SPECIAL NOTE – On Thursday, Sep 24 I attended the SCDOT Public Information Meeting at Town Creek Baptist Church to review the planned improvements for Silver Bluff Road. It was well done and in accordance with the wishes of residents and City staff. A glaring deficiency, however, was the omission of a traffic signal at Town Creek Road. While our representatives to the Augusta Regional Transportation Commission will discuss this at future meetings, it is important that your voice be heard. If you support installation of a traffic signal please write to:
Mr. Kevin Gantt
SC Department of Transportation
Post Office Box 191
Columbia, SC 29202-0791
You should clearly state your desire for a traffic signal at Silver Bluff Road and Town Creek Road and support your request with any details you feel are important. Written comments will be accepted until October 9, 2009.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY - The annual St. Mary’s Chocolate Festival will be held Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ADPS Director Peter Frommer has approved their request to close Fairfield Street between Park and Richland Avenues from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. that day.
ELECTION RESULTS: Based on the recent primary election, the City will not be required to hold a General Election in November. However, current Council members will serve in their positions until the second meeting in November which is Monday, November 23. At that meeting the election results will be ratified by the current City Council and the individuals who won the recent election would be sworn in and begin serving the new four year term.
SECOND READING FOR ANNEXATION REQUESTS – At tonight’s meeting City Council will be asked to annex (voluntary) the following properties:
a. 131 Vivion Drive
b. 503 Douglas Drive
c. 111 Collier Street
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTY AT 422 SOUTH BOUNDARY FROM RS-15 TO RSS – This ordinance, if passed, will allow the owners, by right on the 2.38 acre property. Currently under RS-15 zoning, the property could allow by right five additional single family dwellings. By rezoning the property, it will continue as a single family dwelling on property and allow horses. This property is adjacent to Hitchcock Woods.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE REGARDING BED AND BREAKFAST/MEETING FACILITIES – This change has been requested by Stephen Mueller who operates the Rose Hill Bed and Breakfast facility. It would allow amplified music until 10:30 P.M.; the ability to serve meals from 7:30 A.M. to 11:00 P.M.; allow concerts every other week; and allow New year’s Eve events to extend until 12:30 A.M. on New Years Day with amplified music. The change would apply to all bed and breakfast facilities meeting certain criteria. At our last meeting, it seemed that Council would approve this request except for extending the time for amplified music from 10: P.M. to 10:30 P.M. There were some objections to extending the time, but the issue is still open for further discussion.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX PROPERTY ON LYNWOOD DRIVE – The owners of property at 134 Lynwood Drive are requesting annexation through their back property line to receive city services. They are interested in our solid waste services and other benefits of being in the city. The .41 acre property is compatible with our RS-15 zoning, and the Planning Commission unanimously recommended annexation of this property.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTY AT 217 GREGG AVENUE: The Seventh Day Adventist Church currently occupies a 1.93 acre site at 217 Gregg Avenue under the RS-15 zone. The subject property is currently occupied by the church which is permitted through a special exception approval in the RS-15 zone. When it was annexed in 2002 there was already a church present on the site, and therefore it became a legal use. Under the RS-15 zone it can continue as a church or up to four-single family dwellings on 100 foot-wide lots of 1,500 square feet each. They would like a zoning change to Limited Professional which may not be compatible with the surrounding areas. A question came before the Planning Commission to determine if this was spot zoning, and the answer was yes. The LP zone prohibits retail trade and its primary intent is to serve as a transition between more intense commercial use and existing residential property. The surrounding area is residential with single-family homes on three sides and multi-family homes on the fourth side. The Planning Commission at their September 15, 2009, meeting voted unanimously to recommend denial of the rezoning on Gregg Avenue because it is spot zoning and inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE USE OF LANCASTER STREET FOR AIKEN GOLF CLUB PARKING: At the July 7, 2009, Design Review Board meeting, an application was received from the Aiken Golf Club to use a portion of Lancaster Street south of Highland Park Drive for parking. This area has been used for parking over the last several decades, and they would like to create a better defined parking area. The new area will have a crushed gravel base with granite screens on top and a retaining wall will be built to minimize any fill around the existing trees. The Design Review Board unanimously approved the work in the right of way off of Highland Park Drive and Lancaster Street. Larry Morris recently met with consultants for the Aiken Golf Club to receive the necessary details concerning drainage for this newly created area. He states in his memo that the drainage will be spread across the course to maximize infiltration of the additional stormwater runoff. After reviewing these plans it is his recommendation that Council approve this new parking lot design.
AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 CITY COUNCIL MEETING http://www.cityofaikensc.gov/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1107&cntnt01returnid=277.
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