The Horry County Planning Commission met Thursday, 10/04/07, and approved ALL seven elements of the County’s comprehensive plan, ENVISION 2025.

What does this means to YOU? This is good. ENVISION 2025 is a document drafted over the last two years by a variety of Horry County interests—homeowners, education, natural resources, tourism, land owners, developers, realtors, and the Planning Commission.

While it is true ENVISION 2025 is the result of many compromises, and it is true the document could be a lot stronger, HORRY COUNTY PRIDE believes it represents fair compromises to all interests…including YOU the taxpayer. Most importantly—it has sufficient substance to give our elected officials and staff some good tools for SMART GROWTH.

What’s the next step for ENVISION 2025? Review by the Council’s Infrastructure and Regulations Committee chaired by Councilman Carl Schwartzkopf from District 8 (date TBD) followed by final approval by the County Council.

Below is a statement Julie Harbin presented to the Planning Commission today on behalf of HORRY COUNTY P.R.I.D.E.

Statement of Julie Harbin
HORRY COUNTY P.R.I.D.E.
“A Citizen’s Lobby for Infrastructure and Natural Resources”
before the
HORRY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
October 4, 2007

ACCOUNTABILITY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Members of the Commission,

I am here today representing HORRY COUNTY PRIDE, a citizens’ lobby on behalf of Horry County infrastructure and natural resources.

Our primary mission is to insure citizens’ representation in all matters that concern quality of life for Horry County residents with special focus on investment in Infrastructure and sustainable natural resources.

HORRY COUNTY PRIDE is dedicated to preserving the QUALITY OF LIFE in Horry County WHILE WE GROW.

It makes sense for Horry County to build a strong infrastructure WHILE WE GROW. It makes no sense (politically or economically) to continue to wait.

It makes sense to preserve Horry County’s unique natural resources WHILE WE GROW. It makes no sense (politically or economically) to continue to wait.

We believe Envision 2025 will go a long way toward preserving the QUALITY OF LIFE in Horry County.

We support Adequate Public Facilities ordinances.
We support no development in the 100 year flood plain.
We support no development on isolated wetlands.
We support lowering the density requirement in rural areas from four to two.
We support making land regulations tougher regarding soil types, water basins, wetlands, and drainage.
We support requiring developers to put in high percentages of pervious surfaces.

In addition to the recommendations of Envision 2025, we request that:

1. A WRITTEN FINANCIAL PLAN be required for the maintenance and construction of County infrastructure and the preservation of sustainable natural resources.

2. DEVELOPMENT PERMITS BE MATCHED WITH BUDGETED FUNDS to maintain and construct County infrastructure and to preserve sustainable natural resources.

3. DEVELOPERS, NEW HOMEOWNERS, AND NEW BUSINESS OWNERS PAY THEIR “FAIR SHARE” of the added costs to maintain and construct County infrastructure that their developments require and to preserve sustainable natural resources.

In closing, let me state again.

We believe building a strong infrastructure must be made a priority WHILE WE GROW and preserving our unique natural resources must be made a priority WHILE WE GROW.

HORRY COUNTY PRIDE is not anti-growth. We are PRO-HORRY COUNTY. We believe in SMART GROWTH, and we ask for your support.

Thank you.

______________________________________________________

Remember, our ultimate goals will take time. Today, we accomplished one very positive step—and with your help and your voice we will achieve many more.

Please sign our petition and get others to sign. If you’re not already a member of HORRY COUNTY PRIDE, join us!

Put your VOICE and your VOTE into effective action with thousands of other Horry County citizens!

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 4th, 2007 at 10:45 pm and is filed under Horry County Planning Commission.