After a public hearing and a good bit of discussion Tuesday, Orangeburg City Council gave first reading to an ordinance for a dozen annexation requests, made through the 75 percent petition method.

Although mostly undeveloped, the 40-acre tract, with 16 residents, is slated for development. Twenty acres are slated for development for single-family use, with 20 to 30 homes, adding some 60 to 70 people to the city.

The 6-1 vote reflected concerns raised by Councilman Charles "Buddy" Barnwell over one of the properties, a multi-unit residential development called Prakash Court. Favoring single-family residences in the area, the councilman tried to get a vote on each item individually, but his motion died for lack of a second.

"My concern is we're developing Parcel 12 (20-30 single-family residences) and they're backed up to apartment-type things," said Barnwell.

Developer Jai Rai told council that he has already built one multi-unit building on the property and he has the permits from the county to proceed with others.

That, said Deputy Administrator Kevin Bronson, gives Rai a vested right in developing the property.

"I don't agree with that," said Barnwell, who also expressed concern that developers of the Spring Valley property on the left side of Columbia Road would also want to be annexed.

"That doesn't have anything to do with this," said Mayor Paul Miller. "He may not want to come in the city."

Barnwell said, "Of course, he will."

As for Rai's development, Miller added that the property has been cleared and the permits have been issued by the county. "He doesn't have to come into the city," the mayor said. "He's asking."

After voting against the ordinance, Barnwell asked to change his vote to support of all of the zoning properties at the end of council business. The mayor, however, suggested he wait until second reading to indicate support.

Council then also gave unanimous first reading of an ordinance to place the annexed properties into City Council District 2.

Properties include a vacant Columbia Road parcel, to be zoned A-2 Multi-unit Residential, as recommended by the Planning Commission; a Bowman Avenue parcel owned by Harry Mims and set for development with multi-unit apartments, A2 Multi-unit Residential; the Church of God on Columbia Road, O-I, Office-Institutional-Residential; four condominiums at 1726 Churchill Road and 1730-1778 Churchill Road, all A2 Multi-unit Residential; Trinity Baptist Church Burial Grounds, O-I, Office-Institutional-Residential; Churchill Road parcel that's mostly wetlands (no zoning classification requested, but since the owner didn't sign the petition the parcel is slated for A-1 Single-unit Residential, per city codes); 102-109 Prakash Court, A-2 Multi-unit Residential; and 22965 Riley St., A-1 Single-unit Residential, that's due to be developed with 20 to 30 single-family residential units.

In addition to Rai, council also heard from Clay Charles Jones during the public hearing. Jones asked about access to the Trinity Baptist Church Burial Grounds. He was told to contact a landowner for an easement to the landlocked church burial ground. The Department of Public Utilities, which got an easement for a sewer line extension from a property owner, has no objection to the church using the same easement and will help the church contact the property owner. However, DPU can not give the easement to someone else.

In other business, council:

* Gave final, third reading to an ordinance increasing the building permit fees, the first increase since 1993. Council previously discussed the increase as part of its budget.

* Gave final, third reading to an ordinance authorizing the sale of a city lot on Pinebrook Street for $14,500 to HCC Developers.

* Gave second reading to an ordinance to place recently annexed property at 2000 Chestnut St., 2083 Loblolly Lane and property on Chestnut Street between Pinebrook Street and Loblolly Lane into City Council District 2.

* As recommended by the Accommodation Tax Advisory Committee, agreed to fund some $18,400 for six tourism-related projects.

The Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce/city of Orangeburg will get $4,100 of its $5,000 request for the Festival of Roses; the County Fine Arts Center will get the $2,500 requested for the Festival of Roses and Showcase; the Chamber of Commerce will get the $6,000 requested for various tourism items; Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association will receive the $2,500 requested for brochures; the city's Parks and Recreation Department will get $2,800 of the $3,800 it requested for tourism items; and, the Part-Time Players will get $500 of the $1,000 donation it had requested.

* Agreed to cancel the regularly scheduled Jan. 1 council session, due to the New Year's holiday.

* Proclaimed "courtesy" as the character trait for December.

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

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