Aiken council annexes right-of-way for Powder House Connector after residents raise flooding and forest-loss concerns

Aiken City Council voted unanimously April 20 to annex 7.08 acres of city‑owned right‑of‑way for the Powder House Connector, a multi‑phase roadway project the city says is designed to ease congestion on Whiskey Road.

The decision followed a lengthy staff presentation and more than an hour of public comment from neighborhood residents who said the connector would worsen flooding, increase traffic and cut through mature woods. Dr. Bob Van Pelt, president of the Mallard Lake homeowners association, told the council: “We urge the city council to pause and reconsider the zoning and annexation approvals tied to this quarter,” citing concerns about runoff, safety and loss of old‑growth forest.

City staff recounted the project’s two‑decade history, federal and state grant milestones and a phase‑1 groundbreaking. Staff said the city secured federal funding and a Transportation Infrastructure Bank award that together fund large portions of the estimated $40 million project and that phase 1 is expected to be complete by September 2026. The presentation emphasized that the current action is limited to annexing right‑of‑way and that the tract will not be zoned or developed with structures as part of this vote. “This is only talking about the roadway,” a city staff member stated during the hearing.

Multiple residents reiterated stormwater impacts. Brent Fowler, whose property lies downslope of retention ponds tied to the connector, described repeated episodes of flooding after more recent rains and asked council to account for changing runoff patterns before advancing annexation. A neighbor asked why zoning was listed when the application was for a roadway; staff said that was a scrivener’s error in the memo and confirmed the annexation carries no zoning assignment.

Council members acknowledged the concerns and said annexation would place responsibility for drainage on the city—meaning the city would be required to address stormwater complaints following annexation. Council members also urged residents to attend upcoming public information sessions and a second reading, where staff will provide additional detail and respond to technical questions about stormwater and adjacent property effects.

The council took a voice vote on the right‑of‑way annexation and the mayor announced the motion passed. City staff said they will provide a report and have appropriate staff and consultants available for the second reading to address how annexation will affect surrounding homeowners.

What’s next: The annexation was advanced on first reading; the council directed staff to prepare additional materials for the second reading, including a more detailed overview of stormwater impacts and mitigation plans.