FLATS: Transportation planning rolls on. Last week, the stakeholder list for public notifications about transportation meetings has been recently updated. Now, when a policy committee meeting or important transportation news surfaces, there is an easy way to get the word out. If you would like to be on our contact list, e-mail our office (contacts at the bottom right).
Also, we will be finishing up the bus stop and route data for PDRTA. Our goal is provide a bus route brochure that is easy to read and understand. This information may also be posted on the PDRTA website in the future.
Comprehensive Plan: The Land Use element of the County's Comp. Plan continues to take shape. As discussed in a previous entry, the Land Use element is one of the most important documents for a growing metropolis. It's hard to think of Florence as a big place, especially when we have such large examples like Columbia and Raleigh nearby; but, Florence is growing fast. With so many people, the natural question is 'how should we grow?' That's where your input into making this plan is so important.
Last week, we met with the City of Johnsonville and the Town of Quinby to discuss edits to the drafted Future Land Use map. This week, we will meet with the Town of Olanta to discuss what they want to see the Town look like in the next 20 years. As a follow-up to this municipal meetings, a public forum will be scheduled so residents in each area may see these long-term plans.
Air Quality: After last week's Action Day alert from the Department of Health and Environmental Control, I thought our precarious ozone position would certainly land us deep into non-attainment - however, we have yet to reach that critical point.
In order to further maintain air quality in the future, a higher value should be given to our tree resources. Over the past months, tree protection has been brought to the forefront as a tool to combat our challenged air quality. Trees have the potential to filter air of noxious gases and dust, sequester (take up) carbon, cool our environment and produce oxygen.
So, while allowing for forestry practices to continue, we will be proposing language to add to the County code that would protect certain species, certain number of trees per acre and other specifics for new, large developments.
This plan will make developing in Florence County more sustainable by keeping our environment cooler, managing stormwater, and reducing soil erosion. At the same time, saving trees reduces the cost of installing and maintaining stormwater systems that direct flood waters from new buildings into our rivers. ...so trees will also help out water quality.
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