Council previewed annexation of 67.45 acres on Hammond Pond Road; second reading scheduled

City Administrator Jim Cliff presented Ordinance 2025‑28 at the Nov. 10 study session, proposing annexation of approximately 67.45 acres on Hammond Pond Road owned by William F. Hannan into North Augusta city limits for large‑lot (R14) single‑family development. Cliff told council the parcel is effectively surrounded by city property and annexation would align public‑safety coverage and city code requirements with the neighborhood.

Council members asked what would happen if the property remained in county jurisdiction. Cliff said the developer could still build under Aiken County rules and might connect to city SOAR infrastructure if granted a service letter, but the county’s code is generally less stringent than the city’s. Cliff noted that emergency response in an unannexed area would default to the county as the primary first responder, with mutual aid possible from North Augusta; the city would also forgo property‑tax revenue on development outside the city.

Council also questioned ingress and egress; staff said the development is planned with a single entrance onto Hammond Pond Road and that no guaranteed inter‑neighborhood road connection is required by the ordinance. Planning staff said potential future interconnections were identified in prior planning work but were not guaranteed in the current ordinance language. Council did not take a formal vote at the study session; this item remains scheduled as a second‑reading ordinance for the upcoming council meeting.