Cayce set to cross river
Annexation touted as big win for city taxpayers, economy
The City of Cayce this week launched an annexation plan that could bring hundreds of jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment and an expanded tax base into the city, experts say.
Mayor Avery Wilkerson said Tuesday that the city has begun the process of annexing about 3,000 acres of prime land on Bluff Road in Richland County into Cayce. The tract of land, referred to as "Vista Farms", is bounded on the west by the Congaree River and includes over a mile of Interstate 77, including half an interchanged. It also has about one mile of riverfront access.
"Annexing this land will enable us to control our own destiny and givus us direct input on how this land will be developed that will benefit the citizens of Cayce," Wilkerson said. "I do not believe that sitting back and letting another jurisdiction decide the fate of the land is in the best interests of our people."
"The annexation of this prime property fits nicely into our vision for developing both sides of the river in a responsible, environmentally sensitive manner while, at the same time, creating jobs and expanding our tax base," he said. "I am convinced this offers us a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life for generations to come, from both an economic and environmental standpoint."
The mayor said the city's long-term strategic plan is to expand the tax base and create more new taxpayers, not asking the same taxpayers to pay higher taxes.
"I've spent months talking with the developers. I am impressed by their dedication to the environment and their willingness to work with us,"
Wilkerson said.
Annexation of the land would be the third coup for the Lexington County side of the river in a short period of time. The State Farmers Market recently decided to move from Richland to Lexington County.
Additionally, SCANA, South Carolina's largest company, is moving its corporate headquarters from Columbia to Cayce.
Bob Hughes, spokesman for Columbia Ventures, LLC which represents owners of the land, said he does not have a plan "carved in stone" on how the property will be used. He said he would work with the city to develop a master plan.
"This is some of the most important property in the Midlands. We want to get it right, and we will work with Mayor Wilkerson and city officials to make sure it's done right," Hughes said. "Our overall vision is to create an environment in which citizens and guests can live, work, play and shop while enjoying the beauty of nature. We want to work with the city, listen to the citizens and devise a plan within this framework that everyone can be proud of."
Hughes said using part of the land for manmade constructed wetlands is a possibility. "Richland County frustrated our plan for constructed wetlands while Mayor Wilkerson has indicated interest," Hughes said.
"Using constructed wetlands to naturally treat wastewater could save Cayce taxpayers millions of dollars in wastewater treatment upgrades, in addition to opening up a new tourism market."
Cities such as Augusta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida have used constructed wetlands for years. Natural plants instead of sewer plants are used to invisibly cleanse wastewater of phosphorous and nitrogen.
Downstream areas and bodies of water such as Lake Marion and the Congaree National Park will be relieved of their current problems by such a method. The wetlands also become sanctuaries for animal and plant life.
The wetlands in Augusta and Orlando attract thousands of nature lovers annually and have become home to endangered species as well as other abundant wildlife.
Flood protection for Riverland Park coming
One of the benefits of annexing the 3,000 acres on Bluff Road will be to provide greater flood protection for Cayce, particularly homeowners in Riverland Park, according to city leaders.
For more than five years, the flood map for the Congaree River along its border with the City of Cayce has been in flux, causing concern and confusion for residents of Riverland Park, a Cayce subdivision adjacent to the river.
In 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a map which was thrown out by a Federal Court due to lack of proper notice.
More than two years ago, the court reinstated the previous flood map, ordering FEMA to start the process over. FEMA, however, has not started over, and the exact state of the maps and insurance for property owners has been uncertain.
As the city most affected by the uncertainty, Cayce is taking steps to solve the problem. By annexing the Bluff Road tract of land known as "Vista Farms", Cayce will become the community that administers the flood map, and can decide what protections it might want beyond those imposed by the Federal government.
Mayor Avery Wilkerson said the city will work with FEMA to create a flood map that is in compliance with the court order. Once FEMA has provided Cayce and the other local governments along the Congaree River with a map meeting the order, the City will then require developers to take extra steps to lessen the possibility of flooding in and near Riverland Park.
Cayce officials have already begun working with Vista Farms owners to devise a levee configuration that lowers floodwaters in Riverland Park in every high water event. The configuration under consideration would move the levee back from the river to allow more water to stay on the developers' property instead of flowing toward Riverland Park.
This means the property being annexed will be permanently modified to accept floodwater in as little as a 10-year event-such an event happens 10 times more often than a 100 year flood.
"By taking control of our own destiny, we can create a situation where our citizens benefit regularly, instead of in some hypothetical once-in-100-year scenario," said Mayor Wilkerson of Cayce. The annexed landowners will permanently give up many of their acres to create a green space along the river to carry any high water, yet at the same time Heathwood Hall School still will be protected. "In this manner, everyone can benefit," concluded the Mayor.
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This is the area that Burroughs and Chapin has spent millions of dollars in legal fees trying to develop...which in turn costs the US and state taxpayers millions of dollars...guess they didnt think about buying a mayor before now...
"Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton
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