By a split vote Monday night, Laurens County Council has decided to “tap the brakes” on a certain kind of residential development, especially in the fast-growing Northern Laurens County area.
Cluster Development, which is allowed under the county’s land-use and subdivision regulations, will be paused for 6 months, with the option for another 6-month pause if development officials cannot come up with a way to close the loopholes that developers are using to cluster (ie, place close together) houses in residential subdivisions.
The 3-2-1 vote was: Council Chairman Jeff Carroll, and members Justin Lane and Kemp Younts, “yes”; Council Vice-Chairman Matthew Brownlee and Arthur Philson Jr., “no”; Council Member Shirley Clark abstained from voting; and Council Member Brown Patterson was absent.
Brownlee said he was voting “no” because there are no new cluster developments in the pipeline; and, even if there were, the County Planning Commission would have 60 days to respond. He said he wants people he went to school with to have the opportunity he has to live in and enjoy what Laurens County has to offer.
THESE ARE BROWNLEE'S COMMENTS:
Five people expressed their opinions — most in favor of the delay - during the public comments portion of the meeting. Council rules say that public comments can be made only on agenda items; this matter already had a public hearing. In exchange for that restriction, County Council has agreed to conduct public input sessions where the comment-topics are not restricted - the first of those will be Aug. 18, 7 - 8 p.m. at 105 Bolt Dr., Laurens - the Hillcrest East Voter-Veterans Center. The session will “welcome any citizens who desire to speak on any matters of Laurens County business *presentations limited to three (3) minutes per person,” according to a county announcement posted on-line.
Those speaking in favor of the moratorium said council is right to “tap the brakes” on this kind of development - whereby, a developer agrees to leave a portion of residential property as vacant, open space in exchange for allowing houses to be closer together than the regulations normally would allow; if everything else in the application is OK, the planning commission has no choice but to grant the request.
That’s what county planners and planning commission members want to change - they are looking for a way to close that loophole.
But Glenn Easter, retired dairy farmer, said even the idea of a moratorium is driving developers away from Laurens County land. He said that is unfair to farmers and ranchers who count on selling their property as their retirement income. He said neighbors can always “work it out” when farms are sold to become subdivisions.
But others said Laurens County is growing too much too fast, and it is irresponsible not to take action when county services are being taxed by rapid development. In another item of business, Council agreed that the Planning Commission should be charged with the task of developing Impact Fees that would require developers to share in the cost of greater stress on law enforcement, fire, schools, roads, and parks stemming from rapid residential growth.
These Impact Fees should be developed within 100 days and there should be 3 public input sessions, the Council says.
The moratorium ordinance says, in part, “The Laurens County Council is concerned that open space residential developments that may be approved or permitted during the period in which these amendments are prepared and under consideration may be incompatible with such provisions and with Laurens County Council’s vision for development of the county…”
The moratorium takes effect immediately (following 3rd and final reading) and extends for 6 months.
It may be extended 1 time for a period not to exceed 6 months, “or until council amends and/or supplements its Land Development Regulations concerning open space residential development whichever comes first.”
NOTE: Laurens County does not have Zoning. However, there is a council-authorized, citizens task force looking at proposals for zoning and updated land use regulations for Laurens County. That task force meets next this Thursday evening, 6 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1387 Hwy 56 S., Clinton, for discussions and public comments.
