____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Planning Commission Approval

          -- George Edwards

The planning commission approved the Horry County Envision 2025 Comprehensive Plan for recommendation to the county council on October 4, 2007. Roy Taylor, the principal planner working on the comprehensive plan wrote in an e-mail reply to a question as to planning commission amendments to the plan submitted by the steering committee: "There were no changes of any significance whatsoever."

The first six elements were passed by the planning commission the evening of the fourth. The land use element was passed in its afternoon meeting.

In the afternoon meeting on the land use element, I believe only two planning commission members were not present. Julie Harbin, Dr. Susan Libes, Tamera Bergstrom, Felix Pitts and George Edwards of the steering committee attended as well as several from staff and a few from the general public.

Roy Taylor gave a brief presentation on the plan. Adam Parness, planning commission chairman, observed that the planning commission members had the plan for several weeks and asked if any commissioner had any issue to discuss or felt there were any inaccuracies. A few suggestions were made to make certain words more consistent. Roy Taylor said these changes would be readily made.

Chairman Parness then opened public input.

Julie Harbin spoke about Horry County Pride, a citizens’ lobby on behalf of Horry County infrastructure and natural resources. Click here to view the group's Web site and to see its petition that can be "signed" on line by those who agree with its basic premise that I would summarize as requesting Horry County government permit only new development that will have the public facilities it requires, or require the developer to contribute at least the development's proportionate share of the public facilities it requires. Clicking an "HCP blog" tab on that site further reports on the planning commission meetings including an exact quote of Harbin's remarks at the afternoon session.

Dr. Susan Libes spoke, concluding by endorsing the Envision 2025 comprehensive plan compromise that the steering committee had worked out.

Adam Parness, in response to some of Harbin's remarks, said we need to discourage development in flood plains.

Taylor said everything in the comprehensive plan was amendable.

Planning commissioners further discussed the plan. Wilfong asked if builders would have to contribute right-of-way for the road widening being discussed at county council. Deputy Planning Director Carol Coleman said there was not a requirement for dedication. Todd noted that much of the road widening was through areas that were largely zoned LFA where a 60 ft. setback was already required. It was noted that this was not a part of the comprehensive plan.

Parness said he did not see why the land use element could not be adopted right now. It was then adopted by the planning commission members and noted that they would be reconvening at 5:30 to vote on the other six elements of the comprehensive plan.