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Council approves annexation and multiple rezoning measures; staff says some projects are confidential
Summary
The Florence City Council approved the second reading of Bill 2024-25 to annex and zone property on Alligator Road and passed first readings or rezoning for additional properties, including a rezoning from CG to IL for a parcel near the sports complex. Staff told council one project remains under a verbal NDA and could not be discussed in detail.
The Florence City Council on Jan. 13 advanced several land-use actions, approving a second reading to annex and zone a property on Alligator Road and advancing additional annexation and rezoning requests that city staff said are tied to larger planned light-industrial development.
Major actions: The council recorded the second reading and passage of Bill 2024-25, an ordinance to annex and zone RRG-3 property at 2502 Alligator Road (Florence County tax map 00125-01-004). Council members also heard first reading on Bill 2025-01, an annexation and zoning request to bring a roughly 44-acre parcel at 1228 North Cashewa Drive into the city and zone it IL (light industrial). Separately, the council approved first reading on Bill 2025-02, rezoning a portion of a parcel (tax map 00147-01-023) from CG (commercial general) to IL; planning staff previously recommended the IL designation by a 9–0 vote at the Planning Commission.
Staff presentation and context: Planning Director Dudley and other staff showed maps and described how the annexation and rezoning pieces fit together: the 44-acre lot near North Cashewa Drive sits just north of New Spring Church and would be zoned IL to allow light industrial uses (office parks, light industry) but exclude heavy manufacturing; buffers would be required adjacent to the church. Staff noted adjacent county zoning includes general commercial and light industrial. The smaller rezoning passed on first reading would consolidate nearby parcels and is located north of the city sports complex and tennis center.
Questions from council; confidentiality: Several council members asked whether property owners had shared prospective uses for the sites; staff said property owners had not specified uses publicly for some parcels. The city manager said staff is aware of a proposed project and that he has met with the property owners; he also said a verbal nondisclosure agreement (NDA) prevents public discussion of project details at this time.
Why it matters: Annexation and rezoning can equip the city to control land use, public infrastructure connections and future development type. Council members said the action would support economic development and the city’s industrial/commercial land inventory; staff emphasized required buffers and compatibility with adjacent uses.
Ending: The annexation and rezoning measures passed as first or second readings as noted and will proceed through any remaining procedural readings. Staff said additional details on specific projects will come when the owners and staff are able to disclose them publicly.
