Aiken City Council approves multiple annexations and concept-plan changes, advances budget and utility rate measures

Aiken City Council on May 12 approved a slate of land‑use ordinances and unanimously advanced several budget and utility measures after staff presentations and brief council discussion.

The council passed second readings and public hearings for concept‑plan amendments and multiple annexations and zoning requests, unanimously authorized economic development incentives for a workforce housing project, and took first‑reading votes to set the millage rate at 60 mills and to raise water, sewer and stormwater fees as part of the city’s proposed 2025–26 budget process.

Why it matters: the measures approved or advanced affect development patterns and housing supply (including a 60‑unit workforce housing project), the city’s utility revenue and rates, and the timing of capital projects such as a new water plant and stormwater maintenance. Several items approved on second reading take effect sooner; first‑reading items (millage, utility rate and budget ordinances) will return to council for final consideration as part of the regular ordinance process.

Most significant actions

Wellers Ridge workforce housing inducement: The council approved on second reading an ordinance authorizing economic development incentives under City of Aiken ordinance No. 08132018 for a project by Wellers Ridge SC LLC. Staff described the project as a 60‑unit workforce housing complex with a $16,600,000 investment, scheduled for completion in November 2025. The package includes a small number of deeply affordable units (staff said six units for households under 40% of area median income) and additional units targeted for households at or below 60% of AMI (staff stated 47 units targeted at 60% AMI). The incentives were described as capped at $70,000 in rebates; council voted unanimously to approve the inducement ordinance on second reading.

Concept‑plan changes and site approvals: Council approved a concept‑plan amendment for the Village at Woodside to restore a previously planned buildable parcel at 226 Society Hill Drive for a mixed‑use building; planning staff told council the revision had no expected adverse impacts and the planning commission had unanimously recommended approval. Council also approved a concept‑plan amendment for the Junction Shopping Center (near Whiskey Road and Powder House Road) to allow an approximately 0.014‑acre outparcel for an oil‑change facility; the planning commission likewise recommended approval and council approved the amendment on second reading.

Annexations and zoning: A series of annexation and zoning ordinances were approved on second reading and passed unanimously. Addresses and requested zoning included (as presented to council): - Pine Crest Avenue NW and Terry Drive — zone RMH (residential multifamily high density) - 1009 Murray Court — RS‑15 (residential single‑family) - 125 Vivian Drive — RS‑15 - 783 Westover Drive — RS‑15 (councilman Waltz recused from that vote) - 118 Lynnwood Drive — RS‑15 - 121 Linwood Drive — RS‑15 - 122 Linwood Drive — RS‑15 - 1411 East Pine Log Road — GB (general business), effective 2025‑07‑13 per the planning commission condition All were reported as consistent with surrounding uses and each had unanimous planning commission recommendations before council.

Budget, millage and utility rate measures (first reading): Council advanced first‑reading ordinances related to the 2025–26 budget process and utility rates. - Millage: staff presented a proposed millage of 60 mills and council voted to set that rate (first reading). Staff said the rate remains at 60 mills, unchanged from the rate set in 2021, and that the value of a mill for FY2025‑26 is approximately $232,000 per mill (as stated by staff during the presentation). - Water and sewer: staff presented a rate study and recommended an 8% increase in water and sewer rates for the utility enterprise fund. Using the staff examples, a baseline residential user billed on 800 cubic feet would see an increase of about $5.01 per month; users at about 400 cubic feet would see roughly $3.28 per month and 200 cubic feet users about $2.46 per month. Staff noted 22,070 meters exist in the city and that 91.7% are the standard residential meter size. - Stormwater: council advanced changes to the stormwater fee structure. Staff explained the current ERU (equivalent residential unit) benchmark and that most residential customers would see an increase from $7.90 to $9.09 per month; very small‑lot customers (under 10,000 sq. ft.) would move from $5.93 to $6.82 per month. Staff said the city implemented the stormwater fee in 1992 and has increased it only three prior times (2003, 2015 and 2019).

Other procedural items: council approved a set of reappointments to city boards and committees and approved minutes and agenda changes at the start of the meeting; these routine motions passed unanimously.

What’s next: Items passed on second reading became final as ordinances per council action at the meeting. Items advanced on first reading (millage, utility and stormwater changes, and the budget ordinance) will return for the required second/final reading(s) before those ordinances take effect. Staff indicated the new water plant project is planned to come online in early 2027 and that FEMA reimbursement for storm recovery expenses was being pursued and may affect budgets in coming months.

Votes and unanimity: Council recorded unanimous support for the matters reported during the meeting; where a recusal was stated (783 Westover Drive) the council proceeded without the recused member. The planning commission recommendation was noted as unanimous on the items referenced in this report.

Meeting context: Most land‑use items were described as routine and came to council with unanimous planning commission recommendations; the Wellers Ridge incentive received more detailed staff presentation because of its affordable‑housing components. First‑reading votes on rates and the budget followed a series of staff work sessions and a rate study update earlier in the year.

For readers: council materials, staff reports and planning commission minutes contain the full technical exhibits and zoning maps referenced in these votes.