Williamston annexes one property, purchases two properties

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During their October 3 meeting, Williamston Town Council annexed one property, bought two properties and approved a letter of intent for possible development of the old Water Treatment Plant and Historic Depot.
Council also turned down an offer to purchase the Depot.
Envision Williamston Executive Director Roberta Hamby announced several upcoming activities starting with a ribbon cutting for a new Dog Park which will be held this Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. The facility is located along the banks of Big Creek behind the Williamston Fire Department. Persons using the facility are asked not to park at the fire department.
Bingo with the Blue will be held Oct. 15 from 10 am to 12 noon with prizes including a color TV. The fun activity is being sponsored by Envision Williamston, Williamston Police Department and Piedmont Post Acute in Piedmont. It will be held in the Williamston Municipal Center Auditorium. Everyone is welcome.
Boo in the Park is scheduled 5 pm to 8 pm on Saturday, Oct. 22.
The Fall Scarecrow Decorating Contest is underway with judging beginning next week. Oct. 6 is deadline to register to be eligible for judging.
State Farm Cristina Ortiz Agency will hold a ribbon cutting and grand opening for their new Williamston location on Thursday, Oct 27 at 6 p.m.
Hamby said the second annual Winter Wonderland event will be held on Nov. 27, which is the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The event will include Christmas Park and Tree lighting at Town Hall, Horse Drawn Carriage rides, Hayrides, a Holiday Market and other special activities.
It was also announced that the Williamston Christmas Parade will be held on the same day beginning at 4 p.m. Lineup for the parade will be held at the Palmetto High Freshman Academy this year. The parade will follow the usual route.
In the business part of the meeting, Council unanimously approved second reading on a Development Agreement with Hunter Quinn Homes, LLC for development of the Brock Lane Subdivision located at Williams Street and Brock Lane.
Under the agreement, 31.49 acres belonging to the Town will be subdivided into two tracts, one containing 27.51 acres zoned Planned Development and a second containing 3.98 acres which the Town will retain for split zoned commercial use.
The subdivision will be known as Saratoga Villages and Saratoga Oaks and include 64 single family lots.
Council unanimously turned down a proposal to purchase the Historic Depot located on Big Creek. The Town was offered $100,000 for the property. Details of the proposal were presented to Council during a recent executive session, however were not made public.
During discussion, Councilman Lee Cole stated, “Due to the historic nature of this building, I can’t vote for it at this time.” Councilman Chris Alexander said the developers did a really good job with the presentation, but he also could not support selling the depot.
Mayor Rockey Burgess said even if the town was offered $1 million, he could not see selling the historic building.
After voting down the depot offer, Council unanimously approved first reading on an ordinance to allow the town to purchase property at 26 Moorings Drive. The property is being purchased from G. Richardson Boyd, Jr. and Dorothy Quillen Boyd, Trustees, for a purchase price of $210,000. The property is located just off Greenville Drive and adjacent to the Main Street Motors/Larry Smith property the Town also recently purchased.
Councilman Tony Hagood thanked the mayor and council for moving forward with the purchase. “It has been a long time coming, over 30 years, in that Ward.”
Mayor Burgess stated that the two purchases are part of a revitalization effort on that side of town. “Both property owners have worked with us in the past,” he said. “It is a step in the right direction. We will look back one day and know we have done an amazing thing for our community.”
Burgess said there are no immediate plans for the property, but it could be commercially developed or be used for a new fire department. Initial plans are for a greenspace.
In other action Council unanimously gave first reading approval for the annexation of 2.67 acres located at 608 Belton Hwy. The property is located in the triangle between Hwy. 20 and Hwy. 77 near the Career and Technology Center. The property will be zoned Residential/Commercial (RC)to allow a fuel station to be located there.
Burgess said the Career and Technology Center has requested annexation of their campus and the Tri-County Technical College Foundation has requested annexation of an adjacent 25 acres. The annexations are expected to be voted on at the next meeting of council.
Council unanimously approved the purchase of property at 100 Mill Street for $891.68. The property was purchased by Shenee Luella Wakefield at a County tax sale, however a sewer easement by the town makes development impossible. Mayor Burgess said the lot could be used by the town as part of a proposed trail system in the Gatewood and Brock Lane area.
Councilman Cole stated that he was in favor and the “town already owns property around it. It will fit in nice for future recreation or trail use.”
Council unanimously approved a “Letter of Intent” to allow a group of developers to use the old Water Treatment Plant for a mixed use retail facility. Spokesperson Pete Murray said the developers share a vision the town has for use of the space in a family friendly way. He said they plan to have multiple businesses located in the facility and have a large common area for gathering. He said the investors are not large developers that would come in and change the feel of the community.
The agreement includes use of the Historic Depot which will be available event space.
Mayor Burgess said the town did not want to sell the property or building, but the agreement will help “preserve a structure that is not being used.”
He made it clear that this is the first step and there are no promises. He said there will be no brewery or taco restaurant, “pie in the sky stuff the town has heard before. There are no done deals. The developers have financial capital and offered a very broad plan for use of the two facilities.” The agreement is for nine months and can be extended to 12 months if needed.