Lancaster County Council on Monday rejected a two-year extension for the Redstone development in Indian Land and voted to name the county’s new detention center for former Sheriff Williford L. Faile.
The Redstone vote followed a string of residents who asked council not to let a 2022 project move forward under current rules just weeks before the county’s rewritten Unified Development Ordinance is expected to take effect. Council also advanced an $886,000 budget amendment to finish a county fleet and technology building and gave first approval to a small rezoning on Fort Mill Highway.
The meeting opened with proclamations for two Lancaster County Parks and Recreation all-star softball teams. The 8U Dixie Girls team won the 2026 South Carolina Dixie Softball State Tournament, and the 10U team finished as state runner-up. Both advanced to the 2026 Girls Dixie Softball World Series in Florida. The 8U team won its first two tournament games 18-2 and 17-6. Council also met Paul Rodriguez, the county’s new budget director, a certified public accountant who comes to Lancaster County from Antioch, California.
Redstone extension fails
Ordinance 2026-2055 would have extended the development schedule and term of the county’s agreement with Redstone Investors LLC and Lancaster Real Estate Group LLC to Sept. 12, 2029. It passed first reading 4-3 on Aug. 24, with Stuart Graham, Jose Luis and Bryant Neal opposed. It failed 3-4 on second reading.
Councilwoman Charlene McGriff, who voted for the extension in August, said she had wanted to hear more from residents first. She questioned whether the developer would return in two years seeking another extension.
“It’s not our risk to take,” McGriff said. “It’s the developer’s risk.”
Residents said the 2022 approval covers about 350 apartments, 20 townhomes and retail space near the intersection of U.S. 521 and S.C. 160, and that construction scheduled for 2023 never started. Speakers said an extension would lock in older standards on one of the county’s most congested corridors.
Detention center named for Faile
Council approved Resolution 1340-R2026 naming the new jail on Highway 9, scheduled to open in 2027, the Williford L. Faile Detention Center. Faile, an Army veteran and military police officer, served 32 years with the sheriff’s office, including 13 as sheriff. He received the Order of the Palmetto in 1997 and was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame in 2018.
His son, Sheriff Barry Faile, accepted a proclamation and said he hoped the name would remind people “what service and commitment and excellence and integrity stand for.”
Building renovation funded
Council unanimously approved first reading of Ordinance 2026-2058, which moves $886,000 from the general fund’s unassigned balance to finish renovating the former Burns Ford building for the county’s fleet maintenance and information technology operations.
The work includes two ADA-compliant restrooms, an 18-by-16-foot service bay door, concrete approaches for heavy equipment, a new 2-inch water line replacing a 3/4-inch line, roof repairs and plug-in stations to keep medications cold in parked ambulances. Construction is budgeted at about $740,000 with a $50,000 contingency, keeping the project under its $950,000 cap. A backup generator was cut. Staff estimated six to nine months to finish once design work is complete.
Fort Mill Highway rezoning advances
Council unanimously approved first reading of Ordinance 2026-2056, rezoning 0.955 acres at 792 Fort Mill Highway from medium density residential to neighborhood business. The owner plans office space for lease.
Luis, who represents the area, said the site borders single-family homes and townhomes and asked whether a professional business district would be a better fit. His motion to delay the case until November drew no second. Staff said the zoning would fall under the current ordinance, but any site plans submitted after the new UDO takes effect must meet its standards. Luis said his vote rested on that understanding, and County Administrator Brian Tucker said staff would confirm it.
Other business
Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a brew pub at 1951 Great Falls Highway. No one spoke at the public hearing.
At the applicant’s request, council deferred to its first October meeting a proposal to rezone 50.86 acres at 9546 Olin Yarborough Road from low density residential to regional business. The Planning Commission recommended denial, while planning staff said the request meets the criteria for approval.
Third readings of a rezoning and comprehensive plan change for 32.89 acres at 11632 Harrisburg Road were postponed to Oct. 26. An applicant also withdrew a request to rezone about 48 acres on Charlotte Highway near McAteer Road to general business.
Chairman Brian Carnes named himself, Neal and Luis to a personnel committee that will develop an evaluation tool for Tucker. Council reappointed Nickie Evans to the Health and Wellness Commission and Haskell Faulkenberry and Stephen Criswell to the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee.
During public comment, residents asked council to fix several provisions in the UDO draft, including buffer requirements between commercial and residential property and a change that could allow gas stations in neighborhood business transitional districts. Others urged denial of the Project Magic rezoning along U.S. 521 near Dogwood Acres Road, tougher animal welfare ordinances and Saturday hours at the county animal shelter.
Council met behind closed doors on Project Magic, solid waste collection fees and a lease for a county office. No action was taken.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
