and county contributions toward Star Park and a rail-trail connection, with about $1 million available now and a multiyear construction plan; lighting and an elevated wetland crossing are key cost considerations.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327534,"Edgefield planning commission agrees to have Lander University perform impact-fee study",4300,39234,4339969,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526&start=39&end=4339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322356-b381942c9898718094ce1d5fcdcce526/thumbnail_39234.jpg","/articles/6327534/Edgefield-County/South-Carolina/Edgefield-planning-commission-agrees-to-have-Lander-University-perform-impact-fee-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327534-5d66e7bed4f46bcc1e5eb394f9cbb909/orig.mp4?Expires=1773661385&Signature=aBmVXG~clSm~7IA87NV3KxGNs-AWB7rW9CfDEZ0-gGLvypXXtm5MhErp-0hRGS1Vdw6bBfPPySApRKaF6i2LHi7RC4IR2lXPbMj14Ob8BvP0yewjeL8z1TQY9~4csDYcUrIc4VWYFKsDEbBj9g3PnHZYoJaKGuzTpW4RwFPeYGeFf3OD05deYRADmMWhtx-ojULrGBvvooVc0viShvwmDBEYBpuTlaIygP5j7T9zHuqWfRu6kwCJKAMQaCQrhkQPZIeD0FQ4zR4mS8ULMiEwgGtg8Z~iyq8qyFrx26VbWXmU9nX-AeWMwloa4zrMUXB7zL4FbU9RikV8K1bDAkijOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Edgefield County Planning Commission voted to recommend that Lander University perform the county’s impact-fee study, planning staff said Friday. The commission also amended its agenda to replace a request-for-proposals item with a direct recommendation to accept Lander’s proposal.

Planning staff told commissioners that Lander has agreed to lead the study and that the university will assign the dean of the College of Business plus two professors to supervise the project rather than delegating the work to graduate students. “It would save us money, and we have more local involvement than if we end up hiring a company from wherever they come from,” planning staff said. Staff said the project will include multiple stakeholder meetings open to the public and that the planning commission will be the primary stakeholder group.

The commission was told staff already provided Lander a copy of the RFP and that commissioners will later vote to accept Lander’s work product before it is forwarded as a recommendation to county council. Planning staff said the study will likely take about three to six months, and that staff (identified in the meeting as April and another planning staff member) will coordinate communications between Lander and commissioners.

At the meeting the commission moved to amend the agenda to remove the RFP item and substitute Lander’s proposal, then voted to approve recommending Lander University to county council. The motion to accept Lander’s proposal passed by voice vote; a roll-call tally was not specified in the transcript.

The commission did not adopt the study itself; selecting Lander means staff will work with the university and set a schedule, stakeholder list and public meetings. County council must still approve any ordinance changes that follow from the study.

Votes at a glance: the planning commission amended the agenda to substitute Lander University for the RFP item, then voted to approve Lander University as the recommended provider for the impact-fee study. The transcript records a voice vote in favor; no numeric tally was recorded.","The Edgefield County Planning Commission voted to recommend selecting Lander University to perform an impact-fee study; the study will use local faculty and take several months and include stakeholder meetings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners warned Keystone’s Phase 2 faces sewer-capacity limits; county cannot build a plant due to intake protections

Commission hears update on hurricane debris: FEMA covering 80% now; county and DOT coordination continues

Planning commission discusses tightening planned-development rules, tree preservation and mass-grading limits

County says Star Park, rail-trail connection moving forward with grants, in-kind county work

Edgefield planning commission agrees to have Lander University perform impact-fee study