The Horry County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee met on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 3:00 PM in the Multi-purpose Room located at Horry County Government & Justice Center located at 1301 Second Avenue in Conway. The following committee members were present: Fred Richardson, Marty Ekster, Mitchell Flannery, Julie Harbin, Kitty Howell, Tamera Bergstrom, George Edwards, Eric Rabon, Carroll Hardwick, Felix Pitts, Dr. Susan Libes, Greg Hyman Johnny Skipper, Sammy Johnson, Peggy Graham, and Pam Creech. Staff present included Carol Coleman, Roy Taylor, John Danford, Christopher Klement, and Nancy Tindall. Ernestine Allen and Christine Ellis were also present.

In accordance with the SCFOIA, notices of the meeting were sent to the press (and other interested persons and organizations requesting notification) providing the agenda, date, time, and place of the meeting.

Chairman Fred Richardson called the meeting to order at 3:05 PM.

Peggy Graham questioned the wetland definition on page 9.

Mrs. Graham made motion to delete three sentences from page 9 beginning with "There are, however, several egregious loopholes in the current Section 404…" Felix Pitts seconded. After much discussion, the committee voted to remove the first sentence, and only remove the second and third sentence if they were wrong.

Under Economic Activity Centers on Page 32, Mrs. Graham made motion to change the radius of 0.5 mile to 1.0 mile for urban density commercial and 1.0 mile to 2.0 miles for urban density residential. Johnny Skipper seconded and the motion carried with a vote of nine in favor and five opposed. Julie Harbin, Marty Ekster, and Pam Creech expressed opposition to changing at this point. Felix Pitts expressed concern with not changing it.

Johnny Skipper presented a goal and strategy regarding individual property rights. Marty Ekster felt this was contradiction to the motion that just passed regarding the Economic Activity Centers. There was much discussion. George Edwards proposed a substitute motion as follows: "Respect private property rights while minimizing the negative impact to others. The motion was seconded but failed with nine opposing votes. Johnny Skipper made motion to accept the goal and strategy as proposed and Peggy Graham seconded. Motion carried.

Susan Libes presented a correction to the need on page 36 of the Land Use Element. It now reads as follows: Guide future development in the County in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner to promote the health, safety and general welfare of present and future residents, businesses and visitors.

Dr. Libes also presented three possibilities for rewording Goal #3. After some discussion, it was decided with a vote of eight to five to accept the second possibility. Goal #3 reads as follows:

Encourage the protection of rural areas that have distinct resources, characteristics and a traditional way-of-life in Horry County in a manner that respects private property rights while simultaneously minimizing the natural resource impacts of new growth and development.

Dr. Libes also presented definitions for the word complement and compliment. After looking at the various possibilities, it was decided to use "is compatible with," instead of complement.

George Edwards made motion to accept the following as a goal and Pam Creech seconded. "Establish ways for growth to pay for itself so that the tax burden on existing residents is not increased to pay for the additional facilities required to support new developments." Pam Creech discussed the impact study which was compiled by Tischler & Associates. Some felt several goals & strategies already addressed the issues. The motion failed five to ten.

George Edwards mentioned the Transfer of Development Rights Programs in Rural areas. He made motion to allow the transfer to rural areas from rural areas and Pam Creech seconded. Motion failed three to twelve.

With no more discussion, Roy Taylor asked for an approval of the Land Use Element. Sammy Johnson made motion to approve the Land Use Element and Johnny Skipper seconded. Motion carried with Susan Libes voting no.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 PM.