Council approves series of annexations, rezonings, a $9.01 million STIB budget amendment and economic development MOU

Aiken City Council on June 23 approved a package of annexations, rezonings, budget amendments and economic development measures, mostly by unanimous votes and generally on second reading or by consent.

Votes at a glance - Budget amendment (road maintenance fund) to budget a $9,011,833 STIB (State Transportation Infrastructure Bank) grant for the Powder House Connector — approved on second reading, unanimous. The budget ordinance amends FY 2024–25 to accept the executed intergovernmental agreement and the STIB funds.

- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Aiken Corporation — approved unanimously. The MOU establishes a $750,000 revolving loan program from the plutonium fund to support infill development and streetscape and is intended to be administered by Aiken Corporation as fiscal agent.

- Annexations and rezonings (second readings/approvals unless noted): 1206 Pine Drive NW (annex to RS‑10) — approved; 744 Collins Ave (annex to RS‑15) — approved; 3037 Old Powder House Road (annex to PR, ~9.83 acres) — approved; Abbeville Ave & Perron St rezoning GB→RML — approved; 115 Greg Ave (Aiken Unitarian Universalist Church) RS‑15→LP — approved; 1725 Whiskey Road GB→PC with concept plan (former Zaxby’s) — approved; Sunday Ave & Jake Place (16.21 acres) rezoned RS‑10→PR with concept plan for 144 multifamily units — approved; Rutland Drive & DuPont Drive (19.04 acres) RS‑10→PR with concept plan for 192 multifamily units — approved; many smaller annexations and rezonings on first reading (Linwood Drive, Jahosie Drive, Park Avenue SE, Dougherty Road parcels, 620 Lawrence St rezoning to GB) — moved forward.

- Approval to certify Market Side Village buildings as a textile mill site under the South Carolina Textiles Communities Revitalization Act (first reading) — approved on first reading; this certification is part of eligibility for state tax credits tied to adaptive reuse.

- Resolution accepting a deed of dedication for sanitary sewer at Summerton Village Section 5 — approved after inspection and departmental recommendation.

- Resolution to continue participation in the Lower Savannah Regional Housing Consortium — approved, no change to CDBG allocation.

Meeting context and votes: most items drew no extended public opposition and were approved unanimously on second reading following planning‑commission recommendations. Council recorded unanimous or near‑unanimous support for the package; where public comment was made it was primarily informational or supportive (for example, local nonprofits and residents praised Umoja Village’s anniversary proclamation and Rose Hill redevelopment proposals).

The STIB budget amendment drew brief explanation from staff: the $9,011,833 will be recorded in the road maintenance fund per an intergovernmental agreement tied to the Powder House Connector's first phase. The council approved the amendment on second reading.

The MOU with Aiken Corporation drew comments from Buzz Rich and other Aiken Corporation leaders who described past revolving‑loan activity and said the program will be structured as loans intended to be repaid and re‑lent. Council members discussed neighborhood engagement and representation with the corporation.

Clarifying details: many second‑reading ordinances were approved following unanimous planning‑commission recommendations; where first reading items were moved forward the applicant often requested continuances or initial reviews at the planning commission. The city’s stormwater standards were repeatedly referenced as more stringent than county standards; annexation into the city changes which standards apply to future construction.

What’s next: most rezoning/annexation items will return only if applicants require additional waivers or if concept‑plan conditions are not met; administrative and technical reviews (traffic studies, landscape/tree preservation plans, DOT approvals, and plan resubmissions) remain prerequisites for building permits and final development approvals.