Hendrick Honda Property Annexation Receives Commission Approval

The Easley Planning Commission approved an application to annex two properties owned by HRS Properties of the Upstate, LLC, Hendrick Honda pending a review of their contiguity with the city of Easley.

Hendrick Honda is located at 4589 Calhoun Memorial Highway is not contiguous with the city, however, a second property owned by the company on Cardinal Road is adjacent to the former and does have one point contiguous with the city's boundary. The second property is separated only by the street itself and was deemed by the commission to be a continuance of the property on Calhoun Memorial Highway.

"We feel it meets the tenant of the city to be contiguous," said Easley Building Official Tommy Holcombe. Holcombe said the road cannot be a barrier to the two properties.

"We certainly love the idea of them coming into the city," Holcombe said. "I think it's a benefit to the city of Easley and also a benefit to them." Holcombe said the company wants the benefits of being within city limits such as utilities public works services.

Hendrick Honda has hired Zirkelbach Construction, Inc., of Greenville to develop the lot on Cardinal Road once the property has been annexed.

"We didn't really understand what the time frame was to annex the parcel," said Craig Zirkelbach. "At this point we're here to understand that and we'll proceed accordingly."

Holcombe informed Zirkelbach and Hendrick Honda representatives that the annexation would be approved by Easley City Council after the council has given two public readings which will be held during the next two council meetings in August and September.

Pickens County attorney Ken Roper attended the meeting to ensure the property lines had been properly surveyed and reviewed.

"We're not necessarily speaking in opposition to this application," Roper said. "We just do have a concern that the city establish, in a formal way through a survey or something, the contiguity requirement as our tax maps indicate there is not a contiguous point."

"We would ask that that be researched more carefully before the final action," Roper said.

"To answer Mr. Roper's question, we've had not just myself but several people look at it," Holcombe said. "That has been a tough question but it is the city's opinion that it is contiguous."

The commission's approval was amended to be subject to a final review of the property lines before a review by city council.

"I have not seen any surveys or anything official on this," said Commission member Pat Webb. "But based on having the contiguity required by the state I would recommend annexing this and zoning it appropriately."

Gene Hinkle, a representative for Hendrick Honda said the information the company submitted with the application included a copy of an official survey.

"The corner is contiguous according to the records that I have from our surveyor," Hinkle said. Planning Commission Mario DiPietro requested the information be provided to Pickens County before it could be approved.

The application was approved by the commission subject to a review of the parcel on Cardinal Road. The application will be given its first public reading during the next meeting of the Easley City Council on Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Easley Law Enforcement Center. The second reading will be held on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. also at the the Easley Law Enforcement Center.