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Council approves two annexations amid concerns about spot zoning and private deals
Summary
Batesburg-Leesville council approved second reading for a 2.64-acre annexation on Broad Street and a first reading and rezoning of 28 acres on Sheileley Road to C2. Several members urged a townwide comprehensive zoning plan and cautioned against council appearing to favor private real-estate transactions.
Batesburg-Leesville — The town council approved two annexation measures on July 14, moving forward with an industrial annexation near the Norfolk Southern railroad and a separate annexation with a request to rezone 28 acres on Sheileley Road to C2 (office/institutional commercial).
A public hearing opened and closed without speakers on the Broad Street parcel, identified as Lexington County TMS 00600-09-011, and council carried the second reading to annex the 2.64-acre parcel. Staff said Vulcan Industries intends to install a rail spur to ship aggregate by rail rather than by truck, and the planning commission had unanimously recommended Industrial One zoning for that property.
At the meeting, several council members raised broader concerns about the town's approach to annexations. “At some point we have to do a master plan as far as a layout of these zoning''we need to make sure that we know what we want the town to look like and we need to zone it appropriately and not keep spot zoning,” Councilman Kane said during the second-reading discussion.
The council also heard a first reading to annex a 28-acre parcel near the intersection of Sheileley Road and Town Pond Road (TMS 0071000-07-043) at the request of property owners Scott Wesley and Christa S. McNab. Staff said the planning commission voted unanimously on June 16, 2025, to recommend annexation with a C2 zoning designation, and council members approved the first reading and the related rezoning motion.
Multiple councilors cautioned that approving a broad C2 zoning designation carries a wide range of permitted uses. “Once you rezone it C2, that property can be used for any of those items,” Councilman Hall said, noting the category includes schools, adult daycare, recreational facilities and certain commercial uses. Several members said they were uncomfortable if council action appeared to be tied to the timing of private real-estate closings; one member said the town should avoid appearing to "put its thumb on the scale" for private deals.
Council members asked staff to pursue a joint meeting with the planning commission in August to begin a comprehensive plan and zoning discussion. The council's votes on these items were recorded by district; both measures moved forward as described and will return for subsequent readings as required.
What happens next: The Broad Street annexation moves forward after second reading; the Sheileley Road annexation and rezoning advanced on first reading and will return for second reading and final action after required notices and any additional public hearings.
