Do you have the Five Points traffic blues? I saw this parked on the library lawn today. No doubt someone's idea of alternative transportation. I had the privelage of riding in these regularly with a previous job - they are fun!
Showing posts with label welcome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label welcome. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 13
Monday, March 1
New FLATSPress available
The Florence Area Transportation Study has released the February 2010 newsletter.
This issue includes articles about air quality, the 2035 transportation plan, enhancement grants and the comprehensive plan.
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| From Newletters |
This issue includes articles about air quality, the 2035 transportation plan, enhancement grants and the comprehensive plan.
Please send us your feedback and offer new topics for us to address in the next issue.
Monday, December 22
Trails Documents
As I promised in my November blog, our Florence Trails Committee Mission Statement and By-Laws are posted for you. Check them out on our website.
I haven't heard from any of you about joining our group. It's an open invitation.
Our next meeting will be in February, so give me a shout.
I plan to have the Florence Trails Map and Master Bikeway Plan online for you sometime in January. I'll let you know.
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!
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!
Monday, September 22
Planning This Week | September 22, 2008
FLATS - Transportation issues are taking center stage this week. The Florence Area Transportation Study (FLATS, yes, I know you already know that acronym) will be finalizing our recommendation for a contractor to help with the long-range transportation plan and transportation element of the County's comprehensive plan. Three submittals have been reviewed and the final tallies will be completed today.
The next stops: Study Team (a technical group) meeting next month to get the okay to recommend a contractor to the Policy Committee (decision-making body) - also to be scheduled for next month.
October will be busy for transportation planners!
Comprehensive Plan - We are heading to Scranton this Wednesday to discuss our drafted future land use plan with the Town's administration. We should also be able to get a public hearing date to show the plan off to the public.
The Community Facilities element continues to take shape and should be ready as a workshop for the Planning Commission (yes, you guessed it!) next month!
October may be busy for long-range planners!
Air Quality - So many things happening on this front... unfortunately, two meetings have already occurred: The Water and Energy Stakeholder's meeting at Francis Marion University held last Tuesday night and the County Council meeting last Thursday where County Planning presented the status of our air quality.
The Water and Energy meeting was fantastic. The goal was to act as a public forum for a State Senate subcommittee whom are seeking comments about water and energy programs... and they got a lot of comments!
The County Council presentation resulted in the Council requesting a list of potential programs that will be result in cleaner air. So far, this year, we are in attainment - but the next two years will be tough! Send me your ideas to be incorporated into the list to the County Council.
October busy for air quality planners? - oh yeah!
The next stops: Study Team (a technical group) meeting next month to get the okay to recommend a contractor to the Policy Committee (decision-making body) - also to be scheduled for next month.
October will be busy for transportation planners!
Comprehensive Plan - We are heading to Scranton this Wednesday to discuss our drafted future land use plan with the Town's administration. We should also be able to get a public hearing date to show the plan off to the public.
The Community Facilities element continues to take shape and should be ready as a workshop for the Planning Commission (yes, you guessed it!) next month!
October may be busy for long-range planners!
Air Quality - So many things happening on this front... unfortunately, two meetings have already occurred: The Water and Energy Stakeholder's meeting at Francis Marion University held last Tuesday night and the County Council meeting last Thursday where County Planning presented the status of our air quality.
The Water and Energy meeting was fantastic. The goal was to act as a public forum for a State Senate subcommittee whom are seeking comments about water and energy programs... and they got a lot of comments!
The County Council presentation resulted in the Council requesting a list of potential programs that will be result in cleaner air. So far, this year, we are in attainment - but the next two years will be tough! Send me your ideas to be incorporated into the list to the County Council.
October busy for air quality planners? - oh yeah!
Tuesday, September 9
Commuter Continuum
Welcome to the Commuter Continuum!
What kind of Commute Day is it? Is it a perfect ten? ...or are we stuck in the car?
If we were in an ideal world - we would love our job (as I do!), we would have every transportation option available, we would have the perfect weather everyday (72 degrees, 30% humidity, light breeze from the north, partly cloudy) and we would be able to walk to work in five minutes.
This brings me to thinking about a continuum that would score a particular day with a particular commuting tool or mode. I would rate the above scenario as a perfect ten. However, we don't all live in a ideal world.
Some of us commute to school, others work in Darlington. Some have kids to drop off and errands to run during the day. Still others are retired and only go out to get the paper - but go out later to pick up a few things. It's a mixed-up set of circumstances, but this continuum can still work for you.
For me, rain (and illness) is the only factor keeping me in a car for the commute since my distance to work is walkable and bike-able. Likewise, some factors won't spoil the entire score. Today was definitely 100% humidity (the photo above shows the fog!), but I still rode the bike in.
Of course, this continuum may work also for all sorts of travels: small list grocery shopping, visiting neighbors, dropping mail, visiting the gym, going to the library - the list is endless depending on where you live.
A fun exercise is to draw a half-mile line from your house (Google Earth!) to see what is within walking distance, about three to five miles would be biking distance.
Now, if we can just get more sidewalks and bicycle lanes!
So, what's your score and mode? For me, today is a 7 on a bike!
What kind of Commute Day is it? Is it a perfect ten? ...or are we stuck in the car?
If we were in an ideal world - we would love our job (as I do!), we would have every transportation option available, we would have the perfect weather everyday (72 degrees, 30% humidity, light breeze from the north, partly cloudy) and we would be able to walk to work in five minutes.This brings me to thinking about a continuum that would score a particular day with a particular commuting tool or mode. I would rate the above scenario as a perfect ten. However, we don't all live in a ideal world.
Some of us commute to school, others work in Darlington. Some have kids to drop off and errands to run during the day. Still others are retired and only go out to get the paper - but go out later to pick up a few things. It's a mixed-up set of circumstances, but this continuum can still work for you.
- First, take stock in the types of transportation, or modes, you own (or will own in the near future). For me, it's feet (distance to work allows it), a three year old mountain bike and a five-ear old car. You may also have a skateboard, scooter or motorcycle or a nearby bus stop at your disposal. [Please don't use a riding lawnmower! -see a recent post]
- Next, line up your modes on a scale from one to ten, with ten being 'perfect'. Now the meaning of perfect to me is arriving to work under my own power and little or no time constraint: walking is ideal. If I am in a hurry, then a bicycle. As a last resort, or when my score for the day is low, then the car is the option. Unfortunately, a bus stop is not near my house.
- Now, let's add all the mode specific elements that would lean to one side of the spectrum or the other. I am considering time, how long is the commute (Google it), traffic, temperature, humidity, rain in forecast, available shower (my office has one, but do you work close to a gym?), errands to run at lunch?
It's personal - in essence, I want to get to work without using petroleum. It saves on insurance and at the pump... plus I like Florence BBQ, but I want to keep my weight in check!
So my continuum, so far, looks like this:
Now my continuum looks like this:
For me, rain (and illness) is the only factor keeping me in a car for the commute since my distance to work is walkable and bike-able. Likewise, some factors won't spoil the entire score. Today was definitely 100% humidity (the photo above shows the fog!), but I still rode the bike in.Of course, this continuum may work also for all sorts of travels: small list grocery shopping, visiting neighbors, dropping mail, visiting the gym, going to the library - the list is endless depending on where you live.
A fun exercise is to draw a half-mile line from your house (Google Earth!) to see what is within walking distance, about three to five miles would be biking distance.
Now, if we can just get more sidewalks and bicycle lanes!
So, what's your score and mode? For me, today is a 7 on a bike!
Friday, May 23
Welcome to Florence County
Live, work, play or travel through Florence County, South Carolina?
I have decided to initiate a blog to highlight the many aspects of the Florence County Planning Department in an open forum.
My goal is to increase the public awareness of the County's planning process and avail multiple opportunities for public input. Please feel free to ask questions, report observations, 'tell us how to do it better', request documentation, volunteer your time, and help increase the quality of life for Florence County.
I have decided to initiate a blog to highlight the many aspects of the Florence County Planning Department in an open forum.
My goal is to increase the public awareness of the County's planning process and avail multiple opportunities for public input. Please feel free to ask questions, report observations, 'tell us how to do it better', request documentation, volunteer your time, and help increase the quality of life for Florence County.
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