With insinuations of unfair annexation policies in play, Orangeburg City Council voted 4-3 along racial lines Tuesday to give the initial nod to an ordinance that will add another 115 residents to the municipality.

While the annexation ordinance itself pitted mostly single-family residents against multiunit developers in the area along the Columbia Road corridor, the broader issue of what areas are annexed was raised by Councilman Bernard Haire.

Haire questioned why areas in the eastern area of the city, such as around lower Russell Street and the Clarendon Apartments, have not been annexed.

“The eastern part never gets annexation,” Haire said. “I’ve said this before at City Council, I’ve lived here all of my life ... I was raised in the area of Maxcey Street ... the city limits haven’t moved in an eastern direction. I don’t feel that I, as a City Council member tonight, can sit and see that (practice) continue. I will not vote on annexation tonight ... I’ve gone along with other annexation, in the hope of some sort of fairness.”

Assistant City Administrator Kevin Bronson explained that he monitors the Department of Public Utilities map and “the rationale where we go for annexation is where water and sewer are in place.”

City Councilman Charles Jernigan, who would represent the annexed area, told Haire that he understands his concerns.

“I hear what you’re saying about annexation on the other side of town. Annexation is a means for the city to grow and prosper,” he said. “There’s a lot of time for staff, if we are patient enough and rely on staff and do the right thing and (let them) do the job they have been doing” to continue annexation. “Be a little more patient with our staff.”

In response Haire cited annexation studies and said, “Excuse the expression, but there ‘ain’t’ no movement in that direction. Something is wrong ,.. I’ve lived in the city 50 years or more and I haven’t seen it ... I’m troubled by it.”

Councilman Charles Barnwell said council should “make an attempt to move east of Orangeburg.”

Noting the hard and lengthy process involved, Mayor Paul Miller said annexation is a “pet project of mine.” With more annexation to come, he said he’ll continue to speak to civic groups and churches to promote the effort, including the eastern part of the city.

As for the specific annexation issue itself, Jernigan recommended an amendment to the annexation ordinance. As passed by the Planning Commission last week, all of the area would be A-1 single-family residential.

“We’ve got pieces of property like the Family Life Center, a nursing home and a church. To zone these places A-1 residential doesn’t make good sense to me. Zone it for their current use, just like the duplexes down on Longwood,” he said. “The piece of property that has no (building) on it ... we should protect the citizens ... and keep them from having to deal with the saturation of apartments in that area.”

Jernigan then proposed that the nursing home/assisted living facility be zoned A-2. The Church of Christ and the Family Life Center would be Office-Institutional. Other A-2 zoned property in the area would be the existing duplexes.

“All other property ought to be A-1 residential, based on the best use of the land and what the biggest majority of citizens who live in the area (want),” he said. “If I hear them right, that’s what they’d like to see.”

During the public hearing, council heard from six speakers before giving first reading to an amended ordinance accepting the annexation petition. In addition to Haire, those opposed to the ordinance were council members Sandra Knotts and Trelvis Miller. Voting for the measure were Jernigan, the mayor and council members Barnwell and Joyce Rheney.

Speaking as a neighborhood home owner, Harry Fleming cited potential problems caused by development and requested that the area be annexed as single-family residential. The “encroachment of commercialism,” he said, would be a threat.

Jim Meggs, representing developers, the Patels, said that the property owned by his clients is not appropriate for A-1 zoning. He proposed working with the city staff and neighbors to develop a plan for “tasteful” development. The Patels, he said, “are quality folks, quality developers. We believe we can find a way to yield value for all concerned -- the city, the neighborhood and my clients.”

Acknowledging that “we made a very huge mistake in not talking to the neighbors and letting them know what we had in mind,” Hema Patel said that her family has lived in the area for years and would not do anything to decrease property values. Those neighbors, she said, shouldn’t be forced to consider annexation just because they don’t want development.

“We want the same thing everybody in this room wants -- peace of mind,” she said. “The units will be outstanding. We’ll do whatever we have to do to protect our assets and the community.”

While explaining that “nothing is in concrete,” Patel described plans for 40 quality-built, green townhouses, some to be sold and some rental, on about 4 acres of land. Each would be about 1,000 square feet, and sell for around $110,000 or rent for $550 to $800 a month.

Michael Horger, who owns two parcels in the area, said that while he favors annexation, he is opposed to the “blanket” zoning designation of A-1. A number of duplexes have been in the area for years. Citing state law, he said that council should consider that A-1 zoning would be in conflict with the current use of some of the property.

Also, Abe Salama and Avis Butler spoke in favor of annexation and maintaining the single-family residential zoning.

The area considered for annexation covers a little over 61 acres and consists of 115 people in 33 residences, a nursing/assisted living complex and six duplexes. Nine parcels are vacant. Also, the area has a church, two parsonages and a church activity center, all tax-exempt.

Most of the area is around Longwood Road, Sparkleberry Hill Road and Spring Valley Circle. More than 75 percent of the landowners, representing more than 75 percent of the assessed value, had asked to be annexed.

Estimated additional revenues for the city would be about $22,275 a year. Some $81,000 in infrastructure would be required.

In other business, also concerning the annexation, council, by the same 4-3 vote, gave first reading to an ordinance to place the newly annexed area into City Council District 2.

Haire questioned how council could proceed with the ordinance when the annexation hasn’t been approved.

In other business, council:

Passed a resolution to accept the $571,595 low bid, submitted by Randy Pigate Construction Co. Inc. of Longs, for construction of the Riverside pump station upgrade and a force main. Over $900,000 had been budgeted.

Passed a resolution in appreciation of Howard Duvall, executive director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, who has retired after 34 years of service.

Proclaimed “diligence” as the Community of Character trait for October.

Received as information, a request from Haire that Department of Public Safety officers note and report street light outages to the Department of Public Utilities.

In closed, executive session, received a legal briefing on annexation/zoning for the Spring Valley and Columbia Road areas.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached by e-mail at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5545. Comment on this and other stories online at www.The TandD.com.

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