COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
MARCH 16, 2010 MINUTES
POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING ROOM
519 NORTH GOOSE CREEK BLVD. GOOSE CREEK SC

I. Attendance:

Committee Members Present: Joel Arenson, Paul Connerty, Jerry Glass, Gayla McSwain, Doug Quinn, Jeffrey Smith, Tom Volkmar, Allen Wall, Barry Washington
Committee Members Absent: Rick Buckner, Nancy Hellstrom, Jerry Tekac
BCD COG Staff Present: Jessica Gillis
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 February 16, 2010

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

III. Committee Discussion - Draft Elements

Ms. Gillis referred to the packet of information which she had sent to the members. She asked that the members review the drafts and be prepared to discuss the drafts further at the April meeting.

IV. Committee Discussion - Developing Goals and Strategies

Ms. Gillis explained that the focus for the discussion was to develop goals for the population element. There was discussion about the fact that some of the information is from the 2000 Census. Ms. Gillis responded that statistics from the 2008 American Community Survey were also used. There was discussion about the fact that race is used in the demographics vs. ethnicity. The focus must be on the issues resulting from the population trends. There was brief discussion about the 2010 Census surveying all residents so as to know what services need to be provided for the population and so the funding is provided for the population in place.

The Committee is tasked with creating goals for planning for the future population. Mr. Arenson asked about growth being driven by developers' goals and construction plans rather than the City having a vision for and controlling the growth. Mr. Ben-Yisrael discussed directing population diversity, growth, density, etc. by developing a vision, and then putting zoning in place to encourage that vision. By establishing a land use plan, the City can guide development. He mentioned Cobblestone Village and Carnes Crossroads as examples of where the City Council worked with developers in creating a vision and corresponding land use plan.

There was a discussion as to the differences between goals, objectives, and strategies and how they are interrelated. Using the goals, objectives, and strategies created in the 1999 Comprehensive Plan as a guide, the Committee brainstormed to come up with a goal they felt provided the best vision for the population element of the Plan. The language that was finalized for the population goal states "The City of Goose Creek shall promote planned population growth such that the balance between growth, the environment, and the preservation of small town character is maintained."

There was discussion about preserving the small town character of the City, what that actually means, and how that relates to the population element. Mr. Ben-Yisrael suggested that this could really mean creating a sense of community. Because of the many community survey responses concerning maintaining the City's "small town character", Ms. Gillis suggested that the wording actually reflect that.

Ms. Gillis suggested that at the next meeting there will be discussion concerning the objectives and strategies for obtaining the goal and invited the members to provide suggestions and ideas and forward these to her.

Ms. Gillis referred the committee to the survey responses from the residents as detailed in their packet of information.

V. Adjournment

Mr. Smith made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Connerty seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned at or about 7:04 p.m.