Following its next regularly scheduled meeting Monday, June 6, the Richland County Planning Commission will hold a work session to continue discussing recently restarted efforts related to mapping and text for the County’s 2021 Land Development Code (LDC).
The regular meeting starts at 3 p.m. June 6, and the work session will begin immediately after that meeting concludes, estimated at about 4:30 p.m.
At the start of the 3 p.m. meeting, residents can offer comments and provide feedback on the ongoing process related to the LDC zoning map and text. Public input is not allowed during the work session, but residents may observe the session in person or watch online. During this session, County staff will summarize the materials and topics discussed at the previous work session May 18 for residents who could not attend or who are new to the process.
The meeting and work session are open to all and will be in Richland County Council Chambers at the County Administration Building, 2020 Hampton St., Columbia, and streamed online via the County’s Youtube page: www.youtube.com/user/richlandonline/videos. Residents can also submit comments before June 6 to Tommy DeLage, assistant zoning administrator, by email: DeLage.Tommy@richlandcountysc.gov, or call 803-576-2172.
More on the LDC, and Next Steps
In the coming months, the public will have more chances to give input on the new LDC. The Planning Commission will announce these additional opportunities as they are scheduled.
The County’s LDC governs the types of uses, location and size of a development within various zones, as well as establishing the procedures for reviewing development proposals. The LDC also controls various development and subdivision standards and the division and platting of land, as well as road layout and other infrastructure requirements.
County Council adopted the new LDC text on Nov. 16, 2021, but it is currently not in effect because it requires approval of an amended zoning map, which has not yet occurred. The text received first reading at County Council’s Zoning Public Hearing on Sept. 28. Second reading approval came on Oct. 19, and an additional public hearing was held at Council’s meeting Nov. 9.
On May 3, County Council voted to approve first reading of an ordinance that would give the Planning Commission more time to gather community input and provide a better understanding of the approval process.
Richland County planning staff is working to develop the new zoning map, which must be reviewed by the Planning Commission before going to County Council for three readings and a final vote.
Read more about the major differences in Richland County’s existing 2005 LDC and the new 2021 version: www.richlandcountysc.gov/Portals/0/Departments/Planning/LDC%20Rewrite_Big%20Changes%20to%20Expect%20in%20the%20New%20LDC.pdf
Find more updates and public information about the 2021 LDC update process: www.richlandcountysc.gov/Government/Departments/Planning-Development
Original source can be found here.