Be Transported!

Today's schedule includes a workshop for Planning Commission members to look over and brainstorm about the next Comprehensive Plan element: Transportation.

We all need some sort of mobility to get from home then back again while we conduct our daily lives. Seniors in our community may have radically different needs than a resident traveling to Myrtle Beach for work. The typical 'soccer parent' may have a high number of evening trips while the single person may have classes by day, but might also be a 'night owl'.

Transportation comes in all sizes. We might use feet or fuel, both having their unique needs and which depend on the landscape for space. A 12-foot wide lane may have its advantages to freight haulers on highways, but it could also accommodate both a car and a bicycle if such a lane was in a residential area.

This plan will be focusing on the anticipated transportation condition over the next 30 years. The plan will look at all modes of transportation, the people who will use it while considering future growth. Security, the environment and neighborhoods will also be considered. Improving the quality of life is the main objective.

Aesthetics play a significant role in the quality of life for Florence residents. Already a concern in many public forums is the notion of improving the entrance corridors to our municipalities. Just look at the online comments in response to a recent Morning News opinion piece. The new land use element of the County comprehensive plan has already established this idea as Goal 19.

As with the past plan elements, we NEED your INpUt! Look for a public meeting coming up in the near future and also look at a new website we are compiling to share the document as it is developed.

Tidying up for the Holidays

It's been a long while since I have posted directly, but we have been busy.

As you know from the Facebook and Twitter activity, the Future Land Use portion of the Comprehensive Plan was passed by County Council, November 20th. This new plan shows the value of Florence County agriculture and silviculture (forests) as well as our residential, commercial and industrial areas.

It's amazing the diversity in the County. The document may be viewed on the Planning website. Also, an interactive map can be viewed on the GIS page. Look for "Florence County Maps" at the bottom of the left column.

Next up, we will finish up the comprehensive plan by early next year with the Transportation and Priority Investment elements.

Since the local transportation planning organization (FLATS) is working on a long-range plan for the urban Florence area, the Transportation element will hold until that process is complete in January (look for another public meeting to see some of the results of your comments.)

The Priority Investment part of the Comprehensive Plan has been taking some great strides recently with discussions about affordable housing. Many people may not like the idea of affordable housing in their neighborhood, but I would welcome a project that is planned for Oakland Avenue in mine any day! It all boils down to respect for your neighbors and an open communication to arrive at the best quality of life.

I hope that you have had and choose to comment on future comprehensive plan parts and find it as rewarding as I do.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Portable Signs Work Session

The Florence County Planning Commission will hold a work session to discuss an ordinance for Portable Signs on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. at the Doctors Bruce & Lee Foundation Library located at 509 S. Dargan St., Florence in the Founders Room on the first floor. The public is invited to attend.

Please contact the Florence County Planning Department at (843)676-8600 with questions.

The Priority Investment Element and Affordable Housing

Last week we had our second committee meeting for the Priority Investment Element. The meeting was very informative with great participation focusing on the need of affordable housing in Florence County.

The building of affordable housing requires mixed financing or several funding sources. The definition of affordable housing was said to be the bottom line cost to the end user. Once the state's critereia has been met, most affordable housing is funded by grants, tax credits, capital or section-8 funding.

Affordable housing is also defined as 30% of a household's gross income. With the local median income of $40,717, the monthly cost would be $1,017 or one third of the income. Including taxes of 4% and insurance estimated at $800 annualy, the end result may be a home worth $100,000.

Approximately 18% of Florence residents are below poverty level. The guidelines reflect poverty level income for a single person being $10,830 and $14,570 for a two person household. These numbers reflect a home value of $40,000 - $55,000.

We invision affordable housing as becoming a community within itself by mixing residential with light commercial where the daily needs such as grocery shopping and schools are walkable. However, transit is provided for perhaps jobs or medical appointments that are located further away.

Florence County currently has 814 public housing units with half being occupied by the disabled and elderly. The waiting list matches the number of units in existance.

We hope to expand affordable housing and address the needs and means of how this can be done whether from incentives, parternerships or tax options. Our meetings and ideas will continue as we proceed with the Priority Investment Element and the importance of affordable housing for all ages.

We will keep you updated.

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.