Valentine's Day Council Meeting Preview
Potential Changes to a Zoning Ordinance, Building Codes and Permit Fees, and a Safety Resolution. Plus re-appointments and more
This newsletter is already coming later than I intended, so let’s just jump right in and preview the three items on which Council will vote tonight.
Please accept my apology for the delay. Because the ordinances on which we’ll vote were proposed prior to the seating of the current Council, I needed some more time to get up to speed on the details. (Accuracy is more important than timeliness, in my opinion.)
Ordinance #03-14-2022: Amendments Section X of the Zoning Ordinance (first reading)
To better explain this proposed change to our Town Zoning Ordinance, let’s consider two scenarios: the first represents the way things currently stand, and the second is how it would be different if this ordinance passes on first and second reading.
Scenario 1 (current): John Doe owns a piece of property that he wants annexed into the Town of Central, so he files the necessary paperwork at Town Hall. After receiving the formal request for annexation, the Town provides notice of a public hearing about the proposed annexation (via an ad in the newspaper, a sign next to the property, etc.) After the public hearing, the proposed annexation is considered by Council at two public meetings. If approved by a majority vote of Council at both meetings, John Doe’s property must be zoned—which is where the Planning Commission comes in.
Within 30 days, the Planning Commission must submit to Council a report on how the Planning Commission thinks John Doe’s property should be zoned. Once again, the Town provides notice of a public hearing—this time on the zoning of John Doe’s property. After the public hearing, Council holds two separate votes on how to zone John Doe’s property and, if it passes both times, John Doe’s property is zoned accordingly.
With me so far? Now let’s look at the same scenario under the proposed change to Section X.
Scenario 2 (proposed change): John Doe owns a piece of property that he wants annexed into the Town of Central, so he files the necessary paperwork at Town Hall. The formal request for annexation goes directly to Council for consideration. Council votes on the question of approval at two separate public meetings and, if it passes by majority vote both times, John Doe’s property is annexed into Town limits.
Now that John Doe’s property is annexed, the Planning Commission has 60 days to submit a report to Council on how the property should be zoned. The Town then provides notice of a public hearing of the proposed zoning, after which Council holds two separate votes on approval.
In other words, if Ordinance #03-14-2022: Amendments Section X of the Zoning Ordinance passes on first reading (tonight) and second reading (on March 14), the two biggest changes would be as follows:
Instead of a public hearing for both annexation and zoning, there would be a public hearing only for zoning; and
The Planning Commission would have 60 days to submit its zoning report (instead of 30 days.)
To read the proposed ordinance in its entirety, click here.
Ordinance #03-14-2022: Building Codes
This is much more simple. Under South Carolina law, municipalities like Central must follow building codes adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council. Further, Central follows the International Building Code (IBC) in establishing the fees required for building permits. Because both change on a regular basis, we are putting in place an ordinance that says our codes and building permit fees will change accordingly and automatically. Otherwise, we would have to adopt a new ordinance with every SC Building Codes Council and IBC update.
Council will vote on this ordinance on first reading tonight and, if it passes, vote again on second reading on March 14.
Resolution #02-14-2022 SAFE
I saved the simplest for last. This resolution says the Town will be proactive in loss prevention and maintaining a safe work environment, and that we’ll follow all federal and state laws to that effect.
Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Police Advisory Committee
Tonight we will vote on re-appointing members of the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeal whose term has expired. Those members who require re-appointment are as follows:
Justin Rakey (Planning Commission)
Daniel Bare (Planning Commission)
Carl Austin (Zoning Board of Appeals)
Doug Barry (Zoning Board of Appeals)
Michael Spearman (Zoning Board of Appeals)
Having been established, the Police Advisory Committee is ready to get to work. In order to do that we’ll need to formally approve the appointment of those citizens who applied to the Committee. Tonight we’ll consider the appointment of
Gregory Norman
Will Mullinax
James Hanson
Jonathan Harris
Show Your Love for Central!
How? Get involved! As with every regular meeting of Town Council, the public is invited and welcomed. Please feel free to not only attend, but make your voice heard during the Public Session portion of our meeting tonight.
What’s happening—and when
Tuesday, February 15
Planning Commission Meeting — 6:30 p.m. — Town Hall (Conference Room)
Friday, February 18 — Saturday, February 19
Central Railway Museum Model Train Expo — 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday — Rock Springs Church Impact Center (Easley)
Saturday, February 19
Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit National Tour — 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. — Nettles Park
Saturday, March 12 — Sunday, March 13
8th Annual Tiger Town Throwdown Disc Golf Tournament — 9 a.m. — Grand Central Station Disc Golf Park
Saturday, April 9
Town of Central Car Show — 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. — Main Street
What Would You Like to See?
This newsletter is a work in progress. In addition to what you’ve already read in this and previous editions, is there anything missing? What feedback do you have? How can we inform you better? Please let me know. Contact me by
email to abeckner@cityofcentral.org
Facebook at facebook.com/MayorAndrewBeckner
or stop in and visit at Town Hall on Fridays beginning at 10 a.m.
Thanks for reading, and please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Beckner
Mayor
Town of Central