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Council approves first reading for South Aiken High School campus improvements; traffic concerns flagged
Summary
Council granted first reading to rezone ~65.1 acres owned by the Aiken County Board of Education to Planned Institutional for campus improvements including about 103,780 sq ft of new building space, added parking, athletic fields and stormwater detention; council asked staff and traffic engineers to refine South Centennial turn/access plans before second reading.
The Aiken City Council on Jan. 29 approved first reading of an ordinance to rezone two Aiken County Board of Education parcels—site of Minnie B. Kennedy Middle School and South Aiken High School—to Planned Institutional and to approve a concept plan for campus improvements.
Staff said the proposed concept adds approximately 103,780 square feet of building space, additional parking and pedestrian, bus and vehicular circulation improvements across about 65.1 acres. The plan shows stormwater detention ponds and multiple new or relocated driveway connections; staff emphasized that SCDOT review and approval will be required for proposed street alignments and driveway changes.
Council members raised traffic‑flow concerns during the first reading, particularly the safety of left turns from South Centennial Avenue during school hours and student dismissal. An applicant representative and school district traffic engineers described planned driveway relocations, multiple exits to South Centennial and connections to the planned Powder House connector (traffic circle) that staff and the school district said should relieve congestion. Council asked staff to meet with district and city traffic engineers and bring refined turning‑movement and left‑turn design options back before second reading.
Ending: The rezoning and concept plan passed first reading with conditions tied to SCDOT approval and submission of a recombination plat if state rights‑of‑way are acquired; staff and school engineers agreed to return with more detailed traffic mitigation measures prior to final council action.
