Large turnout for zoning in Pleasant Hill
Last Updated on 12/1/2008
Published on 10/12/2008
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
A large crowd showed up Thursday night for the final community meeting before the Georgetown County Planning Commission decides on zoning for Pleasant Hill, Carvers Bay and surrounding communities.
In September, the first community meeting was held at Carvers Bay High School. Last week's session took place at Pleasant Hill Elementary where people spent time asking county planning officials how the implementation of zoning will impact the land they own.
Director Boyd Johnson of the Georgetown County Planning Department explained the zoning is being put in place to help keep the communities as they are, not to change them.
Johnson said by placing the area under zoning, it protects it from being used for things residents probably do not want.
"It would keep out things like the landfill being proposed for Nesmith," Johnson said.
He told the residents he and his staff have worked hard to make the zones match the current uses of the land.
At the first meeting, residents expressed concern farm animals would not be allowed in some of the areas once zoning is in place. Johnson said that is being changed and residents who want farm animals will be allowed to have them.
"We have a lot of flexibility in what we can do," Johnson said.
One man said he was upset because the new zoning would limit the use of his property.
"We can change that with a stroke of a pen. We will do that first thing in the morning," Johnson promised.
Most of the area is being zoned Forest and Agriculture zones which allow for one house to be built on one acre of land. There are some small pockets being proposed that will allow more than that.
Residents will have one final opportunity to express opinions about the zoning. A public hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20, at the beginning of the monthly County Planning Commission meeting. After that the commission will vote on its recommendation to County Council.
If all goes according to schedule, County Council will give the matter the first of three needed readings on Dec. 2.
