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Planning Commission - May 15, 2006 |
Minutes McClellanville Planning Commission May 15, 2006 – 7:00 PM The McClellanville Planning Commission met on the above-noted date for a regularly-scheduled meeting. Notice of the meeting had been advertised in the McClellanville Newsletter and the Charleston Post and Courier, as required by law. Those present at the meeting included Chairwoman Priscilla Baldwin, Commissioners Ginny Prevost and Ted Dawson, Secretary Mary Duke, and planning consultant Kathryn Basha. Commissioners Oliver Thames and Lowry Shuler were absent. The Commission first reviewed the minutes of the March 27th meeting. Ginny made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Ted seconded the motion, and the motion was carried by unanimous vote of the members present. The Commission next studied a plat that had been submitted for approval, showing a subdivision of property owned by Sara Scott on Old Cemetery Road into two lots of 1.51 acres each. The Commission concluded that the proposed new lots appeared to meet the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, and noted that, upon receipt of written certification from SC DHEC of approved septic tank sites on each lot, the subdivision could be approved. Planner Kathryn Basha then led a review of the draft revisions proposed for the Comprehensive Plan. Kathryn discussed with the Commission the draft future land use map that she had provided. The map showed the area that could be included for possible future expansion of the Village Commercial area. The Commission agreed that the eastern boundary of the VC area should be Shingle Canal, just before Dennie White’s lot at 722 Pinckney St. They indicated that they agreed with the placement of the other boundaries indicated on the map for existing and future Village Commercial development. The Commission noted that a few corrections were needed for the map, including the addition of some recently annexed properties and some properties in the Lofton Court area that should be included within the Historic District. Dorothy had indicated the changes that were needed on a copy of the map, and Kathryn said that she would have the map revised accordingly. The Commission reviewed the text of the revisions for the remaining elements of the comp plan, noting a few typographical and/or grammatical errors. Mary pointed out, in the Community Facilities Element, that the grant for the Town’s wastewater/well water survey had come from the West Virginia University Research Corporation’s National Onsite Demonstration Project, although the Sewee to Santee Community Development Corporation had assisted the town in applying for the grant. Also, she said that funding for the improvements to the Town’s boat ramp had been funded not only with the General Obligation Bond but with funds from the Town’s boat launch permit fee collections. The Commission noted that the Economic Element highlighted the importance of finding a means to encourage new businesses in Town and to aid and sustain the existing commercial fishing industry. Mary asked whether the Commission was ready to recommend adoption of the revisions to Town Council at the June 5 meeting. The Commission members agreed that they would prefer to see the final corrections in place and review the document more thoroughly before their recommendation. They indicated that they should be prepared to make the recommendation at the July Council meeting. The Commission then studied the illustration the Kathryn had provided showing maximum impervious surface ratios for three acre and one acre lots, where 50% of the lot was marshland, with and without a required 40 ft. marsh setback. After review and discussion, the Commission agreed by general consent that they would like to see a 40 ft. marsh setback requirement, and that they felt this would still allow for reasonable residential development of a one-acre lot. They agreed that they would make the recommendation to Town Council for adoption of the 40 ft. marsh setback requirement, and that they would make Council aware that their recommendation was less restrictive than DHEC OCRM’s 50 ft. setback recommendation. There was brief discussion of new efforts for a Highway Commercial Overlay District with Charleston County. Kathryn said that Andrea Pietras at Charleston County Planning might be helpful in approaching Town Council to present the County’s perspective on this proposal. Ginny Prevost asked about the possibility of allowing access to the rear of Ralph Thomas’s new Village Market on Highway 17 from S. Pinckney Street, through the new Highway Commercial PD. Mary said that she could ask Rutledge, owner of the PD, whether he thought the idea was feasible and might consider this suggestion. There being no further business, a motion was then made, seconded, and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 PM. Mary S. Duke Secretary McClellanville Planning Commission |