George's Information and Comments

Growth Impact Action Committee

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Official March 15 Envision 2025 Meeting Horry County Comprehensive Plan

Official Minutes

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA      )              Horry County Comprehensive Plan

                                                            )              Steering Committee Meeting

COUNTY OF HORRY                       )              Thursday, March 15, 2007

The Horry County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee met on Thursday, March 15, 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, Shirley Martin, Tamera Bergstrom, Marshall Smith, David Utterback, Pam Creech, Charles Dawsey, Peggy Graham, Felix Pitts, Marty Ekster, Kitty Howell, Greg Hyman, Sammy Johnson, Holly Kaufmann, David Duvall, Mitchell Flannery, Eric Rabon, and Sandy Doyle.  Staff present included John Danford, Christopher Klement, Roy Taylor, Carol Coleman, and Nancy Tindall.  Dr. Susan Libes, Ernestine Allen, George Edwards, Aaron Rucker, and Bobby Pate 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 1:10 PM.

Approval of Minutes – The minutes of March 1, 2007 were distributed.  After review, David Utterback made motion to approve and Julie Harbin seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

Staff Reflection of latest Community Meetings Input – Roy Taylor gave an overview of the last few meetings and the public input staff had received.

Mr. Taylor also distributed copies of a letter he received from South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control (SCDHEC) regarding wastewater management.  This was for information only.

Land Use Goals, Policies and Strategies – John Danford began with the Designated Rural Areas Strategy.  Peggy Graham questioned why the Urban and Rural areas were separated.  Roy Taylor and John Danford addressed her concerns. 

Goal – After some discussion, David Utterback made motion to accept the following goal and Kitty Howell seconded.  Motion carried with a vote of nine to six. 

Designate and protect Rural Areas that have distinct resources, characteristics, and a traditional way of life in Horry County, while simultaneously respecting private property rights and guiding the amount of new development and employment growth in critical areas that have significant ties to the natural environment. 

Policy I – John Danford reviewed the policy.  David Utterback made motion to accept the policy and Holly Kaufmann seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

Strategy A – John Danford reviewed.  There were no changes.

Strategy B – John Danford reviewed.  After much discussion, Mitchell Flannery made motion to delete this strategy and Peggy Graham seconded.  After further discussion, the original motion was withdrawn and an amended motion made and accepted as follows.

            Encourage protection of our Riparian Corridors.

Strategy C – John Danford reviewed.  Dr. Susan Libes asked about requiring an annual resource evaluation.  Some committee members did not feel this should be a requirement.  It was suggested that there be a link to this information on the County web site. 

Felix Pitts suggested adding a Strategy D as follows.

Strategy D – Encourage the use of conservation easements and similar land management practices; explore National, State and local level tax incentives and programs; develop and maintain a list of local producers; and coordinate with other entities with a vested interest in local agriculture and forestry.

Carol Coleman explained urban, rural, and transitional areas.  Peggy Graham was uncomfortable with two different area strategies—one urban and one rural.  She made a motion to delete rural from this strategy and Mitchell Flannery seconded.  Motion carried.  Staff was asked to merge this section of policies and strategies with the Urban Strategy section.

Policy II/Strategy A – John Danford reviewed.  Peggy Graham made motion to delete this strategy and Holly Kaufmann seconded.  Motion carried with a vote of eight to seven.  A portion of this strategy was added to Strategy D above.

Strategy B regarding “Transfer of Development Rights” was deleted at a previous meeting.

Strategy C regarding a Land Evaluation and Site Assessment program was deleted, after a motion was made and seconded to delete it.  There was one no.

Strategy D regarding “Purchase of Development Rights” was deleted after a unanimous vote.  A substitute strategy was added that would encourage the use of existing programs, such as Conservation Land Bank.

Strategy E – John Danford reviewed.  There were no changes made to this strategy.

Strategy F – John Danford reviewed.  Mitchell Flannery made motion to delete this strategy and Holly Kaufmann seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

Policy III/Strategy A – This strategy was changed as follows. 

            Encourage growth in Rural Centers including Village Growth Areas, …

Strategy B regarding a Rural Cluster Ordinance was deleted.

Strategy C regarding Rural Area Management Plans was accepted without change.

Strategy D regarding Design Guidelines was accepted.  However, staff will add impervious surface into the guidelines.

Strategy E regarding water/sewer and other public facilities was deleted.

Exercise – Future Land Use Mapping – It was decided that staff would collect the maps that were returned and compile them onto one map to be reviewed at the next meeting.

The committee decided to meet at 1:00 PM on April 5, 2007. 

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:08 PM.