County Council - Regular Meeting

Wherever whatever towed Michael's truck this morning.

Good afternoon, welcome to the Lexington County Council meeting of 11/18/2025. Glad to see you joining us today here in person and also to remind maybe the viewing public and you folks here before us that you can go back and watch this meeting again. The council website, go to our portal, you can call the meeting or any other of the meetings afterwards. They've been recorded. Before we get underway, we're gonna have the invocation and the pledge of allegiance. I'd like to turn the time over now to vice chair Conwell for the invocation and the pledge.

Our invocation tonight be led by Brent Hyatt, director of public works.

Not eligible.

I Brent has been with Lexington County for over thirteen years. He began in July 2012 after graduating with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Brent is a licensed professional engineer after serving the county engineer from 2019 to 2021. Brent was appointed to his current role as director of public works in January 2022. Brent's been married for eight years of his life with wife Victoria. They have two sons, Gabriel, four, and Anson, four months old. Brent is an active member of Gantt Street Baptist Church in Casey where he serves as a volunteer on the safety team and leader in youth ministry. Brent?

Thank you. That's Brent. You say something, before you say a prayer, if you don't mind. May I ask her? Yes. Brent's last meeting is tonight. With my dismay, Brent and I worked together through public works since when he was green behind the ears, I think. But he had two children while I was there and we're going to miss him. He has his family, lives in North Carolina. He has an opportunity to move back to North Carolina to be with his family as his parents are aging, his mom's aging.

And I want to tell you from my personal experience how much I appreciate you as an individual more than even as an employee and you don't work for me. We work together and you did a great job and hold your head high and I come to Charlotte a good bit. I'll see my kids and I'll give you a call. We'll have a lunch.

That just translates into he's gonna follow you up to to Charlotte every now and then

just to see what's going on.

Because he

has Yeah.

I have to change my number.

I like Charlotte. Inspiration to warning.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Appreciate you bringing that.

Brent, we're gonna miss you, but we really wish you the best.

Thank you, ma'am. Let's pray. Lord, we love you. Thank you for your love towards us demonstrated by sending your only begotten son to live and die and rise again for us. Thank you for allowing us to be together today. We pray that you would guide our leaders here, bless their discernment, pray that you would be with us in this council meeting this afternoon, that all discussion and decision making would be appropriate for Lexington County and acceptable to you. Thank you for your faithfulness, your blessings, and all that you do. In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen. Thank you, Brent.

Tonight's pledge will be given by Robert Crawford. He was on he will be unable to attend tonight, but mister Lundin will fill in for him. But, his bio is Robert served in the United States Navy from 1975 to May 1992 where he worked as a technician. He's a veteran of both Vietnam War and Desert Storm. During his service, Robert received numerous awards and decorations including the Navy Achievement Medal, one device, the Good Conduct Medal with four stars, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one star, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Overseas Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Materias United commendation medal with one star.

After his military career, Robert worked for Lance Medical in Zionville, Indiana for four years. He then settled in Lexington, South Carolina with his wife, Pauline. Together, they have nine children and 18 grandchildren. I

pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thanks, Ed.

By the way, I don't plan on moving.

Alright. Since we have a chairman's report of which I don't have any outside meetings of which to report since we have last met, Council have anything they would like to report of any activity since we last met?

Mr. Chairman, if I may, I've been busy last week attending lots of different meetings. One, myself and Brent Hyatt attended the BNL town council meeting last Monday about a county road closure, Francis Street in the municipality of BNL. Just wanted to make sure that they were aware of this and gave their blessings and they did. So I thank Brent for coming and helping me out to answering some of the questions that they had.

Second meeting was Joint Municipal Water Sewer Commission connection to Baceburg Leesville. Baceburg Leesville has water. So that's a wonderful thing that's been way past due, finally connected. I want to thank Cliff Fisher and Todd Cockrell for attending with me. But that's a good day for BNL that they have water for their future.

Also attended Lexington County Fire Service Award ceremony last Thursday, I think it was. Cliff was there as well, Cliff Fisher, Lynn, Ms. Durkey, Teddy Luckadoo, and Margaret Fisher was there as well. But that's always a good, banquet that I like to attend. They they give the service awards and the lifesaver type awards, and I think it's a good thing to know how our responders are helping our community and saving lives in Lexington County.

So I wish the news would give it more broadcast because that's what people need to know is how we're saving lives and not how we're destroying things and messing things up like newspapers like to report. But it's always a good thing and I enjoyed attending.

That's all, mister chair.

One thing I would recognize is that we did have a national holiday since the time we met and that was Veterans Day. And for all those that are veterans here with us this evening, I just belated happy Veterans Day to you and thank you for your service. Yes. We'll continue to move on. Mister Sturkey, administrative support, sir?

Thank you, mister chair. Just one announcement tonight, and that's that the county administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. That's it, Mr. Chair.

Great. Alright, folks. In front of us, next is resolution. This is an amendment to resolution as part 2,404. Is the establishment of the creation of capital sales tax commission.

Move to approve, sir.

Actually, we met earlier today in committee and discussed this and it passed unanimously by the full council to be brought out. Got a motion for mister Hudson to approve this resolution or is there a second? Second. Second by mister Britton. Alright. I think we've discussed this a little earlier. I think it's all covered. Are we prepared to vote?

Councilwoman Kehrig? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell?

Yes.

Councilman Hudson?

Yes.

Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullum?

Yes. And just to make clear for the public, resolution basically states that we're gonna move our referendum date possible penny tax from November 2026 to November 2027. R twenty four zero four. Right next before us, we have appointments. Are there any appointments before us we have to make today?

I have two I'd like to make. I know them both very well. I'd like to reappoint Lynn Dooley for the Lexington, Richland County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council.

Okay. Motion, mister Hudson?

Yes. It is a motion to.

Second. Motion to reappoint. Is there a second? Second. Barag seconds. Alright. No comment or question. Please call for the vote.

Councilwoman Carrick? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell? Yes. Councilman Hudson? Yes. Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice Chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullum?

Yes.

And also, would like to reappoint I don't know where is Jacqueline, but Bootsie Wynn. That is my motion for the Lexington Richland County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council.

Thank you. Mister Hudson makes a motion to reappoint. Wynn, is there a second? Second. Mister executes the motion. Climb in a question.

Councilwoman Kehrig? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell?

Yes.

Councilman Hudson? Yes. Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullen?

Yes.

Mister chair, I have one. Yes, I would like to reappoint Bruce Innocenti to the board of zoning appeals.

Makes a motion to

I'll second.

Ms. Wessinger, got it.

Ms. Wessinger has a second. Any comment or question on this reappointment?

Councilwoman Carrick? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher? Yes. Councilman Cockrell? Yes. Councilman Hudson?

Yes.

Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice Chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullum?

Yes. Alright. We're gonna move on from our boards and commissions next before us the minutes of 10/28/2025. Are there any motions on the floor to approve those minutes?

Move to approve 10/28/2025 minutes.

The commission makes a motion to approve the minutes. Is there a second? Commissioner Conwell has made a second. Alright. Question on the minutes.

Councilwoman Carrig? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher? Yes. Councilman Cockrell?

Yes.

Councilman Hudson?

Yes.

Councilman Brigham? Yes. Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullen?

Yes. Alright. Moving along. We have next before us. First one is Ordinance twenty five fifteen. This is the Ordinance authorizing pursuant to Chapter 44 of Title 12, Chapter one of Title four of South Carolina Code of Laws. The execution and delivery of a fee agreement, a special source revenue credit between Lexington County, South Carolina and Burton Road Partners LLC and Wajo Pouches North America Inc, formerly known as Project Columbus, and the benefits of a multi county industrial and business part to be made available to the project and other matters related here too. This is third and final reading. Is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Cochran makes a motion to approve ordinance twenty five fifteen as I have stated.

Is there

a second? Second. Hudson makes a second. All right. Third and final folks. This agreement, possible special source revenue credit. Any comment or questions?

Councilwoman Kehrig?

Yes.

Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell? Yes. Councilman Hudson?

Yes.

Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullum?

Yes. Alright. Next before us, we have approval of ordinance twenty five sixteen. This is the ordinance approving a contract for the conveyance of real estate from the county of Lexington to Quezon Development Group LLC. This is second reading. Is there a motion to approve ordinance twenty five sixteen? I will make a motion to approve. Item twenty five sixteen is stated.

Second.

Second by mister Bishop. This is real estate for Kenny Owens to Kaesong Development Group. Second reading. Any comment or question?

Councilwoman Carrick? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell? Yes. Councilman Hudson? Yes. Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullum?

Yes. Alright. We have a committee reports. First up is Conwell with economic development.

The economic development committee convened earlier today to hear a request for approval of the Lexington County Airport fiscal year twenty twenty seven, twenty thirty one. Airport capital improvement plan. The Federal Aviation Administration requested the ACIP be submitted by 12/05/2025. After a brief discussion, the committee moved to recommend a full council approval of staff's request.

Second.

I have a motion to approve the, Lexington County Airport.

Second.

May 2031, the capital improvement plan and the motion made by vice chair Conwell. Socketed by mister Bishop. Any comment or question about the airport?

Councilwoman Carrigg? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher? Yes. Councilman Cockrell? Yes. Councilman Hudson? Yes. Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullum?

Yes. Alright. Move along. Next, health and human services, mister Brigham.

Thank you, mister chairman. Health and human services committee met on Tuesday, October 28 to hear a request from fire service for approval to apply for the 2025 Walmart Spark Good Local grant in the amount of $5,000 to strengthen the Lexington County Fire Investigation Task Force. The primary objectives of the grant are to emphasize community safety, prevention and local impact and are aligned with and will help in providing the resources needed to support the fire investigation unit to purchase essential personal protective equipment, badge identification and high resolution documentation equipment to protect investigators, preserve evidence and improve the accuracy and consistency of origin and calls investigations. After discussion, committee approved it. That's my motion.

Second that.

Motion by Mr. Brigham. Approve the application to apply for Walmart Spark Good Local Grant.

And I

think I heard a second.

That's a lot. Alright.

Time and a question about this grant application.

Councilwoman Carrig? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger?

Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell?

Yes.

Councilman Hudson? Yes. Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell?

Yes.

Chairman Cullum?

Yes. Second item, Health and Human Services Committee met earlier today to hear a request from Library Services for approval to apply for the South Carolina American Revolution Sester Centennial Commission grant. Funds will be used to partner with Southern Campaign seventeen eighty to provide reenactors who will serve as facilitators and conduct ten one and a half hour educational programs at each library branch. Committee approve that. That's my motion.

Motion by mister Brigham to approve Nation for the South Carolina American Revolution's sister centennial commission grant. Is there a second?

I'll second. Nobody else seems to be speaking.

Wake them up down there, mister Hutch. Alright. We have a second by mister Hudson. Time and a question about the grant application. Hearing none, please call for the vote.

Councilwoman Kehrig? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell?

Yes.

Councilman Hudson? Yes. Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullen?

Yes. Hello, mister Brigham?

Yes, sir.

Leave it on mister Hudson. Public work.

Thank you, sir. Public works solid waste management committee met today. Actually, this was 10/28/2025. On Tuesday to hear a request from public works for approval to request the South Carolina Department of Transportation install no through truck traffic signs on Lindy Drive and Forts Pond Road at the request of the town of Peelian following adoption of the ordinance to prohibit truck traffic. After a brief discussion, the committee moved to recommend full council approval for the request for S E DOT to install no through truck traffic signs on Linde Linda Drive and Fort Pond Road in Council District 1.

It was unanimous vote and I'll make it my motion.

We have

a motion by mister Hudson to move along with their approval to request an SCDOT to install the no through truck signs. Second. Second by mister Bishop. Alright. Self explanatory.

Councilwoman Carrigg? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher? Yes. Councilman Cockrell? Yes. Councilman Hudson?

Yes.

Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullum?

Yes. Alright. That concludes our committee reports for the day. Next, mister Sturkey.

Thank you, mister chairman. Tonight, have five of them. The first one is an appropriation transfer of $1,023,856. This budget is being established to upgrade the critical power infrastructure and to improve improve reliability, reduce downtime risk, ensure long term operational resilience at our emergency operations center. This project will be 100% reimbursable from the state nine one one commercial mobile radio service, the CMRS capital reimbursement program.

This is to establish that budget. Next is an additional additional fiscal year funding increase of $500. Fire service received a donation of $500 from Tractor Supply Company. This is to establish or book those funds. Next is an appropriation transfer of $1,837,453.

This is to establish the account for economic development projects fund to purchase the property for future economic development projects. Next is an appropriation transfer of $309,439. As you know, we're renovating Station 10 in Lexington. We've had some items that has caused for project overrun, update upgrading of a transformer and electrical panel and supplies. We had savings in the state local fiscal recovery funds that we're able to move to to fill those shortages.

The Station 10 is being renovated by the state local fiscal recovery fund. So we have been able to manage working savings from additional projects that we realized savings into here to update to complete that station. And finally, an additional fiscal year funding increase of $1,900. The Friends of the Museum donated $1,900 to be used to purchase and install blinds in the

Fox

House. That's it, mister chair.

Alright. Folks, while those are doing down the day off, we've got three items under our bids and purchases. I'll entertain a motion whenever

Eleven and twelve.

Mr. Conwell has made a motion to approve on call cabinetry and countertop services item 10, our aggregate materials contract type tab 11 and the color road project tab 12. Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Mr. Bishop. I made a question about any of these three items. Two contract extensions and one is approval to Please call for the vote.

Councilwoman Carrick? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell? Yes. Councilman Hudson?

Yes.

Councilman Brigham? Yes. Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice Chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullen?

Yes. Okay. That concludes the business portion of our meeting today. Thirty, we have three public hearings, different ordinances, and we will be at 05:30PM. I'd like to call back to order today's Lexington County Meeting of November 18 in back in session and conducting

Gotta be loud, mister chairman.

You got it, girl.

Mr. Harry, do you want to translate for me?

Be glad to.

I'm certain. Again, welcome. I'd like to call the meeting back to order. We have three public hearings this evening, which we'll have the opportunity to hear from the public. The purpose of the hearings this evening is for us to have the opportunity and I mean us as the council, to have the opportunity for you to give us your viewpoint on the matter before us.

Each of these three matters which you may want to speak, would ask that we please be respectful of the people that are in the room one another and try to stay on topic as best as we can. Two of these matters are economic development matters and one is a land development manual manner. So, I would again ask that the conversation and the comments be directed to the council and not to the public which is sitting before us because we want to hear your information so that we can make a hopefully comprehensive decision about what you've told us and then we can continue through the process of hopefully maybe establishing these ordinances. So again, the purpose again is for us to please stay on task with the topics of which we've asked you to come and give us your opinion whether you're in favor or in opposition. First of we'll have three minutes.

And please be respectful of the other folks of time. There are a lot of people here this evening. And so if we can to try to keep those comments within the three minute period. Your first sound that you hear will be a two minute mark. Everybody may be familiar with the two minute mark if you're a football fan but that's your two minute mark that says that you've got one minute left and then the second beep will be your final three minutes.

And I would ask that if you're in mid sentence or your point to please draw it to close as quickly as you can again as there are many people here this evening that would like to speak. Lastly, if someone may have shared your same viewpoint as what your thoughts are on this matter, It's okay for you if you would like to you may stand if your name is called and you can just say I concur. However, if you want to speak, we want you to speak. So again, sometimes in groups this large that we do end up having a lot of repetitive comments. But you're free to speak and again, we invite you to be here to speak and tell us what you'd like to say.

That's just an option for you. So with that being said, we'll get underway and I want to open up the public hearing for Ordinance 2,507. So we are in session now and I believe Mr. Derek, and I'm scanning the room. Mister Derek is senior development director. He's gonna make a presentation on this proposed ordinance. Everybody still here? Is that loud enough for you? Can't hear me?

Thank you, mister chair, members of council. Before you tonight is ordinance 25 dash o seven. These are amendments to land development manual section six point two point nine allowable disturbed acreage. The proposed amendments are in complete addition within the county website. Just a few bullet points to mention to council and the members of the public here tonight.

The proposed text amendment looks at revised minimal acres of residential commercial disturbance to 25 without an expanded master plan or disturbance stabilization agreement. It will also allow up to 50 acres with an expanded master plan and disturbance and stabilization agreement for residential, which the provision from engineer for justification for the additional acreage. The current threshold is 20, it's a maximum 20 acres for residential and up to 60 for commercial. There should be 80% stabilization required for residential projects to increase the disturbed limits beyond the initial approvals. The proposed text would allow for a cash surety for the disturbance stabilization agreements.

Currently, level of credit is what's required. The expanded master plans will require five additional best management practices, also known as BMPs, as noted within the text, and the site conditions will warrant which BMPs will be utilized. There's currently a list of 14 within the text to choose from. Proposed text also requires notification signage to be placed on-site to have the contractor and developer information. It also requires mulch filter berms with silt fencing and turbidity curtains for certain situations that apply on-site.

It does allow for projects disturbing over the expanded master plan threshold, which is 50 acres but less than 75 acres to be presented before the stormwater advisory board and county council to seek approval. And this is again for the additional acreage and it's also to include the existing expanded master plan process and the additional BMPs. The corrective action plan measures can be implemented in advance of the improved corrective action plan provided staff and the project engineer authorize those measures. And best management practices not installed per the specifications shall result in an automatic stop work order. Again, this is the public hearing portion of it.

We've had first reading public hearing. This will go to Planning Commission this Thursday, and we'll still receive two more readings prior to any of these changes being adopted.

Before you leave, excuse me, the podium, does counsel have any questions for Mr. Derritt before we get underway? I just have one. So just as a recap real quickly, 25 is your basic

25 is a

break in application is 25 is is what it was prior to, I'm guessing, 21, 22, somewhere in that neighborhood.

25 was approved at staff level prior to some of our changes. 50 was approved at an expanded master plan.

Master plan. So now we have 25 is your basic area of disturbance. In order for you to go beyond 25 to 50, again at the staff level, you then have to demonstrate the BMPs of which you're going to employ, which have to be agreed to by staff. And to leave that first disturbance area of 25, you have to have 80% stabilization.

If you receive approval up to 50 to move forward beyond the threshold as approved either the 25 level or 50 level, you have to have the 80% stabilization.

And then it steps again to allow that you may go beyond the 50 to 75, but again, that goes beyond staff approval, correct?

It goes above 50, again, the expanded master plan, disturbance stabilization agreements, the additional BMPs that are required, but it also goes to the stormwater advisory board for review. They make a recommendation, the final arbitrator would be county counsel.

K. Alright.

Fair. And mister Derrick, the text says 60, not 50. Can we make sure that that is corrected to 50?

Say that now? Not less than 60.

Baffet says greater than 25 acres, but less than 60 acres.

Yeah. That's commercial? That's commercial.

Yes. Commercial.

There have been variations of the text where there was combined residential and combined commercial. So that one has a 60 acre threshold for commercial.

So just

to clarify, there's a difference between

residential We're separating commercial and residential, yes.

Got that cleared up? Okay. I'll make sure that we've got the correct data before we get underway, okay? Anything further for mister Derek? Alright.

Hearing none, let's get underway. First, we have online, and I would take that would be from email and our portal comment form. You have a a total here Position one zero two in favor of '28. So let that be recorded into gonna start this evening in favor of. Got a few folks that have signed up here that are in favor of.

Some wishing not to speak and those that do wish to speak. So if you've indicated you do not wanna speak on this list, I will not call your name. Will be entered into our minutes and our public record through the clerk's office. So first up, I have Shane Alford.

Shane Alford, 805 Whitewater Drive, Irmo. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the council. I rise today to speak on behalf of the revised ordinance. The old adage goes that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

I think that applies to time as well in that you have a beginning of a project and you have the end of the project and you want to get there as quickly as possible. Every 20 acres in a project that is limited to that is a stop along that timeline which adds time to the project. Why does that matter? The longer a project takes, the more it is exposed to weather. It's one of the key factors in development.

Specifically rainfall, which triggers most of the negative impacts that the public is concerned about. Limiting this exposure is not only achieved by slowing down limiting this exposure is not achieved by slowing down the process. It makes it worse. It's been argued that by the that the citizens of Lexington County lose tree canopy. However, when a project is submitted through the process for permit, the county applies its ordinances and grants its approval for the amount of land disturbance involved.

The acreage is established with that approval. No more trees are lost than are approved regardless of the weather as to whether it is done in 20 acre increments or not. It has been argued that waterways in the county are dirtied by increasing the acreage that is disturbed. Again, the acreage approved is the same. The biggest impact of disturbing the project, disturbing the project 20 acres at a time is just that, it adds time.

We're not talking about projects that are not being built, we're already talking about the ones that are being constructed. Argue that wildlife habitat is lost, same issue is applying there. Many arguments are raised in that regard. The fact is that in order to get from point A to point B, you want to get done as quickly as you can to limit the amount of disturbance to the community, noise, sound, traffic on the roads, all those things that apply when you're developing a community. Back that a project takes a protracted period of time due to the breaking it up in increments instead of going from point a to point b, but stopping 20 acres along the way is inefficient and it places a burden upon the county as well because their inspection staff are out there throughout that entire process.

If it's done quicker, they're not impacted as much either. Water resources that are being protected through the plan are enhanced by the BMPs that are being offered up in the options provided in the ordinance. And all of that comes into a better development process and a more efficient one and one that serves the population better. Thank you for your time.

Yeah, well thank you. And I failed to ask that when you do please tell us your name and your address. Would you politely give us your address, sir?

I did. It's 805 Whitewater

You did? Okay. I didn't catch that. My apologies. All right. Thank you. Next, Scott Morrison.

Evening. Thanks for the opportunity to speak to the council. Just want to say I am in favor of ordinance 2,507. This ordinance will allow new subdivisions to be developed in a more logical, efficient manner. And that's kind of what Shane's point was. But it's not only a safe time for the consumer, but also allow sites to be completed and stabilized more quickly and efficiently. This ultimately make housing more attainable and that's one of our big goals here. That's all

I got. Name and address, sir?

Oh, sorry. Scott Morrison, 212 Carriage Hill Court, Lexington. Thank you.

Alright. Next, I have here Corey Swindler.

Good evening. Excuse me. Good evening. Corey Swindler. 184 Hollow Stump Road. First off, thank you all very much. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for the collaboration. The previous and current ordinance only allows 20 acres to be disturbed at one time, which if anyone has done any work in their yard, if you were only to mow your yard two yards at a time or two cubic feet at a time or whatever, you know what, it'd take a pretty long time, but also you'd have to figure out how to do that. Currently, with our development, engineers are spending an excruciating amount of time trying to figure out this puzzle piece of how to only do 20 acres at a time.

The first thing that goes in a development is a stormwater detention pond. Typically, that's in the back of the site at the lowest possible portion of the site. To get there, you've got to put in a road, you've got to move some dirt, you've to build a dam, you've got to excavate. Right now, we are struggling extraordinarily to just do our job. It takes a very long time.

We get it stabilized. And at the end of the day, all that time is longer times that trucks are constructing the neighborhood, and it ends up in greater expense. The houses end up costing more simply because we're limited to disturbing 20 acres at a time. It's very restricting, and it doesn't achieve anything else than delaying the entire process and making our job extraordinarily difficult. I really appreciate the fact that there has been some collaboration here.

This shows, if you look at all the requirements for the BMP improvements, all the communication, all the reviews, this is not just a blanket rule of you can't disturb more than 20 acres, period, point blank. This is if you are going to disturb more than the 25, this is what you have to do. This is how it will better the community. This is how it will restrict and make sure that you're doing what's proper. So thank you all very much. I am absolutely in favor. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next, I have here Emily Martin. Martin? Oh, very good.

Emily Martin, 1644 Main Street, Columbia. Hi. My name is Emily, and I'm here on behalf of the builders tonight. Thank you all for your time, staff, the public. I know everybody wants to go home, so I'll try to make this quick.

Essentially, I just wanna say why this is positive for the community. I'll let the developers speak to why it's better and more technical terms. But, essentially, right now, when developers can only work on small sections of land, as we've heard, it drags projects out, keeps construction going. But when we let them work at a little bit more than once, we are also adding in the environmental bear or rules such as stronger erosion control, storm water protection, and faster stabilization, therefore, amplifying the effect of protecting the environment. And so with the community, they also benefit from allowing this ordinance to pass through, less time living around construction, less time on the roads behind the construction equipment, cleaner roads, cleaner waterways, fewer runoff issues, and most importantly, as mentioned before, lower housing prices as affordability is a crucial issue not only in the Midlands, but also specifically the county of Lexington.

And by bringing these rules in line with surrounding counties, developments can be better planned, managed, and not only better for the community and the builders, but also for the staff as they have better administrative guidelines to go with. So thank you so much. Trying to make this quick. I'm in favor. Thank you all.

Next, I have, Mark Langford.

Good afternoon, mister chairman and members of council. My name is Mark Langford. I reside at 2813 Pepper L Road in Chapin, South Carolina. First of all, I'd like to say thank you for the opportunity to address you guys tonight on this ordinance 2507. I applaud each and every one of you for the efforts that you put forth continually trying to improve Lexington County.

I know it's difficult. We don't always agree on every single issue, but I think we do agree on the fact that we want to make Lexington County as good as we can. That includes responsible growth. So tonight I'm here as the new Director of Land Development for Mungo Homes in Columbia. I'm positive that the remaining development representatives that are here tonight could speak endlessly on the needs for ordinance 2,507 to improve our business, but I would like to express my support for ordinance 2,507.

I think that if this is passed, it's a step in the correct direction for responsibly developing communities and helping to supply the ever increasing demand for housing in Lexington County. I hope that council would agree with me that the current limits of disturbed areas are creating logistical nightmares, increased costs, which are ultimately passed on to the end user, the home buyer. It's also causing increased inefficiencies with scheduling and wear and tear on previously installed roads. It's furthermore creating additional hurdles with the inability to achieve a proper dirt balance on-site. With these smaller deserved areas, it's really, really hard to achieve a global dirt balance without hauling either import or export to the site, let alone borrow pits if we run into unsuitable materials and even potentially areas for stockpile.

It also leads extremely long timelines, like the gentleman said at the beginning, and leads to longer periods of heavy equipment and traffic and road damage due to remobilizations that are going to be required. Overall, 2507 is a well thought out collaborative effort that it just doesn't give a free pass to us developers. It holds us accountable. We have to justify the means through expanded master projects, like Robbie said, with additional BMPs and a disturbance plan and a letter of credit in place. But it's a common sense approach that supports responsible growth in Lexington County in my opinion without sacrificing water quality and neighborhood protection.

So I strongly encourage counsel to give this ordinance favorable second, third, and then final readings. So thank you for your time.

Sir, I have Josh Rabin.

Good evening. Josh Rabin, 90 North Royal Tower Drive. Thank you all for having us come speak tonight. I'm obviously in support of this ordinance. And, I I think it's a it's a well thought out, you know, looking at the pros and the cons of of both sides of the development issue.

One of the things that I think is good about this is that it kinda harkens back with the extended with the expanded master plan for 25 to 50 acres. The list of BMPs and and working with staff, working with council, I believe that came the thought of that actually came from the Georgia erosion control manual. And I know back in 2016 when previous counselors went through the unified sizing criteria, Georgia was a model for that. So it kind of stays consistent with the direction that everything needs to be going. The other thing is is, you know, where the acreage doesn't happen the the clearing doesn't happen in squares or pods.

This is this does not supersede the open space and landscape ordinance. So there are still grand tree protections that this that this has to adhere to. There's still open space that is encouraged to be spread throughout a a community that that is still being encouraged through that ordinance, and those two ordinances work in concert. So just to to still be able to have some of that tree canopy retention, some of that open space feel, but just being allowed to open up more area in order to plan the project better, in order to move dirt one time, in order to have one specific amount of time where you have construction traffic on new roads and on existing roads, in order to put the detention pond in its final configuration, in its final location at the beginning of the project rather than building temporary detention ponds and consistently having to move them over the course of several years in some cases. Not having to have large mountains of stockpile dirt that can expose additional runoff or whatnot.

You're taking that dirt and you're moving it in its final place right off the rip. So, again, it's a way to put things in its final configuration as soon as possible, and I think I'm trying to kind of tie all of these together. The intent is just to kinda be efficient. The intent is to be responsible with with the environmental concerns of of of that come with construction and development and and to to be able to get in, have a clean product and and leave without with to minimize any negative impacts as possible. Obviously, I'm in support of this and, appreciate your time and consideration. Thank you.

Alright.

Is there anyone present that is in favor of ordinance twenty five zero seven that has not signed up that may have come in late? But if you are here and wanna speak, now's the time. Seeing and hearing none, close portion of our hearing and we'll go to our opposition of twenty five zero seven. First, I have here Catherine Huddle.

Catherine Huddle? Is that what you said?

Yeah. Catherine Huddle.

I didn't hear.

An address, please, ma'am.

Hello. Catherine Huddle, 132 Waterlinks Drive, Chapin. I'm sure a lot of people are gonna come up here and talk to you guys about storm water runoff, the lake, the wildlife. I'm not gonna go there. First

of all,

I wanna thank you. I know you guys do a really have a really tough job. You've been here a long time today and you have other jobs and, I appreciate what you do. I think Lexington County is the best place to live in South Carolina. I think everyone here either moved here themselves or chose to move here or their ancestors chose to move here. So it was a decision to live here and a lot of that is because of the work of you and the people that came before you. I'm on the board of Lexington Richland five school board and I have a lot we have a lot of tough decisions to make too. I was elected during COVID and I can tell you that was no fun. And there are a lot of decisions that,

you

know, you have to follow state law, you have to do that, and there's a lot of simple decisions and everybody votes the same. But in a tough decision, you have three angels or demons on your shoulders. You have yourself, what you think is right. You have the experts, and you listen to them and then you have the people that elected you. And I've learned, the one thing I've learned is that often the experts really don't know more than you do and they usually are guided by their own lives, their own livelihood. So you are all smart people. I hope you will listen to your own voices inside, and most importantly, I hope that you will listen to the people that elected you that want you to serve them. Thank you.

Well, folks, go through this tonight. We've had a really good hearing up to this point. Next, looks like I apologize. Jim Rudd or Reed, maybe. 183 Harmon Street, Gilbert.

Jim Braun, 1831 Harmon Street, Gilbert. Counsel esteemed residents and stakeholders, I stand before you today to voice vehement opposition to ordinance twenty five zero seven, a proposal that seeks to drastically increase the allowable acreage for the land clearing and residential development from the current 20 acres to a staggering 75 acres or more at a given time. I believe this action is reckless, thoughtless, and irresponsible, directly contradicting the county's own vision and values. Lexington County's vision statement is a promise to its people, planned growth for our communities with abundant opportunities for all in a quality environment. Tripling the land clearance allowance does not allow or does not align with fostering a quality environment.

It appears to prioritize developers short term interest over the long term environmental health and the well-being of the county's residents. The council is sworn to uphold this vision and this ordinance seems to be a significant step away from that commitment. The full impact full implications of the current 20 acre clearing limit established in 2022, only three years ago, have not yet been realized. Ecological assessments of this nature take decades. Rushing to nearly quadruple this limit without a comprehensive study is frankly dangerous.

This expansion could have an exponential negative impact on the delicate ecosystem and watershed of Lake Murray, a vital resource of our region. Increased land clearing leads to significantly more storm water runoff, which carries pollutants like nutrients, sediments, and chemicals directly into our waterways. This process degrades water quality, harms aquatic life, and diminishes the very quality environment we pledged to protect. The impact of this ordinance will not be confined within Lexington County borders. Lake Murray borders four counties.

A new law with the potential for trans boundary pollution and a nuisance for neighboring county should warrant broader consultation and approval process. Lexington County has the most shoreline on Lake Murray, emphasizing our legal and ethical responsibility to act as stewards of this shared resource. History provides cautionary tales. In South Carolina, lakes, like Lake Greenwood, have seen property values drop due to compromised water quality from increased sediment and phosphorus linked to development. 12 Mile Creek in Lexington County is already polluted with studies linking rapid development to stormwater runoff issues.

We already have evidence of how development impacts our local waters. Passing ordinance twenty five zero seven would ignore these clear warning signs and accelerate environmental degradation. I vehemently oppose this ordinance and recommend that we halt this proposal immediately. Instead, we must undertake a comprehensive assessment and study of the existing damage we have done as a county. Only with a full understanding of our current impact can we make informed responsible decisions that align with our vision of abundant opportunities for all in a quality environment. Do not put developers interest over residents of Lexington County and the health of Lake Murray. Please act responsibly. Thank you very much.

Mr. Chair, may I?

Please.

Ladies and gentlemen, listen. There is nobody in this world that respects you more than the people sitting up here. Honestly, we are so proud that you are here tonight. But if you could, let's just kind of keep it rolling one right after the other, be respectful, and let's try to get everybody to have an opportunity to have their say tonight and get everybody out to go home because I'm sure everybody has families and children and dinner and all things that they need to attend to. So, we could, let's just kind of limit the interaction and let everybody have their opportunity to speak, please.

Thank you, Ms. Carey. Next we have Louise Geddings.

Good afternoon. Thank you for letting us be here and speak our peace. Can you all hear me okay? Okay. I hope I don't get too emotional here. We're talking pardon?

Before you start real quickly, can you give us your name and address?

Oh, I'm sorry. You called me out, Louise Geddings. Okay?

Yes, ma'am.

And I live in Lexington. And as a matter of fact, they just built a a subdivision next to where I live in a subdivision. And the other day, one of our ladies on our street looked out her front window and saw a baby deer being born on her front porch. I mean, in front of her house. You know why?

Because they cut all the trees down next door to our subdivision to build this next subdivision. So deer are running down our street right now. They don't have anywhere to go. So I vote no. I hate to say hell no, but no to this 25 o I mean, 2507.

We don't wanna make it easier for builders. I'm being honest with you. Okay? How many people spoke in favor of this that are in real estate building? Of course, they want you they wanted to vote yes because they want some money, and I don't blame you. Okay? I won't look at them. I know you want us to look at you. I'm not against you making money, but I think we got to have a little bit of balance here. Mungo Homes had been building for fifty years all over Columbia.

How much money do they need? And also, talking about the school system, when we're building houses, you got to have schools. So what we're gonna do is put portables in the back of our schools. I don't want my grandchildren to be in a double wide trailer going to school with no security outside. The resource officers are inside the school.

What if somebody comes up and jumps a fence or if there's no fence, they just come up to the double wide trailer. What if they've got a gun? Do you want your grandchildren in that situation? I don't. I've got four grandchildren coming along. What is it gonna be like them when they grow up in Lexington? You are not elected by oh my gosh. I'm sorry. You're not elected by developers or builders. You're elected by the citizens.

Lexington is losing its character, its southern charm. How many houses do you want to cram into Lexington? What is the limit? Do we have a limit? No. The sky's the limit. Somebody mentioned a real estate guy called me last night and we were talking. He was talking about increasing the taxes and build a bypass through Lexington or around the Lexington, how much woods would that take out? How much land would that cost? Take out.

You know the easier solution instead of doing that? Stop building in Lexington. Stop the traffic. I have one eye. I lost it to cancer, the other one, and I have to drive around Lexington. Usually, it takes it used to take me five or ten minutes to get here from my house. Now, it takes thirty minutes.

Miss Giddings, thank you for for being with us this evening. Madison Rogers.

Hi. Good evening. My name is Madison Rogers. My address is 128 Hickory Trace Drive in Lexington, and I'm speaking in opposition to ordinance twenty five zero seven. Limits on residential land clearing directly affect our environment, storm water, flooding risks, watersheds, and infrastructure.

I appreciated the 2018 decision to set a 50 acre limit as there were no limits before. And in 2022, council lowered it to 20 acres with the option to go to 60 acres with the additional requirements citing increased storm water violations and staff shortages. Staffing issues have since improved, so a slight increase may be reasonable but not a jump to the 75 acres or more. At the last meeting, 75 was questioned by council members Hudson and Wessinger as it had not appeared on previous drafts or discussions. Residential and commercial clearing are not the same.

Residential projects take place in long phases while commercial sites stabilize quickly. Treating them the same could increase storm water and flooding issues, harm watersheds and our lake, and accelerate neighborhood growth. Many citizens share concerns about rapid growth already and its impact on our infrastructure, especially our schools. That shared concern is what brings me to my next point. As an active member of Developed Lexington County responsibly, I would like to submit into the record a petition signed by 651, to be exact, Lexington County citizens requesting a reconsideration vote on the school concurrency questionnaire.

This is directly related to twenty five zero seven because increasing disturbed acres to 75 or more opens the door to mega neighborhoods, developments that will bring many new families and children who will need to be educated. We elected each of you to make decisions that ensure our community grows responsibly and sustainably with adequate infrastructure and services for all residents. It's an important job, and I appreciate your consideration of what I've shared. Officer, if you'll please hand this petition to the council clerk so that it can be read into the record.

Andrew Chris.

Name is Andrew Kress. I live in 273 Royal Oaks Court in Lexington. And I'm in opposition to 2507 because the the it increases it from from the previous 60 to 75. The key one of the key issues there is that Lexington is growing so fast. We have the congestion.

We have overcrowding. We have everybody knows going up and down in the town of Lexington on 378. There are no alternate routes. Traffic is a mess. Growing this fast is a big danger to our way of life. And I just I would like to see that done more slowly. And I think the 60 achieves that better than a 75 and mainly because of the overcrowding. And that's my reasoning. Thank you for your time.

Sir. Alright. This seems like, next, have John, maybe Alan.

First off, nobody clap for me because I don't want Todd Cullen to hit me. So nobody clap. Joke. John Allen, 105 Turnberry Lane. The reason I'm in opposition of this is because we need more comprehensive planning. As I've said time and time again, it's incumbent upon council to comprehensively plan what we're bringing into Lexington. Right now, we know schools are overcrowded. The situation with concurrency, the idea of removing that from our planning, think is ridiculous considering that's the equivalent of me and my restaurant. I have great plans to expand our restaurant. I start breaking the ground.

I start building, not having brought either my brothers into the situation, my brother who runs the kitchen, my brother who manages inventory. We're doing all this and then I say, hey, we just built. And then they say, well, John, you didn't talk to us about how much food we need, what inventory we're going need to bring in, what that's going to do with staffing, all of these different line items that we have to prioritize. Again, I'm not against builders and I think any argument saying, well, how much money do they need? If somebody said that to me in my restaurant, I'd be pretty upset because I make chicken salad croissants for a living.

But you have to look at the facts. Builders want to build and then they want to leave. They aren't I've noticed no citizen has spoken in favor of building. Notice and there's no nothing against builders but when the citizens of this community are saying we want to slow growth until we can properly plan for what we're bringing in here, the council needs to listen to that. The midterms are coming up next year and this is going to be very important for everybody on this council to know everybody's watching. When we talk about affordability, it's not about development. We need to talk about how much we're being taxed. I just got my property taxes for my building, almost $30,000, and again, for a guy who makes chicken salad croissants, I wanted to have a heart attack because of our I gotta laugh. Thanks, mom. No.

So when we talk about affordability, we need to look at how a, how we're going to reduce taxes and put more pressure on our legislature. When we talk about deregulation, there's a lot of deregulation that can happen at the state level which would bring more money into people's pockets so we can have better quality growth in this community than throwing up cookie cutter homes that I've already talked to numerous insurance agents are concerned about because they've seen the quality of these buildings and how fast they're deteriorating. We're we're a ticking time bomb, especially with the socialists who just got elected in New York. We all are well, a lot of people wanna be moving here. I know builders are excited because they're seeing dollar symbols, but the community and the people who live here do not want to risk completely ruining Lexington County. Thank you all so much for listening to me. Have a great night.

Next, we have James Lamb.

Name is James Lamb. I live at 335 Gator Road. I just wanted to voice my opinion. I am adamantly against this increase. All I see is it opens the door for mega developments. This council has to decide who you work for. These people are the developers. So far what I've seen, there's a minority here. They're listening to the citizens. The majority of this camp you're not listening. You're not heeding what we're telling you. The schools can't handle anymore anymore kids. They're overcrowded. EMS, fire, Lexington County Sheriff's Department, they're all taxed. They're they're doing the best they can with what they got.

We we don't need anymore. We can't handle anymore. I know this is under the guise of storm water, but I don't see it that way. Once you clear that land, that root base is gone, the topsoil is gone, the trees are gone, that water's running off, period. It's never gonna be the same at all. To go from 25 to 50 acres to up to 75 acres, those are mega subdivisions. I mean, that's that sounds like what was happening up in Upstate where they wanted to build 5,000 homes. Lexington County can't handle that kind of development. Look around. The traffic can't handle it.

The roads can't handle it. That's that's an issue. I mean, to me, that's that's a there's no forethought with any of this. It's just it's gotta stop. It's gotta stop. I know you can't stop all the development but you can start listening to your constituents. You start listening to the voters. The developers aren't citizens, we are. And you're the ones we elected to listen to us, to our voice, not not big business, not big developers, Mungo, Great Southern Homes, Stanley Martin, those aren't citizens. You need to start listening to us and we're telling you, it's gotta be managed more responsibly because this is not it. That's all. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. I have Laura Touchberry.

I'm Laura Touchberry, 211 Harbor Vista Circle, Lexington, speaking in opposition to twenty five zero seven due to recent draft changes, which impacts every resident, every neighborhood, and the future of Lexington County. Over the past several months, the conversation around increasing land clearing limits has shifted in ways that should concern anyone who cares about responsible growth and honest government. Early on, DLCR, the grassroots group I'm part of, was included in discussions with builders of We appreciated in good faith. We listened. We collaborated.

Jason Wilkie's twenty five fifteen ten plan capped disturbance at 50 acres. That was already a major concession, but it's logical, easy to explain. It addresses citizens' concerns about mask clearing. It also mirrors limits the county had from 2018 to 2022. Limit staff already struggled to manage.

With improved staff, lately, the logical next step is to retest what had previously been done. Instead, 75 acres suddenly appeared in the most recent draft. 75 acres is more than triple today's limit, and nothing in the public, excuse me, record explains why we skipped to the reason skipped the reasonable middle ground supported by citizens and builders. At the September 9 meeting, the draft text left council members, citizens, and builders confused. Even more troubling, this ordinance ordinance was pushed forward before the Chapin overlay ever appeared in draft form despite repeated assurances.

And on October 29, a document dated October 2025 was quietly posted online showing that the 75 acre language as if it were already official with no indication that it was only a draft. That's not transparency. That's not accountability, and that's not how the public expects policy to be created. Allowing 75 acres of clearing increases flooding risk, removes natural buffers, strains rage and traffic, and threatens water quality. Developers gain faster grading, lower cost, and more flexibility with less accountability.

So tonight, we are demanding responsible decision making and honest communication. We deserve answers. Why increase clearing from 20 acres with allowances up to 60 all the way to 75 when the county hasn't proven it can manage what we have? Where's the data to show this won't worsen flooding? How will erosion controls be enforced when the county still lacks the IT upgrades needed for digital site boxes as stated in meetings?

This is not anti development. This is pro community, pro planning, and pro accountability. I respectfully urge county council to revisit revisit stakeholder data, review the actual recommendations, and choose the option that supports growth without sacrificing our environment, infrastructure, and quality of life. Thank you.

How are doing? My name is Mark Pitillo. I live at 6436 Plastings Road. I've been here twenty three years. When I moved down here, beautiful community. I didn't have a speech written for anything. But over the last twenty two years, this count this town of Lexington and the county of Lexington has been destroyed one development at a time. Like everyone else has said, we are the people. We voted for you guys. Okay? We are the voice that you need to hear, not the builders. I have had water runoff down Platte Springs Road. We can't even manage what we currently have for water runoff. We have ditches down Platte Springs Road. What's the point of a ditch when the water doesn't even get into the ditch cause the cement build up down the whole road?

At the end of the day, it's unacceptable. We have been developing completely irresponsible, and it needs to change immediately. So I strongly oppose ordinance twenty five zero seven. Thank you very much.

Thank you, sir. Alright. Next, we have, Theresa Ellisor.

Good evening. My name is Theresa Lessor, and

I live at

138 Hilly Rock Road in Lexington. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm speaking in opposition of ordinance twenty five zero seven as written, particularly provision that would allow clearing of up to and beyond potentially beyond 75 acres at a time with additional requirements. The developed Lexington County Responsible Grassroots Group has closely followed ordinance 2,507 for many months. We were invited to give feedback and attend three collaborative meetings to give feedback on twenty five zero seven and feedback on the proposed proposal by local developer Jason Wilkie that would limit clearing to actually 40 acres at a time with additional steps allowing up to 60 acres.

We appreciate this opportunity to give feedback and Robbie and staff for the work that they do with the over 17,000 lots currently in the pipeline. In every draft, we saw the maximum with extra steps was 60 acres, never 75. When the October 25 agenda was posted, the draft suddenly showed 75 acres without explanation and without any prior discussion with our group or with mister Wilkie as he shared with us. At that meeting, council members Hudson and Wesinger asked where the 75 acre number came from and no clear sensible reason was given. The idea mentioned that it was meant to match commercial limits does not hold up since commercial limits in current zoning are also 60 acres.

It is important to mention that commercial gets stabilized a lot more quickly than residential development. An increase from the current allowable 20 acres or 60 with additional steps to 75 is significant. It naturally raises concerns about how this change was developed and who requested it. We also noticed the draft for tonight's hearing was posted without red lines, strike through red lines or strike throughs unlike usual usual practice. Without those markings, citizens cannot easily see what has been added or removed which has caused a lot of confusion.

Beyond procedural issues, there are important environmental concerns. Much of the land under development pressure drains directly into Saluda River and Lake Murray watershed where slopes and soils are more sensitive. Large disturbance areas and masquerading increase the risk of erosion, sedimentation, long term water quality impacts. Lake Murray is a drinking water source and a major economic and recreational asset. It deserves stronger protection.

Allowing 75 acres or more may benefit large developers, many who do not live here, but it would have lasting negative impacts on our county. For these reasons, I urge you to remove the 75 acre option from the ordinance twenty five zero seven. I also request that future proposed ordinances be posted with red lines for additions and black strike through omissions so the public can clearly see changes. And when a public hearing is noticed, the public comment window should remain open long enough for citizens to participate meaningfully. A Friday to Monday period is simply not enough time. It could reasonably be hosted and made live when the public notice goes out in the paper with either fifteen day notice or thirty day notice. Thank you for your time and attention.

Okay. You guys heard from the building industry that that the the 20 acres here and 20 acres there and 20 acres here is gonna affect the cost. Well, I've never seen where the houses built on the first 20 acres are actually cheaper than the houses built on the last 20 acres. So I don't know if that's a valid argument or not. The 20 acres of land is better than 60 because the runoff affects our streams, ponds, creeks, and Lake Murray.

I remember me having pictures sent to you guys about that. And we do not want to pollute Newberry or Richland County. And a reminder that we don't have a lot of wider roads for traffic. Every subdivision is a traffic traffic trauma fixing to happen on the county because it's more cars, more subdivisions, more cars, more kids. And I also want to remind you guys that you are elected to represent represent the citizens, and your vote tells us how you align.

Vote for this, it means something. You vote against it, it means something. We elect you to represent us. And I want to kindly kindly remind you guys that there is a state ethics law section eight thirteen seven hundred a and 700 b that, requires people to recruit themselves from all actions and related discussions that financially benefit you, your business, your interest, or your family. And so you might wanna take this SC ethics law into consideration when, voting and considering this. Thank you.

Alright. Is there anyone else in?

Sign

up, ma'am. That's why I'm asking.

Good evening. My name is Kara Ann Lindler of 132 Bridgewood Court, Gilbert, South Carolina. Some claim that large scale clearing saves money, but taxpayers often bear long term cost. Developers gain faster grading and lower earthmoving expenses, but residents lose tree canopy, shade, cleaner air and water, natural flood protection, and the character of quiet, livable neighborhoods. Overwhelmed drainage causes roads to close, yards to flood, placing homes at risk.

Responsible management means preventing foreseeable harm, not responding after the damage is done. Extensive clearing increases sediment runoff, which ultimately reaches our streams and Lake Murray, a cornerstone of our recreation, tourism, our property values, and our drinking water. Protecting Lake Murray is not only an environmental concern, it is an economic and public health priority. People move to Lexington County because it's a wonderful place to live. Stewarding rapid growth responsibly is essential to preserving what draws people here in the first place.

If you can't even grade your county roads properly, and this is what's happening on my 140 acre farm in Gilbert, and I have this kind of runoff that's not even safe for my animals to drink, then how do you plan to clear 75 acres at the time and not promise me a landowner who manages 800 acres of farmland in Lexington County? How can you promise me that my trees are gonna be safe, that my animals are gonna be okay? How can you make that promise to me? That's the question I have to you tonight.

Council members,

you carry the responsibility of balancing growth with the well-being of the people you serve. I urge you to choose stewardship over shortcuts and to prioritize long term public safety, water quality, and quality of life. Thank you for your time, your service, and the opportunity to speak tonight.

Thank you, ma'am.

I'm Melinda Snellgrove. I live at 212 Roland Drive, Lexington 297 two nine zero seven three. I'm here to date in opposition of ordinance twenty five zero seven, which proposes increasing the allowable limit of land clearing for subdivision developments to 75 acres or more with additional steps. So, what is the limit since it says more than 75 acres in the draft text? This is very concerning as it will open the door for larger and larger neighborhoods and rapid growth countywide.

Other counties over the state are beginning to see neighborhoods with a 1,500 and even more homes. We as citizens have put our trust in each of you to make zoning decisions where growth is manageable, ensuring that the growth doesn't outpace the infrastructure and the services we all depend on daily. Reasonable land clearing should be based on-site specific conditions, especially topography and soil type rather than a one size fits all blanket acreage increase as suggested. The entire Saluda River Lake Murray watershed area where much of the county's current development is occurring is characterized by slope terrain, erodible soils, and proximity to major water resources. These factors make large scale, excuse me, uninterrupted clearing particularly damaging.

Lake Murray and Saluda River are critical community assets economically, environmentally, and recreationally. When steep or rolling topography is cleared all at once, it increases erosion and sediment runoff to adjacent waterways, sedimentation buildup in coves and creeks flowing into Lake Murray and the Saluda River, clearing increases storm water velocity, which worsens downstream and causes flooding and damages natural buffers. Infrastructure strains such as roads and drainage systems downstream are faced with handling more uncontrolled what runoff. These impacts are more magnified in watershed areas where soils are already prone to erosion when disturbed. Smaller, reasonably phased clearing allows developers to stabilize each section before moving to a new area, thereby reducing sediment transport and protects water quality better.

I urge council to consider and place special waterfront watershed protections in our county that will further restrict limits of land disturbance. I urge council not to increase the limits of clearing to 75 acres and more at one time as it obviously increases unnecessary risk to our environment, our infrastructure demands, and our communities. For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to vote against ordinance twenty five zero seven and maintain development practices that protect our watershed, prevent erosion, support sustainable growth that is long termed and feasible. Thank you for your time and your service to Lexington County.

Thank you, ma'am. Okay. Is there anyone else here present that would like to speak in opposition of twenty five zero seven before I close the public hearing?

Hello. My name is Cynthia Johnson. I have laryngitis. Excuse me. I live at 1460 Holly Brook Drive. I've been here since 1977. We built. So that was in the days when the streets rolled up, the sidewalks, no traffic. It's crazy now. All you have to do is drive down Number 1 Highway and look at the subdivisions.

This growth has got to be controlled. I hear the builders saying, oh, we just it's expensive to do this. If we cut this section, we would got to do this section. It's like they're like little kids. The more candy you give them, the more they want.

Control that. And if we have it set, why do these numbers keep crawling up more more acreage? Give them what they want. And they'll just go on to the next group of areas and build because they're out of here. Just look at the building materials.

I used to be in real estate, and I wanted to sell houses. But we've got to be able to control what we're building. And if you have a building license or you're connected with land clearing, when you're voting, I respectfully ask that you not vote because you have a conflict of interest. We put you guys here in office. And I thank each and every one of you because I know how hard it is to work.

And I know you can't please everybody, but we've got to be responsible with what we're doing. These houses with heavy, heavy built nails or strong nails. They're cheaply made, these houses. You can't even get a truck in some of these garages that they're building. So I ask that you refrain from voting if you have a license that will benefit.

The other thing is the schools. We cannot snap our fingers and build another elementary, middle, or high school every time these builders get their way. Then I want to say another thing is whenever when you when they get what they want, they want more. And so we need to keep those numbers consistent. If it's 50, we don't need to be doing 75 or inching it in. Therefore, they get what they want. They'll never they'll never be satisfied.

Thank you, ma'am.

We ask that you vote with what the citizens are requesting. Thank you.

Else here in in attendance that wants to speak?

Thank you, chair, for opening it up. My apologies. I was a little bit late. I did come with prepared remarks, but I've tucked them aside because I want to thank you for representing the people that live here. Debbie Haim, 200. I just wanna say thank you for being on council. It's a difficult job to be an elected official. It's a difficult job to run a campaign. It's even more difficult to run an honest campaign, but I think citizens deserve that out of their elected officials. 20 acres is enough to put in a Target shopping center, like the big Target and all the other stores around it, the parking lot.

Pretty sure that's what's coming by Lexington High School. So it's a lot. I mean, we just throw around these numbers like no big deal, but it's a lot. I mean, you could put a lot of houses on 20 acres, and that's not like a total subdivision size that would even be a phase. I'm not in development. I don't make money off of it. I don't make money at all anywhere. It's not connected to this community at all, actually. I could live anywhere, and so I'm not here to make money, I'm here to raise my kids. And that's important to me.

And what I'm asking for is that years ago we had a certain number of houses in the pipeline. I don't remember if it was 7,500 or what it was. But today there's over 17,000. And so everything that this council has done over the last few years to decrease density, to increase setbacks and all of that, it hasn't slowed down anything. We're drowning. And everybody knows it, and we're just asking for the right thing to be done. Just the right thing. I agree with the lady before me. If you give them 75 plus, they're just gonna ask for more. Okay?

We don't need that Clemson conflict of interest debacle they had in the Upstate where they're looking at putting in 5,000 homes. We know that there is other counties with moratoriums. There's other counties that just voted last week to not accept any new roads for five years, county maintained roads. We can't even get our, any of our municipalities in our county to agree on anything reasonable here. Okay? So we're dependent on you and the county to set that standard for us, And I would just ask that you very much consider that. And the question I really want to ask each one of you is who directed staff to draft that ordinance at 75 acres? That's what the people deserve to know. Thank you.

All right. Is there anyone else here that would like to speak in opposition of? Twenty five zero seven closed for a public hearing and be prepared to move on to twenty five eighteen. I

gotta go to.

Okay. Alright, mister Giordano. We got a short presentation for us on ordinance twenty five one eight.

Thank you, mister chair. Thank you, counsel, and members of the public that are here tonight. Ordinance 25 dash 18 is the execution and delivery of a fee in lieu of tax agreement between Lexington County and U. S. Venture and their sponsor Gateway Four LLC.

This is an economic development project formerly known as Project Badger and the attraction of a new company representing an investment of 4,200,000.0 and the creation of 45 new jobs to Lexington County. As you're aware, we run a cost benefit analysis on these with our regional partners with Central South Carolina Alliance. This project represents an economic benefit of $51,034,523 over the next fifteen years. There's any other questions regarding that project.

Council, have any questions? 18, Project Badger. Alright. Thank you. Alright. I'm going to open up for twenty five one eight. Start out with those in favor of twenty five one eight. Signed up in favor of. Is there anyone here in favor of ordinance twenty five one eight? Public hearing portion of in favor of and then ask any of those that are in opposition.

Twenty five one eight. I have no one signed up. Is there anyone Note that there were 15 in opposition through electronic means. Means. Twenty five eighteen is closed. Yes, sir. 19, sir.

Ordinance twenty five dash nineteen is for the delivery of a special source revenue credit agreement, not a fee in lieu

of tax as the other

one was, between Lexington County and Hoffman, Columbia. This is an expansion of an existing company that will represent a new investment of $8,500,000 to Lexington County and the creation of 60 new jobs in addition to their current 96 jobs here in Lexington County. Based off of our cost benefit analysis that I just mentioned, we did another one on this one as well. This represents over the next fifteen years potential economic impact of $123,287,180 to Lexington County. Questions?

Does council have any questions for mister Guano at the ordinance twenty five nineteen? We know it is project watch. Hearing done. I'm gonna open the public hearing for those in favor of twenty five one nine. There's no one signed up.

Is there anyone present that would like to speak in favor of We're gonna close that portion of our public hearing. Go to the in opposition of, which I have no one up. Is there anyone here present who'd like to speak in opposition of a ordinance 25? Also, by electronic means, we received zero in favor either through email or through the portal. Close ordinance twenty five one nine.

A hundred and three ten. Includes our public hearings for this evening. Council. The next order of business is a second reading on the ordinance of twenty five eighteen. And a second reading on twenty five nineteen. Miss Wilson, are you?

Yes. Mister chairman, we could you read out loud how many in oppositions and in favor came in online for twenty five zero seven? Do you have that in front of you?

Yeah. Did that already, but we can

Oh, did you?

I didn't

I I missed that.

It's hard to hear.

Somebody gotta get me a microphone.

Oh, no. No. No. Y'all wouldn't get me a microphone. You just gotta elevate the voice. You just gotta speak up.

119,

I think.

Oh, shit. It was it was one zero one zero two in opposition in the elect and I see the email oral, but I think we recognize there are quite a number of duplicates in that. Favor, there were 28.

102 Yes. And then

28. 8.

28. Yeah.

Here we are before us. Last order of business we have this evening is, again, second reading for ordinance twenty five one eight and twenty five one nine. Are there any ordinances pardon me. Motion to approve ordinance twenty five one eight. And this would be an ordinance pursuant to chapter 44 of title 12 and chapter one of title four South Carolina Code of Laws.

The execution and delivery of a fee agreement among Lexington County, South Carolina, US Venture Incorporated, a company previously identified as Project Badger and Gateway Four LLC, a company previously identified as Project Badger sponsored affiliate. The benefits of a multi county industrial business park to made to be made available to the project by adding the subject property to the park and other matters related here to second reading. Are there any motions?

Move to approve, mister chair.

Thank you, miss Kerrig. Move. Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you. Alright. We've got a motion and a second on ordinance twenty five eighteen. Is there any conversation, comment, or discussion?

Anybody know what the people who disagreed, disagreed about? I heard from no one. Most

of those that were in opposition

hear why somebody is in opposition? I didn't hear

Most of those online that were sent in in opposition, I believe, were actually for twenty five zero seven.

Oh, they wrote they were

on the

wrong order.

They they wrote in on the wrong order.

My god. I don't know why anybody gets this.

And a number of them didn't have names.

They were just Dockery.

Filled out in opposition. Sorry about that. Alright. This is make sure everybody's awake. Must be my brother. Hear none. Please go for the vote.

Councilwoman Carrigg? Yes. Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell?

Yes.

Councilman Hudson?

Yes.

Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullum?

Yes. Okay. Next we have a approval for ordinance twenty five one nine. This is the ordinance authorizing pursuant to chapter one of title four South Carolina Code of Laws. As amended, a special source revenue credit agreement between Lexington County, South Carolina and Hoffman Columbia LLC, a company company previously identified as project watch. The benefits of a multi county industrial park to be made available to the project and other matters related there too. This is second reading. Are there any motions to approve ordinance twenty five one nine? So moved. Hudson makes the motion to approve. Is there a second?

Second. Ms.

Erick seconds the approval. Alright. Any comment or question about ordinance twenty five one nine with, Hoffman Columbia LLC?

Councilwoman Carey?

Yes.

Councilwoman Wessinger? Yes. Councilman Fisher?

Yes.

Councilman Cockrell? Yes. Councilman Hudson? Yes. Councilman Brigham?

Yes.

Councilman Bishop?

Yes.

Vice chair Conwell? Yes. Chairman Cullen? Yes.

Alright. Motion passes. We've already had executive session for today. There are no other matters before us that are requiring a vote. I would entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. And a second, please. Second. Alright. Paper. Those can stay. Everybody wave if they can.