The  letter below was submitted by Don Moniak to NationalLabAikenProject@mcmillanpazdansmith.com on April 18, 2023. No answer has been forthcoming from Aiken Corporation contractor McMillan Pazdan and Smith, who is responsible for the “pre development” phase of the proposed downtown Savannah River National Laboratory “Workforce Development Center.”  To make room for the lab office complex, the City of Aiken proposes to demolish Warnkeke Cleaners and the Holley House motel.

The proposal to demolish the historic Warneke Cleaners building and move the business to another nearby location on Richland Avenue was announced at the January 23, 2023 State of the City Address by Mayor Pro Tem Ed Woltz. The viability of this proposal appears to lack validity under the City’s Zoning Ordinance, which prohibits light industrial uses such as dry cleaners in the downtown business district.

Comments and Questions may still be sent to NationalLabAikenProject@mcmillanpazdansmith.com for consideration in the ongoing feasibility study.

From: Donald Moniak
Date: Tue, Apr 18, 2023 at 8:59 AM
Subject: More questions.
To: National Lab Aiken Project

“Mr. Jacobs, 

Some more questions for your “feasibilty study.” 

1. What is the status of the first report compared to the timeline provided on February 6th? 

2. Why has there been no website established to solicit information, questions, and comments? 

3. In regard to Warneke’s Cleaners, the initial report from COA was that it would be relocated to another nearby downtown location. How can a dry cleaner be relocated when dry cleaning is a prohibited use in the downtown district; and the two that exist now are allowed only as a nonconforming use? 

1. City Councilman Ed Woltz is on the record as having said : 

“The plan is to preserve the existing businesses on the Block leaving Newbury Hall  untouched, relocate Warneke Cleaners to the buildings at front of Richland Avenue. These retail buildings on Richland Avenue will be renting and upgraded as part of the project and the Thai [Taj Aiken, which features Indian cuisine] restaurant would remain on Richland Avenue.”

2. However, the current zoning ordinance does not provide for dry cleaners as a permitted use in the downtown business district. Dry cleaners qualify as light industrial due to their status as a polluting entity. ” 

Section 3.2.6(c)(2) of the COA Zoning Ordinance identifies dry cleaners as a light industrial use. 

Light industrial use is prohibited in the downtown business district

Under Section 8.1.4, Nonconforming uses, the ordinance reads: 

“Any use lawfully existing at the time of enactment of this Ordinance may be continued even though it does not conform with the provisions of this Ordinance for the District in which it is located. Similarly, whenever a text amendment or rezoning renders a use nonconforming, any existing lawful use may be continued. However, no building or structure or premises where a nonconforming use has ceased for more than 12 months, or has changed to a permitted or conforming use, shall again be used in a nonconforming manner.” 

So how can Warneke’s be relocated within the downtown, as promised by City Council, when dry cleaners cannot be established downtown? Who was going to pay for this very expensive move even if it was allowed? 

4. Are Warneke’s and Taj Restaurant being offered the opportunity to purchase their own buildings and property, much like Newberry Hall had that option in their previous lease? 

Thank You, 

Donald Moniak

Photos of letter (click to enlarge)