Council adopts Pine Tree Lane rezoning; approves first reading to rezone 290 Willis Street to C1

The Batesburg-Leesville Town Council closed a public hearing and adopted, on second reading, an ordinance rezoning the parcel on Pine Tree Lane (Lexon County TMS 006026-01-011) from R2 general residential to R1A single-family and manufactured-house residential after no members of the public spoke at the hearing.

Separately, the council approved first reading on an ordinance to rezone two parcels at 290 Willis Street and on Ethridge Street (Lexon County TMS 007028-02-018 and 007028-02-015) from C2 office and institutional commercial to C1 general commercial at the owner's request. The owner appeared to authorize a representative, and staff noted the Planning Commission gave unanimous approval at its March 17, 2025 meeting. Council discussed the building's size (roughly 7,000'8,000 square feet), the property's prior use as a Dollar General, the absence of a concrete tenant at this time and neighborhood adjacency. "We don't have an intent; it's an investment property that we would lease to other businesses," the owner's representative said, describing the lot as built for retail but constrained under C2 zoning for tenants selling products larger than 2,500 square feet.

The Pine Tree Lane rezoning passed on second reading by roll-call vote. The Willis/Ethridge rezoning passed first reading; council indicated neighborhood compatibility concerns and asked staff to ensure future uses would not be disruptive. Both items will follow the town's ordinance process for subsequent readings and any required public notice.