By Mandy Catoe
March 1, 2017
More than 50 Indian Land homeowners, wearing red shirts and hot under the collar, stormed out of Monday night's county council meeting after the council reversed itself and voted 5-2 in favor of McClancy Seasoning's rezoning request.
As the five hands went up in approval, people in the audience gasped, and some shouted out comments before abruptly leaving the council chambers.
"You're kidding me!"
"See you in court!"
"Shameful disgrace. We will vote you out!"
It took about two minutes for them all to exit. The on-duty sheriff's deputy walked to the door and stood watch as they cleared the room. Council Chair Steve Harper stopped mid-sentence during the outburst and waited for the room to quiet down before moving on to the next agenda item.
Harper voted for the rezoning along with Charlene McGriff, Larry Honeycutt and new council members Terry Graham and Billy Mosteller. The no votes came from Brian Carnes and Jack Estridge. This was the first reading on the ordinance. It would have to pass two other readings to take effect.
McClancy's owner, Reid Wilkerson, reapplied for the rezoning after the required 12-month waiting period since the council denied the company's request in December 2015.
Wilkerson also filed a lawsuit against the county in April 2016. McClancy is demanding that the court force the county to rezone the entire property to allow expansion or pay the company $600,000 for the land plus the cost of relocating the business.
The 21-acre tract is at 182 Spice Road, off U.S. 521 near the BridgeMill subdivision, where McClancy has been operating since 1982.
The BridgeMill neighborhood has about 500 homes ranging in price from $300,000 to $600,000. The development began in 2005 and should be completed by 2020 with nearly 800 homes.
The zoning problem with the site dates back to 1998, when the state required counties to draw zoning districts and the county incorrectly spot-zoned the property as R15P, which is for single-family residential development.
County Administrator Steve Willis, at county council's direction, attempted to correct the erroneous spot-zoning in March 2015 by applying for a zoning change from R15P to I-1, or light industrial. Wilkerson wanted the I-1 zoning to allow for larger manufacturing and warehousing space.
After a series of contentious council meetings attended by BridgeMill residents, the county decided against the rezoning in December 2015.
The county's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) allows McClancy to operate from its existing building and 7 acres, but not use the balance of its 21-acre site.
The UDO describes light industrial as designed to accommodate industries that do not tend to have adverse impacts on surrounding properties and prohibits most heavy industry.
"At the current level of McClancy's operation, there is very little opposition," said planning commissioner and Indian Land resident Jerry Holt. "It is relatively quiet. It's not stinky."
But some nearby residents are concerned that if the company expands, those conditions might change. Adding to their resistance is a proposed amendment to the UDO expanding the allowable industries in I-1 zoning.
Eight Indian Land residents expressed fears at Monday night's meeting that the rezoning would negatively impact their quality of life and their property values.
Gary Walbrun, a BridgeMill resident for the past seven years, said "The facts have not changed, and our will to fight is stronger than ever."
Council members discussed the matter briefly.
Councilman Carnes, whose district is in Indian Land, described the rezoning ordinance as a difficult one that he opposes, and he encouraged council to do the same.
"I feel the residents here have taken priority over Mr. Wilkerson's rights to his zoning," Carnes said. "He was there a long time before they were, and there were multiple opportunities for him to seek rezoning before the neighborhood was built."
Newly-elected councilman Graham, who represents Indian Land, said, "I am concerned when I hear about proposed changes to the zoning and adding other things in."
Graham asked County Attorney John Weaver to reach out to McClancy for a compromise.
"Is there any way we could lock in the uses so the I-1 can't be changed," Graham asked.
Weaver said zoning cannot be made conditional, but added that "if at second reading, a representative from McClancy Seasoning would come and volunteer to do such, the county would be in a position to accept that voluntary statement," Weaver said.
He agreed to contact McClancy prior to the next council meeting March 13.
Follow Reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or
contact her at (803) 283-1152.
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