Conway council approves first readings on multiple annexations and UDO amendments; OKs grant match and sidewalk contract

The Conway City Council on Monday gave unanimous first-reading approval to multiple annexations and zoning ordinances, approved a first-reading amendment package to the city Unified Development Ordinance and separate changes to rules on noncommercial livestock keeping in rural districts, authorized a $5,000 local-match resolution for a Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) Big Idea grant application for a splash pad at Smith Jones Park, and approved an annual sidewalk/asphalt contract bid process recommendation.

The most immediately actionable item was council’s vote to commit $5,000 as a local match for a MASC Big Idea grant to fund a proposed splash pad at Smith Jones Park. City staff told council the match is required for the application; council voted to approve the resolution and apply before the September deadline.

Planning and annexation items dominated the meeting. Planning staff presented several first‑reading ordinances to annex properties into the city and to zone them upon annexation. “The applicant’s requesting annexation and zoning of this property due to the property being sold and requirement of current owners to connect to city utilities,” planning staff said when describing the roughly 3,900‑acre request at 5206 Columbia Street that would be zoned R‑1 (low‑to‑medium density residential) upon annexation. First reading of that ordinance was approved; final readings for the related annexation and zoning ordinances were scheduled for the Oct. 6 council meeting. Planning commission held public hearings on the items Sept. 4 and recommended approval, staff said.

Council also approved first reading of an ordinance to annex and zone about 10.68 acres at the intersection of Highway 548 and Highway 501 to Highway Commercial upon annexation; a separate 2.15‑acre annexation request for property at 1001 Creel Street that staff said is currently a residential home but surrounded by professional zoning; and a first reading approving execution of a quitclaim deed to clear title issues in the Pecan Grove subdivision affecting small, previously deeded stub‑out parcels.

On broader planning rules, staff presented a multi‑article UDO cleanup amendment intended to clarify process and procedure for annexation and zoning map amendments. “This amendment is part of a larger cleanup amendment ... Annexation of property is a legislative function and amendments to the official zoning map require review and recommendation by planning commission prior to annexation,” planning staff said, summarizing the sequence the UDO changes will codify. Council approved first reading of those cleanup amendments.

Council also approved first reading of a targeted UDO amendment to Article 4 and Article 5 clarifying when noncommercial livestock and fowl and related accessory structures are permitted in the Forest Agricultural (FA) and Rural Residential districts. Staff said the change would allow accessory structures (barns, coops, fencing) without a principal dwelling when lots are at least five acres in size, and would add the rural residential district (1‑acre minimum) to the list of districts where noncommercial keeping of livestock is permitted under specified conditions. Planning commission recommended approval at its Sep. 4 meeting.

On procurement, staff reported four bids for the city’s sidewalks/repairs contract; Jail Works LLC was the low bidder. Council voted to advance the recommended contract approval on first reading. Staff said the lists of sidewalks to be repaired are compiled from inspections and resident reports and that new sidewalks are also identified in the budget retreat process.

All motions and first‑reading ordinances brought before the council on the agenda carried unanimously. For items requiring additional procedural steps, staff noted the next readings or planning‑commission hearings and the dates they were scheduled.

What’s next: most of the annexation and zoning first readings will return for final readings in October after planning commission review where required. The city will submit the MASC grant application before the September deadline if council’s resolution stands.

Votes at a glance (selected items approved on first reading; staff next steps noted):

- Ordinance ZA2025-10-06A — First reading to rezone ~3,900 acres at 5206 Columbia Street to R‑1 upon annexation. Planning commission recommended approval; final reading scheduled Oct. 6.

- Ordinance (Highway Commercial annexation) — First reading to rezone ~10.68 acres at Highway 548 & Highway 501 to Highway Commercial upon annexation. Planning commission recommended approval; final reading scheduled Oct. 6.

- Ordinance ZA2025-11-03A — First reading to annex ~2.15 acres at 1001 Creel Street and zone it Professional upon annexation; planning commission public hearing scheduled Oct. 2.

- Ordinance (Pecan Grove quitclaim) — First reading to approve execution of quitclaim deed to clear title for small parcels in Pecan Grove subdivision; staff supported the measure.

- Ordinance (UDO cleanup package, multiple articles) — First reading to amend Articles 1, 3, 6, 13 and 14 of the City of Conway Unified Development Ordinance to clarify annexation and zoning procedures; planning commission recommended approval.

- Ordinance ZA2025-16-6D — First reading to amend Articles 4 and 5 (noncommercial livestock/fowl rules) to permit related accessory structures without a primary dwelling on lots of at least 5 acres and to add Rural Residential as a permitted district under stated conditions; planning commission recommended approval.

- Resolution (MASC Big Idea grant local match) — Council approved a resolution committing a $5,000 local match for an application to fund a splash pad at Smith Jones Park; staff will file the application before the published deadline.

- Contract recommendation (sidewalks/repairs) — Council advanced the recommended contract after staff reported Jail Works LLC was the low bidder for the sidewalk repairs and improvements procurement.

Council discussion was procedural and focused on next steps and clarifications about public access to redacted application documents (staff said unredacted versions are kept in the office but some data are redacted from public copies to reduce fraud; unredacted files can be viewed in person). No items were adopted on final reading at this meeting.

(Planning staff and presenters noted that most items had already been considered by the planning commission on Sept. 4; where required the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to council for final consideration.)