Another Piece to the Puzzle

County Planning met (braving the slushy roads) yesterday with Economic Development Partnership for a productive discussion about the Future Land Use element of the Comprehensive Plan. It's great to be a part of these instances when knowing information up front can ward off many future conflicting plans.

Economic Development is located in the Southeast Institute of Manufacturing Technology on the Florence Darlington Technical College campus (pictured to the left). Beyond the fabulous campus, this team includes hard-working employees dedicated to keep the Pee Dee region an attractive destination for relocating businesses. And it works! ...QVC ...Heinz ...Monster.com

This team, headed up by Joe King, includes those whom I have met so far, Jessica Griggs, Kyle Edney and Thelma Carney-Kennedy. In addition to the Future Land Use element, this group has been instrumental in reviewing our Economic element as well as sit in on a conversation with DHEC regarding our air quality. Feel free to visit their website!

So, what happened in the meeting?

You'll just have to wait to see the Future Land Use element!

Okay, I can give you sneak peak: we learned that industrial businesses like to be close to rail or no more than 10 miles from an interstate. We learned about sites that this team is actively marketing for industrial development such as property west of Roche Carolina and south toward Smurfitt-Stone, areas south of Honda on I-95, and areas around 327, especially near its interchange with I-95.

Another topic that was discussed was a plan for biofuel refineries and its product transport. More props to the benefit of locating adjacent to a rail line.

Still more discussion was focused on a 'freight community' or 'freight village' - a place where freight exchanges modes. For example, a train off-loads goods to a long-haul truck and where long-haul truck transfers goods to smaller light trucks, etc. Where would such a place be located? One potential is where we have these modes close together - such as where the airport, Hwy 76, Hwy 327 and the rail line come together.

These are the visions! Yes, they are general and only a vision; but it's better to be prepared for the area's potential future than see a mixture of uses that should have been further separated [I would not live adjacent to an industrial park!]

Industry affects surrounding land uses, traffic and the ability for governments to provide services such as water, sewer, as well as fire and police protection. It's a hope that this plan will be able to place industry in the right place - buffered from residential and natural resources like our waterways.