Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning Zoning Annexations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Florence Planning Commission approves multiple annexations and a road name; several members recuse
Summary
The Florence City Planning Commission on June approved six annexations and a private-road naming, with two commissioners recusing from items tied to the Salvation Army and a local client. A proposed ordinance to allow detached accessory dwelling units was deferred for further study.
The Florence City Planning Commission approved six annexation and rezoning requests and the naming of a private road at its June meeting, with commissioners voting to defer a separate, detailed amendment on detached accessory dwelling units for further review.
The actions approved by the commission included annexing small portions of county parcels into Florence and applying city zoning that staff said matches adjacent land uses, a private-road naming request at Magnolia Mall, and zoning approvals intended to allow single-family homes, townhouses or neighborhood-compatible commercial development. Several votes passed by voice without a recorded roll-call; two agenda items drew recusals because commissioners disclosed relationships to parties with an interest in the proposals.
Commission staff described each parcel for the commission before public comment or a motion. For PC2025-21, staff said the overall parcel is about 67 acres but only seven acres on the north side of Jenny O'Brien Boulevard were proposed for annexation and light-industrial zoning; the staff report said the requested light-industrial zoning is consistent with surrounding uses and the city's future land-use map and would permit lower-impact research, assembly or wholesale uses rather than heavy manufacturing.
A private-road naming for the short private segment behind the Target at 2791 David H. McLeod Boulevard (PC2025-22) was approved after the chair recused because the road name applicant is a client; the commission approved the applicant’s preferred name, T Edward Way (listed in the packet as an option).
Two vacant lots at 922 and 926 Third Loop Road were annexed and zoned NC-15 to permit single-family houses on each parcel (PC2025-23). A neighbor who identified himself as Randy Seif thanked the applicant and said the neighborhood supports the plan: “We appreciate it, and we'll keep an eye on your homes while they're being built,” Seif said.
The commission approved annexing two small parcels on South Irby Street (PC2025-24) to an Activity Center commercial designation; the larger lot included the existing Salvation Army thrift store. Two members recused on this item and the meeting record shows the commission temporarily transferred the chair for that vote. Captain Scott of the Salvation Army spoke and told the commission, “Our intent is to tear down our current store and rebuild that store, further set back off of South Irby... It’ll just be a newer building.”
The commission approved annexation and RG-2 zoning for a lot on Pelican Drive (PC2025-25) to match adjacent RG-2 properties, and approved annexation and NC-6.3 zoning for a Westfield Drive parcel intended for townhouses (PC2025-26). Developer Louis Hopkins, who said he owns the Westfield site, said, “We're planning on doing 16 town homes here. That's our goal.”
On the item to amend the Unified Development Ordinance to allow detached accessory dwelling units (PC2025-27), staff presented a draft that would create a conditional-use permit pathway with about 21 conditions, require the owner to live on the property, limit detached ADUs to 50 percent of the principal structure footprint or 800 square feet (whichever is less), and require one improved parking space. Commissioners said the proposal was substantial and asked for more time to review it; the commission voted to defer the ADU amendment to a future meeting.
Votes at a glance
- PC2025-21 (Annex & zone light industrial, portion of county tax map 0012201042): Motion to approve carried by voice vote; outcome recorded as approved. - PC2025-22 (Name private road near Magnolia Mall as T Edward Way): Chair recused; motion to approve carried by voice vote; outcome approved. - PC2025-23 (Annex & zone NC-15, 922 & 926 Third Loop Road, tax map 0151101037/038): Motion to approve carried by voice vote; outcome approved. - PC2025-24 (Annex & zone Activity Center, 2037 & 2111 South Irby Street): Two commissioners recused; motion to approve carried by voice vote; outcome approved. - PC2025-25 (Annex & zone RG-2, Pelican Drive, tax map 0052201026): Motion to approve carried by voice vote; outcome approved. - PC2025-26 (Zone NC-6.3 pending annexation, Westfield Drive, tax map 0007201045): Motion to approve carried unanimously by voice vote; outcome approved. - PC2025-27 (Amend Unified Development Ordinance to permit detached ADUs): Motion to defer to next month carried by voice vote; outcome deferred. - PC2025-28: Deferred by motion at the meeting.
Commissioners and staff emphasized that most approvals were intended to align zoning with adjacent city uses or the future land-use map and that several proposals consisted of relatively small annexations rather than wholesale redevelopment. Commissioners also disclosed conflicts where appropriate and recused themselves when cases involved parties with whom they had a professional or advisory relationship.
The commission closed its meeting after roughly 40 minutes of business and set the ADU amendment for further consideration at a future meeting. The public hearing records show no significant opposition to the annexations or road-naming items that were approved at the June meeting.
