Local Radar

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Planning Commission elects leaders, changes road acceptance rules

web posted December 15, 2006

COUNTY – The Edgefield County Planning Commission held its December meeting Thursday night with a short agenda. After dispensing with opening procedures and the approval of previous meeting minutes Commission Chairman Fab Burt asked for an update on absent Commissioner Rodney Ingle, who underwent major surgery on Tuesday.

The commission was informed by a family member that Commissioner Ingle had a successful surgery and doctors say everything went well and they expect a timely recovery. Due to the surgery Mr. Ingle will remain hospitalized at least through the weekend.

Moving on to agenda items Building and Planning Director Howard Gibson presented the commission with an ordinance that will be presented to the county council amending Ordinance No. 86-248, General Requirements for Road Acceptance. Section 153.04(G) will be deleted and replaced with a clause that states all road will be “conditionally accepted for a two tear period and 60% developed with certificate of occupancies issued.”

During the conditional period the county will not perform any upkeep or repairs to the roads and the roads must be in acceptable shape at the end of the two-year period Mr. Gibson said. Section 153.04(H) will also be deleted and replaced with; “The amount of the bond or escrow shall be $60,000 per mile for paved roadways. Unpaved roads shall not be accepted for a new development into the county road system.”

The previous rule allowed paved roads bonded at $20,000 a mile and unpaved roads at $5,000 a mile. Mr. Gibson said with the increased cost of paving the change needed to be made, “If you look at the ordinance this hasn’t been addressed since 1986. It costs a more now to pave a road.”

The recommendation came from the Transportation Committee in an attempt to offset the cost of growth in the county and the maintenance of the added infrastructure that growth brings, “without undue cost to the taxpayer”. The measure passed.

Another item brought before the commission was a new requirement for encroachment into county road right of ways. Mr. Gibson explained that people are able to put in a driveway without oversight and often times place too small of a culvert or one that is too weak and creates problems with drainage. The same applies to public utilities such as phone, cable, or electrical companies that bury service in the right of way.

In the future everyone will be required to obtain a permit, free of charge, from the Building and Planning Department to record where changes have been made on the encroachments. Mr. Gibson explained that often companies or individuals place encroachments that are damaged by county road crews because they are not listed as being buried in the area. That measure also passed.

The planning commission also elected new officers for 2007 during the meeting. Chairman Fab Burt, Vice-chairman Roger Timpson, and Secretary Donna Lybrant were all re-elected to serve again to their respective positions.

Under unfinished business Zoning Administrator Guy Mueller said the commission had to rewrite the Comprehensive Plan in 2007. “It has to be done every 10 years,” Mueller said, and updated every five years.

Mr. Mueller also said the missing “guest” on the agenda was not present but they were planning to address the commission on property they purchased near the intersection of Martintown Road and Springhaven Drive. Mueller said the owners were making changes to the front of the building and were advised they could not bring commercial enterprises into Merriwether due to zoning.

“They have stopped work on the building,” Mueller said.

County Administrator John Pettigrew Jr. was in attendance and wished the entire commission a Merry Christmas and thanked them for their service. Mr. Gibson thanked the local media for reporting the meetings to the public.

With no other business the meeting was adjourned.
 


 

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