Plan to manage growth in place
By Dave Munday
SUMMERVILLE — A plan to manage growth in Dorchester County is finally in place, after months of hearings, debates and compromises.
Council unanimously voted Monday to approve a new comprehensive plan, which will guide what gets built in the county over the next two decades.
The plan
Click here to see the comprehensive plan for growth by Dorchester County.
"Hallelujah!" Council Chairman Larry Hargett exclaimed as the audience applauded after the vote.
Dorchester has been the state's fastest-growing county the last several years. Growth here affects the entire Charleston area, as the majority of residents drive toward Charleston for work.
Residents around Summerville and North Charleston, frustrated by overcrowded roads and schools, have been calling for more controls on development. The new plan includes a section that says the county can't approve a new development if roads and schools can't handle it and directs council to consult with the school district before approval.
Conservationists were worried about thousands of acres of unprotected farmland and timberland west of Summerville. The new plan designates wide swaths of land as rural. Development will be clustered near existing nodes, rather than spread throughout the county.
Previous story
Proposed growth plan nears approval; Many think area is 'on the right path', published 11/04/08
Representatives of Audubon South Carolina and the Coastal Conservation League praised the plan during a public hearing before the vote.
"This has been a long time coming," Coastal Conservation League Project Manager Hamilton Davis said. "It remedies some of the issues we've seen from the explosive growth of the past decade."
The pattern of nodes of development amid wide expanses of green spaces can be seen on the new map in the East Edisto tract, which is being planned by MeadWestvaco on the western edge of the county and in Charleston County. About three-fourths of the 70,000 acres will remain rural.
Mapping the future
Tri-county governments are crafting in-depth plans to handle growth. Will their plans fit together? Read the special report from The Post and Courier.
The new map also shows the historic-overlay district council approved last year. The district limits density near the plantations along S.C. Highway 61 to preserve the rural ambience.
Property-rights advocates, landowners, builders and real-estate agents also were involved in theprocess, speaking up for their right to sell and build on their property, as well as pass it down to their children. During a public hearing before the vote, a number of residents praised the plan as a good compromise among all the interest groups.
"While the plan's not perfect, we want to stand here and commend you on the process you've taken to get here," said Sean Bennett, public policy chairman for the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce .
Council discussed concerns that the plan does not make it clear that families can subdivide rural land to pass it down to their children. They agreed to handle those concerns in the zoning ordinance that will follow the comprehensive plan.
Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@postandcourier.com.
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theronce (anonymous) says...
What a joke. This may be, what, one or two years late...and they are glad-handing all around among themselves. Eat it up, folks. I do not buy it for one minute. Their track record shows that they will be making exceptions. For sure, they have already figured out how to work around any part of this when the time comes.
November 18, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zekemire (anonymous) says...
ANY GOVERNMENT PLAN THAT LIMITS THE USE OF PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO USE THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY TO RECEIVE THE FULL VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY IN NOT CONSTITUTIONAL!
November 18, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyatwork (anonymous) says...
Too little too late. What about the "Ponds" development that is going to be practically a small city on Hwy 17? That "city" has one 2 lane road running it and out. How can a 2 lane road support something like that? Then you have subdivisions popping up all along old Orangeburg Road.
And you have all the new development going passed Legend Oaks...I could go on and on... nothing really has changed.
November 18, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jblakeslee (anonymous) says...
Ashleyatwork: There are plans in place to widen Dorchester Rd to 4 lanes, and re-work the intersection where the BP gas station is. A Harris Teeter is slated to go into the property next to the gas station and from what I have heard Dorchester Rd will be re-routed to intersect right across from the Ponds. Traffic leaving the Ponds with then have a 4 lane to exit to, or take 17A. I realize "too little to late" may be the case, but "too little, too late" is way better than doing nothing.
I wonder what happens when a town such as Summerville, or St. George, approves a development or project in "their" town, but it goes against the county plan?
November 18, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
Council votes to freeze funds in sheriff's department
'unhealthy amount' spent in overtime funds, says finance director
By Jenny Peterson
Summerville Journal Scene
The Dorchester County Council unanimously voted on Monday night to freeze the Sheriff Department's overtime funds because of what officials said was an "unhealthy" amount spent by outgoing Sheriff Ray Nash so early in the fiscal year.
According to a memo to Nash from Lee Moulder, director of budget and finance with the county, Nash has already spent 70 percent of his allotted overtime wages for employees in the detention center and 47 percent of overtime wages in the sheriff's department. The funds are supposed to last through June 31, 2009.
The council's vote prohibits any additional spending by the department other than regular employee salaries, benefits, food and medical needs at the jail.
"There are questionable expenditures being funded," said Council Member Chris Murphy.
"If we don't (freeze funds) by the time Knight takes office, the entire budget will be spent," Murphy said.
The total overtime wages allowed for employees in the detention center is $150,000. The total overtime wages for employees in the sheriff's department is $500,000.
"It (is) difficult to understand why (Nash) spent $105,000 (of a $150,000 budget) at this point in the year," said County Administrator Jason Ward. "This is far and above what was permitted." The sheriff and detention center's budget for 2009 is more than $13 million.
Moulder did note that Nash has spent 33 percent of regular and overtime wages combined to date, which was on target. However, he said the overtime wages spent so far were an "unhealthy" amount.
Please arrange to bring your overtime within the amount budgeted by council as soon as possible," Moulder stated. "You also need to restrict any future overtime or leave any unfilled positions open until we can correct this shortage."
Ward said Nash had not replied to the memo concerning the overtime funds. Nash did not return a phone call left Tuesday morning seeking comment.
Council Member Jamie Feltner took issue with Nash not responding to Moulder's memo.
"Whether he's an outgoing sheriff, incumbent; there needs to be communication, especially with taxpayer funds," Feltner said. "I don't know what to do with an outgoing sheriff who doesn't communicate." He said during the committee meeting was the first he time he had heard about the issue.
Council Member Richard Rosebrock said the funds spent may indicate a shortage with managers in the detention center, but still voted to freeze the funds.
The buck stops here," Feltner said.
November 18, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
Once again ,check for illegalities and this time hold him accountable for money going to his business or friends....Why would you expect things to change in the last few months? ....Really Difficult to Understand?.... It's called Character!
November 18, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyatwork (anonymous) says...
Widening Dorchester Road will take YEARS. Remember when they widened it from Ashley Phosphate to Oakbrook? And all they had to do then was add lanes on a straight stretch, what jblakeslee is describing would include massive land clearing, miles of additional lanes paved on existing roads, creating new roads and totally rerouting main roads.
November 18, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jblakeslee (anonymous) says...
ashleyatwork: Ok.....I guess if all that has to be done and will take so long, then it is best to just do nothing.
What solution do you propose that would work quickly? The Ponds is already started, The limehouse development that sits between Orangeburg, 17A, and Dorchester is already started.....so I guess doing nothing is the best approach.
November 18, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jblakeslee (anonymous) says...
What in the world has Sheriff Nash got to do with a story on growth and building? If it is felt that Sheriff Nash has given county funds to "business and friends" then prove it. He has not been charged with or been proven guilty of ANY Crime and deserves the same protection under the law as you and I: Innocent until proven guilty.
November 18, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
It is common knowledge at Dorchester County that Nash has been sabotaging the department for the incoming sheriff.
Council, being very concerned with what has happening for months at the department and is finally doing something about it, but something should have been done months ago.
This is a classic case of sour grapes.
November 18, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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