APPROVAL OF DEVELOPER’S AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL RETENTION POND – In the early 1990s, local media covered the significant flooding experienced in the Powderhouse Road and College Acres area. Since that time, we have been exploring best practices to abate this storm water runoff. Over the last several months, we have been in negotiations with John and Ruth George about the City's potential purchase of a 5.35 acre tract of land they own in order to construct a regional detention pond. This pond would be expanded at its current location to meet all applicable stormwater standards. Since it is visible to Whiskey Road businesses, we will ensure a tasteful installation through the planting of appropriate material and a wood chip base walking trail.
We believe this installation, with a basic spray fountain feature, will alleviate storm water pooling on Whiskey Road and Powderhouse Roads. This regional pond is the best method to handle water runoff for the drainage basin area of approximately 300 acres.
As you will see in Larry's (Larry Morris, Public Works Director) attached memo, we anticipate future developers to reimburse the City for our costs on a prorata basis if their development will utilize this regional detention pond. The Georges are reserving the right to utilize this detention pond if they develop the remainder of their adjacent tract, which totals about 6.36 acres.
We have had this property appraised. The 5.35 acres was appraised for $321,000. The Georges have indicated they will accept this amount.
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY FOR A REGIONAL RETENTION POND – City Council previously approved the developer’s agreement covering the construction of a regional detention pond currently known as George's Pond. We request Council's approval of the attached purchase and sale agreement which allows the City to purchase this 5.35 acre property for the appraised price of $321,000.
DISCUSSION OF A COMMERCIAL GARBAGE EXIT STRATEGY – Last month City Council discussed possible scenarios concerning the ending of our commercial garbage service. Our Public Works Department has laid out three different strategies that we could utilize for this exit.
Strategy 1 involves the City maintaining some control of the garbage service in the downtown area.
Strategy 2 concerns the remaining 300 customers, their dumpsters, and the trucks that we are currently using to service these accounts. You had asked us to solicit requests for proposals for all of these accounts. If an acceptable proposal is not received the current customers could then be given a specified period of time to find a new hauler and our equipment would then be sold.
Strategy 3 involves the collection of our garbage at the various city buildings.
We would like to get Council's input on these three strategies as we continue to see a reduction in the number of commercial accounts within the city.
APPROVAL OF WORK ON NEWBERRY STREET FOUNTAIN – A couple of months ago, City Council heard a report from the Aiken Arts Commission concerning the fountain on Newberry Street. A sub-committee was developed and after receiving their recommendation the Arts Commission asked Commissioners Lattimore and Thomas to present a plan to City Council. This plan was presented at a work session on April 12, 2010. They have now developed renderings of the William Aiken statue seated on a bench near the fountain. Attached is the suggested wording that will appear on the plaque. Some other suggested improvements include:
1. Remove the pavers in the immediate area around the fountain to provide more green space.
2. Enhance plantings around the fountain and arbor and add irrigation to these plantings.
3. Stain the exterior of the fountain a darker color.
4. Add an inner tier so a planter could be established inside the outside wall of the fountain.
5. Add benches around the fountain, one for the William Aiken statue and others for patrons to rest upon.
6. As funding becomes available, we plan to up light the festival area.
The estimates for the renovations would be approximately $10,000. The cost of the statue of William Aiken is estimated at $25,000. A corporation has agreed to pay for the cost of the statue up to $25,000 and would soon be recognized through a news release if Council accepts their donation. At the proper time a plaque would be placed near the statue recognizing William Aiken and their contribution.
APPROVAL AND MODIFICATION OF LOCAL SALES TAX MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING – At the April 26, 2010 City Council meeting, Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding that listed projects for the One Cent Sales Tax totaling $38.6 million. On June 14, 2010, the County appointed Local Option Sales Tax Committee voted not to include any LOST projects for agencies that are not a part of the City or the County. At that meeting they voted not to include the non-city projects originally in the City of Aiken’s Local Option Sales Tax Memorandum of Understanding. These included the SPCA ($1,000,000), the African-American Arts, History, and Cultural Center ($350,000), the Galaxi Teen Center ($500,000), and the YMCA ($400,000). Since they did not approve these projects, the City needs to re-allocate the funding from these projects by increasing the funding for projects already approved, adding new projects, or reconsidering some of the projects that you did not originally approve.
I have attached the original request for funding, what you approved at the April 26, 2010, meeting and a proposed budget for your consideration. The only new project that was added to this list was for a City Animal Control Shelter since the SPCA will be discontinuing operations at their current location. Additionally, the committee also stated that the City of Aiken will receive approximately $6 million in supplemental funding from the proposed Local Option Sales Tax. Therefore, we need to consider how these supplemental funds will be utilized. I would suggest that the City consider adding funding in the amount of $3.5 million for a recreational center originally proposed for Eustis Park. This center can be used for seniors during the day and allow for community and youth activities during the late afternoon and evening hours. The additional $2.5 million can be used to increase the funding for Priority 10 Water/Sewer Infrastructure, No. 19 Hitchcock Woods Storm Drainage, or No. 31 Powderhouse Road Connector.
SPECIAL NOTE: If you want a copy of the chart which reflects the amounts originally requested, subsequently approved by City Council in April, and the new amounts recommended by Staff, please email me (Dick Dewar) at fastwalk1@gforcecable.com and I will send it to you and add you to my periodic City Council updates.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATION AND CONCEPT PLAN FOR WOODSIDE PROFESSIONAL SUITES – Woodside Development, LP is requesting annexation of 2.25 acres of a total 3.88 acre tract, , 350 feet north of the Woodside entrance on Silver Bluff Road. In addition, they are requesting approval of a Concept Plan which would allow a maximum of four professional/medical buildings totaling 16,000 square feet to be built on the 3.88 acre property. The 1.63 acre portion which is already in the City was annexed as part of the first phase of Woodside in 1985 and is zoned as part of the Planned Residential zoning for the entire Woodside development. Under the PR zone 5% of this property can be used for commercial development of which only slightly over 3% has been used for this portion to date. The area just to the north of this development is currently occupied by Harbor Chase Assisted Living Center (formerly Eden Gardens) and a cross easement with this development is one of the conditions for approval of this annexation and Concept Plan.
Silver Bluff Road is planned to be widened in the next couple of years to a three lane section in front of this location which will provide some additional capacity and safety for individuals entering and leaving this location. For this reason a single access driveway is provided and turn lanes are not warranted due to the continuous center lane which will serve as the southbound left turn lane.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved the annexation and Concept Plan with the following conditions:
1. that the development comply with the submitted concept plan, building elevations, signage plan, and narrative;
2. that prior to annexation becoming effective, a plat combining the lots be approved by the City and recorded at the RMC office;
3. that minor changes to the buildings and site, including tree preservation, be approved by the Planning Director;
4. that the proposed driveway access to Silver Bluff Road be allowed;
5. that prior to approval of the site/landscape plan, an easement be granted and recorded with the RMC to allow the property to the north occupied by a nursing home to connect to the subject property;
6. that there be a note added to the Concept Plan that the project will comply with the Planned Commercial provisions at 4.3.8 which includes the lighting provisions;
7. that the signage comply with the signage plan submitted as part of the Concept Plan and that the Planning Director have the authority to approve minor changes in the signage;
8. that the owner execute an agreement listing the conditions of approval and that the agreement be recorded by the City at the RMC office within 90 days of approval by City Council
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE CONCERNING ACCESSORY BUILDINGS – This past spring, City Council discussed the current side and rear yard setbacks for accessory buildings. In 2005 the Planning Commission reviewed the then current accessory building regulations and recommended that accessory buildings could be allowed 3 feet from the property line instead of the current 10 feet. However, after several meetings Council voted not to approve the 3 foot side and rear yard setbacks but to leave it at 10 feet. Two of the concerns brought to Council by staff this past spring concerned reducing the side and rear yard setbacks for buildings that could store combustible materials and locations where buried utility lines were located. We feel that each of these concerns could be dealt with on a staff level should Council decide to reduce the setback distance.
At the March 8, 2010, City Council meeting Council asked the Planning Commission to develop amendments to the Zoning Ordinance that would allow the Planning Director to waive the requirements for an accessory building to be at least 10 feet from the side and rear property line. There already are precedents in the Zoning Ordinance which allows the City Engineer, the Planning Director, or City Manager to allow administrative waivers. The proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance regarding accessory building setbacks would allow the Planning Director the ability to have an administrative waiver to reduce the setback.
When an application is filed prior to receiving any waivers, the Planning Department will mail a letter to the owners of each of the lots directly contiguous to the subject lot. Once the letters have been mailed, the request cannot be approved for at least 15 days to allow time for the neighbors to comment should they desire. In addition the Planning Director will also receive input prior to approval from the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Public Works/Engineering to address their concerns.
At the June 15, 2010, Planning Commission meeting, they unanimously approved amending the Zoning Ordinance which allows the Planning Director to reduce the side and rear yard setback for an accessory building if the applicant can demonstrate that there is no other reasonable place for the building that would meet the required setback and can justify the request based on one or more of the following:
1. The size, shape and/or topography of the property would make it difficult to comply.
2. Compliance would substantially affect the usability of the property.
3. The location of other structures on the property would make it difficult to comply.
4. The location of vegetation would make it difficult to comply.
5. The proposed location would allow preservation of valuable vegetation.
6. The area of the reduced setback is adjacent to land that will not be developed.
When an application is filed prior to receiving any waivers, the Planning Department will mail a letter to the owners of each of the lots directly contiguous to the subject lot. Once the letters have been mailed the request cannot be approved for at least 15 days to allow time for the neighbors to comment should they desire. In addition the Planning Director will also receive input prior to approval from the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Public Works/Engineering to address their concerns.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE REVISING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR TRESPASS NOTICE – Unfortunately due to the behavior of certain individuals, the City has had to place them on trespass notice, therefore restricting them from certain city buildings or certain properties. These notices could involve individuals who had acted unruly, made threats or gotten into altercations with the public or city staff. Trespass notices have been issued by Public Safety in the past for H. O. Weeks, Virginia Acres, Smith-Hazel, Municipal Building, Public Safety, etc. Most of the time the trespass notice is for a set period of time and when that time expires, the individual is allowed back on the property if they follow the rules and regulations and conduct themselves in a proper manner. We have attached the Building Rules which our Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department use for their facilities. This is one of the tools that helps us maintain a safe environment at their facilities.
We recently discovered that the South Carolina Trespassing statute that the City has used over the years may not apply to public places. In order for the City to place individuals on trespass notice for city facilities, it is necessary to revise our City Code concerning rules and regulations for public parks and public facilities. Therefore, to assist us in maintaining the preservation of health, peace, and safety in our public facilities, we recommend that Council approve the attached trespass ordinance.
SECOND READING AND PUBLIC READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF AIKEN TO CONVEY CERTAIN PROPERTY IN CROSLAND PARK TO THE AIKEN CORPORATION – As part of our ongoing Northside Revitalization Project, we are continuing to renovate homes in Crosland Park. As you are aware, the Award-Winning Crosland Park work represents a coalition of public, private, and nonprofit organizations coming together to make this neighborhood a better place to live.
NAME THE PARK- Assistant City Manager Richard Pearce has provided a list of names suggested for the green space area beside the Center for African American History, Art, and Culture at the corner of York Street and Richland Avenue. These names were submitted by citizens at our city website as part of the on-line survey you requested us to conduct. The results are completely unscientific.
Names Suggested for Green Space at Corner of York Street and Richland Avenue
Aiken at Play
Aiken Adventure Park
Aiken’s Heart Park
Aiken United Park
Alfred Holmes Park
Celebrate Aiken! Park
Cleve Walker Park
Commerce Park
Equine Memorial Park
Equestrian Way Park
Giddy Up Park
Heritage Park
King Pin Park
Juan Valdez Park
Lillie Belle Allen Memorial Park
Little Village Park
Metropolis Park
Ola Hit Park
Palmetto Park
Park of Aiken
Steeplechase Park
The Courtyard
York Street Park
Yorrich Park
BUSINESS INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY EXPO - Saturday, July 17 is the Business Innovation and Technology Expo at the USCA Convocation Center from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. This Expo is part of our Celebrate Aiken Third Quarter: Business, Innovation, and Technology. Many local companies have signed up for table space at this free event. We will share a complete list with you once the registration period is completed
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