Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Votes Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
At a glance: annexations, signage waiver, business-license update, Powder House Connector IGA and opioid settlement approved
Summary
Council approved a slate of first readings for annexations and zoning, a signage-waiver concept plan amendment, an update to the business-license schedule tied to NAICS code changes, an intergovernmental agreement for the Powder House Connector and a resolution to participate in the national opioid settlement.
The Aiken City Council on Aug. 11 approved several items on first reading and one resolution, authorizing staff to proceed and placing many items on the Aug. 25 consent agenda if they pass unanimously at second reading.
Annexations and zoning: Council approved first readings for annexations at 117 Linwood Drive (approximately 0.39 acre, RS‑15), 2018 Pine Log Road (≈0.69 acre, RS‑15), a lot off Boardman Road (≈0.17 acre, RS‑15), 1450 Richland Avenue East (≈0.71 acre, General Business) and two city-owned parcels on Oak Grove Road (tracks A and B) tied to the Powder House Connector project. Planning-commission recommendations for these items were unanimously favorable; council members noted such items would be added to a consent agenda on Aug. 25 if second readings are unanimous.
Signage waivers: The council approved first reading of an amendment to the concept plan for a shopping center at Village Green and Silver Bluff (applicant: Woodside Aiken Peach LLC) seeking additional freestanding signage. The planning commission recommended approval with conditions: grant a waiver to the 'one freestanding sign per lot' restriction, decline a waiver to the 50-square-foot area limit and require Village Architectural Review Board approval before permit issuance. Brad Chell, representing the applicant, showed the revised sign illustration and answered questions.
Business-license schedule (NAICS update): Staff explained that federal NAICS reclassifications would lower business-license revenue by roughly $173,000; the packet proposed increasing the license rate by $0.05 per $1,000 in gross receipts to approach revenue neutrality. The council approved first reading; one member recused from that vote.
Powder House Connector intergovernmental agreement: Council approved first reading of an ordinance authorizing the city to enter an agreement with Aiken County delegating limited planning functions within the county right-of-way footprint for the project to meet federal funding timelines.
Opioid settlement participation: Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to participate in the national opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. Staff said the settlement will pay participating governments in 16 annual installments and noted national reporting of a roughly $7.4 billion nationwide settlement; exact local amounts were not yet known. Staff said settlement funds must be used for opioid-related mitigation.
