Clinton council approves Cambridge Farms annexation on first reading

Clinton City Council voted 4-3 Monday to approve first reading of an ordinance annexing property at the intersection of South Carolina Highway 56 and Cambridge Road into the city limits, clearing the way for the Cambridge Farms development.

All council members were present for the Sept. 14 meeting.

Mayor Randy Randall and Council members Danny Cook of Ward 1, Danny Smith of Ward 5 and Megan Walsh of Ward 6 voted in favor. Council members Anita Williams of Ward 2, Natalie Cogsdill of Ward 3 and Gary Kuykendall of Ward 4 voted against.

The annexation requires a second reading before it takes effect.

Residents speak in opposition

Residents filled the council chamber, and every speaker who signed up for public comment spoke against the annexation. Speakers raised the pending litigation over the project, the volume of residential development already approved inside the city and the effect of the subdivision on surrounding neighborhoods.

Speakers noted that the Laurens County Planning Commission denied the Cambridge Farms application 5-0 in August 2025 and that a circuit court later reversed that denial. The county appealed the reversal to the South Carolina Court of Appeals in June, and that appeal remains pending. Residents also pointed to more than 1,800 homes already approved but not yet built inside the Clinton city limits.

Council members explain their votes

Council members offered differing reasoning before the vote.

“I feel like voting for this is voting against our community,” Williams said.

Cook, who voted in favor, said growth is necessary to attract commercial investment.

“You have to make decisions with the information you have to work with. It takes rooftops to draw businesses,” Cook said.

Smith pointed to the city’s planning documents and the difference between city and county oversight.

“I have looked at the comprehensive plan, and this will fit the plan. The county has no zoning requirements, the subdivision will be in submission to our zoning, and I think that this subdivision will be one of the most desirable ones in Clinton,” Smith said.

Cogsdill framed the decision as a choice between revenue and constituents.

“Are we going to chase the dollar, or listen to our citizens?” Cogsdill said.

Kuykendall stated his position directly.

“My vote will be a no vote,” Kuykendall said.

Zoning, blue laws and comprehensive plan

Council unanimously approved second reading of an ordinance amending the city zoning ordinance to allow single family residential as a permitted use in the R-MH zoning district.

Council also approved first reading of an ordinance temporarily suspending the application of Sunday sales prohibitions, commonly known as blue laws, within the city limits.

Council approved first reading of an ordinance adopting an update to the City of Clinton Comprehensive Plan.

Council approved first reading of an ordinance amending the zoning designation of approximately 11.07 acres at the southwest intersection of Willard Road and Springdale, identified as Laurens County tax map number 901-31-01-043.

Planning Commission appointments

Council unanimously approved three appointments to the Planning Commission, naming Walter Hughes III to the Ward 4 seat, Tyler Fagan to the Ward 5 seat and Andy Howard to the at-large seat.

Proclamations

Council opened the meeting with four proclamations, recognizing September as alcohol and drug addiction recovery month, bicycling and pedestrian awareness month and childhood cancer awareness month in the City of Clinton. The fourth proclamation recognized Tapestry for 40 years of service to the city.