Meeting Details
Lancaster County Council Meeting Recap (March 9, 2026)
1) Call to Order
⏱ 1:15 – Chairman Brian Carnes opened the regular meeting, noted a quorum, and confirmed proper public notice.
2) Welcome and Recognition
⏱ 1:38 – Chairman Carnes welcomed attendees, reviewed meeting expectations, and asked everyone to silence phones and be respectful during the meeting. He also recognized a local “Dancing with the Stars” champion before moving into formal business.
3) Pledge of Allegiance & Invocation
⏱ 2:07 – Council Member Jose Luis led the pledge and invocation.
4) Approval of the Agenda
⏱ 3:37 – Council approved the meeting agenda.
Vote:Unanimous (approved).
5) Citizens Comments (summarized by speaker)
⏱ 4:04 – Public comment opened with the standard reminder that this is not a Q&A period and that remarks should be directed to Council as a body.
- Citizen 1 (⏱ 4:47): Spoke on behalf of the C.F. Smith applicant and told Council the developer would ask to postpone Item 7A. He said a late-arising connectivity issue with the neighboring property needed to be investigated before second reading proceeds.
- Citizen 2 (⏱ 6:44): Representing the neighboring Widewaters/Parkstone property, argued the rezoning could harm Parkstone traffic flow and emergency access and said no cross-access agreement had been reached. He also argued that approving RB zoning during the moratorium raises legal concerns because the district can allow residential uses.
- Citizen 3 (⏱ 10:38): Urged Council to treat infrastructure as a countywide issue, not an Indian Land-only issue. She questioned whether Council had really used the last month to consult with schools, fire, EMS, and other agencies before voting on more growth-related items.
- Citizen 4 (⏱ 13:22): Argued the county’s current approach of expanding the commercial tax base in Indian Land has not solved the underlying infrastructure strain. She highlighted the amount of approved but unbuilt residential inventory and urged Council to deny the 71-acre rezoning and consider interim traffic solutions.
- Citizen 5 (⏱ 16:59): Asked Council to vote against the 71.1-acre zoning change, calling it the wrong project at the wrong time and in the wrong place.
- Citizen 6 (⏱ 17:30): Criticized repeated growth approvals in Indian Land and said roads, staffing, equipment, and buildings for fire/EMS still do not match what has already been approved. She also noted that The Haven was not on that evening’s action list but tied it to the broader lack of county planning.
- Citizen 7 (⏱ 21:07): Repeated concerns about emergency services and asked Council to be transparent with incoming residents about the county’s current lack of fire and medical infrastructure. She said new residents should be clearly informed that service levels are not keeping up with approved growth.
- Citizen 8 (⏱ 23:13): Suggested a different vision for the C.F. Smith site, proposing an indoor sports complex instead of another traditional shopping center. She argued this could provide broader public benefit, jobs, recreation, and possibly connect to the county’s regional park efforts.
Electronic Comments
⏱ 26:30 – After the in-person comments, the Clerk reported written comments received before the meeting. Council was told there was 1 comment asking Council to pause Ordinance 2026-2012, 2 comments opposing rezoning 2026-2012 to commercial, 1 comment supporting The Haven, 5 comments opposing rezoning 2026-2012, and 2 comments supporting Ordinance 2026-2012.
6) Consent Agenda
⏱ 27:08 – Council approved the full consent agenda as a group, including the Feb. 11 special meeting minutes, the Feb. 23 regular meeting minutes, 3rd reading of Ordinance 2026-2018 for the Van Wyck EMS station rezoning, and 2nd reading of Ordinance 2026-2020 for the U.S. Strapping multi-county park agreement update.
Vote:Unanimous (approved).
7) Non-Consent Agenda
7a) 2nd Reading – Ordinance 2026-2012 (71.1 acres LDR → RB; Charlotte Hwy/Laurel Hill Rd; RZ-2025-2538)
⏱ 27:33 – Council took up second reading of the Harris property rezoning.
Added context / discussion: This item again centered on the proposed commercial rezoning of the 71.1-acre C.F. Smith/Harris tract at Charlotte Highway and Laurel Hill Road. The discussion focused on two issues: the newly raised connectivity dispute with the neighboring property to the north, and whether the county’s residential moratorium has any bearing on a zoning district that is primarily commercial but can include residential uses under certain conditions. Staff said the rezoning could still be heard because RB is primarily a commercial district and no residential application would be accepted during the moratorium, but Council ultimately chose to delay the item again so the connectivity and legal questions could be reviewed.
Vote:Postponed unanimously with a 60-day outer limit for the applicant to work through the connectivity issues and return.
⏱ Vote moment:34:45–35:02
7b) Public Hearing and 3rd Reading – Ordinance 2026-2019 (Edgewater II Improvement District)
⏱ 35:05 – Council opened the public hearing and moved into third reading of the Edgewater II improvement district amendment.
Added context / discussion: This ordinance adds about 9.12 acres into the district to account for road and utility easements and reconfigured lots while preserving the original development concept and assessment structure. Michael Seezen said the only update since earlier readings was that written consent had now also been received from True Homes, in addition to the previously secured consent of the Forfeited Land Commission.
Vote:Unanimous (approved on 3rd reading).
⏱ Vote moment:36:42–36:49
7c) Public Hearing and 3rd Reading – Ordinance 2026-2016 (FY2025-2026 budget amendment)
⏱ 36:57 – Council considered final reading of the budget amendment ordinance.
Added context / discussion: This ordinance had already advanced on earlier readings and covers two specific items: a $39,738 one-time appropriation for 30 digital temperature-monitoring devices for EMS medication/supply storage, and a $50,365 interdepartmental transfer to IT for an ERP specialist position, laptop, and phone through June 30. The agenda packet explains the EMS devices are intended to help meet new state oversight expectations and avoid medication loss during temperature extremes, while the ERP role is meant to reduce implementation risk during system go-live and stabilization.
Vote:Unanimous (approved on 3rd reading).
⏱ Vote moment:37:56–38:08
7d) Public Hearing and 3rd Reading – Ordinance 2026-2013 (Project Alpine 2 / U.S. Strapping SSRC agreement)
⏱ 38:17 – Council considered final reading of the special source revenue credit ordinance for U.S. Strapping Company, Inc.
Added context / discussion: The agenda packet describes this as an economic development agreement tied to a $25 million investment and 50 jobs with a 20-year term, 6% assessment ratio, and tiered special source credits of 50% in years 1–5 and 25% in years 6–10. Council’s discussion on third reading was brief, reflecting that the basic structure had already been reviewed on prior readings.
Vote:Unanimous (approved on 3rd reading).
⏱ Vote moment:39:20–39:26
7e) Public Hearing and Resolution 1318-R2026 (Conditional Use – Vehicle Services Minor, 1081 Fort Mill Hwy., Unit B)
⏱ 39:42 – Council held the public hearing and considered the conditional use resolution.
Added context / discussion: Planning staff explained this was not a brand-new use on the site but a request by a new owner to continue essentially the same small motor vehicle repair / auto-body type operation previously allowed there. Staff said all conditional-use requirements had been met and that, if approved, the applicant would still need a building permit for minor interior upfits.
Vote:Unanimous (approved).
⏱ Vote moment:41:41–41:42
7f) 2nd Reading – Ordinance 2025-2006 (Permanent easement, Grace Avenue parcel)
⏱ 41:48 – Council moved to second reading of the Grace Avenue easement ordinance.
Added context / discussion: Staff said there were no changes from first reading. The agenda packet identifies the easement as a permanent easement grant to Taylor Thornburg Pressley and Jonathan Allen Pressley over county-owned property off Grace Avenue; it had previously passed 6-1, with Jose Luis opposed, and that same split remained on second reading.
Vote:Passed 6-1 (Jose Luis opposed).
⏱ Vote moment:42:58–43:06
7g) 2nd Reading – Ordinance 2026-2017 (Housing Committee)
⏱ 43:06 – Council considered second reading of the housing committee ordinance.
Added context / discussion: April Williams said the main change from first reading was clarifying that municipal members would be official representatives of their municipalities. Discussion also touched on future funding: Billy Mosteller said he supported creating the committee but did not want his vote read as a commitment to future appropriations, and staff responded that no funding request was being made at that time.
Vote:Unanimous (approved on 2nd reading).
⏱ Vote moment:44:53–44:54
7h) 1st Reading – Ordinance 2026-2022 (FY2025-2026 budget amendment)
⏱ 45:02 – Council considered first reading of another budget amendment ordinance.
Added context / discussion: Jamie Privuznak explained this ordinance had two main pieces: $53,214 to increase the EMS medical supplies line for oxygen purchases for transport units, and $75,000 for the Coroner’s Office to cover toxicology and autopsy invoices so the professional services account does not go negative. Steve Willis also noted that the ordinance includes a proposed organizational chart update tied to recent departmental structure changes intended to improve reporting and operational flow.
Vote:Unanimous (approved on 1st reading).
⏱ Vote moment:48:35–48:44
7i) Resolution 1321-R2026 (Request SCDOT study no-through-truck traffic on Possum Hollow Road)
⏱ 48:44 – Council considered a resolution asking SCDOT to study prohibiting through truck traffic on Possum Hollow Road between U.S. 521 and S.C. 160.
Added context / discussion: Steve Willis said the county cannot itself post the road, since it is a state secondary road, but can formally ask SCDOT to study and consider it. Discussion emphasized resident complaints about large tractor trailers using the road as a cut-through on a corridor not designed for that traffic; there was also a small typo in the resolution that staff corrected before the final vote.
Vote:Unanimous (approved).
⏱ Vote moment:51:24–51:30
8) Discussion and Action Items
8a) Boards & Commissions Appointments / Re-Appointments
⏱ 51:37 – Council received the boards and commissions update from the Clerk.
Added context / discussion: No appointment vote was taken at this meeting. The Clerk said the District 4 Community Outreach and Engagement Advisory Board appointment remained postponed indefinitely, and the rest of the agenda material in this section was informational only, covering current vacancies and upcoming expirations.
9) Status of Items Tabled / Recommitted / Deferred / Held
The agenda listed several held or pending items, including The Haven development agreement and related rezoning, along with older postponed Old Hickory Road matters and other pending development items. Just before executive session, Council briefly asked whether long-pending postponed items could be forced forward, and staff responded that the Old Hickory items must remain on the postponed list because they are in the moratorium area and no action can be taken at this time.
10) Executive Session
⏱ 52:08 – Council voted to enter executive session for one item: receipt of legal advice subject to the attorney-client privilege regarding a potential contractual matter relating to the P-Card audit, and invited Tracy Raven, Procurement Director into the discussion.
Vote:Unanimous (approved to enter executive session).
11) Items Requiring a Vote Following Executive Session
⏱ 1:06:25 – After returning to open session, the County Attorney stated that Council discussed the one listed executive session item, but no motions were made and no votes were taken.
12) Adjournment
⏱ 1:06:33 – Council adjourned the meeting.