During their meeting Aug. 5, Anderson County Council heard a presentation on a final design for a new Veterans Memorial and approved first reading on several fee in lieu of tax agreements.
The new Veterans Memorial will be located at the Anderson Civic Center complex. Ryan Hulon said the memorial will be family friendly and will honor Veterans in Anderson County and educate the general public.
During the business portion of the meeting, Council unanimously approved third reading on a fee in lieu of tax agreement for the owner of the warehouse at 134 Long Road owner, LLC. No one spoke during the public hearing. One person spoke during public comments on agenda items at the beginning of the meeting. A resident of Council District 7 had complaints with the Fee in Lieu tax break for the 500,000 sq. ft. warehouse. The warehouse is located adjacent to residential and agricultural property and there is “very little demand for this space,” he said. “It is inappropriately located and council wants to reward the owner. A better idea is to collect his tax.”
Economic Development head Burriss Nelson said the development company will invest $36 million and tax revenue was $60,000 last year and expected to be $101,000 next year, and the County will receive $11 million over 30 years.
Counci Dist. 7 representative Cindy Wilson said that the owner of the warehouse could have avoided the ire of nearby residents. “It is serious bone of contention that didn’t have to be at all” Wilson said. “There was an effort to get the company to meet with the neighborhood without success. She said a “punchlist” of items to make peace with residents on the project was not done including a buffer and dimming of the lights. “We should not have had such a building in the area.” Wilson said she had concerns about an Incentive for a company that lacks consideration for neighbors. Wilson said she would abstain from the vote. “I have some real concerns,” she said.
District Four Councilman Brett Sanders said the property was zoned industrial and the building was what the property was zoned for 23 years ago. He suggested getting the buffers in writing.
Burriss Nelson said the owner had met county requirements with $200,000 in additional plantings and lighting issues. “There is a lot of natural buffer ehisting,” Nelson said. “Maybe there is more we need to do.”
Wilson responded that, “A lot of the landscaping didn’t make it.” She said a spring onthe property was filled in and a lot of trees died.
There was also some discussion about the FED Ex warehouse nearby with similar problems regarding lighting and the overlay.
Chairman Dunn made a motion to table the issue and to put in writing with the owner about the lighting.
Council approved third reading on an agreement for development of a joint county industrial and business park (2010 park) of Anderson and Greenville Counties. No one spoke during the public hearing.
Council approved third and final reading on an ordinance to proceed with a referendum for voters to decide on a Capital Projects Sales Tax to pay for road and safety improvements throughout the county. (Seperate story)
Council approved second reading on an ordinance rezoning 4.72 acres on Hattons Ford Road in Townville from Residential Agricultural (RA) to Single-Family Residential District (R20).
Council tabled first reading on an amendment to the Code of Ordinances to prohibit the acceptance of roads in subdivisions as County roads. County Attorney Jordan Thayer said the ordinance currently allows the County to accept subdivision roads that meet County standards and the change removes that option. Subdivision roads “would remaina private road,” he said. Councilmember Cindy Wilson said there are at least three situations where developers proposed for the county to accept roads and there were problems with the roads.
Council approved first reading on an amendment to an existing fee agreement for Walgreen Co, to extend the period during which the economic development property is subject to fee in lieu of tax payments. Burriss Nelson said the agreement extends fee in lieu for Walgreens an additional 10 years to a total of 30 years. The company, located in Council District 7, provides 500 jobs.
Council approved first reading on a fee in lieu of tax and special source credit agreement with “Project Pine”. The company will invest $51 million and provide 54 high paying jobs at $53.35 an hour. Nelson said it will be high tech, high skill and state of the art. According to Nelson, the company’s technology addresses pharma waste with a plasma application at 18,000 degrees leaving the waste “glass-like”.
Council approved first reading on an ordinance to enlarge the joint county industrial and business park (2010 Park) of Anderson and Greenville Counties.
Council approved a resolution for amendments to the Anderson County, South Carolina Stormwater Design manual to incorporate revision to review checklist, permanent water quality stream buffers and water quality level spreaders for stormwater runoff.
Counci approved first reading on an Inducement Agreement for “Project Pine” which includes a fee in lieu of tax and special source credit agreements.
Councilmembers approved funding requests by the Piedmont Historical Preservation Society, Vets Helping Vets Anderson, CESA Tri County, Westside Community Center and Bulldog Fishing.
