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Votes at a glance: Aiken Council approves multiple annexations, rezoning, textile‑site certification and accommodations‑tax awards
Summary
At its July 14 meeting the Aiken City Council approved multiple second‑reading ordinances and grant recommendations in routine business, continued a developer request and certified a redevelopment site for textile‑focused tax credits.
Aiken City Council on July 14 handled a series of routine land use and finance matters with unanimous votes on second reading, a certification under the South Carolina Textiles Communities Revitalization Act and approval of accommodations‑tax grant adjustments.
Key votes and outcomes:
- Continued: Second reading and public hearing on an ordinance to annex 181 and 203 Thoroughbred Run and zone the parcels planned residential — continued at the applicants’ request to the council meeting of Aug. 11, 2025. Motion to continue was made by Councilman Gerardo and seconded by Councilman Woltz.
- Rezoning: Ordinance to rezone property at 215 and 221 Greenville Street NW from Limited Professional (LP) to Downtown Business (DB) passed on second reading unanimously. Staff said the rezoning (approx. 4.35 acres) would allow additional commercial uses and up to 55 feet building height under DB.
- Textile certification: Council approved second reading certifying a property in the 100 block of Williamsburg Street SE as a textile mill site under the South Carolina Textiles Communities Revitalization Act (Title 12, Chapter 65 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976, as amended) to allow the owner/developer to pursue state income tax credits. The project is the former Jackson Petroleum site; staff said investment is expected to exceed $25,000,000. Councilman Waltz recused himself from this vote; remaining members voted in favor.
- Annexations and zoning (second and final reading, each approved unanimously): - Annex 130 Linwood Drive; zone RS‑15 (approx. 0.39 acres). - Annex 424 Jahozie Drive; zone RS‑6 (approx. 0.18 acres). - Annex 1700 Park Avenue SE; zone Light Industrial (LI), approx. 1.94 acres. - Annex 948 Dougherty Road; zone General Business (GB), approx. 0.91 acres (currently a hair salon). - Annex 950 Doherty Road; zone Residential Multifamily Low Density (RML), approx. 1.38 acres (single parcel with two houses).
- Rezoning 620 Lawrence Street NW from split RS‑10/GB to solely General Business (GB) passed unanimously on second reading; staff said the change would allow an engraved stationary business and completes a corridor zoning transition.
- First reading: Ordinance to amend city code to allow consent agendas (section 2‑64 subsections 4 and 5) passed unanimously on first reading; public outreach and final language cleanups were requested by council.
- Accommodations‑tax (ATAX) grants: Council approved recommendations from the ATAX committee to allocate marketing funds for tourism‑related events for FY 2025‑26. Staff said an earlier estimate of $375,000 in marketing funding was revised to $475,000 after state revenues were received; the committee adjusted awards to reflect the higher amount and council approved the allocations unanimously.
Votes were unanimous where recorded, except for the textile‑site certification in which Councilman Waltz recused himself; council members present approved the remainder of the ordinances without recorded opposition.
