Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Right. Good evening everyone. Welcome to our 2026 city of Aken Planning Commission meeting. And before the meeting start, I'll go over our um public forms. for the meeting. Meetings are public forums in which many opinions are expressed and the business of the city must be conducted. As such, discipline, honorable and professional quorum is paramount. Courtesy and respectful communication is required. During public comments periods of the meetings, all questions and statement from the public should be directed to the chair. If you wish to speak, raise your hand and the chair will recognize you. Please approach the podium and state your name and address in order to allow an opportunity for everyone who wishes to address the commissions. Speak. Speakers should limit their comments to the agenda items of application being discussed. Each speaker will be given five minutes to address an issue and may only address an issue once unless questions from the commissions are posed to the speaker. The next item on the uh agenda for tonight, we'll go over the approval for the minutes from the last uh regular session for December the 9th.

Mr. Chairman, like to make a motion to approve the minutes. Second. It's been moved that the minutes be accepted and second. Are there any questions? All in favor to raise the hand.

I didn't hear you. There's three. Three. So, we had just two to to vote, which was Clayton and uh Rosco. Correct. Yes. MSF. Three. Okay. All right. There are no old business under new business. The elections of office tonight and stated by the bylaws that officers should be voted in tonight. A chairman, vice chairman, and secretary are to be elected at the January meeting as soon as as soon as they're up [snorts] to make recommendations. We're ready for the recommendations.

Uh Mr. Chairman, I would like to nominate Charles Matthews for the position of chairman. It's been We need to second it. I'll second that motion. You second. And that is making sure I have your name, Scott. Correct. Yes, sir. It's been moved and second by Scott that I, Charles Matthews, be the chairman of the planning commission. Are we ready for the question? Are there a vote? All in favor, let it be known by the raise of hands. Thank you. Now I am in the hot seat. [laughter] Thankfully you don't have to move. Yeah, exactly. You want me to work?

Yeah. Now we need one for the vice chairman. U Mr. Chairman, I would like to nominate Clayton Clarkson for vice chair. Uh Commissioner Rosco nominated Clayton for the vice president. I mean vice chairman as well as it's been second by commissioner Caleb. Are there any questions? All in favor to so say a motion let it be known by raising hand. All right Mr. Clayton is now our vice chairman and do we still have to vote on now we need the nomination and normally our secretary is my so we need a motion as well. Still

Mr. Chairman I'd like to nominate Miss Moltry our planning director to be our secretary. I'd second that. All right. It's been nominated that Miss Meer be remain the secretary by Commissioner Clayton. It's also been second by Commissioner Rosco. Are there any questions? All in favor? So say a motion that it be known by raising your hand. All right, Miss Meer. Thank you so much.

Election. All right, moving right along to application B. Application number 26-200012, request by Lewis M. Duncan for annexation of a single family dwelling on 47 acres, excuse me. And um this is for an annexation. Is there anyone here that would like to speak in favor of this? Are there anyone here that would like to speak against it? Okay, back to the commissioner.

Mr. Chairman, in regards to application 26-200012, annexation request, current zoning RSC, proposed zoning RS15. I make a motion that we move to city council for approval.

Second. It's been moved by Commissioner Clayton and also second by Commissioner Caleb that we send this to city council for approval. Are there any questions? All in favor to start said motion let it be known by raising your hand. Unanimous. Moving down to H, excuse me here, item C. Another annexation request application number 26-200013. Current zoning residential single family RC as proposed zoning is residential single family RS10. Are there anyone here that would like to speak in favor of this application? Anyone here that would oppose this application? Back to the commissioners. Mr. Chairman, in regards to application 26-200013, annexation request, current zoning RSC, proposed zoning RS10, I make a motion that we move to city council for approval. And I'll second that. Okay, it's been moved by Commissioner Clayton that we send application number 26200013 and second by Commissioner Scott to city council for approval. Are there any questions? All in favor say let it be raised by known by raising your hand. Sorry about that. We're down to item D which has been removed from the uh application process tonight. We'll move on to application E. Application E is a number 26-230002

concept plan revision tax partial number 122-17-4-00004 application coffee talk 7 LSC. Are there anyone here that would like to speak in favor of this?

Um yes sir. My name is David Banks. Um I I represent Coffee Talk LLC, Coffee Talk 7, I believe it is. Um beginning of this year, uh we or the beginning of last year, we got the had to go through a a a PD review and approval through the city. Um and got that. Um, one of the questions that came up at the time was [clears throat] about a cooler that is external from the building, uh, which you can see this is a concept plan that we submitted with that, uh, and shows the three arrows. Uh, that was approved at that during the planning commission meetings and at the city council meetings. Um during construction, to be honest with you, the the corporate came up with a revised wrap. It's called a that's a cooler. There's a wrap around it. It's a vinyl wrap. And the contractor and and owner at that time proceeded with that revision, but did not realize it was a something that should have come before this this group and and the city council. I guess it goes to the city council more um you know for approval. Um the one the one question I think that really came up is there is a it's a 7B which is their symbol for seven brew. Um as a watermark in this wrap and it it and that considered it as a sign versus um versus just a common wrap around a a structure. Um, so we do request that this this change. I do have blowups a little bit better where you can see that seven brew. I can pass those out if

y'all want to. I don't know [clears throat] the the u information that came to me by email was not very clear on that. Um, and I'm willing to give those. I have them here if y'all want to look at them a little bit closer. But it is the I believe the the 7B which is the problem uh that we're requesting that that be allowed on this um this sign wrap. I think there was actually some discussion that it's so small. Yeah, it is it is very small. It's probably about 3 or 4 in

and it is like a watermark like you have on a piece of paper you like if you have a letter. We were actually treating this more as just a change in the mural design and not so much as signage. Yeah, that whatever whatever that is. You know, I I didn't [laughter] it's it's kind of this isn't I don't do signage. So, yeah, but I I I do have blowups these areas where you can actually see the watermarks a little better. If y'all want to see those, I'm will, you know, be happy to give them to you. I think that's it. Any questions from the commission? Okay, thank you.

Are there anyone here that oppose this application? Okay, back to the commissioners. [clears throat] Uh, Mr. Chairman, in regards to application 26-230002, concept plan revision for tax partial number 122-17-04-00004, uh, zoning PC. I make a motion that we move to city council for approval. Second.

Okay. It's been moved by Commissioner Clayton at application number 26-230002 concept plan revision as well as second by Commissioner Rosco that we move this to city council for approval. Are there any questions? All in favor of so say motion let it be known by ra. It's unanimous. Okay. Item F, application number 26-230001, concept plan request tax partial number 123-11-01-00003. Applicant, South Carolina State Federal Credit Union. And is there anyone here to speak in favor of this application? Yes, sir.

Yes. Hey. Hi, Mr. Chairman. Um, commissioners, I'm Jim Kard. I'm the president and CEO of South Carolina State Federal Credit Union. Uh, we are a credit union that is a statewide institution. We have about a billion foreign assets, about 300 me uh 300 employees, and about 100,000 members across the state. Uh, we are looking to add a 20th location. uh second one here in Aken. Uh we will continue to we already have one over on the other side of town. This one is about five miles away and we're just looking to increase our presence in the Aken market. Um we built several branches along these lines uh which I have a couple of folks here with me to go into a little more detail uh with uh that with you all. Um Jeff Strickland is our engineer and John Ingler is the seller uh representing the sellers of the property [clears throat] we are the purchasers which as soon as the soil borings are complete uh we'll be consummating the purchase of that property. So uh if you'd like I'll I'll call these gentlemen up and if they have uh any questions they can explain. I think we had a couple just quick questions that we wanted to address. Jeff, you want

There were just a very few comments. State your name, please.

Jeff Strickland, civil engineer working with the developer. There are a few recommended comments I believe they're they're talking about and one was a traffic study update. Uh there were some discussion about trees and I can give some more information about the traffic study. I think they were anticipating some fast food restaurants there. So, this and the the Valvalene are much less dense than that. So, we're hoping that that doesn't require an update. That'd be a lot of money to spend for some something common sense that that says we're going to have less traffic. And then on the issue of the trees, we we just need to make sure we're presenting what we're doing. We're we're taking some trees out and we're putting them back in with units to compensate. Uh, and I think a a precedent might have been set for what you did with Valvaline. So, we want to make sure we match and get it right. There's I don't think we're asking for any relief or anything. We just need to understand how to present what we're doing.

Right. So, for um as far as the traffic study, I think we need to uh maybe get get in touch with Jennifer Beal, our traffic city traffic consultant. I've reached out to her twice and haven't got Okay. We'll we'll make sure that you know you you guys get in touch because I really feel like it's more just an update of uses in the traffic study. We understand it's going to be much less intensive because I think it was originally meant to be much, you know, more intensive uses potentially on the site. Um I don't think this is anything I don't want to speak for her, but I just feel like it's more just a simple of making sure everything's sort of reflecting what's actually happening on the ground. Um, so I don't believe it's going to be over something expensive. Let me put it that way.

I think the use on our property was a 5,000 square foot high turnover. Right. Right. Lower than that.

Um, and as far as the landscape um, is concerned. The only thing that had come up is that I know there was an overall tree survey that was done and it was just noted by my senior planner that in some of those trees that were noted to be saved may have just been one or two were going to be removed. However, we are only looking at the out your this particular parcel and that's just to update it to say because we do require perimeter plannings for for for this. So it it should be easy to basically say, "Okay, we've got to take out these trees that we thought were going to save. We're planting these in in, you know, in in in replacement." So that's really what we're doing. We just want to make sure that that is noted.

There is a little summary on the landscape plan and we're fortunate the same landscape architect did the overall plan. He's our plan. Okay. He denotes those significant trees. Okay, we're removing this many of them. That's this many units and here's what we're putting back. So there's a a summary there. We we'll look at it and make sure everything's straight. Okay. I think the intent there is to to make everything add up. Okay. That that's really all that was. Yeah. Are there any other questions from the commissioners? Uh the only thing I would add as far as you all did have an opportunity to look at the uh possible condition of approval and are you okay with those? The conditions I believe so it was u Yes. Okay.

All right. I'm John Ingler. I want to make sure they I did the development for the overall development for Lowe's and the and we'll do the rest. What's your last name, sir? Sorry. John Ingler from Augusta, [clears throat] Georgia. Sorry.

I just want to make sure that uh I think what Jeff's saying is because Jeff did do the design for the whole the whole hose and everything as well. So, uh, we're we're glad he's doing this project as well. But I think if you read the conditions, um, I think we could change maybe one word in the in number one and then see if we could uh maybe use the word revise on the traffic study in number four. Um I think we say it um with the landscape requirements of the zoning ordinance and the overall pud with the overall development would be grid on number one with the uh tree preservation and then for number four um not that we do a revised study that we just provide updated information because I think a revised study would be substantially more. Well, I think what Myra is saying is is that the revision just needs you can take the existing study but update it to reflect the the proposed use versus the old use.

Okay. Yeah. Having to revise do another study. You're just simply revising the existing study to update the current use as a credit union versus a restaurant. Is that right? That's correct. even a supplement like a letter supplement letter from the traffic engineer. Yeah. And I as far That's correct. I mean I don't again I don't want to speak for her. I just want to make sure that whatever information we have is is is consistent with what is actually happening on the ground and I do know that the intent was not to make you redo your study or anything. It's just to make sure it's actually reflecting what is happening. Okay. Yeah.

I had a question um on that. Number one, if we were to say that the development of this out parcel complies with the tree preservation and landscape requirements of the zoning ordinance, you'd feel more comfortable with that language. That sorry, I was reading. I missed about half of that. If we said the development of this out parcel complies with the tree preservation and landscaping requirements of the zoning ordinance, would that resolve the issue? That would definitely focus it on the out parcel. I think it's the opposite of what they're wanting. What you're wanting is is that the overall development why

that's correct. Now, so so just for clarity, what we are using is the overall tree survey. We are but we are only zeroing in on the out parcel to see it has changed the overall. So those counts we're using from the original and again if there's I think honestly I think it was like one tree or two max. Um, and that again with the whole landscape you would you would be required to do that's an easy fix. So that's all we're saying. We just want to make sure again what is actually happening is reflecting in the record. So right because we're fitting into a plan that was already approved we don't mess it up.

All right. Are there any other questions from the commissioners? Are there anyone here that object to this application? Okay. Okay, back to the commissions.

I've done like the first five like so like Okay, well fine. All right, fine. Application, Mr. Chairman, in regard to application 26-230001 concept plan um request tax parcel 123-11-1-00003 um plan commercial. Uh Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion that we move to city council for approval with the conditions as listed. Second.

Okay. It's been moved by Commissioner Clayton that tax partial number 123-11-01-003, application number 26230001, concept plan request zoning plan commercial. And it's been seconded by Commissioner Rosco that we send this to city council for approval. Are you ready for the vote? Are there any questions? Let it be known by raising your hand. All right, we're now down to application number 26-60004 reszoning and number 26-220005 concept plan partial number 122-10-14-00001 applicants Aken County Board of Education and is zone plan institutional. Are there anyone here to speak in favor of this application? Good afternoon. I'm Sheldon Hilderbrand with Hassan Hildbrand representing Aken County Public Schools. Um on the subject of the proposed resoning, um I'd like to just take a second to go over um what we have in mind doing here uh the the reszoning um affects Kennedy Middle School and um South Aken High School. Um the project that the school district proposes now is focused only on South Aken High School. Um we have ideas, they have ideas about some some things to do at Kennedy. um primarily all of those related to improving the traffic situation that's

there now. I mean, we had this discussion in the work session, but um for the benefit of um um council member Price, I'll I'll just go through this real quickly. Um the way the process works on schools is if you if you alter any roads on the campus, if you build a new school, um the plan is reviewed by the um state DOT um traffic engineer. It's reviewed by the district traffic engineer in Orangeburg and um those guys determine whether you need a formal traffic study or not. um it's about a 50/50 thing. A lot of times they'll review it and they'll recommend traffic improvements um and you don't. But in this case, we do have an independent traffic study. That traffic study is reviewed by all those folks plus Jennifer Beal who is the city's traffic engineering consultant. So, um a lot of thought has gone into this. Um the um and I I'm I'm sorry I keep calling it the Powder House connector, but um here is where the designer, the traffic engineer who has done some studies there is also our traffic engineer. So it kind of worked out. It worked out well. But um as you know there are a lot of traffic problems here. There's three schools that all come together here. Um prime one of the primary problems with traffic at South Aken High School. Now Kennedy dismisses a little bit earlier. South dismisses last, but um

South Lane in the afternoon Whiskey Road all the way to about right here and cycle turning south onto Whiskey Road is short. So that takes forever. And um what uh this plan proposes is two new connections over to the right on the South Centennial Parkway. Um which would in turn connect to the new patter connector to get all all of those folks down to the southside headed south and not get involved in this traffic light over here. Um which we think is a substantial improvement. um of the traffic on campus. Um student parking down in the lower left, staff parking in front, student parking um to the right. Um car drop off is that green loop that comes down in front there. Bus drop off is the um loop that comes down to the right of it. The big white strip in the middle is a a drop off can canopy that's shared for cars and buses. Again, um the focus here is to try to get people away from Pine Log Road and get them out um away from Whiskey Road primarily on the um Powder House connector. Um what you see new administration area um I don't even know all the elements here. There's a new a field and a functioning building here. Some um uh a competition gym. Uh some vocational um

uses inside that building. Um we've got storm water detention handled in in three locations where the water flows now. um uh they are not associated with this project, but they're um resurfacing the track here. A lot of things going on on this campus. Um and I would be glad to answer any questions you [clears throat] might have related to this. I guess I should get to the main point. Um the property is currently zoned RS10. um a more suitable zoning for a school is always planned institutional. We've done this before at um Aken High. We've done this at Aken Middle, maybe others, but um that better accommodates things associated with the school um setbacks, fence heights, um any incidental stuff that might um be related to a school use. obviously better planned institutional than RS10.

Uh so I do have a question regarding the traffic plan to send the traffic on to South Centennial. Is that proposed to have the traffic to only turn right to head south towards Tribute Parkway or would coming off of the South Aken from that road to the east right above the ballpark would that also be a left turn lane?

Um that is to be a full access. What the traffic engineer has found is that there is much less traffic that would, and I I hope I understand, there's much less traffic that would take a left turn here and go to the west to Pine Log than there is a right turn headed east to Pine to Whiskey Road south. So, um they've done traffic counts here. Um they have studied the intersection up here and I think I know where you headed on this um to look at maybe a traffic light, but that's not warranted.

No. Uh not so much a traffic light, but a uh potential island just to make a right turn versus turning left. Um because if I'm not mistaken, the entrance to it will be uh pretty much directly across from what's there for the uh apartment complexes across the road. So would they be able to make turn both ways, left and right, or they would just go right to go I'm sorry, I didn't understand. Yes, that's correct. Here, um my question. No. Is that the right one? Yes. Yes. on that particular intersection. Yes.

So is as you follow the yellow line, is that's just for a right learn. Is there a curb going in that area to make them required to turn right or are they going to be able to make a left turn? Full access. Okay. Full access. My only concern there is Yeah. So that now you're backed up. Oh, you are you Right.

Yeah. Okay. So, it'll be an actual left turn lane as well. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Are there any other questions from the commissioners? Thank you. You want to speak to the concept plan as well? Um, well, I think I just did. Okay. I'm sorry. I thought you I didn't know whether we're going to do these same time. I'll be glad to I'll be glad to do that. Yeah. If you just want to talk about some of the additions, some of the additional what? Some of the additions. That's really good. Oh, as to what's going to be there.

Yes. Oh, we I might be getting out of my um lane here, but I'll certainly if you're okay with it.

Um the the architect um included um some renderings in the um narrative. I assume you have a copy of that. and and all I can tell you is um is the look the look as you see in the narrative will be similar to the existing school. Um again the additions are the colored areas. Um renovation work inside the existing school. All administration will move to the front. Um they'll have classrooms and culinary and some other things inside the school. But um uh I am not versed in all the functions that will go on in the school. But what you see is what you get on these elevations.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone here to speak against this application? Back to the commissioners.

All right, Mr. Chairman. In regards to application uh 26-60004 reszoning and application 26-220005 concept plan for tax partial number 122-100-14-00001 current zoning RS10 proposed zoning PI I make a motion that we move to city council for approval. There you go. Okay. In regards to application number 26-2004 reszoning and application 26-220005 concept plan partial number 122-10-14-001 current zone RS10 proposed zoning plan institution PI are we ready for the vote? Are there any questions? All in favor to say that motion, let it be known by raising your hand. Okay, I that is it. The last item on the agenda for tonight is adjournment and we have a motion.

So moved. So moved. See, we have only city council does that. Yeah. Well, you can have a sidebar if you'd like to with us. Yeah, you can stick around. We're happy to talk with you afterwards. All right. Did we vote? Yeah, we need to vote. Yeah, we need to vote. I'm sorry. Hold up for a minute. You want us to go ahead and vote? We're going to go ahead and vote first and then we'll come to you. All right. It's been moved and properly second. Let it be known by raising your hand. Okay with meeting ajourned.