Aiken City Council approves annexations, rezonings, opioid funds and historic tax assessment update

The Aiken City Council on April 14 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions covering annexations and rezonings, a historic-property tax assessment amendment, a $396,170 opioid-recovery budget adjustment, and several routine permits and contracts.

The council held public hearings and took final votes on multiple land-use items, adopted a change to the city code governing special assessments for rehabilitated historic properties, approved the opioid-recovery budget increase to fund two non‑sworn response positions, authorized the city to apply for Safe Streets for All implementation funds, and selected an auditing firm for the next three fiscal years.

Why it matters: the land-use decisions reshape development options for multiple parcels in Aiken; the opioid funding adds staff capacity for outreach and prevention; and the tax-assessment change is intended to make the city's historic-rehab incentive align more closely with state programs.

Votes at a glance

- Annexation and zoning: 122 Vivian Drive — approved (second/final reading). The council approved annexation of approximately 0.6 acre at 122 Vivian Drive and zoned it RS-15, consistent with surrounding residential lots. (Transcript: ordinance introduced at 2981.63; action concluded at 3031.255.)

- Rezoning: 724 Richland Avenue West from Limited Professional (LP) to Office (O) — approved (second/final reading). The rezoning will allow office/institutional and retail/service uses; planning commission and council had recommended approval. (Transcript: ordinance introduced at 3064.891; action concluded with unanimous voice vote.)

- Rezoning: ~40.25 acres (Kershaw St / York St / Rudy Mason Pkwy / Buford St) from RS-10 to Planned Residential with an approved concept plan (202 lots) and an approved waiver of building-separation requirements for portions of the project — approved (second/final reading). Planning Commission recommended approval 3–1; council approved amended condition language at second reading. (Transcript: ordinance introduced at 3183.1301/3202.945; discussion and vote concluded at 3390.595–3398.4482.)

- Annexation and concept plan: ~51.61 acres on May Royal Drive and Osmond Drive, rezoned to Planned Residential with a concept plan (maximum density amended to allow up to 189 lots) — approved (second/final reading). Council amended paragraph 7 of the conditions to remove a requirement that a privacy fence be installed along entrance right-of-way; the final conditions retain perimeter buffers and other landscaping standards. (Transcript: ordinance introduced at 3802.2998–3814.1748; amendment and vote concluded at 4818.17–4896.91.)

- Historic rehabili…