[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6163740,"mediaKeyId","5433243-c9608b4f20e90183582969f8fefeb1bb","parentId",5433243,"title","Council approves Columbia Avenue supplemental agreement and funds Bagpipe Road construction; members flag capital needs","audioSeconds",732,"startMs",1598000,"endMs",2330000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433243-c9608b4f20e90183582969f8fefeb1bb&start=1598&end=2330","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433243-c9608b4f20e90183582969f8fefeb1bb/thumbnail_1598000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6163740/Lexington-County/South-Carolina/Council-approves-Columbia-Avenue-supplemental-agreement-and-funds-Bagpipe-Road-construction-members-flag-capital-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163740-9edfcebb8b693cc74416140b483106d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775343693&Signature=kLK7Cv9AeApL0~uoDQYrgOSFHYWjOIr9Lxo4jgF5zI7l11i8LjVR-eHYezCkyEfuQYVrNAFY9pdkAJzy1qRZVn6XXzpQm3lEHGdd3tCh~lrG61HXjqUJC1K8gbzoHKiQi-AzDjAgQW-6RExbLzbsGeng~Z8VN4vfziazW~k97F43psJ2F0G-4He7esXO07RI8pi0j3G8bGG7pGuxZaSmIRz2M016QTPWEIvhP0DoWdBzSUia5uhJVFQIN6GLAZTrPANhiyK~aQT2K5sdWxJfoiJ7IEWsSsWxk6WIBzu~rOFcNfNqQleACyCm3uhQ6b8KUf8xBR3mr1sr9M9ufA4eaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington County, SC","date","2025-07-15T00:00:00Z","article","Council members on July 15 approved a supplemental local agency participation agreement (LPA) related to Columbia Avenue that increases the Part 2 federal funds allocation for right‑of‑way from $4,900,000 to $5,100,000 so South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) can continue right‑of‑way acquisition and utility relocation for the project. Councilman Hudson reported the supplemental agreement was brought forward after multiple parcels were subdivided and staff recommended approval. Council voted unanimously to accept the supplemental agreement.

Council also approved construction work on Bagpipe Road, a dirt road in a county district that requires substantial stormwater and roadway rebuilding. Councilman Brigham, speaking during the motion to approve, highlighted the project cost and the broader capital‑funding implications: \"You're looking at $3,968,000 — so $4,000,000 for roughly a mile worth of road to be paved is quite expensive and those funds have to be pulled out of somewhere. So the capital projects is staring us in the face for the ballot next year.\" The motion to award the Bagpipe Road construction passed unanimously.

County leaders noted the state awarded the county $6.2 million in CTC funding earlier and discussed that single high‑cost projects can consume large shares of available state funds. Council members emphasized the need to identify funding sources — including capital projects planning and potential ballot measures — to address multiple high‑cost road projects across the county. No further appropriation action was taken at the meeting beyond approving the contract award and the LPA supplemental agreement; staff will pursue execution of the agreements and return with procurement and funding details as required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","07-15-2025 - County Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Lexington County Council approved a supplemental SCDOT local agency agreement increasing right‑of‑way funding for Columbia Avenue to $5.1 million and voted to proceed with Bagpipe Road construction, a roughly $4 million project that council members said underscores the county’s capital funding challenges.","taxTitle","Lexington County, South Carolina","taxId",19113,"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},6163750,"Residents and county officials spar over Eastern Residential overlay boundary change at public hearing",1730,2533000,4263000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433243-c9608b4f20e90183582969f8fefeb1bb&start=2533&end=4263","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433243-c9608b4f20e90183582969f8fefeb1bb/thumbnail_2533000.jpg","/articles/6163750/Lexington-County/South-Carolina/Residents-and-county-officials-spar-over-Eastern-Residential-overlay-boundary-change-at-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163750-db3f6302bbdefb9ca541b136f5f98738/orig.mp4?Expires=1775343693&Signature=fIQhJcLtagK9AXf9eO-cB9UYNzrt7ee8OarwYHhTJD49QKN4bra5hbjxS0QH6KA63-L~5c3vPnIfGLQ7v88KqMSJQgCoXsa2i2evVGf2J2pBH6W1pktwTqcGnbOySviJj4exH3t89gqe4KJXEThrCOWX7klQMQZJESfGqTHRLImxd0~vte2yehRcvDlAazlKekWnAoSjKqLfQ~lhCJtF0QAnNiJXn2HIcTQtel0aWWBsfSFKHW5mFgXxW2uTSHNiS4S0D1PdvHLskrhryywkuWI0dAqpyOvV4bPGymSJIAPdyRbaUuavhGuDb61oWgbzByUOHE2SbhvZOI4fbFkLig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ordinance 25‑09, which would amend Lexington County Zoning Ordinance Article 14, Section 141.10 to establish an Eastern Residential District overlay with its northern boundary set at Interstate 20, drew a packed public hearing July 15 at the Lexington County Council Chambers. Derrick, Lexington County community development director, presented the map and the staff recommendation and told council the revised boundary is intended to “promote infill and higher density residential developments, aligning with municipal standards, and following the most comprehensive plan.”

The proposal matters because it changes which parts of the county may be subject to higher‑density development standards and removes certain concurrency requirements for services in areas within the overlay. Supporters, including Town of Lexington leadership, told council the boundary shift is intended to better align county zoning with the town’s plans; the online record showed 52 submissions in favor and none recorded in opposition by the close of the comment window.

Opponents, including a string of residents who live near the town and in the Red Bank and Pillion areas, said the ordinance’s language permits much higher densities than existing county rules and could worsen traffic, school overcrowding and emergency response times. Laura Touchberry, a resident of Harbor Vista Circle, quoted the ordinance text at the podium: “There are no specific minimum residential lot sizes within this district. Lot sizes shall be determined by density… 12 dwelling units per exact acre,” and said the provision was written “in black and white in the ordinance.”

Several speakers urged council to stop the overlay boundary at I‑20 but to retain or add concurrency requirements. Teresa Elsor, who identified herself by address, asked council to “vote in favor of 2509 to reduce the density in the area outside of the town of Lexington to I‑20 and allow that area to have concurrency requirements.” Carol Lindler, a Lexington County schoolteacher of 30 years, said rising enrollment and teacher shortages have left classrooms and special‑needs services strained and warned that additional high‑density development would increase pressure on schools, buses and support services.

Other residents stressed local roads are already failing to handle current traffic. Joanne Slice said recent road collapses and potholes make access difficult and urged the council to consider road capacity and maintenance before allowing higher densities.

Council members clarified process details during the hearing: the pending‑ordinance doctrine had been invoked at first reading, the title of the ordinance was amended to specify I‑20 as the northern boundary, and Derrick noted any future amendments that change the overlay would require restarting the rezoning process (three readings and a Planning Commission review). Chairman Cullum and other council members confirmed the county and town will hold related hearings for proposed overlay and central overlay ordinances on July 29.

The public hearing portion of the meeting closed after staff and council called for public decorum and provided instructions for online submissions. Council did not vote on final adoption; 25‑09 remains on its legislative path with further public hearings and readings ahead.","Ordinance 25‑09, which would amend Lexington County Zoning Ordinance Article 14, Section 141.10 to establish an Eastern Residential District overlay with its northern boundary set at Interstate 20, drew a packed public hearing July 15 at the Lexington County Council Chambers.",{"_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},6163745,"Council gives first reading to residential solid‑waste franchise ordinance and accepts state grants for waste programs",397,1717000,2114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433243-c9608b4f20e90183582969f8fefeb1bb&start=1717&end=2114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433243-c9608b4f20e90183582969f8fefeb1bb/thumbnail_1717000.jpg","/articles/6163745/Lexington-County/South-Carolina/Council-gives-first-reading-to-residential-solidwaste-franchise-ordinance-and-accepts-state-grants-for-waste-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163745-e538272fb6c3556a9fcaf0f909e2d07e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775343693&Signature=dZHzi4WIgP0Z~MakwenX9wax25MACslk9hzubhRNDzunhdObTeieXgV8S9gO0Wo529HcPDQ4rF7bktxNXzudcUcTpFSsXcgS0u7JJIbdI1Pr8YbVfQ4MuLAnO6409Elu~b35Dd55291ydWZJbZL1bYZI8i2mTPt~dtVHkQ~iW1b5pfCNQ1JfMCvtP0HbJfBZz031Jqgo8Z43WOaoNSkIhS7gxVMUxg9BNV4YzhrfCgr32VgFX61jc9Xy1eBBONWUSM9Dc6DZzIFlG5~pPveRD6zuQpkOTanORvmYxCeVjF2-HZn3J8259duzNpq7t7q0VUZfRXSMLeAOg2MhydNUVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lexington County Council gave first reading by title to Ordinance 25‑13 on July 15, an ordinance approving residential solid waste franchise contracts for service areas 2, 3, 6 and 7. The ordinance was announced to the public at first reading and advanced for further consideration.

Separately, the council accepted several state grant awards to support solid‑waste operations. Councilman Hudson, reporting from the Public Works and Solid Waste Management Committee, said the county will accept a South Carolina Department of Environmental Services tire‑grant award for $240,406 to help cover contractor costs for processing and recycling collected tires; a used‑oil grant award for $20,991 to support promotion and materials for proper oil disposal (including $750 for staff professional development); and a solid‑waste education grant for $15,750 to promote recycling education in the county. After committee discussion, council voted unanimously to accept each award.

Council officials said the tire grant will cover a shortfall in contractor costs calculated through the county’s tire fee worksheet, the used‑oil grant will fund outreach and supplies as Lexington grows, and the education grant will support increased recycling promotion. The first‑reading vote on the franchise ordinance and the grant acceptances were recorded without dissension.

These actions put the county in position to finalize franchise contracts for residential service zones after subsequent readings and to spend the grant funds on contractor payments, outreach and staff training as allowed by the grant terms.","At first reading, Lexington County announced ordinance 25‑13 approving residential solid waste franchise contracts for service areas 2, 3, 6 and 7 and the council voted to accept three state grants totaling about $276,147 to support tire recycling, used‑oil disposal and recycling education","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Columbia Avenue supplemental agreement and funds Bagpipe Road construction; members flag capital needs

Residents and county officials spar over Eastern Residential overlay boundary change at public hearing

Council gives first reading to residential solid‑waste franchise ordinance and accepts state grants for waste programs