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Planning Commission recommends text change to allow site‑specific county public‑service uses with added hearings
Summary
The commission recommended approval of a text amendment to the community development code to allow county public‑service uses (for example, fire stations) to proceed via a site‑specific review with two public hearings rather than a rezoning; staff said the change adds public scrutiny while avoiding spot‑zoning concerns.
The Beaufort County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a text amendment to Article 1 (Division 1.3) of the Community Development Code to create an exemptions process for county public‑service uses.
Staff explained the amendment would allow the county, when proposing an essential public use (for example a fire station), to seek a site‑specific approval process that includes a planning‑commission public hearing followed by a county‑council public hearing rather than a conventional rezoning that could open the land to other private uses. Staff described the change as a way to preserve the site for a public purpose while ensuring public review.
Commission members asked about the scope of the amendment’s emergency exemption and whether an emergency use could implicate eminent domain. Staff said the provision is intended as a streamlined process that still requires a public explanation of the emergency and that eminent domain would be a separate legal action if it were necessary.
Chuck Atkinson, Community Services Division Director for Beaufort County (S12), said the county already has authority to locate public uses but that county council requested the added layer so planning commission members and the public could exercise additional scrutiny. “County council wants us in there and add that layer of scrutiny and public involvement,” Atkinson said.
A motion to recommend approval was made and seconded and the planning commission passed the recommendation to county council.
The amendment will move to county council for its review and adoption; staff said site plans for any county public use will accompany the site‑specific application and be considered during the public hearings.
