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Residents raise sanitation, noise concerns as commission advances Anchor Pointe concept plan
Summary
The commission advanced the Anchor Pointe concept plan (10 mobile-home lots on 7.542 acres) to the detailed site plan stage after residents raised sanitation and noise concerns about the site's current campground use; staff said the health department must sign off on hookups.
The Berkeley County Planning Commission voted to advance the Anchor Pointe concept plan to the detailed site plan stage after a public hearing in which nearby residents raised sanitation, noise and safety concerns about the property's current use as a campground.
Staff described the proposal (file 2512-358) as a 10-lot mobile-home community on about 7.542 acres to be served by public water and sewer. Charles Branch of Alta Associates represented the applicant at the hearing.
Several neighbors told the commission the site currently hosts tents and stationary campers and that they have concerns about trash, wastewater and overnight generators. "We have absolutely, no tolerance for trashing around or unsecured, sanitation or wastewater," resident Bethany Starloper said, adding that users were required to use self-contained holding tanks and that waste was taken to a nearby dump site.
Nearby resident Sharon Schrum said she has lived adjacent to the property for 40 years and described a recurring raw-sewage odor: "I do have health concerns about the raw sewage smell... That's the only complaint that I have." County staff and an applicant representative told residents the concept plan would require a detailed site plan and infrastructure, and that the health department and subdivision regulations would govern whether current campground practices are permitted.
A county planning staff member noted that "holding tanks aren't allowed by the health department" and said the property would need appropriate water and sewer hookups if it becomes a campground or mobile-home park. The owner, Robin Miller, told the commission, "I myself live in a camper there...the campers do not move, but they do have portable, sanitation containers that they take and they load into their truck." Miller said the portable containers are removed and emptied offsite.
Staff estimated the permitting and conversion process could take roughly six to nine months. After public comment and staff responses, the commission moved to accept staff's recommendation and advance the concept plan to the detailed site plan stage; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Next steps: the applicant will prepare a detailed site plan and staff will coordinate health-department review and any required public notice at subsequent hearings.
