Aiken Sees Shift from Chicken Plant to New Subdivision
Aiken, SC is undergoing a significant change as plans for a new chicken processing plant have been scrapped in favor of a residential subdivision. John Henderson, owner of H&A Development LLC, recently shared his plans for the 86.95-acre property located next to the Shaw Industries plant during a city council meeting on August 26.
Background of the Project
This property was originally targeted for a chicken processing facility by House of Raeford, which announced its intentions to build there in March. The plant was set to be a major investment of $185 million and promised to create 900 jobs with a starting wage of $18 per hour. However, there were significant challenges that led to the abandonment of this plan.
Obstacles Faced
The project faced two major hurdles. Firstly, the Horse Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves the area, had no available sewer capacity, as it was already allocated to other projects. Although Aiken County is working to expand this treatment plant, officials were hesitant to dedicate a large portion of the new capacity to the chicken processing facility.
The second obstacle was strong opposition from local residents living in nearby subdivisions. Many voiced their concerns about having a large industrial plant close to their homes. As a result, the Aiken County Council ultimately voted against providing an incentives package for the plant.
Transition to Residential Development
Given these challenges, Henderson and his partners decided to pivot back to their original plan of developing a residential area known as Creighton Meadows. This new subdivision will consist of 284 homes and will be developed in two phases. The first phase will include 199 homes, while the second phase will add 85 more homes.
The Aiken County Planning Commission granted approval for the subdivision layout in June. Henderson noted that homes in the second phase will mostly sit on quarter-acre lots, while the first phase will feature smaller lots.
City Council Approval
During the recent city council meeting, members voted unanimously to provide necessary water and sewer services to the new subdivision. Councilwoman Gail Diggs asked about home prices, to which Henderson responded that the homes on quarter-acre lots would be priced over $300,000, while smaller lot homes would range between $200,000 and $300,000.
Concerns and Considerations
There have been some concerns regarding the proximity of the subdivision to the existing Shaw Industries plant. Will Williams, the president of the Western South Carolina Economic Development Partnership, raised questions in a letter to the city expressing his doubts about the viability of homes near an industrial facility.
However, Councilwoman Kay Brohl argued that potential buyers will be aware of the plant’s existence when they decide to purchase a home in the area.
Other City Council Business
The city council meeting also addressed several other matters. They approved the addition of the proceeds from the sale of Newberry Hall to the city budget. Additionally, a new dentist office was given the green light for development in the Village at Woodside.
Moreover, the council discussed several ordinances, including the annulment of the city’s first right of refusal on certain properties in the Ventures Industrial Park and approval of a building façade in Aiken Towne Park.
The shift from a proposed chicken processing plant to a new residential community marks a significant change for the area and its future development.
