Council Suspends New Subdivisions for 90 Days

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County Council approved a proposal to direct the Anderson County Planning Department to put in place a 90 suspension on the acceptance and processing of applications for residential developments proposed as conservation developments until completion of the CodeWright Planners review of Chapters 24 and 48 of the county’s Code of Ordinances, and the recommendations are adopted by County Council.

“This will allow us some time to work on ordinances we have on conservation developments,” said Anderson County Councilman Jimmy Davis, who proposed the resolution. “The one we have currently needs some additions and improvements.”

Davis said he already had some ideas on such improvements and is expecting the consultant hired by the county to revamp development regulations to come up with even more improvements.

Conservation subdivisions allow more dense development of housing as long as extended green space, trails and other amenities are added. Councilman Chris Sullivan said there has been some discussion that not all developers are following through on such additional requirements.

“We want to make really, really sure, that if amenities are in the plan for the planning commission, that those things are built,” said Davis, who requested a council workshop to hammer out the resolution.

“This is a good idea. We have some holes in the current requirements,” said Council Chairman Tommy Dunn, who suggested the suspension of activity be limited to 90 days.

Council also tabled the final vote of a measure which would require members of the Planning Commission to step down if they have an interest in property on which a fee in lieu of tax agreement and/or a special source revenue agreement is proposed. Council members cited the current policy of commission members recusing themselves as potentially adequate and lamented how difficult it already is to find people willing to serve on that board.

“That board has become so political, potential members say it can hurt their business if they join the planning commission,” said Sullivan, saying it took him two and a half months to find someone willing to serve. “It’s very hard to replace these board members.I feel like a recusal is enough.”