Wednesday, October 29

Tis' the Season for Public Hearings

As Florence County Future Land Use and Transportation plans are being worked on, public hearings are scheduled to get the public in on the planning level. Check out and visit the bottom of the blog for public notices for your area.

Monday, October 27

Planning this Week - October 27

Halloween is around the corner, and it's scary to think how much we have done this month and how much more we have to do over the next two weeks.

Transportation Planning and the Comprehensive Plan are the two big-time consumers of our focus:

Transportation (Florence Area Transportation Study, FLATS): The Policy Committee (The FLATS decision-makers, read - the real hard workers of this outfit) will be meeting on November 10th at 10:30 at the City/County Complex, Room 803. The agenda will be out today or Wednesday (I am in Charleston tomorrow for a tree workshop). Send me an e-mail if you are interested in a copy.

The most important item is the presentation by our recommended consultant to do Florence's long-range transportation plan... what roads will be widened, circled, razed or paved... I invite all those citizens that drive cars, bicycles or walk to join in on the discussion...

Otherwise, every street will be limited to two-way traffic and have bicycle lanes, adequate sidewalks, tree lined medians and an occasional traffic circle. If you are okay with that, then don't worry - we've got you covered!

Comprehensive Plan: Again, this is the County's vision 20-30 years into the future. This plan should answer questions like 'where will the next school be built?', 'how many parks will we need for our growing population?', 'how many police will we need in the future?' and 'how do we grow responsibly?'

We are currently working on the Community Facilities and Future Land Use elements. Community Facilities focuses on infrastructure like roads, police, fire, sewer, schools, parks, etc. whereas the Future Land Use is the framework towards zoning (keeping the cold side cold and the hot side hot - see my previous blog)

At this Tuesday's County Planning Commission meeting (6:30PM City/County Complex, Rm 803), a workshop for planning members will be discussed for the Community Facilities element. We are currently finishing up maps and stats which we will share after the workshop (proposed for Nov 13th).

The Future Land Use Element requires a bit more procedure to get everyone on board and does not solely rely on statistics and levels of service. For that reason, this element takes more time and dedication to the newest planning principles: namely, sustainability!

How do we integrate sustainability into our plans? Now that is a good question to bring up to any planning commission member, elected official or employee of the City or County planning departments. They'll thank you for it!

Check out our future land use maps for Olanta and Scranton. Johnsonville's maps should be available soon as well as areas surrounding Pamplico and Lake City (these municipalities have their own planning, so we plan up to the cities' boundaries.) Olanta has a public meeting at their town hall on November 10th, 6:30PM to discuss their future land use.

We know there are planners out there - please help us plan for the next 30 years!

Tuesday, October 21

DHEC in Florence

DHEC continues their hard work in the Florence area.

October 28th, 6:00PM at the Darlington County Institute of Technology (160 Pinedale Drive, located west of the Darlington speedway)

According to the press release, "...stakeholders will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on freshwater quality standards, classifications, and uses, as they relate to recreation," said David Wilson, chief of DHEC's Bureau of Water. "We'll be sharing information and also will be available to answer questions and concerns."

Also, Smurfit-Stone Container is applying for a sulfur dioxide permit. I don't know what that is either, but the public notice released today states the company "has applied to the SC DHEC for an air construction permit to establish a plantwide sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission limit at its existing pulp and paper mill."

When I get more information, I'll post it here.

Monday, October 20

Information, Generation, Imagination

The EPA released news last Thursday that tracking power plant emissions is "just a few clicks of a mouse" away. The release explains Power Profiler and EGRID

I did some clicking of my own at their referenced sites: http://www.epa.gov/powerprofiler and http://www.epa.gov/egrid to see what they had to offer.

Power Profiler offers interesting insight into what our area's fuel mix for generating our power. You won't find any 'green' sources; but remember, this data is from 2005 - a little old for such an interactive tool. Also, the information is most specifically based on a national subregion scale. Further, the data only shows the rates for Progress Energy and it's uncertain if that includes Santee Cooper and SCE&G generation plants (if there are any).

It's interesting information, but I feel there should be more specific details available.

Thankfully, EGRID includes 2007 data and is more for the in-depth user who likes to work with spreadsheets. You may download the latest version (17MB) to your hard drive and work on excel files and view summary pdf files. The excel spreadsheets have a nice layout, but have drawbacks in cryptic abbreviated references such as state ID numbers, the 'prime mover type' and 'generator fuel' in the generation file.

Click on the graphic below to view a local selection from the generation table:

It's interesting to see that the Stone Container Florence Mill generates electricity by using a mixture of fuels: coal (23.7%), oil (9.3%), and gas (0.3%) with the majority ascertained from biomass (66.7%). It's also interesting to see that the majority of the plant is owned by CBS Corp. and General Electric.

So, these tools are quite useful if you have some time to dive into it and have some specific generation questions. But, be prepared to use your imagination to find answers.

Thursday, October 9

I knew there was a planner in there...

Finally, I have time to address the poll sitting off to the right for the past month or so.

Okay, so there were only 6 votes: let's look instead at percentages. Even better, let's look at where there's a 100% participation: "I am here to help"

That's the Florentine Spirit!

...the first thing we'll do is present a new Future Land Use Comprehensive Plan to Council. This non-regulatory tool may just pave the way for county-wide zoning.

I liken county-wide zoning to the late 1980's McDLT container: keeping the cool side cool and the hot side hot. It's the same thing (work with me) for land use.

It's crazy to think that lettuce is going to stay cool with this warm chunk of meat so close, so they separated them. Likewise, it's crazy to think residents of a condominium would have fun overlooking an industrial factory.

McDonald's started putting everything together in 1990 because of the amount of waste keeping everything separated. This bring up another idea about our environment. We have some cleaning up to do for our air quality.

So, zoning and air quality are next up! I'm glad you'll help!

Wednesday, October 8

Olanta's Future

The drafted Future Land Use Map for the Town of Olanta was presented last night at the Town Hall meeting.

About 30 people packed into the Town Hall to hear a presentation on what the Future Land Use Plan is, how it looks and what it would allow within the Town of Olanta.

At first, there may have been some confusion that I was there to say that businesses were coming into the Town and here is where they are going... but it's not that easy. Really, the only thing that the Future Land Use plan will do is to say if a particular type of company would come into town, this plan includes potential zoning of where it could locate.

I wish I could have been the bearer of such great news like "a handful of businesses are coming to your town." But for the most part, many of the residents that attended last night said they have opened and closed businesses in Town while others say that Olanta is mostly a Town where people live, not work.

Still other residents who caught up with me afterwards relayed their concern about current commercially designated areas that are kept from opening for one reason or another. It sounds strange to me why owners would not want to rent their property out, but there may be some things I'm missing.

Overall, I was impressed with the group's understanding that the Future Land Use map is a reflection of the current zoning in the Town. Further, they were happy with how their Town is planned. In the whole Comprehensive Plan scheme of things, that has been the general reaction from residents about the plan. Most of the big changes may be in a push to create a county-wide zoning.

Zoning is the regulatory part of land use: what uses can go in specific places. Zoning is crucial in areas of increasing population density and creates a certain amount to predictability for adjacent landowners, municipalities whom would offer services and the State or County whom may need to provide capital improvements such as resurfaced roads or drainage in an area.

Also with county-wide zoning, we could show businesses such as concentrated animal farming operations (chicken, swine and turkey farms) where they could potentially locate. As you may already know, Darlington County is facing this very issue.

Tuesday, October 7

Scranton Sees the Future

...and they like what they see.

That was my impression from last night's Town Supper at the Old Schoolhouse BBQ. I met people who lived in Scranton their whole life, others that just moved into town and others that have moved there from Florence after inheriting a 100-year-old house.

This mix of ages, backgrounds, races and genders came together for a night to see Senator Leatherman offer a $20,000 check for the Town Hall in addition to a fill-your-belly meal from the Old Schoolhouse. I don't know if they knew I was going to be there...

There were three large format maps along with a handful of smaller ones to distribute to the crowd of 150 people. I shared the County's draft of the future land use for Scranton.

Scranton is a great little town. Most of the Future Land use map reflects current uses except for some areas designated as suburban development - these areas could include a variety of uses such as small business and variable residential. These suburban development areas are adjacent to commercial areas, making a sort of 'X' with its center at the middle of town.

See Scranton's Future Land Use map here.

Some of the feedback I received from residents include a desire for a community center where children and retired residents can go and play games and join activities after school and during the day. Other residents want a local grocer to locate in town. Luckily, the Future Land Use as drafted would allow for both of these uses along 52 or Main Street.

My only regret of the evening was not getting to talk with a group of high school students (no doubt attracted by the free food) about what they wanted in Scranton and where they liked to hang out. After all, it's their age group that this plan will really apply to.

Next stop - a high school government class near you.

Friday, October 3

Participate In Future Planning

Future planning requires participation from all levels of society as well as representation from all areas. It takes both to achieve the solutions and goals that satisfy the vast majority of the people.

There was a good article in the American Association Planning magazine this month regarding infrastructure needs. Ohio's Congressman Blumenauer is proposing a bipartisan federal infrastructure commission that would hold hearings in all 50 states. The commission would discuss our national infrastructure and investment needs for the next century and report back to Congress with documentation based on existing research.

"We have crumbling bridges and water systems that are actually in worse shape than the surface transportation system," Blumenuar says. "We have capacity issues for freight movement and for our passenger rail service, and aviation is a nightmare. And the economic model, which has been tenuous at best, doesn't work anymore in an era of $130 a barrel oil."

There is a need for new technologies to reduce harmful greenhouse-gas emissions, new power distribution systems and renewable energy sources. Water and transportation are key componets of the infrastructure plan.

Blumenauer says there may be a national infrastructure summit in the fall before the November elections. Presidential candidates and other congressional leadership would be invited. He seems to think that there is keen interest in this summit. I'm curious as to whom will attend!

Meanwhile, Florence County Planning is on board researching ways to improve air quality in order to meet the attainment requirement. Some of the focus is on hybrid vehicles, diesel conversion, anti-idling, green power, tree preservation, and burn control.

We are also making progress with Future Land Use and the Community Facilities Element which details much of Florence County's infrastructure in regards to water, sewer, and storm water management. We will also be writing Transportation and Priority Investment Elements for the Comprehensive Plan.

Hopefully through hard work and public awareness, we can make a difference. We may not be attending the summit but we will be on the train!

the BIG day!

Today's FLATS Study Team meeting will hopefully result with a recommendation for a consultant to help us with our long-range transportation plan.

It's time for Florence residents to call our streets their own! Join us over the next many months as we put together our future in urban transportation.

Traffic circle at 5-(6-)points, anyone?

Thursday, October 2

October 2nd - A perfect nine!

There are many things to celebrate this October.

What could have been a trick on Florence residents turned into a minor treat. Ozone season has officially ended. What's better news: we continue to meet the EPA air quality standards.

But the air quality challenge continues. We got a break in 2006 with a low (good) ozone reading which is keeping us in attainment. However, that number will be cycled out of the average in 2009 - leaving Florence County in a vulnerable position for meeting the standard.

We need another low ozone year - and Florence County is ready to make it happen.

At the last County Council meeting (Sept. 18th), the Planning Dept. presented the status of the County's air quality along with some options to improve it. ...and I think they liked it. So much, that they are looking forward to being the regional example working to keep our air clean.

Also this month... South Carolina Planning Association will be meeting in Pawley's Island in the middle of the month, FLATS Study team will be meeting this Friday to discuss the long-range plan consultants and two arborist conferences (Charleston and Greenville) will be towards the end of the month. Like I blogged before, October is busy!

Oh yeah, and the commuter continuum score today was a perfect nine! I rode the bike in, what did you decide to commute with?