Second Round of Public Workshops to Gather Input on Where and How Growth Should Occur in Charleston County

Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name: Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: 843.958.4012

Release Number: 2859

Date: February 11, 2008

Second Round of Public Workshops to Gather Input on Where and How Growth Should Occur in Charleston County

Four public workshops held on Monday, Feb. 25, and Tuesday, Feb. 26, to focus on goals and objectives for future growth

The year-long Charleston County Comprehensive Plan update process involves extensive public input, which will continue with a second series of public workshops on Monday, Feb. 25, and Tuesday, Feb. 26. Charleston County Government launched the scheduled 10-year update with the first series of public workshops in fall 2007.

The public workshops will give citizens a second opportunity to participate in “Guiding the future for a lasting Lowcountry,” which is the County’s theme for the Comprehensive Plan Update.

There will be four locations during the second round to allow citizens from all areas to share their ideas about land use characteristics and goals and objectives for the Comprehensive Plan Update.

Two Public Workshops on Monday, Feb. 25

1. East Cooper Area

Wando High School

1000 Warrior Way, Mount Pleasant

Monday, February 25, 2008

6 – 8 p.m.

2. Central/Urban Area (including North Charleston, Charleston, West Ashley and James Island)

West Ashley High School

4060 West Wildcat Boulevard, Charleston

Monday, February 25, 2008

6 – 8 p.m.

Two Public Workshops on Tuesday, Feb. 26

1. Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island (including Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island)

St. John’s High School

1518 Main Road, Johns Island

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

6 – 8 p.m.

2. West County/Edisto Island

Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island

2164 Highway 174, Edisto Island

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

6 – 8 p.m.

Those who attend the second round of public workshops will learn about the results of the October 2007 public workshops and the technical research undertaken regarding land demand and capacity. The majority of the workshop will focus on the general policy direction (goals and land use objectives) and a map-based discussion on growth and development concepts.

“Even if residents were unable to attend the first round of public workshops, they will be able to fully participate and contribute to this second round of public workshops,” said Dan Pennick, Director of the Charleston County Planning Department.

The second round of public workshops will build on the input received in the first round and the technical research conducted by the project consultants and Charleston County staff.

During the first round of public workshops conducted in October 2007, input was gathered from residents regarding their ideas for the future and identification of strong and weak areas of growth in the County. County.

“The first series of workshops was a huge success,” Pennick said. “We had a total of 297 citizens attend the meetings, and everyone took the time to evaluate the current plan and give their opinions on how our County should look in the future.”

A report summarizing the first workshop process and the input received is available on Charleston County’s Web site: www.charlestoncounty.org (click on the Comprehensive Plan Update link located in the “Program Information” section at the bottom of the home page).

The results of the second round of public workshops in February will be documented and shared with the Charleston County Planning Commission and Charleston County Council, and will be a significant aspect in the update of the Comprehensive Plan. The results will also be shared with the community through the County Web site and will be used in preparation for the third round of public workshops in the spring of 2008.

What is the Charleston County Comprehensive Plan?

Charleston County’s Comprehensive Plan expresses the County’s intent for where and how future growth and development should occur. The plan also identifies parts of the County that may or may not be appropriate for certain types of growth, given the Lowcountry’s unique character and natural conditions.

When did the planning process begin?

The Comprehensive Plan Update process formally began with an overview for the Charleston County Planning Commission on September 17, 2007. The overview included information on the events and meetings that will take place during the 12 to 14 month process.

There will be three rounds of public workshops

Workshop Series 1 was held on October 29 and 30, 2007, and included brainstorming ideas for the future. Charleston County’s Citizens’ Academy members also participated in this workshop series on November 26, 2007. The summary report is available online; go to www.charlestoncounty.org and click on the link to the Comprehensive Plan Update located at the bottom of the page.
Workshop Series 2 will be held on February 25 and 26, 2008, and will focus on preparing a conceptual development framework.
Workshop Series 3 will be held this spring, and will focus on the draft plan and the associated recommendations.

Why does the Comprehensive Plan need to be updated?

Title 6, Chapter 29 of the South Carolina Code of Laws requires that the Comprehensive Plan be reviewed at least once every five years and updated at least once every ten years.

Who is involved in the update process?

The Public
Stakeholders
Charleston County Council
Charleston County Planning Commission
Charleston County Planning Staff
Consultant Team for Charleston County (McBride Dale Clarion/ACP-Visioning & Planning, Ltd./Miley Gallo & Associates)

How does the process work?

This entire process will take approximately 14 months and will involve extensive public participation.
The update process began with a kickoff meeting held on September 17, 2007.
Three rounds of public participation workshops will be held in each of the following planning areas during this process:

o East Cooper Area

o Central/Urban Area, including North Charleston, Charleston, West Ashley and James Island

o Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island, including Kiawah Island

and Seabrook Island

o West County/Edisto Island

BACKGROUND:

The primary purpose of the Comprehensive Plan Update is to guide public decision-making that will affect the quality of life in Charleston County for the next 10 years. In 1994, the South Carolina General Assembly passed the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act that required counties and municipalities to adopt a comprehensive plan if they were going to have zoning and land development ordinances (S.C. Code Sections 6-29-310 through 6-29-1200). The act was amended this year (effective May 23, 2007) to expand the number of planning elements to be included in the comprehensive plan from seven to nine. The nine elements that will be addressed in this 10-year update of the Charleston County Comprehensive Plan are:

1. Population 6. Community Facilities

2. Economy 7. Land use

3. Natural Resources 8. Transportation

4. Cultural Resources 9. Priority Investment

5. Housing

Visit the Charleston County Web site at www.charlestoncounty.org and click on the link to the Comprehensive Plan Update located at the bottom of the page for public meeting notices, agendas, presentations, a report summarizing the first workshop, and up-to-date news and information about the Charleston County Comprehensive Plan Update.