Aiken City Council approves multiple zoning changes, budget amendments, opioid recovery funding and tax-assessment update

Aiken City Council on March 24 voted on a package of ordinances and resolutions covering zoning and annexation, disaster grant funding, opioid recovery dollars and changes to tax-assessment rules for rehabilitated historic properties.

The votes included unanimous approvals on a second-reading budget amendment to accept disaster assistance grant funds from the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund, a budget amendment adding opioid recovery funding to the public safety budget, and an amendment to the city code aligning special real property tax assessments for rehabilitated historic properties with state rules. Council also approved several first‑reading zoning and annexation requests and a set of appointments to city boards and commissions.

Why it matters: The package combines near-term budget changes that add dedicated resources for home repairs and opioid response with land‑use approvals that will shape new housing and subdivision plans. The tax assessment change is intended to expand tools available to encourage rehabilitation of historic structures.

Key outcomes

- Disaster assistance grant: Council approved on second reading an ordinance to amend the FY2024–25 budget to accept $849,250 from the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund for the North Side redevelopment fund. The grant provides up to $30,000 per home for eligible repairs for owner‑occupied households at or below 80% of area median income. (First relevant transcript block: s=2465.36; last related block: s=2574.575.)

- Opioid recovery funds: Council approved a budget amendment to add $396,170 from the state opioid recovery fund to the general fund for two non‑sworn opioid response and prevention positions plus vehicles, training and equipment. Council recorded the award and authorized the appropriation. (Transcript: s=8398.16–s=8517.155.)

- Historic tax-assessment change (Bailey bill alignment): Council approved an ordinance amending Section 38‑8 of the city code to align special real property tax assessments for rehabilitated historic properties with state law, broadening the toolset for adaptive reuse of landmark properties. (Transcript: s=7965.26–s=8387.12.)

- Zoning and annexations: Council approved multiple zoning matters on first reading and moved others forward with conditions, including: annexation and RS‑15 zoning for 122 Vivian Drive; rezoning 724 Richland Avenue West from Limited Professional to Office Institutional; rezoning ~40.25 acres on Kershaw/York/Rudy Mason/Buford from RS‑10 to Planned Residential with a concept plan (approved by council on a 1st reading after amendment); and annexation and PR zoning for ~51.61 acres on May Royal/Osmond Drive with conditions and an amended concept plan (first reading passed). Several planning commission recommendations (sidewalks, landscape, traffic study, building separation waivers, fence and median conditions) were discussed and incorporated as conditions before second reading. (Representative transcript blocks: 2591.145, 2686.02, 2880.055, 5208.2354.)

- Appointments and committees: Council reappointed Sam Erb to the Planning Commission and appointed Katie Ruffin to the Election Committee; other nominations for boards and commissions were announced and some appointments approved. (Transcript: s=2369.325–s=2408.5.)

Voting notes: Where the transcript recorded voting language the clerk stated motions passed “unanimously.” In several first‑reading zoning actions council amended conditions and then approved the amended motions; those items will return for a formal second reading with ordinance language updated to reflect the amendments discussed during the meeting.

What council said: City staff and council emphasized that many of the zoning approvals include conditions: sidewalks, landscape requirements, traffic impact studies and mitigation measures to be required if SCDOT or the city's traffic consultant identify them. On the fiscal side, staff said the opioid and disaster funds were awards tied to state and national settlement distributions and that budget amendments are required to receive and spend the money.

Next steps: Many of the zoning items were approved on first reading and will return for second reading with ordinance language updated to capture the amendments council made on the floor. Staff will implement budget changes and proceed to hire or equip positions funded by the opioid settlement distribution, and will execute the disaster assistance program under the conditions stated in the ordinance.

Ending: Council completed the agenda with a number of action items that move funding and land‑use decisions forward; several items will require follow‑up administrative steps, traffic and engineering reviews, and formal second readings before becoming final.