2026-09-15 - City Council
Summary
Built from official minutes. No video is posted.
- Regular meeting 4:38 PM; all seven members present, Mayor Rickenmann presiding.
- Special tribute to Ms. Leshia Utsey, former Public Relations Director (27 years service, passed away September 2, 2026); September 15 proclaimed Leshia Veronica Elaine Utsey Remembrance Day.
- Proclamations for Harper Truslow (Young Miss Columbia and Little Miss South Carolina's Overall Queen); Sickle Cell Awareness Day; National Hispanic Heritage Month; Constitution Week; Good Neighbor Day; and alopecia awareness.
- Annexation, Future Land Use Map Amendment, and Zoning Map Amendment for 651 Blue Ridge Terrace and surrounding properties (Ord. 2026-037) approved 7-0 in second reading; Councilwoman Herbert recommended applicants contact County regarding concerns about infrastructure (traffic signals, sidewalks, fire station, youth activity center).
- Annexation and zoning for 1920 Pineview Drive (Ord. 2026-056) deferred at applicant's request; applicant seeking additional time.
- First reading approvals (unanimously): Zoning amendments for 2359 Washington Street establishing historic landmark (Ord. 2026-085), 617 Richland Street rezoning RAC to RM-2 (Ord. 2026-086), and North Main/Seminary Ridge campus zoning (Ord. 2026-087 for Clear Dot Charter School).
- City Club neighborhood designated residential parking permit district; Senate Street median approved for public art project.
- Consent agenda items 10-22 approved unanimously, including contracts for professional services, vehicle purchases, water infrastructure projects, and wastewater system monitoring.
- Residential parking permit and public art resolutions approved unanimously.
2359 Washington Street Landmark Designation
Ordinance 2026-085 first reading: rezone property to RM-2 with Historic Preservation Overlay and establish as Type 2 landmark; Planning Commission (7-0) and HPDRC (4-0) recommended approval; first reading approved unanimously.
617 Richland Street Rezoning
Ordinance 2026-086 first reading: rezone from Regional Activity Center to Residential Mixed District (RM-2) within Downtown Columbia Overlay; Planning Commission (7-0) recommended approval; first reading approved unanimously.
North Main Seminary Ridge Campus Rezoning
Ordinance 2026-087 first reading: comprehensive rezoning of former Lutheran Theological Seminary and Lenoir-Rhyne campus for Clear Dot Charter School; Institutional General (core campus), Residential Mixed District (adjacent residential), and Neighborhood Activity Center (North Main parcels); retains all historic overlay protections; Planning Commission (7-0) approved; first reading approved unanimously.
Blue Ridge Terrace Annexation
Ordinance 2026-037 second reading: annex 10+ parcels totaling 200+ acres; assign mixed land use classifications (Urban Edge Community Activity Center, Neighborhood Activity Corridor, Urban Edge Residential) and zoning (RM-2, Mixed Use, General Commercial); approved 7-0.