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Commission votes to avoid embedding DOT/AASHTO standards in chapter 26; preserves 20-foot minimum right-of-way
Summary
Commission directed staff not to reference SCDOT or AASHTO standards in chapter 26 for private-road right-of-way widths and passed a motion keeping a minimum 20-foot right-of-way consistent with fire-code requirements, while asking staff to return if conflicts appear.
The commission debated whether county ordinance language should explicitly require SCDOT or AASHTO road-design standards for private subdivision roads. The chair moved that drafted ordinances should not reference SCDOT or AASHTO for private-road right-of-way and that staff should work within the planning commission’s previously voted guidelines with a minimum 20-foot right-of-way (to meet fire-code minimums). “Any drafted ordinance should not reference SCDOT or AASHTO based approach to road design standards… and that is a minimum, right of way width of 20 feet,” the chair said.
Members expressed divergent views: some urged leaving engineering standards to designers and insurance underwriters, while others said a clear minimum (20 feet) tied to fire-code access is appropriate to ensure emergency access. After discussion the motion to avoid embedding external road-code references in chapter 26 and to use a 20-foot minimum was seconded and approved by voice vote with commissioners asking staff to preserve county-acceptance language in chapter 26 and to move other private-road details to chapter 32 as appropriate.
