1/3/08 PLANNING COMMISSION DEFERRAL OF CAROLINA STATION APPROVAL
January 8th, 2008 by Julie HarbinHorry County P.R.I.D.E. Report
Planning Commission Action 1/3/08
Carolina Station
1/3/08 ACTION
The Planning Commission voted unanimously January 3 to defer action until February 7 on the Carolina Station development plan and rezoning request. The Commissioners want to see a completed development plan (including a storm water study), the results of the traffic study, and the possible return of the solid waste facility to the center of the development before considering further action.
COMMENT
The Planning Commission is to be COMMENDED for their unanimous decision to defer action on the Carolina Station development due to incomplete information. Commissioners Graham, Riley, Todd, Hucks, and Buffum stated they could not support an incomplete plan and requested further information.
Commissioners Wilfong and Kauffmann, however, argued that International Paper Realty was being asked to do more for the County than any other developer and warned that the County was passing up the best offer it was likely to negotiate.
The Planning Commission staff, Janet Carter, Planning Director, and Carol Coleman, Assistant Planning Director, are to be COMMENDED for the staff’s position that although progress had been made, there were still deficiencies in the development plan and that the Planning Commission would lose any ability to address those deficiencies if they went ahead and voted it out.
The Cedar Branch Community adjacent to the proposed Carolina Station Develoment is to be COMMENDED for showing up en masse to express their strong opposition to the placement of a solid waste facility next to their community instead of its original placement in the center of the new development. An excellent example of respectful and effective political advocacy. Bravo Cedar Branch!
NEXT ACTION:
Thursday, January 31, 3 PM
Planning Commission Workshop.
Progress on Carolina Station will be discussed but no action taken.
Thursday, February 7, 5:30 PM
Planning Commission regular meeting.
Further action on Carolina Station will be considered.
If you have concerns about the proposed Carolina Station development in Horry County…
If you want to see POSITIVE CHANGE and a NEW LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP in Horry County on infrastructure and natural resource decisions that affect your quality of life…
PLEASE ATTEND and bring others to either or both of these meetings Although the time for public input at the Planning Commission level has passed, taxpayers attending and participating together at this level of government will send a powerful message to all County decision-makers that you are serious about wanting change.
There is still plenty of time to effect needed infrastructure and natural resource changes on this development. Once the Planning Commission votes the development out, the developer has asked for it to be reviewed at the County Council Committee level BEFORE going directly to the Council.