|
Planning Comm - Aug 24, 2009 |
Draft Minutes McClellanville Planning Commission August 24, 2009 - 7:00 PM The McClellanville Planning Commission met on the above-noted date. Notice of the meeting had been published in the Charleston Post and Courier. Those present included Commission members Kathy Livingston, Ted Dawson, and Oliver Thames, Zoning Administrator Kathryn Basha and Town Clerk Mary Duke. Members Ginny Prevost and Hayden Geer were absent. Vice-Chair Kathy Livingston called the meeting to order at 7:20 PM. She asked the members to first review the minutes of the June 16th meeting. Ms. Livingston said that she noticed a discrepancy in the records for the street address for TMS No. 764-00-00-001, the parcel recently annexed by the town on Pinckney St. Some references to the property had the street address as 5 Pinckney St., while others gave the address as 1047 Pinckney. To avoid confusion, the Commission agreed that references in the minutes to this property should use only the tax map number. Commissioner Oliver Thames then made a motion to approve the minutes with the suggested amendment. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ted Dawson and passed unanimously. The Commission then began consideration of old business. Regarding the County's Highway 17 Planning Initiative, Zoning Administrator Basha said that the County staff was currently continuing its development of goals and objectives for the Highway 17 Corridor. She said that a second round of public hearings for Plan would be scheduled this fall. Ms. Basha said that she had checked on the status of the County Roadwise planning for improvements to the Village Commercial District. She said that the County had amended the scope of work with the consultants working on the project and that further action on the project should soon begin. Ms. Basha then noted that some town officials associated with the planning and zoning department still needed to complete the state-required continuing education for the year. She said that she would compile a list of the officials who had not yet completed the requirement, and try to assist them in completing the necessary training. The Commission then began review of new business on the agenda. They first considered a preliminary plat showing subdivision of a parcel at the corner of Geneva Moore and N. Carolina Rd., TMS No. 744-00-00-116. Ms. Basha pointed out that the two lots created by the subdivision would both meet the lot requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. She added that one lot had an existing house with a well and septic system, and that SC DHEC had identified a site for a septic system on the proposed second lot. With no objection, Commissioner Oliver Thames made a motion to approve the proposed subdivision of TMS No. 744-00-00-116. Commissioner Ted Dawson seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote of the members present and voting. The Commission then discussed a recommendation for zoning of the recently annexed parcel, TMS No. 764-00-00-001. This parcel had been purchased by the Town with Greenbelt Bank funds for preservation as a green space/park area. Ms. Basha and Clerk Mary Duke pointed out that the parcel was surrounded by lots zoned Residential (R), and that parks were a permitted use in the Residential District. After discussion, Commissioner Ted Dawson made a motion to recommend that Town Council approve Residential (R) zoning for the property. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Thames and carried unanimously by the members present and voting. The Commissioners discussed the date for their meeting in September. They agreed to meet on Monday, September 28th to avoid conflict with other town meetings that had been rescheduled to allow for the Labor Day holiday. Zoning Administrator Basha then discussed suggestions for coordination of the Planning Commission and other Town officials with representatives from Clemson University's Institute for Economic and Community Development. She noted that Town Council had agreed that McClellanville could participate in a pilot program for community planning and economic development offered by the Institute. Ms. Basha said that she had sent a list of proposed projects to Harry Crissy, the local agent for the Institute. Some of the ideas she suggested were assistance in development of the economic element of the updated Comprehensive Plan, assistance with plans for development of eco-tourism in town, planning for adaptive reuse of the Middle School building and property, and planning for preservation of open spaces and construction of the proposed boardwalk for the green space on Pinckney Street. The Commission then moved on to discussion of the Comprehensive Plan update. Ms. Basha provided copies of a vision statement that she had drafted for the Comp Plan update. She asked for the Commission's input on the following draft vision statement: "McClellanville will preserve the community's quality of life as a sustainable village through conservation of its valued resources and development of a resource based economy." She had included with the vision statement a list of valued resources and examples of actions/conditions need for sustainability of the village. Commissioner Kathy Livingston suggested that "safe community" might be added to the list of valued resources, or added to the "close knit community" listing. The Commission agreed by consensus that they approved of the vision statement drafted by Ms. Basha and they believed that it stated the overriding goal of the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission reviewed with Ms. Basha the list she presented on guiding principles for the Plan goals and objectives. Ms. Basha pointed out that the guiding principles were based on input from the recent poll of residents' opinions as to what they would like to see maintained or changed in McClellanville's future years. Ms. Basha said that Planning Commission Chair Ginny Prevost would be assisting her in the update for the Natural Resources Element of the Plan. Within the Natural Resources Element, she said that they would consider local water quality and its effect on the seafood industry and the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge. Also potable water and wells would be studied and the effect of storm water runoff. They hope to identify plant and animal habitats in town and any sensitive areas that should be protected from development. Soil types will be identified, especially with regard to suitability for supporting septic systems. Developing the Cultural Resources Element, Ms. Basha said that local structures, scenic areas, landscapes, community meeting places and events, archeological resources, and religious and educational institutions, among others, would be studied and discussed. She said that she would be discussing the Community Facilities and Economic Development Elements with the Commission at their next meeting. There being no further business, Commissioner Thames then made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Dawson, to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 PM. The motion was carried unanimously. Mary S. Duke Town Clerk |