The City of Camden has recently updated its ordinance regarding the collection of garbage and refuse from residents inside city limits.
The most significant change is in the collection of trash, formerly referred to as yard debris. All refuse that cannot otherwise be classified as household garbage is considered trash. It may include grass clippings, leaves, shrub, tree parts smaller than 4”caliper and less than 5’ feet long and similar types of yard and other natural debris.
Effective immediately, it is unlawful for households and/or their employees, agents or contractors to place more than 8 cubic yards (see image above) of trash for collection by the city. If it becomes necessary for the city to remove and properly dispose of trash in excess of 8 cubic yards, the property owner and/or occupant shall be charged 4 times the monthly sanitation fee per occurrence, pursuant to a schedule of rates adopted and approved by City Council, and will be billed to the residential utility bill in the next utility billing cycle. It is unlawful to intermingle boxes, empty containers, scrap wood, metal, fabrics, furniture, appliances, electronics, and other types of waste with trash.
Additionally, effective immediately, bulk waste and white goods up to 3 cubic yards in size may be collected from any residence a maximum of one time per month. Residents must schedule this collection by calling the city’s sanitation department. Residents shall be charged 4 times the monthly sanitation fee per collection, pursuant to a schedule of rates adopted and approved by City Council, and will be billed to the residential utility account in the following billing cycle.
See the complete ordinance pertaining to garbage, refuse and other matters related thereto, or download our Residential Sanitation Services brochure for information on collection of household garbage, recyclable materials and other items. Please help us keep our city clean. Any questions or requests may be directed to our Sanitation Dept. at 803-425-6045.
On October 24, 2023, Camden City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2023-27 implementing development impact fees on new construction permits within the City of Camden. Beginning October 25, 2023, the City began collecting impact fees for the following categories:
• Fire Protection • Municipal Facilities and Equipment • Parks and Recreation (only charged for residential projects)
Development impact fees are one-time fees that are be collected at the time a building permit is issued. Impact fees are determined for each project based on a formula contained within the impact fee ordinance. The basis for each fee calculation includes: the number of proposed units; persons per household (residential) or employee space ratio (commercial); the replacement cost for each fee category; and any discount rate adopted by City Council. As of October 24, 2023, those discount rates are 20% for Parks & Recreation, 20% for Fire Protection, and 20% for Municipal Facilities & Equipment.
Consistent with state law, the impact fee ordinance authorizes exemptions for the following types of construction projects: rebuilding, remodeling, repairing or replacing an existing structure (provided there is no increase in the number of service units); residential additions; construction trailers and temporary offices; neighborhood amenities (playgrounds, tennis courts, clubhouses, etc.), volunteer fire stations, elementary schools, middle schools, secondary schools, and affordable housing units which meet minimum eligibility requirements.
Impact fees are based upon generally accepted industry criteria, including Census Bureau and ITE data. In instances where an applicant contends that the assumptions included within the impact fee ordinance are not accurate for the intended use, the ordinance allows an applicant to perform an independent fee calculation (at the applicant’s expense). The ordinance also authorizes credit agreements for approved monetary or in-kind contributions.
The South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC) scholarship program is now taking applications for 2024. A $5,000 one-time scholarship is available to high school students who plan to attend a college or university in South Carolina. This year, students from Clarendon and Kershaw County are able to apply.
Applications and supporting documents must be submitted online or postmarked no later than February 1, 2024. All awards will be announced in May.
The City of Camden Planning Commission held a public hearing Tuesday, November 21st regarding a proposed residential development consisting of single-family houses and townhomes. In overview, the proposal calls for a total of 795 lots, including 140 townhomes and 655 single-family homes. Based on the total acreage of the site, the resulting density is anticipated to be 2.56 units/acre. This density is comparable to the 2.5 units/acre maximum density in an R-15 zoning district. This is also a lower density than other developments recently approved. The development would be built in five phases as follows: Phase 1 (134 lots), Phase 2 (201 lots), Phase 3 (192 lots), Phase 4 (131 lots), and Phase 5 (124 lots). The developer anticipates a 7-10 year period for total build out of the project. Lots for the single-family homes will range from approximately 7,000 square feet to 12,420 square feet.
Please find below the corresponding documents regarding this proposed development, referred to as “The Paddocks”.
The holidays just feel special here in Camden. Many think it’s that small town charm, which just gets brighter and jollier as the end of the year approaches. Parades and performances abound, decorations appear along our city streets, and shops and restaurants are bustling with good cheer and great gift ideas.
Make plans to join in on some of these special holiday events and activities, starting with the City of Camden’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, November 30 at 6:00 pm at City Hall, 1000 Lyttleton Street. The Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off the “12 Days of Christmas”, highlighting community events taking place in and around Camden between November 30 and December 11. In addition to traditional holiday events, many local businesses will host open houses, pop-up shops, visits with Santa, and more fun and festive ways to help you complete your holiday shopping with less stress.
Here’s a listing of events taking place during the 12 Days of Christmas. Check back often, as more are added each week. We hope to see you out there!
The 27th Annual Fire Fest will take over Camden City Arena the last Saturday of September, and this year, a very special exhibit will be open to the public along with all of the usual Fire Fest activities.
Each year, Fire Fest serves as the kick off to national Fire Prevention Week TM (FPW). This year, the campaign message “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire preventionTM” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.
“We encourage all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, ‘Cooking safety starts with YOU,’ said Interim Fire Chief Eddie Gardner. “A cooking fire can grow quickly and we have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
As in years past, Fire Fest will include a live “side by side” burn demonstration, involving two constructed rooms – one with sprinklers and one without – to demonstrate how quickly fire can spread and the effects of sprinkler systems in the home. And returning after many years absent, the fire safety house will be on site.
Other activities at Fire Fest will include live Junior Explorer competitions and firefighting demonstrations, a hot rod and classic car cruise-in, performances from local dance teams, a Kids Zone, vendors and food trucks through 1 pm.
Fire Fest begins at 9 am Saturday, September 30, 2023 with a parade of new and antique fire trucks, along with other emergency vehicles from Camden City Hall, down Rutledge and Broad Streets, and ending at the City Arena for opening ceremonies at 9:30 am.
“We appreciate the continued support of our vendors and entertainment partners,” said Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Fest Committee Chair Chris Tidwell. “But we really value this opportunity to connect directly with the community and teach the importance of fire prevention and safety.”
The Camden Fire Department would like to thank all event sponsors, particularly Chief Sponsors: the City of Camden, Canfor Southern Pine, Community Broadcasters, Furniture Services Inc., Lugoff Automotive Group, Ole Timey Meats, and the South Carolina State Firefighters Association. It is through the support of community sponsors that allows Fire Fest to remain a free event.
Fire Fest is always held the last Saturday of September to kick off National Fire Safety Month in October and National Fire Prevention Week, which begins Sunday, October 8th this year.
