Kershaw County hears first reading of updated comprehensive plan; public asks for equine overlay

Kershaw County Council on Sept. 9 gave first reading, title only, to an updated county comprehensive plan that the planning commission had approved the night before.

The plan, which county staff said underwent months of public comment and multiple reviews by the planning commission, will be subject to two additional readings before final adoption. "This is the same comprehensive plan that was approved last night by the planning commission," a county staff member said. The planning commission vote was "unanimous," staff added.

Why it matters: The comprehensive plan will guide future zoning revisions and development regulations; council members said they intend to follow the required public-review steps before adopting implementing zoning changes.

During the public-comment period before the hearing, Di DeBose, an area resident, urged the council to include a historic equine overlay to preserve parcels tied to the county’s horse industry. DeBose named the Camden Training Center parcels, Boykin, Camden Hunt Country, Red Fox Road and horse farms along Sanders Creek Road, and referenced Marion DuPont Scott’s historic contributions to the local horse world. "Please preserve her heritage ... by placing a historic equine overlay on these parcels," DeBose told the council.

County staff said the plan document had been vetted for legal compliance by a contractor and then returned to the planning commission for a final vote. Staff told council the first reading was being done as "title only" to keep the county’s schedule for zoning code work during an existing moratorium; council members said the moratorium will allow them to begin zoning-code rewriting if the comp plan is adopted in October.

Ending: The item passed first reading, title only, unanimously by members present. Council will consider subsequent readings before final adoption and directed staff to carry the plan forward in accordance with statutory steps.