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Sunday, December 4, 2022

Are Property Owners on Hwy 11 Getting Ramrodded by Pickens County Council?




As of today, Sunday, December 4, 2022 the county website has not updated the link to show landowners and concerned citizens what the council will actually be voting on tomorrow night. This is NOT TRANSPARENCY. 

Property owners and citizens deserve better transparency on this important property issue. 

Please contact Chairman Chris Bowers and demand to know what EXACTLY they will be voting on. How can we speak up at public forum if we don't know? 

The definition of ramrod is... forcing a proposed measure to be accepted or completed quickly.

They have had two readings of this ordinance and are very different each time.

There is confusion among owners of property and other citizens as to WHAT EXACTLY the ordinance will say.

This final draft should have been online for at least 7 days to give the citizens time to digest it in its entirety.

Here is Chairman Bowers contact info:  @ (864) 293-0700) cbowers@co.pickens.sc.us


This is all we know about the ordinance at the moment below:

The next Pickens County Council meeting is Monday December 5th at 6:30PM.

Hello All,


There WILL be public input at this meeting so if you wish to speak, please contact Megan Nations to get on the list or sign up at the door when you enter the meeting. 

Clerk to Council - Meagan Nations

Telephone: (864) 898-5856

Email: meaganb@co.pickens.sc.us


This will be the:

"THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND LIMITATIONS ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 11 SCENIC BYWAY AND MATTERS RELATED THERETO"


This latest version of the Ordinance is not available to the public yet. The Ordinance should be the same as the third draft with the changes requested at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Nov 21st. 


Here is a link to the third draft:


https://kepoco.com/GOP/documents/Draft3.pdf


Here were the changes motioned at the Nov 21st meeting:


The major points that were modified as I understand the motion:


The Natural Heritage Area is now a corridor 1,000 feet north and south of Highway 11 but also includes the parcels known as “view shed” areas visible to the north from highway 11, even though they may be farther north than 1,000 feet. 


The Heritage area no longer extends to the state line. I am trying to get a copy of the map showing the view-shed areas.


Reduces the 250 foot “no-build” area on each side of the centerline of highway 11 down to 150 feet on each side. There is still a 500 foot exempt area on both sides of major intersecting roads. 


The no-build area will be determined by this buffer or the DOT and utility right-of-way setback, whichever is greater.


Prohibits heavy industrial/manufacturing in the Corridor and view-shed. Everything else is possible, including light industrial/manufacturing.


Commercial and light industrial located in the corridor or view-shed must meet design restrictions, as pre-approved by the county.


No clearcutting in the corridor or view-shed.


Still no restrictions on single family homes or lot sizes, except those controls already existing in county building codes and ordinances.


Still establishes a land bank to hold funds that can be used to purchase land for preservation.


Variances and grandfathering would still be granted as needed.


Here is the Agenda for this meeting. https://cms5.revize.com/revize/pickenscountysc/document_center/Agendas%20&%20Minutes/County%20Council/2022/12.05.22%20Council%20Meeting%20Agenda-Final.pdf


If they post the packet information for this meeting with the final Ordinance contents, it will be on the County Website HERE.  


https://www.co.pickens.sc.us/government/county_council/agendas___minutes/index.php


They have not posted it yet and likely will not until Monday afternoon based on past performance.


Here is the meeting information:

Monday December 5th, 6:30PM

Auditorium, County Administration Facility

222 McDaniel Avenue

Pickens, SC 29671


Best Regards,

Kevin Keller

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