A Week of Public Hearings in Florence

A busy week for the informed public...

Tonight:

6:30PM (City County Complex, Room 803) - the Planning Commission meets with an agenda including an amendment to the Administrative Procedures of the Comprehensive Plan. In essence, this document directs how the Comprehensive Plan is utilized and updated. Tonight's update proposes to amend the Procedures so a Comp Plan amendment and a zoning or re-zoning request can go ahead at the same time.

6:30PM (SiMT, Florence-Darlington Tech, 1951 Pisgah Road) - the State's DHEC holds a Q&A and a public hearing about an air quality permit requested by Johnson Controls, who is slated to build a battery recycling plant on Paper Mill Road.

Thursday:

5:00PM (Timmonsville High School) - the SCDOT holds a public hearing about the widening of 76 from I-95 west to Timmonsville. This is the second public hearing and may show an update to the Main Street intersection.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Repaving in Florence

In addition to the Ashby at McIver Road and Pine Needles Road improvements, the following roads are scheduled to be resurfaced:

• Cherokee Road from Us 76 to US 52 (Periodic lane closures are expected during the week.)
• Third Loop Road from Cashua Dr. east to McCown Dr. (Periodic lane closures are expected during the week.)
• US 52 from 0.2 mile north of Green Acres north to SC 51 (Pamplico Hwy). (Periodic lane closures are expected during the week.)

Be careful and especially mindful of workers and truck traffic - most likely, they are our neighbors too.

Affordable Living for Seniors

Florence County continues to focus on affordable housing and addresses this necessity in the Housing and Priority Investment Elements. Recently we had the opportunity to walk through Florence's newest apartment community for low income Seniors.

These apartments are currently under construction but should be completed by the end of September and available for renting effective October 1st. This community offers 38 units to lower income Seniors. To qualify, you must be at least 62 years old with an income limit of $17,150 for one person and $19,600 for two persons. These duplex apartments consist of one bedroom and one bath. They are fully handicap accessible and energy efficient. For more information, please contact the Senior Citizens Association at 843.669.6761.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) provide grants for those whom fit into the low-income property owner category. They also provide funding for eligible mortagors whom wish to provide cooperative housing for those persons with low to moderate income. More information can be found at the following website: www.educationmoney.com/housing.

The realization is that affordable living affects all ages of home owners. Hopefully there will be more opportunities like this in the near future for Florence County residents looking for a place to call home.