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Planning Comm - April 20, 2009 |
Minutes McClellanville Planning Commission April 20, 2009 - 7:00 PM The McClellanville Planning Commission held a regular meeting on the above-noted date. Notice of the meeting had been published in the town newsletter and the Charleston Post and Courier. Chair Ginny Prevost presided at the meeting; other Commission Members present included Kathy Livingston, Hayden Geer and Ted Dawson. Commissioner Oliver Thames was absent. Zoning Administrator Kathryn Basha and Clerk Mary Duke were present to facilitate the meeting and record the minutes. Chairwoman Prevost called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM, and asked the Commissioners to review the minutes of the February 23, 2009 meeting. Kathy Livingston made a motion, seconded by Hayden Geer, to approve the minutes as written. The motion was carried unanimously. Zoning Administrator Basha then provided an update for the Commission on the progress of efforts to develop a streetscape plan for the Village Commercial District on Pinckney Street. She said that she and Clerk/Administrator Mary Duke had met with representatives from Charleston County Roadwise recently, and had discussed the input received from the public at the meeting on February 12 and from surveys submitted by residents. Kathryn said that most residents had indicated they preferred little change, but supported efforts to lower the speed limit on Pinckney Street, provide some off-street parking, and prevent blocking of driveways. She said the County had indicated that they would survey the town property at Pinckney and Cassena and make a determination as to how many parking spaces could be located there. Kathryn added that pervious surface parking was planned, to be located around existing trees to reduce visual impact. She said that lighting for the parking area had been discussed, as well as possible addition of lighting in the commercial area. The Commission asked what provisions might be made to reduce the speed of drivers along Pinckney Street, and Kathryn said that crosswalks and rumble strips were under consideration, as was the possible addition of stop signs at the intersection of Society and Pinckney and/or Pinckney and Mercantile. Commissioner Livingston said that she thought rumble strips could be damaging to vehicles; there was also discussion of the pros and cons regarding three and four-way stop signs. Kathryn said that the planners working with Roadwise would draft a plan based on local input and discussions, and that the plan would be presented to Town Council and the public at an upcoming meeting, which would be advertised when the date has been determined. Kathryn noted with the Commission that construction has started on the Dollar General store on Highway 17. She said that she was pleased to see that, so far, more trees have been retained on the lot than initial plans had proposed. She added that the signs for the store had not yet been approved by the Design Review Board. Chairwoman Prevost asked to be notified of the meeting date when the DRB would consider the signage for the project. Kathryn then discussed the progress of Charleston County's Highway 17 planning initiative. She noted that the County was taking the Town's Highway Commercial District zoning requirements into consideration as part of their planning efforts. She said that public meetings the County has held for discussion of the plan had, thus far, been only sparsely attended. She told the Commission that the results of the meetings and draft drawings for the plan were available for review on the Charleston County website. The Commission then began consideration of new business. Zoning Administrator Basha said that she planned to offer a continuing education opportunity for Town board members in the coming months, presentation and discussion of the "Complete Streets" DVD from the American Planning Association. She asked whether the Commission would like to schedule this training session for the date of their May meeting, and they agreed that the session should be scheduled for Monday, May 18th, beginning at 5:30 PM. Kathryn said that she would send a reminder of the date to the Commissioners, and would also notify other Town board members who might want to attend and fulfill 1.5 hours of the annual 3 hour continuing education requirement. The Commission then renewed its discussion and review to determine needed updates for the McClellanville Comprehensive Plan. The Commission reviewed several survey forms that had been submitted by residents, indicating their thoughts as to what should be preserved in McClellanville and any changes that they would or would not like to see. They noted that the responses were remarkably similar, and that most would like to preserve the existing small-town character of the Town and maintain strict control over development. Kathryn said that three new elements were now required by State law for inclusion in the Plan: elements for affordable housing, transportation, and priority investment areas. With regard to affordable housing, she said that the Commission was to analyze any "unnecessary nonessential regulatory requirements" that make housing development economically unfeasible, as well as consider market-based incentives that may be offered to encourage development of affordable housing such as density bonuses, design flexibility and streamlined permitting processes. Kathryn said that she did not believe that the current Comprehensive Plan or Zoning Ordinance contained impediments to development of affordable housing, and that design flexibility, negotiation of reduced lot sizes, etc. were allowed in Planned Unit Developments in Town. Considering the Cultural Resources element, the Commissioners asked whether the Town might have a chance to acquire the McClellanville Middle School building after the County School District closes the school in the coming year. Clerk Mary Duke said that she had heard, to date, that the District plans to "mothball" the school, and probably would not consider sale/transfer to the Town in the near future. She said that Mayor Rutledge Leland had mentioned his belief that the District might allow the Town use of the old gymnasium at the school site, if the Town provided liability insurance coverage for the building. The Commission also discussed possible acquisition of the U.S. Forest Service property on N. Pinckney Street after that ranger station is relocated. Mary said that the Forest Service was aware of the Town's interest in the property, but that they had not yet sent any information on their asking price for a direct sale to the Town. Kathryn said that an appraiser working for the Forest Service had agreed that an arrangement to transfer the property from the federal government to the Town would seem more logical than the Town applying for a federal grant to purchase federal property. Chairwoman Prevost said that she was still not sure that the relocation of the office was definite. Discussing the Natural Resources Element, Zoning Administrator Basha noted that a small green space on Pinckney Street had been acquired this year with County Greenbelt Fund assistance, and that funds had been approved for purchase of another small parcel on Cassena Street. Commissioner Hayden Geer said she felt the town should encourage conservation easements. Clerk Mary Duke said that she would like for the Town to acquire conservation easements from the lots adjacent to the newly-acquired green space on Pinckney Street. Chairwoman Prevost added that she would like for the Town to have conservation easements on the property at the two entrances to the Town from Highway 17. Regarding the Economic Development Element, the Commission noted that the Town's crab processing facility had closed, and that the shrimping industry was in decline. Commissioner Kathy Livingston told the Zoning Administrator that the SC Shrimper's Association could provide current statistics on the number of individuals employed in the industry, profit and loss, etc. With the added potential loss of the Forest Service ranger station in Town, employment opportunities seem quite limited. Commissioner Livingston said that the Town might consider appointing someone to be in charge of economic development for the Town. Commissioner Hayden Geer said that steps should be taken to encourage independent, locally owned businesses in town rather than national chain stores. In discussion of the Community Facilities Element, the Commission noted that a service providing pickup of recyclables would benefit the Town. Mary said, however, that estimates for this service had, thus far, not proven to be affordable. The Commission again noted that the Middle School would be a useful property for the Town, and that relocation of the library to that building would allow the facility to expand its collection and activity space. The Commission reviewed the Transportation Element, and noted that no major road improvements were planned at this time. The Commissioners agreed that the Link buses currently available for transportation into the Mt. Pleasant and Charleston area seemed to be under-used. Commissioner Livingston said that she felt the buses should make a stop at Wando High School, so that Wando students from McClellanville could use them for transportation to school. Zoning Administrator Basha, with regard to the Priority Investment Area Element, said that this element required that the Town analyze what federal and state funding for public infrastructure might be available and make recommendations for expenditure of those funds over the next ten years. The Commission noted that drainage improvements, bike paths, and sidewalks would be some of the infrastructure improvements that might be sought. They also noted that location of another water tower in Town would improve fire safety for residents. Ms. Basha noted that this element also encouraged coordination with "adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies." The Commissioners agreed that this coordination could include working with the County School District to determine what will happen to the Middle School building. Ms. Basha said that combination of the different elements of the Comp Plan would produce the information for the Land Use Element. She told the Commission that she did not anticipate many changes for the Land Use Element. Chairwoman Prevost asked whether Ms. Basha would like assistance from the Commission in reviewing and drafting the updates to the different elements of the Comp Plan. Ms. Basha said that she would appreciate any assistance they could offer. Ms. Prevost then offered to assist with research for the update to the Natural Resources Element. There being no further business, Commissioner Ted Dawson then made a motion, duly seconded and unanimously approved, to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 PM. Mary S. Duke Town Clerk |