Darlington Council rezones A Avenue after debate
By Stephan Drew, Editor
After a debate that lasted most of an hour and touched on renters, racism, flooding and what kind of city Darlington wants to be in 30 years, the City Council voted Tuesday, Oct. 6, to rezone two A Avenue parcels from general commercial to high-density residential, clearing the way for a developer’s plan to build 16 duplexes.
Both ordinances passed on second reading. Ordinance 2026-06 covers 1.14 acres at A Avenue and 2nd Street. Ordinance 2026-07 covers 0.79 acres at A Avenue and 3rd Street. On the second parcel, Councilmembers Angela McRavin, Shelia Baccus and Councilwoman Reed voted no before the motion was declared carried, 4-3.
McRavin led the opposition, arguing the city is approving rentals it cannot support on failing infrastructure. She noted the parcels sit amid industrial uses near the Georgia Pacific warehouse and the old Dixie Cup plant, where residents could face round-the-clock noise. She also said the project, first presented as an area for tiny homes, had grown into far more complex units.
Citing a figure of 53.6% owner-occupied homes citywide, she called for a housing study and warned against tipping the balance toward rentals. “Homeowners are much more involved in their community and they take care of their properties,” she said, adding that renters are “basically transient.”
McRavin urged the city to rehabilitate blighted properties first, perhaps with tax-credit incentives for developers, and noted that jobs, not housing alone, draw people. She conceded 16 units will not break the sewer system but said each addition strains an aging one, pointing to sinkholes that appeared on Broad Street months after millions were spent there.
Supporters said the project cleans up a barren site and represents roughly $4 million in private investment. They noted it was presented as 16 duplexes from the start, three months ago. One said earlier apartment projects improved drainage by retaining water on site, and that rentals must be part of a city’s planning today.
Councilman Bryant Gardner said the tax map shows the site’s back side touches existing homes along D Avenue. On flooding, he said the demolished Dixie Cup building had about 5.95 acres of roof, now gravel, so the area’s stormwater footprint is far smaller than it has been in 50 years. Gardner said he shares concern about the long-term rental-to-owner ratio but believes the project adds value.
City Attorney Ron Scott noted the Planning Commission reviewed the request the week before alongside the Pee Dee Council of Governments planner who wrote the comprehensive plan. The commission found high-density residential consistent with the growth envisioned for the area. Scott urged members to reread the plan’s future-use maps.
The sharpest moment came when Baccus argued flooding and infrastructure should have been the Planning Commission’s chief concern, saying Farm Street “flooded for 30 years.” She declined to yield as Mayor Curtis Boyd attempted to move the meeting along.
“You let him speak as long as he wanted to, but you didn’t say a word,” Baccus said, later adding, “Save that racism for later.” She finished her remarks, and the council proceeded to the votes.
McRavin also objected to adopting and amending the agenda at the meeting itself, citing Municipal Association guidance and the 2015 amendment to the state Freedom of Information Act. Scott said he saw no legal problem, and the agenda was adopted.
Sewer easement: On second reading, the council approved Ordinance 2026-10, exchanging a Country Club Road parcel for a permanent 120-foot-wide sanitary sewer easement on Roanoke Drive. The swap is part of a sewer improvement project funded by the S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority.
Operator pay: Utilities Director Michael Morris warned that every water and sewer license in the city is in his name. He proposed paying operators an extra 2% for a D license, 2% more at C, and 5% more each at B and A, a cumulative 14%, with training provided. Half of the state’s licensed operators could retire within three years, he said, himself included. The council moved to approve.
Generator: After a numerical discrepancy surfaced (897 hours versus roughly 189 on the used unit), members approved a used Blanchard Caterpillar 350-kilowatt generator for about $80,089, conditioned on staff verifying it is the low-hour unit. Other quotes were $101,050 without installation and $95,539 for an installed Cummins.
Air conditioning: The council deferred replacing the sanitation building’s AC, which doubles as a cooling center and has been running on fans. Of six or seven bids, the lowest was $18,750 from McArthur’s Heating and Air of Hartsville. Interim City Manager Ronnie Ward will confirm comparability with the $19,750 Daikin bid from Dove Heating and Air and report back this month.
Fire truck: Chief Pat Cavanaugh won approval of $18,127.61 to rebuild the pump on a 2016 truck that failed its annual test, plus up to $5,000 more if needed. A new pump could cost $40,000 to $60,000.
Garbage trucks: First reading passed on Ordinance 2026-11, a lease-purchase of up to $482,000 for a new garbage truck and picker truck.
Awareness and buildings: Pamela Prince of the Pee Dee Coalition said the group served 1,316 victims regionally, including 216 in Darlington County, and presented a plaque marking 40 years of partnership. Ward reported roof leaks at the Exchange Street property, with a roofer’s initial estimate of about $40,000 for repairs, and said the Carnegie Library’s air handler is running again. He also proposed seeking grants to convert a building into a rental venue.
Scott presented an updated employee handbook for review only; no action was taken.