For the second time in two months, Orangeburg City Council has said no to a rezoning request that would have allowed business development in a residential neighborhood.

Council unanimously upheld the recommendation of the Planning Commission Tuesday to deny the request of Shri Singh and Mongla Singh to rezone their property at the corner of Chestnut and Nelson streets from A-1 Single Family Residential to B-1 Business District.

During a public hearing, council heard from Nelson Street residents and from Shri Singh.

Mary Jordan, who said her property was “bound by deed” to be residential, complained that the street is already used as a cut-through for traffic. With other property available for commercial development, she said, the rezoning would be a deterrent to staying in the city.

Patricia Williams cited speeding, trash and the dangers to children playing as her reasons for opposing the rezoning.

“We’re just regular citizens trying to have a piece of the American dream,” she said.

Linda McCants said traffic problems would destroy the neighborhood.

Singh, who used to live on Nelson Street, argued that his plans for office buildings or a convenience store fronting Chestnut Street would not cause traffic to use Nelson Street as a shortcut. And, he said, council had previously agreed to rezone property on Chestnut from Popeye’s to Walgreens.

“Look at the concerns, but look at the progressive side, too,” Singh urged council.

As for the eight families living in apartments Singh owns on the property, he said they would be moved.

Mayor Paul Miller said, “Realize, I’m trying to grow the city, not shrink it.”

After Singh noted that the property had been vacant a long time and that previous efforts to develop it had fallen through, Councilman Trelvis Miller said, “Seven years ago it was not the right time and I don’t think presently is the right time.”

Noting the concerns of neighbors, Councilwoman Joyce Rheney said she’s concerned that they feel so threatened by traffic and asked that traffic signs be placed.

“They can’t even back out of their driveways,” she said.

In other business, council:

n At the recommendation of the administrator, postponed second reading of an ordinance to amend a chapter of the city’s zoning ordinances pertaining to planned development districts. City Administrator John Yow asked that the ordinance be delayed until all of the changes could be presented in a document for council to read.

Among the revisions are clauses that would: allow for more flexibility in the residential and commercial development of properties in certain areas; require more intensive buffers between properties of different uses; and clarify that shipping containers and portable storage facilities are allowed for temporary use only and cannot be used as permanent structures. Existing shipping containers and portable storage facilities will have to be phased out over time.

Developers would be allowed to bring a “concept plan” to council, and get a sense of how likely it is to get final approval, before spending time and money on detailed architectural and engineering drawings.

Also, revisions would create a downtown overlay district, with stricter rules on aesthetics and fewer types of business uses allowed. Tree-protection clauses would be clarified to note that they apply to hardwoods, not pines.

Council rejected proposals that would have tightened rules on political campaign signs and would have allowed developers to bypass council on certain types of developments.

n Gave first reading to an ordinance to raise the suburban fire protection rates by 5 percent.

n Received as information, a presentation from architect West Summers on the proposed design for the new City Council Building.

n Agreed to hold the Dec. 19 meeting at 6 p.m. and to cancel the Jan. 2 session.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545.

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