Local Radar

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Planning Commission addresses nuisance ordinance, building heights

web posted August 10, 2007
EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Planning Commission met Thursday night and readdressed the nuisance ordinance that was approved last month. “I’m going to blame this on myself,” Zoning Administrator Guy Mueller said. Wording was accidentally omitted that left the ordinance with “no teeth” according to Mr. Mueller. “It wouldn’t have been any better than what we had.”

The ordinance makes it possible for residents to make complaints using multiple avenues and, in essence, makes it possible for residents to get around the requirement of having to be a nearby resident within the 1000-foot distance in order to file. Although the ordinance states it takes three neighboring residents within the distance to “make the ordinance kick in”, the wording change also states that one person can initiate action by contacting the County Administrator, Sheriff, or their designee, or a county councilman.

Commissioner Tracy Freeman asked about wording stating a county councilman can initiate the ordinance representing three or more residents. Mr. Mueller said that was correct. However, Commissioner Jeff Hughes said he questioned some of the terminology. “I can do the math,” Hughes said, “and here it says three people,” but he wanted to know about a situation where three people do not live within the 1000 foot distance of the “offending” property.

“They can go through a member of council,” Mr. Muller said. Hughes then asked if just one neighbor could begin action by contacting a county councilman. “It doesn’t have to be a person right there,” Mueller said. “Where does it say that?” Mr. Hughes asked. “It doesn’t say that,” Mr., Mueller replied.

County Administrator John Pettigrew, who was in the audience, says he understands the wording to mean that once he or his designee becomes “aware” of a potential violation it can be investigated. “That means only one person has to complain,” Pettigrew said.

Mr. Mueller said that just because one person can file a complaint does not mean the offending property owner is going to be fined, only investigated. Mueller gave the example that if a person had several junk cars parked on their property does not mean they would be in violation unless it could be seen from a public area.

After the discussion the commission approved the amended ordinance to be passed on to the county council.

With no other business Mr. Pettigrew raise a concern of the three story apartments being built on Murrah Road Extension. Pettigrew said he was approached by a fireman asking if there was a restraint on how tall structures could be due to the difficulty of protecting such a large structure from fire.

Mr. Mueller said there were no limits on height in the county land use ordinance.

Another member of the audience asked about the difficulties of Fire and EMS personnel being able to extract a person by stretcher from an upper level apartment and suggested three stories or higher be required to have an elevator big enough for EMS personnel and a stretcher to transport a patient. He also questioned if having buildings taller than area fire departments are equipped to handle in the case of a fire and could it affect fire ratings for other area residents.

Commissioner Tracy Freeman, who is also on the County Line Fire Board, agreed that it could affect fire ratings or force fire departments to purchase additional equipment on their limited budgets. 

Commission Chairman Fab Burt asked Mr. Mueller to look into the issues for the next meeting.

With no other business the meeting was adjourned.
 

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