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Planning Commission - July 17, 2006 |
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the above-noted date. Notice of the hearing had been published in both the McClellanville Newsletter and the Charleston Post and Courier, as required by law. Planning Chairwoman Priscilla Baldwin was present to preside at the meeting; Planning Commissioners Ted Dawson, Oliver Thames, and Ginny Prevost were also present. Commissioner Lowry Shuler was absent. Others attending the meeting included Planning Secretary Mary Duke, planning consultant Kathryn Basha, and guests as indicated on the attached sign-in sheet. The Commission first reviewed the minutes from the June 19, 2006 meeting. Ginny made a motion to accept the minutes as written, Ted seconded the motion, and the motion was carried by unanimous vote. Priscilla noted that the next item on the agenda would be a public hearing and discussion on the proposed subdivision of a 2.71 acre tract at Liberty and S. Pinckney Streets, TMS No. 764-10-00-024. The proposed subdivision would create three lots from this tract: Lot 1, .75 acres; Lot 2, .98 acres; and Lot 3, .97 acres. The Commission confirmed that the lot sizes for the proposed subdivision all met or exceeded the minimum lot size requirement for the Historic District in which the property was located. Priscilla said that written confirmation from SC DHEC would be required showing that each proposed lot had approved septic system and water well sites. Kelly Wetzel, who stated that she currently lived in one of the existing houses on the lot to be subdivided, told the Commission that the two houses located on the lot were currently using one water well. Mary brought to the Commission's attention a letter from Dr. Bob Scott, who owns property adjacent to the tract proposed for subdivision. Dr. Scott indicated in the letter his opposition to the proposed subdivision, stating his belief that the new lots would be too small. The Commissioners again pointed out, however, that the proposed lots were all as large, or larger, than the .75 acre zoning ordinance requirement. The Commission agreed by unanimous consent that, upon receipt of the DHEC documentation of septic and well sites on the lots, the subdivision could be approved. The Commission next held a public hearing on the proposed updates and revisions to the McClellanville Comprehensive Plan. Priscilla pointed out that the text revisions for the Plan had been tentatively approved at the June Planning meeting, unless any public concerns or objections were raised at tonight's hearing. The Commission then reviewed the revised Future Land Use Map that Kathryn Basha had provided. They noted that several recently annexed properties had been included, and that the changes they had requested for designation of the existing and future Village Commercial District and been made. Malcolm Baldwin brought to the Commission's attention an omission on the map of a property on S. Pinckney Street that had been annexed into Town limits in recent years. He said that two lots on S. Pinckney had also been included in the Highway Commercial PD that was approved in 2005. Mary noticed additional lots on S. Pinckney St., TMS Nos. 744-00-00-019, 744-00-00-020, and 744-00-00-132 that had been annexed and should be included within the town boundaries. Kathryn agreed that she would see that these additional corrections were made to the map. The Commission next reviewed several plats that had been submitted for their consideration. Lucia Jaycocks presented information regarding the dedication of an easement across part of the lot adjacent to Joe and Mary Ann Shaw's property at the corner of S. Carolina and W. Carolina Roads. Lucia said that the Shaws owned both properties, but wished to sell the lot adjacent to theirs. As they had discovered that their driveway cut across a corner of the lot offered for sale, they wished to make as a condition of the sale the dedication of an easement allowing them continued, perpetual use of this portion of the driveway. The Commission agreed that they had no objection to the dedication of this easement, and agreed that they would authorize Town Administrator Mary Duke to sign the plat upon its submission. Malcolm Baldwin next displayed a plat for the Commission's review, showing the addition and dedication of easements for the Mouzon's Bluff PDD. He told the Commission that the lot subdivisions shown on the plat had been previously approved, but the easements had previously been indicated as "proposed easements." The Commission agreed by unanimous consent to approve the plat, and Priscilla signed the several copies. Malcolm then presented a plat showing the subdivision of two lots located at the end of McClellan Avenue, each lot to be divided into two lots. As the lots met the minimum size requirements of the zoning ordinance and DHEC documentation of approved septic system sites for each lot were provided, the Commission agreed to approve this subdivision. Priscilla signed the plats to indicate approval. The last plat that Malcolm submitted showed a lot on S. Pinckney Street. One parcel had previously been subdivided from the lot, and the proposed plat showed the creation of two additional lots. As all lots met the zoning ordinance size requirements and DHEC letters indicating approved septic sites on each lot were provided, the Commission agreed to approve the plat. Priscilla signed the plats. The Commission then revisited with Kathryn Basha their discussion of possible development requirements for lots that include marshlands. Kathryn asked whether the Commission would favor a requirement that measurement of total lot size always exclude marshlands. She inquired as to whether they thought that a marsh setback requirement, together with the current requirement that maximum impervious surfaces allowed on a lot be based only on the total area of high ground, would achieve the purpose of protecting the quality of the marsh and water and limiting the density of development. Malcolm said that he hoped that any requirement the Commission chose to recommend would be able to achieve the intent of a marsh buffer, while still allowing some flexibility for development. The Commission discussed with Kathryn the various options for controlling development along the marsh-a requirement that lot size be based entirely on highland or adoption of a marsh setback of either a fixed or average distance from the marsh critical line. The consensus of Commission was that a setback averaging 30 feet along the marsh might be reasonable, with the setback to be no less than a certain measurement, perhaps 20 feet. They agreed to consider these proposals in order to try to make a definite determination for the marsh setback at the next scheduled Planning meeting. Kathryn told the Commission that Mary and Dorothy had brought an issue to her attention recently, concerning the allowed impervious surface ratio for nonconforming lots. Currently, the zoning ordinance states that the impervious surface allowed for such lots will be no less than 5000 square feet. Recent proposed development of a nonconforming lot of record, approximately .25 acre is size, revealed that a 5000 square foot impervious surface for the lot would have allowed coverage of almost half of the lot area. Kathryn asked if the Commission would like to consider reducing the minimum square footage allowed for impervious surfaces, suggesting that 3000 square feet might be a more appropriate minimum. The Commission agreed to also consider this suggestion for action at their next meeting. The Commission members discussed a suggestion to postpone the next meeting until September, as they saw no pressing issues to be addressed in the immediate future. They agreed that they would not schedule an August meeting, unless important business arose that month. The Commissioners noted that Lowry Shuler had missed several meetings, and asked Mary to contact him with regard to his interest in continuing to serve on the Planning Commission. There being no further business, a motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 PM. Mary S. Duke Secretary McClellanville Planning Commission |