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Aiken County planning commission approves 190-foot Verizon tower, tables manufactured-home park and advances zoning code changes
Summary
The Aiken County Planning Commission approved a 190-foot monopole for Verizon in Graniteville, tabled a manufactured-home park application after neighbor objections, postponed two Sage Mill items to June 18, and voted to advance amendments to how electrical generation uses are classified in the county code.
AIKEN — The Aiken County Planning Commission on May 21 approved a 190-foot monopole telecommunications tower proposed for Old Graniteville Highway and took multiple administrative actions, including tabling a manufactured-home park application and advancing a zoning-code revision for public advertisement.
At a public hearing, Wendy Florian, representing Xcell Towers III, LLC and Verizon Wireless, told the commission the unlit, self-manned tower would meet Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Communications Commission requirements and would support 5G service and increased data capacity for new homes in the area. Florian said the structure would be built to accommodate up to four carriers and that the design confines potential collapse risks to the compound. After brief discussion, Commissioner Andrew Marine moved to approve the tower with conditions; Vice-Chairwoman Liz Stewart seconded the motion and the measure passed by unanimous vote of the six commissioners present.
The commission then heard a public hearing on a proposed manufactured-home park at 551 Pine Log Road (MSP26-000001). Applicant Ben Turner described a plan for a 31.57-acre park with 40 manufactured homes and septic systems and said the project was awaiting approval from Beech Island Water for water service. Nearby residents Dora Rice and Michael Martin raised concerns about the number of septic tanks that would be allowed on the site, increased traffic on Pine Log Road, and loss of privacy from added homes. After discussion the commission voted unanimously to table the application for further review.
Earlier in the meeting the commission agreed at the applicants' request to postpone two Sage Mill Residential matters — a zoning map amendment from RUD to PUD A and the Hawthorne at Trolley Run preliminary plat (SUB25-000028, 41.58 acres, 102 lots) — to the June 18 meeting.
Planning Director Joel T. Duke led a discussion on proposed changes to how electrical power-generating uses are classified in the Aiken County code. Duke said staff recommends updating use classifications from a five-digit to a six-digit NAICS (North American Industrial Classification System) level so distinct generation methods can be distinguished. Under the staff proposal, fossil-fuel generation would be limited to industrial zones, hydroelectric generation would be allowed in certain districts as specified, nuclear generation would not be permitted in county districts, and many renewable-generation technologies would be treated as conditional uses in several districts. County Attorney Mr. Farrar told commissioners that state law constrains some local siting choices — notably transmission-line siting — and emphasized the county's authority and limits when reviewing facility siting.
The commission voted unanimously to request an extension from County Council to July 20 to allow additional review and public hearing on the proposed RUD permitted-use revisions, and separately voted to approve staff’s recommended edits to Table 1, Section 22 of the county code for public advertising. Both motions passed by unanimous vote of the members present.
Chairman Jason Palmer closed the meeting at 7:23 p.m. The commission’s next regular meeting is July 16, 2026; the items postponed by applicants are scheduled for the June 18 meeting.
