North Augusta City Council rejects Kellogg Tract annexation

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The North Augusta City Council members shot down a major annexation proposal on Monday evening.

City council members voted 3-to-1 against adding the Kellogg Tract land into the city.

Since the council rejected annexing the Kellogg Tract, two other votes on the development plan were canceled.

The North Augusta City Council considered three ordinances that would annex the Kellogg Tract into the city limits. If approved and built as proposed, the mixed-use development could include nearly 1,800 homes.

The tract consists of several parcels on the north side of Belvedere Clearwater Road, west of I-520. More than 80 acres are protected wetlands. The developer is requesting annexation to enable the project to proceed under the city’s jurisdiction. The initial phase would include approximately 1,300 rooftops, with future condominiums, townhomes, single-family homes, and commercial properties bringing the total to nearly 1,800 homes.

Neighbors voice concerns about pace of growth

North Augusta resident Rachal Johnson said the pace of development is a concern.

“It’s crazy how much has grown up. I mean, I’ve watched my whole life this place go from like a quiet and quaint town,” Johnson said.

While Johnson said she is not against growth, she raised questions about capacity.

“It’s coming so fast that like we don’t have enough room to put people,” she said.

Johnson also questioned who stands to benefit from continued expansion.

“We’re bringing more, but is it going to benefit like the regular everyday citizen here?” she said.

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Council member cites infrastructure risks

North Augusta City Council member Dennis Briatico said resident concerns center on several infrastructure issues.

“They’re worried about traffic, they’re worried about infrastructure, they’re worried about storm water, they’re worried about when do we tap out our drain capacity,” Briatico said.

Briatico said the process must be handled carefully.

“If you put the cart before the horse, so to say, you really ended up hurting the whole process,” he said.

He stated that the city is taking a measured approach to its development decisions.

“It’s not rampant, you know, it’s not something where we’re just boom, boom, boom. You’re doing traffic studies that are up to date. You’re making sure, you know, what stormwater is going to look like in that area, what the runoff is going to hurt,” Briatico said.

Annexation vote not the final word on development

Aiken County Public Schools Board Member Colen Lindell submitted a statement noting that even if the council votes against annexation, the development could still move forward under Aiken County’s jurisdiction. He cited the Trolley Run subdivision near the City of Aiken — located in unincorporated Aiken County — as an example.

Lindell said the school district has been planning for future residential growth for several years. Highland Springs Middle School was recently completed, and the district already owns adjacent property that could be used for a future elementary school. The district also owns property behind Midland Valley High School that could accommodate another large elementary school if needed.

North Augusta High School has capacity for approximately 200 to 300 additional students, Lindell said. Midland Valley High School is also undergoing a major renovation and expansion, and the district has other long-range plans in place to accommodate future enrollment as western Aiken County continues to grow.

Other North Augusta development projects face pushback

The Kellogg Tract is not the only development project in North Augusta facing resistance. In Riverside Village near Brick Pond Park, a proposed cyber center continues to draw opposition from neighbors concerned about its impact on surrounding wildlife and the environment. The council has not yet made a decision on that project.

North Augusta has also seen major development move forward in recent years. The Hive, a mixed-use project off Exit 1, includes multiple buildings with hundreds of apartments, homes, shops, and restaurants already open.