Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting
October 27, 2011
11:00 a.m.
City Hall
Members Present: Members Absent:
Chairman Rick Buckner Joseph Bagwell
Ron Henderson Councilmember Mark Phillips
Dean Infinger
Ron Anderson
Staff Present: Guest Present:
Jeff Molinari, Assistant City Administrator
Press Present:
Stefan Rogenmoser – Goose Creek Gazette
Greg Hambrick – Goose Creek Patch
I. Call to Order:
Mr. Buckner called the meeting to order at 11:25 a.m. Mr. Buckner requested that everyone review the Agenda and determine if there were any additions, deletions or changes necessary to the Agenda, as printed. There were no comments.
II. Approval of Minutes:
EDAC Meeting – July 27, 2011
Mr. Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Infinger seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
III. Land Use Buffer Ordinance:
Mr. Molinari stated approximately a year and a half ago the Planning Commission began looking at buffering incompatible uses, primarily residential with commercial, and had been working on a land use buffer ordinance that would provide for those protections. He stated in the past year, the City’s Planning Director has presented some drafts of that ordinance to the EDAC and the EDAC, along the way, has voiced some concerns. He stated the final version of the buffer ordinance actually passed through the Planning Commission on Tuesday, October 3rd, and that the proposed ordinance was presently before the EDAC. He stated Mr. Buckner had the opportunity to attend at least one (1) of those public hearings to give input and the perspective of the business community, as well as, the EDAC.
Mr. Molinari stated he wished to review the proposed ordinance with the EDAC and break it down to some bullet points where the EDAC has had some specific areas of concern; and, wherein they can take those bullet points and work with the Planning Commission to come to some agreement, consensus and compromise. Mr. Buckner briefed the EDAC in regard to his meeting with the Planning Commission concerning the proposed buffer ordinance and the burden it would place on the business owner. Mr. Buckner stated he did not feel that businesses would be able to comply with the proposed ordinance. Mr. Infinger stated he agreed with what Mr. Buckner was stating. Mr. Anderson stated his concern would be how many businesses “today” would be non-compliant. He stated if you were to go down Red Bank Road and Highway 176, there would be a lot of businesses and they would never be able to comply. After some discussion amongst the EDAC about their concerns for the proposed buffer ordinance, Mr. Molinari stated the Planning staff had conducted some research and used the Town of Mt. Pleasant and the Town of Hilton Head Island to study; and, he believed that was where a lot of the thoughts came from that went into the proposed ordinance. Mr. Anderson inquired if there were any people who owned or operated a business that sat on the Planning Commission. Mr. Molinari stated not to the best of his knowledge.
Mr. Buckner stated he was not sure what would become of this document and he was not sure of where to go to change things, but he was aware there were members of City Council that were not happy with how it read. He stated he believed if something was going to affect the business community then it should absolutely become a requirement that it go before the EDAC before it goes anywhere. Mr. Henderson stated he knew there was an existing plan already in place, as seen through new businesses that have been built and/or ones that have been renovated. Mr. Molinari stated the City was looking for an ordinance that would make developers comply with a more stringent buffer that would provide protection for the existing homeowners, as well as, the business. Mr. Molinari and the EDAC continued to discuss the proposed ordinance and other options that may exist.
Mr. Molinari stated he would like to take the general themes outlined by Mr. Buckner and the EDAC and put everything together and get it back to them. He stated one (1) of the things discussed was to have a joint meeting between the Planning Commission and the EDAC. Mr. Buckner stated if they stayed within the guidelines, of what Mr. Molinari described, with new businesses and new development, he did not believe the EDAC would have a lot of problems with anything that was reasonable; but, when they jump out of that parameter and they get into it affecting the old businesses with a five (5) year plan or fifty percent (50%), then you are basically running their property values into the dirt and running them out of business because businesses can not exist there as it is. He stated if the Planning Commission kept to their purview, the EDAC may not be having as much discussion about the subject matter. Mr. Henderson stated he was all for enhancing the image of Goose Creek and the right-of-ways and everything that has been done thus far; but, we are never going to be a Hilton Head Island and the City needs to continue to bring in businesses. Mr. Buckner stated the City should be enhancing, attracting and retaining businesses, not running them off. Mr. Molinari stated he would take the points made by the EDAC and put them together, bring them back to the EDAC and see if they could get a meeting scheduled with the Planning Commission to work out some of the issues.
IV. Downtown Redevelopment:
Central Avenue - Mr. Molinari stated the project on Central Avenue was finally coming to a close. He stated the final walk through with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) was conducted yesterday and there were just a few minor issues, but that the project should be completely wrapped up within the next few weeks.
Thomason Boulevard - Mr. Molinari stated Thomason Boulevard was substantially complete. He stated the decorative light poles were being installed that week.
Brandywine Boulevard – Mr. Molinari stated Brandywine Boulevard was moving along and they were currently in the design phase trying to reconcile some utility conflicts; but they were moving forward on that project, as well as, securing necessary easements for columns and additional drainage structures.
Highway 52 – Mr. Molinari stated the landscaping on Goose Creek Boulevard (Highway 52) was coming along and the trees were planted a few weeks ago. He stated the contractor still needed to put in some landscaping between the sections of the fencing, as well as, some additional landscaping around the fencing. Mr. Anderson stated the employees at FNB thought very highly of the workers on Thomason Boulevard and that they were very accommodating and made sure that there was very little disruption to the employees of FNB. He stated they did a wonderful job. Mr. Molinari stated he appreciated his comments because that was one of the City’s biggest concerns going into the redevelopment of the downtown area in that there would be significant disruptions to businesses and that businesses would not know what was going on. He stated from everything he has heard from local businesses, they were given proper notification and the businesses were able to move forward.
V. Chairman’s Time:
No comments.
VI. Comments from Staff:
Mr. Molinari stated the EDAC currently had a vacancy and if they had anyone in mind to please let him know. He stated he felt having Mr. Dave Warner (AAI) from the Crowfield Corporate Center was good to get their perspective and it was good representation for that area. He stated he would have to fill the vacancy sometime the beginning of 2012. Mr. Molinari stated the City’s recent golf tournament was a resounding success and there was great turnout and participation from the City’s business community and its citizens. He stated he believed this would become an annual event.
VII. Adjournment:
Hearing nothing further, Mr. Anderson made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Infinger seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Meeting adjourned 12:04 p.m.
Minutes approved and adopted:
_________________________ Date: February 2, 2012
Rick Buckner, Chairman
