Batesburg-Leesville council considers making residency rules uniform for planning bodies

The Batesburg‑Leesville town council on Monday opened a review of residency requirements that govern the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals, with councilmembers asking staff to draft an amendment to make the two boards’ rules uniform.

Councilmember Kane raised the item after identifying a recent appointment that ran afoul of the zoning board’s residency requirement; the zoning board requires members to live in the district, while the planning commission’s rules do not. Councilmember Kane asked the council to consider changing the zoning ordinance so both bodies would follow the same residency standard and advised bringing the proposal back for formal action at a future meeting.

Town attorney Dave told the council that changing the requirement would require an amendment to the zoning ordinance and would follow the town’s normal two‑reading process. Councilmembers agreed staff should prepare an ordinance amendment and place it on an upcoming agenda for consideration and formal vote.

Members also touched briefly on planning‑commission compensation, with several councilmembers saying commissioners currently serve as volunteers and asking that the town consider compensation as part of the budget process rather than as part of an immediate ordinance change.

The council did not take a final vote on the residency change during the work session; members directed staff to draft the amendment and return it for formal consideration at a later meeting.