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Official: April 19 Envision 2025 Meeting Horry County Comprehensive Plan

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA      )              Horry County Comprehensive Plan

                                                            )              Steering Committee Meeting

COUNTY OF HORRY                       )              Thursday, April 19, 2007

The Horry County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee met on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 1:00 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, Ibrahim Ashie, Julie Harbin, David Utterback, Pam Creech, Peggy Graham, Felix Pitts, Greg Hyman, Holly Kaufmann, Eric Rabon, George Edwards, Steven Neeves, Dr. Susan Libes, Shirley Martin, Marty Ekster, Katherine Jenerette, Greg Lipscomb, Kitty Howell, Tamera Bergstrom, and Steve Tanner for Karen Godin.  Staff present included Janet Carter, Carol Coleman, Roy Taylor, John Danford, Ravin Gore, Christopher Klement, and Nancy Tindall.  Council Member Brent Schulz, Council Member Al Allen, Christine Ellis, Sandy Doyle, Laura Best, and Marshall Smith 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 1:00 PM.

Approvals of Minutes – The minutes of April 5, 2007 were distributed.  David Utterback made motion to approve the minutes, and George Edwards seconded.  Julie Harbin requested additional   comments to more adequately reflect what Carolyn Jebaily said.  After much discussion, Fred Richardson suggested changing the minutes to indicate she stated the comprehensive plan should use strong language.  David Utterback amended his motion to approve the minutes to include this change.  George Edwards seconded the amended motion and the motion carried with seven voting to change the minutes and five voting against changing the minutes.

Chairman Richardson announced County Council signed a resolution (R-55-07) at their meeting on April 17 extending the duration of the Steering Committee to June 30, 2007.  He stated Dr. Susan Libes was appointed to the Steering Committee at the April 17 meeting.  She represents Coastal Carolina University.

Peggy Graham asked why David Duvall was no longer on the Steering Committee.  After much discussion, Mr. Richardson told her County Council made the appointments.  Mrs. Carter explained the ordinance and the composition of the Steering Committee.

Mr. Richardson stated a few things had been brought to his attention, and he asked the Steering Committee to keep three things in mind, when reviewing the revised Comprehensive Plan.

1)                  The Comprehensive Plan should ensure that infrastructure is in place prior to development of property.

2)                  The Comprehensive Plan should improve quality of development in Horry County.

3)                  What kind of development will be allowed or promoted in rural development.

Land Use Element Draft Presentation/Discussion – Roy Taylor gave a presentation and discussed future land use.  Felix Pitts asked staff to include the Main Street Connector, Hwy 73, and the Southern Evacuation Lifeline to the future land use map.  Holly Kaufmann and Shirley Martin asked staff to add the Hwy 57 & Hwy 9 intersection.  Mrs. Kaufmann stated several intersections along Hwy 9 would be economic growth centers.  Mr. Taylor explained that these maps would evolve with the continued work on the Comprehensive Plan.

Land Use Needs, Goals and Strategies

Mr. Taylor presented the four goals specified in the Land Use Element.  He presented a comparison of the Envision 2025 Plan and the 1999 Comprehensive Plan.

Ibrahim Aborsey Ashie and Greg Lipscomb addressed the population projections.

Objectives of Future Land Use – page 26

Dave Utterback suggested adding stormwater drainage to the last item on the page.  Dr. Susan Libes questioned regional planning, and it was decided to add Regional to the last also.  Chairman Fred Richardson suggested adding the following item to this page:  Provide infrastructure to support development. 

Julie Harbin questioned the use of efficient, compatible, and integrated in the first paragraph and the lack of sustainable, responsible, and quality development.  The committee made no changes to this paragraph.

Dr. Libes suggested adding water activities to the fifth item on this page.  The committee accepted this addition of “traditional water activities.”

Future Land Use Strategy – page 27

After much discussion regarding the costs of development, Felix Pitts made motion to move on and Peggy Graham seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

There were no changes to the Future Land Use Definitions on pages 28 through 31. 

Goals, Policies, and Strategies of the Land Use Element - page 33

Goal –Julie Harbin suggested adding a comment regarding infrastructure.  George Edwards made a motion to change the wording from “Provide sufficient land for future development” to “Identify land suitable for future development” and Felix Pitts seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

Strategy A – Felix Pitts asked about current capacity of service for Grand Strand Water & Sewer as well as Little River Water & Sewer.  He requested the service providers make this information available to County staff.  Carol Coleman stated County staff would be gathering information from all providers (school district, utility providers, etc.) for the Public Facilities Plan.

Strategy C – Holly Kaufmann addressed concerns with a community appearance board or architectural review board.  It was decided to add “for Planned Development Districts (PDD) and commercial development.

Strategy B – It was decided to create the Capital Improvements Program for twenty years. 

Policy II – Page 34 – There were no changes made to this policy.

Strategy C – Felix Pitts questioned cluster development.  There were no changes made to this strategy.

Strategy E – Felix Pitts asked for clarification to where this would apply.  This would apply county-wide and there were no changes made.

Strategy H – There were no changes made to this strategy.

Strategy B – George Edwards suggested removing the words “density bonuses to,” and the committee concurred.

Strategy D – George Edwards made motion to replace the words “relaxation of zoning standards including lot size, set back, and height requirements” with “incentives to the developer.”  The motion was seconded, and no one was opposed.

Strategy J – There was much discussion regarding traffic impact studies, however there were no changes made to this strategy.

Policy III – Page 35 – Felix Pitts referred back to the minutes which indicated a change in wording for this policy.  The word “reducing” was changed to “guiding.”

Policy IV – Page 35 - There were no changes made to this policy.

Greg Lipscomb questioned workforce housing.  After some discussion, Steven Neeves stated County Council had appointed an Affordable Housing Task Force to make recommendations.

Discussion

George Edwards mentioned discussing the Community Benefits Agreement that was removed and another strategy that he will discuss with Roy Taylor prior to the next meeting.

Mr. Taylor presented an updated timeline.

The next meeting is scheduled for May 3, 2007 at 3:00 PM.    With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM.

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