Council Narrowly Defeats Rezoning Proposal in Divided Vote
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson County Council narrowly defeated a zoning change on 35.16 acres on Hurricane Road on Tuesday night in a meeting that drew neighbors on both sides of the issue.
Council voted 3-2, led by County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn who moved to reject the change in zoning and with the votes of Councilwoman Cindy Wilson and Jimmy Davis. Councilmen Glenn Davis and Greg Elgin vote against rejecting the change. Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders, who owns part of the property and Councilman John Wright, Jr., whose company is listing the property, recused themselves and left the room for the vote.
The proposed change would have changed the property from Highway Commercial District to Innovative Zoning District.
Dunn said he was voting against the change because of the perceived impact the rezoning could have on the community and to protect "the integrity of the Anderson County Council," since two council members, even though they recused themselves and even though he in no way questioned their integrity, have interests in the property.
Several dozen residents from the area at and around Hurricane road were at the council meeting to express concerns or support. I counted a nearly even count among those who stood up who opposed the project and those who supported it, with perhaps a slight edge to the opponents of rezoing.
Those who spoke in opposition the move said increased traffic and changing the character of the neighborhood was the chief concern. Those who favored the rezoning to Innovative Zoning District sited tax benefits to the county and said the new zoning would protect the neighbor from far worse development allowed under current zoning.
The current zoning of the land, Highway Commercial District, allows the development on major thoroughfares of commercial land uses which are oriented to customers traveling by automobile. Establishments in this district provide goods and services for the traveling public and also for the convenience of local residents.
Examples of businesses allowed in this type of zoning include hotels, bars, restaurants and entertainment establishments. Automobile-oriented services such as car washes, truck and auto repair, recreational vehicle support and services, machinery, and gas stations are also allowed, as are retail and wholesale goods, sales and services, offices, day care centers and nursing homes.
An Innovative Zoning District is mixed-use development for portion of land that generally cannot be classified through conventional zoning methods. It allows for flexibility in what can and cannot be constructed on the property and sometimes allows reductions in density or total square footage; increases in landscaping, open spaces and setbacks; minor changes to landscaping, lighting, location of land uses, parking and signage; and minor changes to site plans such as reorientation of structures, realignment of approved access, and a shift in approved density from one area of the district to the other. A mix of residential and commercial are often part of this zoning.
Also on Tuesday night, council approved the sale of the building which houses the Iva Branch of the Anderson County Library to Anderson School Dist. 3, which will use the property to consolidate operations for the district. Using a $500,000 grant, secured by S.C. Sen. Mike Gambrell, and funds from School Dist. 3, the library will open a new, modern, branch in downtown Iva.
Anderson County Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders recapped the meeting for the Anderson Observer.