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Council gives first readings to several annexations and a Santee Cooper easement; rezoning item draws one dissent
Summary
At its March 16 meeting, Conway’s council approved first readings for multiple annexations (424 Maplewood Circle; 1121, 1125 and 1135 East Highway 501), granted first reading to an easement request for the state public service authority, and approved a rezoning first reading for 2487 East Highway 501 with one council member opposed.
The Conway City Council approved multiple first readings and related motions on March 16, including annexations along the Highway 501 corridor and a distribution easement request to the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper).
Staff introduced ordinance 20260420C to grant a 20‑foot distribution easement (10 feet on each side of the line) to Santee Cooper across city property adjacent to Sherwood Road, saying the easement supports landscaping and lighting related to a near‑completion grant‑funded project. The council approved first reading on a motion with unanimous support.
Council also approved first readings for three annexation ordinances:
- ZA 202260504A: annex approximately 73 acres at 424 Maplewood Circle. Staff said the parcel is adjacent to existing city limits and recommended first reading. The council voted to approve first reading unanimously.
- ZA 20260504B: annex approximately 63 acres at 1121 East Highway 501 (county highway commercial). Staff said the annexation is for first reading only; Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed zoning April 2. The council approved first reading unanimously.
- ZA 202604C: annex approximately 3.29 acres covering 1125 and 1135 East Highway 501. Staff explained the parcels had been combined in county records and that the annexation was prompted by utility connection requests. The presentation noted a vacant mobile home on the property and that if the property is rezoned highway commercial after annexation, the structure could be considered nonconforming; whether residential use may continue depends on proof of a lawful pre‑existing use. Staff recommended annexation as a logical city‑limit extension; the council approved first reading unanimously.
The council also considered ZA 20260504D, a first reading to rezone about 7.4 acres at 2487 East Highway 501 from a split highway commercial/light industrial condition to light industrial to eliminate split zoning. Planning Commission recommended approval and staff supported the rezoning; the council approved first reading, but one council member recorded an opposed vote.
During discussion council members raised appearance and corridor‑quality concerns for the Highway 501 entrance to Conway, the need to avoid expanding split‑zoning nonconformities, and the procedural path for verifying lawful pre‑existing residential uses before allowing continued occupancy.
All first readings were advanced as first readings only; Planning Commission and subsequent public notice steps were cited for final zoning actions. The council did not adopt final ordinances at the March 16 meeting.
