Zoning Must Consider Animals

By Scott Harper

Georgetown Times

September 14, 2008

Zoning is coming to Pleasant Hill, Carvers Bay and surrounding communities, there's no question about that.

The type of zoning that will be placed in the many different communities and neighborhoods is the question Georgetown County planners started to answer at a special meeting held at Carvers Bay High School Thursday night.

About 50 people from the area showed up and spent about 30 minutes looking at detailed maps that showed the zoning that is being proposed for each parcel of land in the communities including Knox Swamp, Folly Grove, Rose Hill, Saint Luke, Deep Creek and Pee Dee.

"We are assuming you like it the way it is," County Planning Director Boyd Johnson said of the input he received from residents before the meeting.

That's why the zones that are approved will mirror the way the different areas are currently as much as possible.

"Basically, we are trying to zone it the way it is," Johnson said.

One problem planners have discovered in this area that is different from the other areas that have been -- or are in the process of being -- rezoned are farm animals.

Although the vast majority of the proposed zoning is forest and agriculture, which allows farm animals, there are some scattered areas that are being considered to not allow such animals.

Pleasant Hill resident R.L. Port said any areas where the zoning will not allow farm animals needs to be changed before the plans are approved.

Johnson said if anyone has such animals, they will be grandfather but Port said because so much of that part of the county is farm land, that stipulation needs to be removed completely.

Forest and Agriculture zones allow for one house to be built on one acre of land. There are some small pockets being proposed that will allow more than that.

Johnson explained the zoning is needed to protect the area from developers.

"Without zoning you can put almost anything anywhere. Zoning gives you some protection," he said.

There will be another community input meeting before the plans go to the Planning Commission and County Council for consideration but the date for that meeting has not been set.