Cayce City Council met on Sept. 17 to discuss changes to the city’s zoning codes and to resolve a violation of state statutes by its election commission.

Council received a presentation from Carroll Williamson, community planning manager at Stewart Engineering, about changes to Cayce’s codes. Williamson’s team has been tasked with updating Cayce’s zoning ordinances.

Williamson recommended that Cayce’s zoning districts be simplified or combined in some cases, such as combining Cayce’s two low-density residential zoning types into a single zoning type.

He also recommended that areas zoned M1, light industrial, be analyzed and rezoned if needed. Too many areas are zoned M1, sometimes near residential zoning, Williamson said.

“If someone were to develop under the most extreme version, by right with M1, it would probably not be in the same character with what's surrounding it,” Williamson said.

Commercial zoning should also be updated to clarify use and development conditions, he said. Williamson’s team will also update the codes to be more user-friendly and understandable, he said.

In other news

Council postponed the confirmation of Cayce’s Municipal Election Commission membership until its next meeting. It was discovered that the commission is in violation of a state statute limiting municipal election commissions to three members. The current commission has five members.

Council will determine which of the five current members will remain on the commission and who will step down prior to the city council elections in November. Councilman Byron James suggested that all current members state their perspective in writing to the council before a decision is made.

Council also postponed first reading approval of an amendment to Cayce’s building regulations codes that would create a registry of vacant industrial and commercial buildings. Councilman Hunter Sox proposed a postponement to inform affected property owners of the amendment and allow them to voice their perspectives to the council.

Council unanimously approved the adjustment of the funding sources for Cayce’s ongoing utility projects. City Manager Michael Conley said a $540,000 grant from the EPA could not be used on pump station upgrades or the Sewer System Master Plan and Hydraulic Model project unless the funding sources were changed.

Council entered executive session to receive legal advice on a settlement for ongoing “firetruck litigation,” according to Mayor Elise Partin. Council unanimously authorized Conley to negotiate and finalize the settlement after leaving executive session. No further details about the litigation were provided during the meeting.