Whirlwind Tour

The Future Land Use has taken the majority of the Planning Services time and we have numbers to prove it!

• 17 meetings with municipal and non-profit adminsitrations
• 10 public meetings throughout the County
• nearly 300 people attended these public meetings (last one's tonight!)
• 60 visits to the Future Land Use website
• 82 unique visitors to the planning blog this month alone
• 129 notes on library maps
• 263 color dots placed
• emails
• phone calls
• personal visits to the office

It has certainly been a fun journey so far. We have learned so much from residents during our traveling road show. Thank you for your participation and dedicated time to learn about long-range plans for your County!

But it's not over yet. Today, the Planning Commission will be in workshop talking about the plan. It may then be scheduled for their Planning Commission Meeting in June (23rd, 6:30PM). That when the public should come on out for one of the last times to speak on the issue... then, if the Commission recommends the document, it goes to County Council in July - but remember, the public hearing would be the second reading - most likely in August - when residents can speak again on the document.

Nightmares to Pleasant Dreams

Five Points... Six Points, just fix it!

This intersection continued to be the joke of the Tuesday night Long Range Transportation Plan public meeting. No solutions yet but this much talked about landmark is definately on the "How To Fix It" list.

We had a great turn out of concerned citizens seeking suggestions to their worst nightmares. It was fascinating to hear the many problem areas and different possibilities of how to better them. We all have the same goals... safety, better traffic flow, side walks, bike lanes, green space and connectivity just to name a few.

Everyone assembled around the maps with drawing tools in hand and began to show one another their areas of concern. Below are a few that were mentioned:

Cashua and Second Loop; Marsh and Edisto; Cherokee and Irby; Palmetto and Edisto; Cherokee and Wisteria; Divert the beach traffic PLEASE; Sidewalks are needed everywhere; Widen McIver Rd to Quinby; Savannah Grove Rd can't handle the growth; Connect Claussen to National Cemetary Rd; Relocate signage; Third Loop is not wide enough and there is no where to go; Paul Jones Rd needs to be four lanes; Keep intersections clean - no trees; No light poles and wires above intersections; Make the land along Jeffries Creek a park or green space.

Then there was this one. Tractor trailers are a problem. Why not put everything back on rail. Isn't that how Florence got started?

This barely scratches the surface of the many conversations around the maps. The Long Range Transportation Plan will take months to prepare and we need your help. Tell us how we can turn your traffic nightmares into pleasant dreams!

Visit our website at www.florenceco.org/planning/flats.htm and download the Long Range Transportation Plan Questionnaire.

The Traffic!

It's coming! Are you ready?

Have you been to parties, meetings, farmer's market, airport or the coffee shop when 'the traffic!' discussion arises?

"Marge, I got stuck in the worst traffic on the way here."

"Oh I know, Brenda" Marge replies, "I can't stand it."

Well, everyone is in luck! The Florence Area Transportation Study is here to jot every quip and thought you may have to improve our transportation system: roads, transit, bikeways, pedestrian facilities - if it takes you from point A to B, we will be discussing it.

And the kickoff meeting is Tuesday, May 12th, 5:30-7:30 at the Drs. Bruce and Lee Library on Dargan Street, Florence. Up until the meeting, I will be posting traffic questions on the blog - so take some time to let us know some basic info.

Be there; do something about 'the traffic!' discussion.

Futuristic Web

It's up and running!

The Future Land Use interactive website.

Miss our public meetings? Now you can test the waters online - find your house, find where you work, find where you hunt or play ball. Then see what the future holds for these lands. Compare the proposed plan with the past plan.

The proposed Future Land Use map is now active online and we are taking comments. Visit the goals section to find specific tasks we will focus on in the future.

Leave a comment. Share a goal. Let us know your reaction to the future of Florence County.

Earth Day - County's frugal plan

Did you walk to work or school today? It is a perfect day for a walk or bicycle ride anywhere around town. Need to go to lunch at the mall? - take the bus. PDRTA has a route that passes through the area (did you know they added yet another route for the southern part of the City of Florence).

All of these questions lead me to wish you a happy Earth Day and give you a perspective on how the County wants to save money by being frugal.

As you know, we are working on the Comprehensive (thinking BIG) Plan. The plan outlines where we are now and where we see ourselves in the next 30 years. I told you it was big. 

The element we are currently working on is the Future Land Use - how and where the County will grow over this long period of time. This is the quintescential plan of plans! I know many people don't know (or don't care?) and haven't read their County's Comprehensive Plan (and ours has pretty pictures, too!), but let me share what is drafted so far in the opening paragraph:

The Future Land Use Element represents a culmination of many elements of the Florence County Comprehensive Plan. Information from the Population, Community Facilities, Economic Development and Natural Resources elements are utilized to create the foundation for directing responsible future growth in the County. The Future Land Use element incorporates the analysis and future strategy of these elements and emphasizes sustainability and prudence as the priority objective for growth. The overarching goal is to create efficiency in utilizing our manufactured and natural infrastructure.

Feel free to send me any feedback.

I recently read some interesting material comparing the effectiveness of frugality and efficiency in a sort of 'chicken or the egg' discussion. Except, this time the benefit is clear to be frugal before being efficient; whereas, the opposite holds little confidence of arriving at both. 

For example, limiting the exent to grow beyond municipal boundaries (frugality) may lead to more efficient housing opportunities within the boundary. A example in the contrary - high density residential zoning allowed anywhere in reference to municiapal services creates sprawl, much like what is found on Alligator Road. This second example, although efficient this example highlights an antithesis to frugality.

All these ideas tie into sustainability and minimizing our ecological footprint. How are you reducing your footprint this Earth Day?

Oh, and one more thing - ozone forcast for today and the past few days have been green! Good Job!

Lynches River Scenic Water Trail

I love to take a boating or kayak trip on Lynches River or any other river for that matter. It's so peaceful and relaxing, it's hard to believe you're actually exercising. Best kind of exercising I can think of!


We all know the Lynches River is an outstanding recreational resource for fishing, hunting, camping and boating, but did you know this? "Lynches River has its headwaters in Union County, North Carolina, and is free flowing for its entire length, which is almost 175 miles, until it meets with the Great Pee Dee River in Southeastern Florence County."

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in the process of preparing a Boating Guide with information designed to assist the public with accessing and traveling the river by boat or kayak to promote appreciation, conservation and protection of the river's resources.


The river section that is the object of this guidebook is the South Carolina-designated Lynches Scenic River which flows roughly 111 miles from U.S. Highway 15 Bridge in Lee County to its confluence with the Great Pee Dee River, another South Carolina State Scenic River.


Some information you will find in the guidebook includes:

• Natural and human history of the river,
• River Conservation,
• River access landings with approximate distances & times between landings via both roadway and water,
• Different types of species,
• Boating regulations,
• Hunting, fishing & camping regulations,
• River etiquette & ethics,
• River safety, and
• Maps and pictures

The dedication for this water trail will be held at one of the landings sometime this summer. The 'waterproof' guidebooks will be given out at the dedication.

I'll keep you posted with the date, time and location.

Hybrid Rebates

Congratulations!

The first hybrid rebate is in the mail and three more are currently being processed. So far, there have been applications for purchases of the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrids. There are several choices out there. What's your preference?

Florence County has started the ball rolling for better air quality by offering $500 rebates for new hybrid car purchases from February 19, 2009 through July 01, 2009 or until the money is exhausted. The budget will accommodate 40 applicants which means 36 remain.

Thinking of buying a new car? Check out this application. You could be riding in a new hybrid, contributing to the betterment of the environment and have $500 coming to you from Florence County. It's all about choices!

Let's see how many hybrids arrive at the Florence After Five celebration May 1st! See the Florence After Five blog for more information.