FEBRUARY 16, 2010 MINUTES
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF GOOSE CREEK MUNICIPAL CENTER
519 NORTH GOOSE CREEK BLVD. GOOSE CREEK SC

I. Attendance:

Committee Members Present: Joel Arenson, Rick Buckner, Paul Connerty, Jerry Glass, Nancy Hellstrom, Gayla McSwain, Doug Quinn, Jeffrey Smith, Tom Volkmar, Allen Wall
Committee Members Absent: Jerry Tekac, Barry Washington
BCD COG Staff Present: Jessica Gillis, Jeff Burns
City Staff Present: Daniel Ben-Yisrael and Sarah Hanson

Mr. Wall called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.

II. Review of Minutes from January 5, 2010

Motion: Mr. Arenson made a motion to accept the minutes as written. Mr. Quinn seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All in favor; none opposed.

III. Committee Discussion - Transportation

Ms. Gillis introduced Jeff Burns of the Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments (BCD COG). Mr. Burns works with the COG as a planner and as one of their transportation consultants. Mr. Burns explained that the COG is a partner with DOT in rural transportation planning, and for the urbanized area there is a federal mandate, which is the Metropolitan Planning Organization. There are twelve municipalities included in the organization, and it is called CHATS (Charleston Area Transportation Study). CHATS sets policy and prioritizes transportation projects. He explained the planning area for CHATS and that the planning area is based on the 2000 Census plus what is anticipated for twenty years of growth. The boundary will be adjusted following the 2010 Census.

In relating transportation to the Comprehensive Plan, Mr. Burns suggested it was at the heart of the community's viability. He noted the ongoing issue which is happening in all communities with new roads being created for new land uses, then increased traffic congestion results, and eventually there is a need for additional road improvements. Many times transportation helps define the community's quality of life.

He summarized the various types of roads and facilities (bicycle and pedestrian) and explained the different uses and characteristics for each. Transportation planning has typically been aimed more at looking at supply than demand, though now there is the trend toward studying the number of people needing facilities and planning accordingly.

There was brief discussion about freight transportation and the various methods of moving freight.

Mr. Burns summarized the public transportation available in the area.

He suggested the idea is to inventory the transportation facilities available and then set goals for the City, establish strategies to achieve the goals, and then integrate this into the various elements of the Plan. Anticipated growth and the desired service level will determine the goals. The trend toward an aging community suggests a change in transportation planning. Run off and water quality is a concern as well. Density of land use projects and site and network design for land use will dictate transportation needs and design.

There was brief discussion about how other communities begin planning for rail transportation for future needs, and Mr. Burns explained that this area is now at the point where this is an issue. He suggested this begins with land use decisions and the long range transportation plan. What will the population growth be; what will the needs be? The COG is currently beginning work on future options. The basis for this work will be the long range plans being created as a part of the various Comprehensive Plans for the area.

Mr. Volkmar asked if the statistics and data were available to the Committee that detailed the existing conditions for the City, and Mr. Burns stated that would be provided.

Mr. Wall asked about a discussion at a prior long range transportation meeting about a rail system being created and asked if that would be a public project. Mr. Burns stated that it would be a CHATS endeavor. CHATS is presently doing a feasibility study for a commuter rail system, using the existing rail lines. Commuter rail is a peak hour service with few stops and higher speed, probably a longer distance. Two plans will most likely be studied, possibly Monck's Corner to the Peninsula, but first Summerville to the Peninsula. There was brief discussion about the politics involved in making this happen and the fact that CHATS is the board which would steer the project forward. CHATS looks at the area as a region, not by individual area or county, and has control over the federal funding. There was discussion about the process involved in qualifying for the funding needed for such a project. There was discussion about CARTA and how it is separate and very different from CHATS. Ms. Gillis related that communities who have been successful at this have included this in their long range Plan and have stayed true to it in their planning and implementation of their Plan.

Mr. Buckner asked what impact the penny sales tax vote had on Goose Creek and Berkeley County's needs, and it was explained that was separate from CHATS funding.

There was brief discussion concerning the transportation needs resulting from Boeing's relocation to the area and some of the issues being discussed because of it.

Mr. Burris listed some of the projects currently being funded in the area.

He showed possible design, land use ideas, and development patterns which could improve congestion and access needs. Going back to traditional designs with interconnectivity and community transportation networks (streets, sidewalks) can usually improve access and congestion. He suggested that land use planning and site planning make a huge impact on transportation. Road design standards also can impact the transportation aspect - use of medians, driveway limitations, setbacks, design elements, building orientation. He suggested that the components of road design and location greatly impact the character of a community. Ms. Gillis stated that the Plan needs to include what they want the streets to look like so that when DOT comes forward with their plans, the City knows how they want them designed. Mr. Burris explained complete streets in that all uses are accommodated with the space - cars, bicycles, pedestrians, freight.

Ms. Gillis suggested that these ideas are what need to be considered and then implemented into the Comprehensive Plan.

Mr. Wall asked if the CSX railway is sufficient to use as a rail station for commuter rail. Mr. Ben-Yisrael suggested the Lumber Lane area would be the place best used for that.

 

IV. Adjournment

Mr. Quinn made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Glass seconded. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at or about 7:01 p.m.