Marc Mylott and Clif Kinder Roll call

City council convened for its work session this Wednesday at 9 am on the third floor of City Hall. Council member Hamilton Osborne was absent and in federal court. Council member Anne Sinclair was out of town. Council member E. W. Cromartie suffered the loss of his mother two days before. The remaining council members present were Tameika Isaac Devine, Mayor Bob Coble, Sam Davis, and Daniel Rickenmann.

Community promotions

Chris Brownlee , chairman for the Community Promotions Advisory Committee, reported the award of $2,500 to the Eboni Dance Theatre and the denial of any funds to the Carolina’s Nature Photographers for help with the second printing of their book.

The bird flu

Mayor Coble briefed council and distributed packaged information on the city’s preparedness for the potential pandemic.

Charles Way and John Darby

Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers

Mayor Coble reviewed the health center’s property status at the corner of Lady Street and Harden Street. The impediment is a 40’ X 60’ lot appraised for $10,000 but is offered for sale at $65,000, which is blocking the progress to build a new maternal–child health center. The director is asking the city for a zoning change to make the unobtainable property, the impediment, more compatible with the placement of the health center.

Other matters

Council approved three requests with one vote: a certificate of convenience and necessity for Green Cab; a certificate of convenience and necessity for American Cab; and a conflict of interest waiver for the McNair Law Firm.

Executive session

Council adjourned for work behind closed doors, presumably a personnel matter. At about 10 am, council returned for its regular session.

Gwendolyn Kennedy

Street closings

• Henderson Street between Taylor Street and Blanding Street; Blanding Street between Pickens Street and Henderson Street; Tuesday, November 15 and Tuesday, December 13, from 7 am until 1 pm.

Ordinances – second reading

• #2005–119, authorizing and providing for the issuance of parking facilities revenue bonds of the city; limiting the payment of the bonds solely to the net revenues derived from the operation of the parking facilities and pledging the net revenues to such payment; creating certain funds and providing for payments into such funds; and making other covenants and agreements in connection with the foregoing.

• #2005–118, a first supplemental ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of city parking facilities revenue bonds, series 2005A, in the principal amount of not exceeding $41,000,000, and taxable series 2005B, in the principal amount of not exceeding $9,000,000; delegating the authority to the mayor and city manager to determine certain matters with respect to the bonds; prescribing the form and details of such bonds; and other related matters.

Derrick Huggins

Confirm zoning of previously annexed properties – first reading

• 13 acre portion of 18 acres, N/S 1400 block of St. Andrews Road; confirmed C–3 zoning.

Map & text amendments (historic districts and landmarks) – first reading

• 1537 Main Street; rezoned from C–5, –DD to C–5, –DD, –DP. Amended Chapter 17, Article V, Division 4, 17–691, Buildings and sites list (c), Group II, added 1537 Main Street.

• Ordinance #2005–102, amending the 1998 Code of Ordinances of the city, Chapter 17, Land Development and Zoning, Article V, Historic Preservation and Architectural Review, Division 4, Landmarks, Sec. 17–691, Buildings and site list, (c), Group II.

Annexations with map amendments/

James Middleton rezoning – first reading

• 4.8 acre portion of 7.8 acres, Garners Ferry Road, annexation with rezoning from Richland County D–1 to C–3.

• 313 Lost Creek Drive (Lot 11, Lost Creek Plantation), annexation with zoning from Richland County RU to RS–1.

• 198 acres, 7743 Garners Ferry Road (Burnside Farms), annexation with rezoning from Richland County D–1 and C–3 to PUD–LS. Developer Clif Kinder appeared to explain his plan and his request. When all is built, there should be about 3,000 people in homes on the site among mixed uses by commercial and retail interests.

Major change to a planned unit

development (PUD) – first reading

• 25.1 acres, northwest corner of Hampton Street at Williams Street (CanalSide), rezoned for PUD–C, –DD, –FP to amended PUD–C, –DD, –FP. Development firm Beach Co. principals Charles Way and John Darby were present to speak in explanation of their plans and requests, but none was necessary.

• 2700 block Millwood Avenue (Shandon Square), rezoned from PUD–R and PUD–R, –DP to amended PUD–R and PUD–R, –DP. This is the former ETV site under development by Ben Arnold.

Map amendments/rezoning – first reading

• 3121 Carver Street, rezoned from RS–3 to PUD–R.

• 2019 Worthy Drive, rezone from D–1 to PUD–R. Neighbor James Middleton (2027 Worthy) shared his concerns about the sewage seeping to the surface, but owner Delores Howard assured council the issue was resolved.

• 3602 Rose Drive, rezoned from RS–3 to PUD–R.

• 5203 and 5205 Middleton Street, rezoned from RS–3 and PUD–C to PUD–C. Gwendolyn Kennedy , representing the adult graduate sorority Sigma Gamma Rho, declared the facility as the adult and graduate arm of the sorority. Receptions are expected, but no college parties. Parking was identified as a problem, and council asked Kennedy to work it out with her neighbors.

• 912 South Edisto Avenue and 1045 Howe Street, rezoned from M–1 and RG–2 to PUD–R.

• USC Horizon Block, rezoned from C–1, –PD and C–3, –DD to PUD–C, –DD and PUD–C, –PD.

• USC Public Health & Biomedical Blocks, rezone from C–1, –DD, and C–4, –DD to PUD–C, –DD. Derrick Huggins , the university’s director for vehicle management and parking services, explained the parking accommodation during construction of the project and the final total number of parking spaces upon completion.

Next meeting

Council meets for a work session next Wednesday, November 16, at 9 am, top floor of City Hall, corner of Laurel and Main. A public hearing is scheduled for 10 the same morning.