By David Meade
During their meeting Monday (Aug. 5), Williamton Town Council approved first reading on the annexation of just over 28 acres of land on Roberts Blvd. The annexation includes property located between SC Hwy. 20 near the Lander Memorial Library and the Palmetto ballfields, with frontage on Roberts Blvd.
The owners of two tracts of land, approximately 10.8 acres and the owner of two adjoining tracts of land, approximately 17.38 acres have requested the properties be annexed into the town. Both requests are under the 100 percent petition form of annexation which allows contiguous property to be brought into the town, if approved by Council.
The request for annexation of the two smaller tracts of land are by property owners Truman G. McAlister, Patricial Holcombe, Ken Major and Franky Major. The larger tracts request is by property owner Linda Roache.
Both petitions also request the property be zoned as Highway Commercial when the properties are brought into the town limits. None of the property is currently zoned because it is all currently located on the edge of the city limits and is considered to be in the county.
According to Town Attorney Richard Thompson, there will be a public hearing and second reading on the annexation at the September meeting of Council. The request will also have to be approved by the Justice Department, he said
There was no discussion by council on the request prior to the vote, which was unanimous, 4-0. (Councilman David Harvell was on vacation.)
The properties have recently been surveyed and there is considerable speculation that a major retail type store is considering locating there.
