Council Approves Sale of Lexington's Barr Pond

The Town of Lexington will sell Barr Pond and a 5-acre section of land near the pond to a housing developer for $60,000.  

Council members voted 5-2 Monday to approve the sale of its water rights to the pond and the land to MWK Properties, LLC.

MWK Properties, LLC is also buying 11 acres around the pond owned by SCE&G after winning a bidding process. 

The Lexington Wildlife Chapter, which has leased the 11-acre section of land from SCE&G since 1955 and was granted recreational rights to the pond by SCE&G, will be forced to find a new home if they can't work out an agreement with the developer. 

At the May 6 council meeting, members of the Lexington Wildlife Chapter urged council to reconsider selling its rights to the pond and the 5-acre section of land.

But council members and town leaders say the sale of the town's interest at the pond does not affect the Lexington Wildlife Chapter because SCE&G grants the recreational rights to the chapter and leases the land where the chapter's facilities are located.

Council members did vote at the May 6 meeting to postpone their final vote on the sale of the pond to the May 20 meeting and suggested that Lexington Wildlife Chapter leaders meet with the housing developer to work out an agreement that would allow the chapter to continue to use the pond after a subdivision is built around it.

But at Monday's meeting, the developer and the chapter had not come to an agreement. 

Councilman Danny Frazier, who voted against the sale of the pond and land Monday, said the property should have been sold through a bidding process.

"We should have put it out to the public and given the public a chance to bid on it - especially the Lexington Wildlife Chapter," Frazier said. "The whole deal stinks. It's not right." 

Town leaders say they were not trying to sell the pond; they were approached by the developer. 

Councilman Ted Stambolitis, who also voted against the sale of the pond, urged Lexington Wildlife Chapter members again to work out an agreement with the developer. 

The developer offered to allow the chapter use of its future facilities once a month or more as long as it benefits the community, said Nick Stomsky, who represents MWK Properties, LLC.

But the chapter needs access to the pond and the dam to continue other projects, such as cleanup efforts of 12 Mile Creek and Wildlife Road, and DNR family fishing days, said Wayne Jowers, treasurer for the chapter. 

Stomsky said the developer is not willing to give the chapter open access to the pond because the pond will be mainly for people who own homes in the development.

The Lexingotn Wildlife Chapter did place a bid on the 11-acre SCE&G property but did not win the bidding process. Their lease at the property ends June 30.