Orangeburg County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Planning Commission Approves Subdivision, Rezoning; Hotel Parking Variance Denied

The Orangeburg County Planning Commission approved a 19-lot subdivision and a rezoning of 311 acres on Rocks Pond Rd., while the Board of Zoning Appeals denied a hotel parking variance. The decisions came at meetings on Aug. 12 and Aug. 18.

Planning Commission

At its Aug. 12 meeting, the commission voted 4-0 to approve:

• A 19-lot subdivision on Rocks Pond Rd. in Eutawville.
• A road name change from Jamaica Ln to Lijewski Ln.
• A rezoning of a 311-acre portion of property on Rocks Pond Rd. from Forest Agriculture to Rural Community.

The commission also voted 4-0 to table a rezoning request for 219 acres on Bull Swamp Rd. from Forest Agriculture to Rural Community until further information is obtained.

Board of Zoning Appeals

On Aug. 18, the board denied a variance request from Rasiklal Hotels Group Inc. for a proposed 87-room hotel at 745 Citadel Rd. The variance would have reduced required parking from 131 to 129 spaces. The board voted 6-0 to deny, with no applicant present and three public comments in opposition.

County Council

The County Council held special meetings on Aug. 10 and Aug. 17 to consider a 1% local option sales and use tax that would go to a countywide referendum on Nov. 3, 2026. The Aug. 10 agenda included a second reading of the tax ordinance, a first reading of an ordinance amending a prior bond authorization, and a resolution to adopt a continuing disclosure policy. The Aug. 17 agenda included a public hearing and third reading of the sales tax ordinance, a public hearing and third reading on purchasing land from James J. Boyd Jr. for recreational use, a second reading to amend bond authorizations, a rezoning request for property on Rocks Pond Rd., and a first reading to enlarge the joint industrial park with Dorchester County to include Carolina Renewable Products LLC property. Minutes for both meetings have not yet been published.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next 14 days. The countywide referendum on the 1% sales tax is set for Nov. 3, 2026.

Orangeburg County Council to weigh 1% sales tax referendum; recent meetings focused on property deals and data center moratorium

Orangeburg County Council is scheduled today, August 3, to consider a first reading of an ordinance that would place a 1% local option sales and use tax referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot. If approved by voters, the tax would apply to sales within the county. The same meeting agenda includes a proposed moratorium on data center development, several property leases, and a land purchase for recreational use.

Recent meetings: agendas only, no published minutes

County Council held a special called meeting on July 20 to discuss several property agreements and ordinances. Agenda items included a lease for 920 Willington Drive to the Orangeburg Council on Aging, a Space Use Agreement for 1404 Springfield Road to the Orangeburg County Council on Aging, a lease for 1250 Unity Road to the Community Organization for Rights and Empowerments (CORE), the purchase of property TMS 0154-00-02-006.000 from James J. Boyd, Jr. for recreational use, and a resolution to expand boundaries of a joint industrial park with Dorchester County. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so no outcomes are confirmed.

On July 21, the Orangeburg County Zoning Board of Appeals was scheduled to hold a public hearing on a parking variance request from Rasiklal Hotels Group Inc. for a hotel property at 745 Citadel Rd. (TMS# 0180-10-02-035.000). The variance would waive requirements in Section 2.3 Table 1 of the county zoning ordinance. Other agenda items were procedural only. Minutes have not yet been published.

County Council held another special called meeting on July 23, conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams, to consider first reading of an ordinance that would temporarily halt acceptance of applications for rezoning, permits, and economic incentives related to data centers, cryptocurrency mining, and other data processing facilities. Minutes have not yet been published.

What's on today's agenda

The August 3 County Council meeting includes the proposed 1% local option sales and use tax referendum for November 3, 2026, along with the proposed moratorium on data centers, cryptocurrency mining, and data processing facilities. Also on the agenda: a rezone request for 118 Fuguay Ln from Residential Single-Family to Rural Community, lease agreements for 920 Willington Drive and 1250 Unity Road, and the purchase of property TMS 0154-00-02-006.000 from James J. Boyd, Jr. for recreational use.

Coming up

• **County Council — August 3 (today):** First reading of a 1% local option sales and use tax referendum for November 3, 2026, plus the data center moratorium proposal, a rezone request for 118 Fuguay Ln, property leases, and a land purchase for recreational use.

No other upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. Readers should check the county's official website for confirmed meeting times, locations, and any agenda updates.