Hanahan, South Carolina

Hanahan, South Carolina's City Council meeting on September 8 turned contentious as members traded accusations over the city's ongoing legal battle with developer Ray Wrenn and a proposed committee to probe the city's real estate dealings. Mayor Christie Rainwater told council that a judge had dismissed Wrenn's appeal of a zoning board denial and ruled in the city's favor on his due process claims, finding the city's 2008 review standards applied to his Bowen's Corner subdivision. The dispute dates to 2024, when the city denied Wrenn's building permits after he failed to submit engineering plans showing fire trucks could access the development's alleyway. Claims that the city violated open records law remain pending.

Rainwater said the litigation could have been avoided had council approved a 2024 amendment to Wrenn's development agreement, a measure that failed 3-3. She suggested council members who voted no did so to avoid upsetting Wrenn, prompting a heated exchange with Councilman Tim Crowley and Councilwoman Amanda Colvin-Shea, who walked out before the meeting ended. A separate real estate investigative committee proposal also failed after several members recused themselves.