Lancaster County Council - January 13th, 2025 Meeting Recap
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First meeting of 2025 with newly elected council men, with Brian Carnes serving as chairman. Several Indian land residents spoke on growth, county employees of the year were named, a new hotel for Indian Land was discussed and new appointments were made on boards and commissions.
Citizen’s Comments :
1. Ken Beck - Sun City - asked for some kind of follow up responses from council to citizen’s comments. He asked why there was such a huge discrepancy by the company hired to develop impact fees between what amount impact fees were expected to generate ( $36 million ) to what has actually been collected( $1.4).
2. Bruce Cohen - Walnut Creek - thanked council who are now putting out their own newsletters. He asked what the criteria are for getting impact fees waived, are we close to reaching sewage capacity, and who will pay for expanding lanes on Van Wyck Road if a proposed new development is approved. 3. Kathy Storm - Treetops - wanted to know who owns which roads and that planning for infrastructure must be done. She is opposed to a proposed development off Van Wyck Road.
4. Ann Dyckman - Treetops - against the proposed 800+ housing development off Van Wyck Road for over 55 years of age stating that there is not enough fire, rescue, and especially EMS service available for “old people like me” who will need it, and her additional travel time to her job needed due to traffic.
5. Helen Drahoos - Treetops - is against the proposed further development on Van Wyck Road as the traffic from the new development next to them and the apartment complex are adding to horrendous traffic in her travel time for just a few miles to OrthoCarolina. She also wanted to know who does the environmental studies, noise and air quality before land are approved.
Special Presentations : County Administrator Dennis Marstall recognized the finalists for county employees of the year from general services and public safety divisions. Three finalists were present: Billy Lloyd, Brian Collins and Riley James.
The winners were Sherri Brady - EMS from public safety and Mary Ann Hudson - Elections from general services. They were not present to receive their awards of Palmetto tree sculptures from Bob Doster Studios. Congratulations.
Non-Consent Agenda:
A. First reading of an ordinance to increase the height limit for properties zoned general business in the highway corridor overlay district. This change is being requested for a new hotel being built by Mr. Patel, which will be across from the new MUSC hospital. He is requesting the height be raised to four stories rather than three. There are taller buildings already in Indian land and they were built under a previous UDO, including a building at Red Ventures and the Marriott hotel at the entrance of that same property. The new height requirement would measure from the foundation to the tops of chimneys or any HVAC equipment on the roof. Council noted that hotels are certainly needed in our county, that aerial fire trucks are available in Indian Land, and support this change, passed 7–0.
B. First reading to rezone approximately 2.68 acres on N. Rocky River Rd. for the purpose of additional mini storage. The subject parcel will be added for expansion by J Thompson, who is who had requested a previous change. This is in Councilman Mostellar‘s district, and he fully supports this change as Mr. Thompson had originally tried to get this additional property added to his and the seller now is in agreement to sell. Passed 7-0.
C. First reading to zone approximately .84 acres at Linwood Drive for the purpose of reestablishing an existing residence on site. This house is currently vacant and in Miss McGriff’s district who fully supports this change. Passed 7-0 .
Discussion and Action items :
A. Public comment on the Catawba Local Plan 2024 to 28 and Central Regional Workforce Plan 2024 to 28. Administrator Marstall said there was no action required. This was just a report from Amanda Baker to highlight that SC Works is strengthening the workforce in the county and region and that there may be some workforce training gaps that they are working on.
B. Action needed to remove from various boards and commissions. Mr. Truesdale has moved out of the county without resigning and it was voted to remove him from the Keep Lancaster County Beautiful committee by a vote of 7 to 0.
C. Receive information and take desired action regarding appointments to various boards and commissions: Councilman Graham requested that these terms be synced to the fiscal calendar.
1. Greater Indian Land Consolidated Fire Protection District. Rick VanderKaay, Mark Sheiring, and Heather Burford, were applicants that were approved by a vote of 7–0.
2. Airport Advisory Committee District 1 applicant Frank Simpkins was approved by a vote of 7 to 0.
3. Keep Lancaster County Beautiful committee. There were four applicants for three positions: applicant John Reeder, Leslie Sinclair, Katrina Grier and Nicole Brusky . Council voted to appoint Sinclair and and Brusky at this time and revisit the third position after gathering more information. Approved 7–0.
4. Planning Commission : Lynette Hansen and Francis Liu were appointed by a vote of 7 to 0.
5. The Reconstituted Board of Zoning Appeals approved Gary Wayne Alden and Charles Deese to three year terms and James Faulkenberry to a two-year term by a vote of 7–0.
Council was given a list of upcoming boards and commission expirations for June 2025. Since there was no Executive Session, council moved to adjourn at 7:02 PM.
These notes and photos may not be copied without my permission and are done to the best of my ability. Thanks to Den and the other Indian Land citizens who continue to compose most of regular public in the audience.
Respectfully,
Clare McConaughay
