Residents urge Aiken council to de‑annex narrow Dominion strip, councilors say eastward expansion unlikely

Multiple residents urged Aiken City Council on Sept. 22 to divest and de‑annex a narrow strip of land acquired in 2020 (referred to at the meeting as the "Dominion strip") and to preserve the East Side of Aiken for agriculture and equestrian activities.

Linda Murphy, an attorney who lives near Montmorency, said the East Side remains the "last remaining agricultural area to support the equine industry" and asked the council to keep it low‑density instead of enabling annexation and urban sprawl. "Please, therefore, I implore you to keep the East Side of town rural," Murphy said.

Several neighbors echoed that request. Samantha Melamed, who attends Aiken County planning meetings, said utilities moving into rural areas typically precede development and urged the county and city to protect the East Side. Farmer Lane Givens told the council the soils in the area are among South Carolina's best and said once farmland is developed "it's gone."

Council members responded to public concern during the meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Ed Girardot (named during the agenda item) said annexation east of Montmorency and Couchton had not been a policy in recent years and described the chances of that annexation as "slim and none," adding, "I can guarantee you it ain't gonna happen before I leave." Staff reiterated that the city is focused on issues within existing city limits and acknowledged the public's sentiment.

There was no formal annexation vote on the Sept. 22 agenda. Commenters asked the council to move quickly on returning the narrow parcel to avoid a future annexation push; councilors signaled general reluctance to pursue eastward annexation but did not adopt a formal binding policy at the meeting.