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Planning commission OKs staff edits to Olympia neighborhood character overlay, asks staff to consider tree protections
Summary
After a work session, Richland County planning staff will present a clean version of the Olympia neighborhood character overlay at the June meeting; commissioners asked staff to evaluate adding protections for large (“grand”) trees to the overlay or landscaping code.
The Richland County Planning Commission on May 5 voted to accept staff changes discussed at a recent work session to the draft Olympia neighborhood character overlay and asked staff to present a clean, updated version at the June meeting.
Planning staff said the revisions narrow the overlay’s focus to features visible from the public right of way, remove standards inconsistent with that purpose and treat front setbacks as the primary setback for neighborhood character. Staff also said building massing will be controlled by height limits and setbacks rather than a separate massing standard in the overlay, and that on-site parking for new construction should be sited to avoid visibility from the public right of way.
Viola Henley, a 40-year resident of Olympia Mill Village, urged the commission to protect large street and “grand” trees, noting trees help sequester stormwater in the Rocky Branch watershed. Staff replied that the draft does not currently add specific grand-tree protections to the overlay, that tree protections exist in the county’s land development code (section 26-5.3) and that tree protections typically apply when a property undergoes development rather than protect existing trees on an undeveloped single lot.
Commissioners asked staff to consider whether additional protections should be added: staff noted tools exist in the land development code, including a 6:1 replacement requirement for grand trees removed from required buffer yards, and said they would explore options and feasibility. Commissioner Cirks moved to accept the work-session edits and have staff present a clean version in June; Commissioner Durant seconded and the motion passed on a roll call vote.
Staff will provide the revised text to the public before the June meeting and post the clean version on the county website for review. Commissioners did not adopt permanent new tree-protection language at the May meeting; staff said further research is needed to address enforcement and development-stage applicability.
