City Council to Reconsider U.S. 52 Annexation

More than 100 residents in communities just north of Goose Creek along U.S. 52 were expected to head to the polls Jan. 15 to weigh annexation, but City Council may vote next week to cancel the election.

The proposed "Holly Court Annexation" has worried Alcoa and Google — two high-profile businesses disinterested in the city's creep north. It has also troubled large landowners along U.S. 52 who say they're surprised they were included in the annexation plans.

The footprint of the proposed annexation runs up the highway to the intersection at Cypress Garden Road, bordering the municipal boundary of Moncks Corner.

With unanswered questions regarding the annexation, council members suggested cancelling the election in a workshop Tuesday, but Mayor Michael Heitzler refused to entertain the motion. However, he put the request on the agenda for next week's City Council meeting.

It's the inclusion of Mt. Holly business park property and large undeveloped lots along Hwy. 52 that has led council members to raise questions.

Councilman Franklin Moore noted he has supported the annexation over concerns about development along the highway if left in unincorporated Berkeley County and the threat of Moncks Corner heading south. "We need to annex," he said. "But we need to do it with the least negative impact."

With 62 acres along Hwy. 52, landowner Robert Pratt told the council he had just recently learned about the annexation. "I was stunned to find out I was being annexed," he said.

Councilman Jerry Tekac called the proposed annexations deceptive. "I think it's unethical to include some of these properties without informing them," he said.

Alcoa has suggested it will challenge inclusion of property in the business park due to a timberland exemption and Google has formally challenged the inclusion of a portion of its property.

Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce CEO Elaine Morgan asked the city to work with the companies. "They don't have a vote, but they're good corporate citizens," she said.

Mayor Heitzler noted that MeadWestvaco balked at the city's annexation of a portion of Crowfield years ago, but eventually annexed the rest. "Building a city is hard to do sometimes," he said. "But this is what we have to do."