Sumter County Council passed first reading of an amendment to update its Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance Tuesday evening during its regular meeting, while also addressing several other issues.
Before the meeting, council members held a special meeting to receive information on the annual $2.5 million capital bond and to get an update about recusal procedures and statutes from County Attorney Johnathan Bryan.
City-County Floodplain Coordinator and Zoning Administrator Helen Roodman spoke to Council during the regular meeting about an ordinance amendment to adopt the Wateree Watershed Maps and Flood Insurance Study Revisions that will become effective Sept. 28, 2018. She also spoke about the need to update the ordinance and make corrections and classifications in the 2017 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Community Assistance Visit (CAV) and the Community Rating System (CRS) Cycle Visit.
Sumter County participates in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) CRS to afford citizens a discount on flood insurance premiums, she said, and we were recently designated as a ‘Class 7 community status,’ which translates to $106 worth of savings per special flood hazard area for each insurance policy holder.
As part of the CRS, we are required to periodically update and adopt flood damage and prevention ordinances to remain compliant with FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, she said.
Our current ordinance was adopted in 2013, and in effect consolidated all our flood damage prevention regulations into a singular ordinance. The current update addresses issues raised in a 2017 audit, she said.
Only the Wateree Watershed portion of the county’s flood maps are affected, she said, and won’t change the rest of the county. A new section will be added to review all permit applications to determine whether proposed building sites are reasonably safe from flooding, she said.
“We effectively already do that as a community,” she said, but the specific language was lacking from the ordinance.
A new section will address standards for streams that have established base flood elevations but don’t have floodways, she said. Clearer language related to flood proofing buildings will also be added, as commercial properties can be floodproofed, she said, meaning the building doesn’t have to be elevated, but engineered solutions can be employed to protect the structure.
Planning Commission recommends approval, she said. Council Vice Chairman Jimmy Byrd asked about floodproofing and whether it’s a requirement based upon the recent audit.
Roodman said the Planning Department has always met the standard, but clearer language was needed for commercial structures only. Byrd asked about residential structures and Roodman said you can’t floodproof a structure people live in.
“So in residential you’d have to be two feet above,” he asked, and she agreed.
Councilman Charles Edens asked how it affected existing commercial structures and she said it doesn’t, but will apply to new construction. The Wateree map updates only relate to the western part of the county, she said, but the language change updates in the ordinance affect the entire county.
First reading passed unanimously.
350 MYRTLE BEACH HIGHWAY
Council members heard again from Roodman regarding third reading of a request to amend a planned development ordinance to allow the addition of used motor vehicle parts as a permitted use on a 9.5 acre portion of property at 350 Myrtle Beach Highway, which is Carolina Truck & Trailer Parts.
Councilman Eugene Baten recused himself from the matter and exited council chambers.
Roodman said the request would bring the business into compliance with zoning standards and make plans for the future. Based upon requests from council members during second reading at the last council meeting, Roodman said the proposed changes would include no permanent buildings or structures on the 9.5 acres, the buffer width would change from 50 feet to 100 feet, and future clearing would require site plan approval, a land disturbance permit and a wetlands delineation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“All of the development of the land disturbance and other activities do have to adhere to the Sumter County Zoning and Development Standards Ordinance,” she said, and a clause was added about accessing the property with 72 hours of written notice for county officials.
The applicant was agreeable with the conditions, she said, and based upon those conditions, Planning Commission recommended approval.
Edens asked about whether the 9.5 acres was surveyed so the applicant would adhere to the stipulations. Roodman said the plot was surveyed and recorded. Councilman Artie Baker asked about the zoning as he’d spoken with City-County Planning Director George McGregor about the property being rezoned from Light Industrial to Heavy Industrial.
Roodman said an ordinance amendment addressing the zoning would be before Planning Commission next week and would come before County Council in September.
Third reading passed unanimously.
TRANSFERS IN TITLE ONLY AND A LOAN
County Attorney Johnathan Bryan spoke to council members about first reading for five ordinances to transfer sections of roads, in title only, to adjoining property owners: Ohana Circle; Forest Drive Cul-de-Sac; part of Winston Road; part of Earle Street; and Alpenglow Court.
Bryan next spoke about an ordinance to approve an Intergovernmental Loan Agreement with the S.C. Public Service Authority to be secured by a mortgage on 20 acres of property at the corner of Jefferson Road and North Wise Drive. The terms of the loan with Santee-Cooper would be $1 million interest free for three years, he said, and would fund the construction of a Spec Building.
Second reading passed unanimously.
UPDATES FROM COUNCIL AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Councilman Artie Baker gave an update on the Public Works Committee meeting held prior to council’s regular meeting and said the Second Mill project is slated to see construction completed by mid-September. No action was taken during the committee meeting, he said.
Chairman McCain gave an update about the special meeting, noting that Bryan briefed council members on recusal procedures. During an executive session about a personnel matter no action was taken, McCain said.
Councilwoman Vivian Fleming-McGhaney gave an update on the recent S.C. Association of Counties conference, which provided a sneak peak of the upcoming Legislative session, discussion about the Local Government Fund and a briefing on recusal matters.
At a recent Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments meeting, former Council Chairman James Campbell retired from the board ,she said, capping many years of public service.
Baten said at the same conference a report from the National Association of Counties’ president focused on disaster relief funding and how it is likely unsustainable.
Baker also noted a recent lunch with U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, District 5, and others focused on Shaw Air Force Base and protecting its mission.
Sumter County Administrator Gary Mixon gave a more in-depth brief about the Second Mill project, noting that the proposed Sept. 15 construction deadline doesn’t take into account weather issues, which can cause delays. He also said some FEMA assessments have been completed, while others have not. And before the water is raised to full level, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control will have to approve all the work on the dam, which was damaged by an ice storm in 2014, massive flood in 2015 and a hurricane in 2016.
After every weather event, FEMA updates the rules, he said, which is another issue to consider.
During the public comment section, Willa Pembleton asked about meetings and public notices and how community members can be apprised of upcoming public meetings. She also asked about zoning ordinances.
Dr. Alex Baten, daughter of Councilman Baten, asked about representation for a district if her father recuses himself from a matter.
The meeting adjourned a few minutes before 7 p.m.
NOTE: All agendas, public hearing notices and special meeting agendas are published in advance here: http://cms7.revize.com/revize/sumtersc/our_council/council_documents/agenda_s_minutes.php