City rejects rezoning for proposed Social Security building

Tucker Lyon

Oct. 7, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the city's residential neighborhoods, Orangeburg City Council rejected a request from an Alabama-based development firm to rezone property for a new Social Security building.

Bill Davis, a representative of Larry Blumberg and Associates of Dothan, Ala., had requested that the property at the intersection of Middleton and Adden streets be rezoned from A-2 Multi-Family Residential to O-I Office-Institutional Residential. The property is owned by Charles L. Dibble.

"What we're looking to do is relocate or construct a new Social Security office," Davis said during the public hearing. "This is our proposal to rezone for that purpose. We've done a dozen of these across the Southeast. ... It's a good facility to put in a transition (area) between commercial and residential."

The federal Social Security office has outgrown its current Middleton Street building and is seeking bids for a new, more customer-friendly facility, Davis said.

Councilman Charles "Buddy" Barnwell said he agrees with the Planning Commission's decision to reject the rezoning request.

"It's a shame to see another vacant building in Orangeburg. I'm opposed to it," he said.

Mayor Paul Miller stressed that Davis' firm is only in the bid process.

"You don't actually have a contract at this time. ... If we were to overturn the Planning Commission and you didn't get the deal, we'd have a piece of property we'd rezoned for what?" he said.

The mayor also said council should listen to the Planning Commission, since it has spent a lot of time on the zoning issue.

"In this economy, a lot of people out there are doing a lot of crazy things to get businesses going," he said.

Davis said there would be no fast food business or liquor store on the property even if the Social Security office wasn't located there.

"You are protected," he said.

Councilman Charlie Jernigan said, "Every time we have a zoning question come up, it takes (away) residential property and puts in a business. We're eating into all our residential property around the city."

Councilwoman Liz Zimmerman Keitt said that her problem is that Davis has no contract for the office.

Davis said, "Without rezoning, I can't get a contract."

He said the site in question is the only one that would meet government specifications.

The building would be compatible with the neighborhood, with a buffer; office hours from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and little traffic, he said.

Also, explaining the purpose of O-I zoning, Davis said the property in question is in a transition area between residential and commercial neighborhoods. Also, he said the proposed Social Security building would be "much more attractive than what's there now."

"The parcel directly to the west of our parcel, separated by Adden Street, is O-I," Davis said. "So, we are adjacent to an O-I zone. This would extend O-I zoning across the street to the vacant property."

The Planning Commission's decision to reject the change was upheld when no one on council made a motion to support the zoning change.

In other business, council again delayed consideration of two ordinances pertaining to the city's first land development regulations.

The latest postponement was due to the absence of Councilman Bernard Haire, who had expressed reservations about the regulations.

"He contacted me and requested we postpone it until the next meeting," on Oct. 20, said City Administrator John Yow.

The ordinances, one for the city and one for its Department of Public Utilities, were postponed two weeks ago for council to receive clarification. Haire and two other council members raised concerns that the new regulations would take away local government authority.

In other business, council:

--Before a standing-room-only crowd, began the session with the swearing in of the mayor and council members Barnwell of District 3, Keitt of District 5 and Richard Stroman of District 1. All were elected to four-year terms last month.

--Gave final third reading to ordinances annexing the property of Orangeburg Foods Inc. and placing it in City Council District Five.

--Gave final third reading to ordinances annexing the Whaley Street property of Stephen D. Nash, Orangeburg Stockyards, and placing it in City Council District Five.

--Passed a resolution authorizing the extension of a mortgage to South Carolina Bank and Trust on the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce building. Also, authorized the payment of $120,000 for principal loan reduction.

After discussion of a contractual matter concerning the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce building in closed, executive session two weeks ago, council returned to open session and agreed to pay half, or $120,000, of the remaining $240,000 debt on the facility.

In addition to ratifying council's action, the resolution extends the mortgage for a year.

--Accepted a $47,450 grant from the Violence Against Women Act. The grant, which the city has received for six years, requires a 25 percent match.

--Passed a resolution to apply for a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant to redevelop the Boswell Street neighborhood.

--Moved the start of the Oct. 20 session from 7 p.m. up to 6 p.m., due to a conflict with the mayor's schedule.

--Received as information, a presentation from Dr. Eddie Glenn Bryant of the Greater Orangeburg Mayor's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities.

--Proclaimed "truthful" as the Community of Character trait for October.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0075-38656391