Council Gives Initial Ok to Zoning in 3 Precincts
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson County Council approved three first-reading zoning amendments to update official maps for the Shirley Store, Neal’s Creek, and Rock Spring voting precincts. The move marks a shift in how areas of the county are increasingly expressing concerns and seeking zoning to protect their districts. Council members congratulated the areas for their work in getting through the process of zoning.
Council also approved multiple “fee-in-lieu-of tax” and special source credit agreements designed to encourage business investment. Among them is Project Ina, involving COI Hurricane Creek 300 LLC, and a series of ordinances connected to Projects Pierce I and II, both under McNeely Road Land LLC. Each would provide property tax incentives for industrial development. Anderson County industrial buildings are currently full with manufacturing concerns and the county is encouraging more private investment of spec buildings.
Council gave approval to use $850,000 to purchase an existing 4,775 sq. ft. home on 4.53 acres at 2335 Snow Road for use by Love Well Ministries as a residential treatment facility for women with drug and alcohol addiction issues. The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Funds which will provide the money for this project, is part of a settlement between pharmaceutical companies and the states and cannot be used for any purpose other than treatment and recovery programs.
Council agreed to a settlement agreement in Double Pond Farm, LLC, which will end litigation and provide approval for 17 lots in this development which had previously been rejected by the Planning Commission.
Finally, council heard from the United Way of Anderson County about plans for an AOP Clubhouse, set to open in 2026, to offer a new community-based approach to mental health recovery for residents of Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties. Modeled after the accredited Clubhouse International program, the initiative is designed to support adults living with serious and persistent mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Rather than a clinical environment, the AOP Clubhouse will operate on a “community is therapy” philosophy, creating a structured but supportive space where members and staff collaborate to run daily operations. The model emphasizes rehabilitation through meaningful work, shared responsibility, and social connection.
The program’s holistic approach extends beyond treatment, helping participants develop vocational and life skills while linking them with opportunities in employment, education, housing, and relationship-building. Organizers say the goal is to foster empowerment, reduce hospitalizations and incarceration, and give members a renewed sense of purpose and hope.
Council members contributed a combined $6,800 from their discretionary accounts for the project.
