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Join Us: Dorchester’s Zoning Amendment Meeting on November 14

Resource Extraction Areas 2.5 Mile Buffer

This Thursday, November 14, The Commission will meet at 4:00 PM. Meetings are held in the Summerville County Council Chambers at 500 N. Main Street (Cedar St. Entrance). Here is the link to the Planning Commission November Meeting Agenda Packet: https://www.dorchestercountysc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/25045/638666671247439337

Of interest for this meeting to the community of the Town of Dorchester is Agenda Item 6 (Old Business) A. ZTA 24-07: Text Amendment to the Dorchester County Zoning and Land Development Standards Ordinance Number 04-13, as previously amended, with respect to Article X, Section 10.4.11 “Mineral Resource Extraction Operations” for the purpose of limiting the proximity of new mineral resource extraction operations from existing permitted operations.

The intent of the ordinance text amendment is to limit the mining density in our county. The amendment is modeled after a successful similar ordinance amendment in Charleston County. Page 21 of the agenda packet shows the existing mines and the proposed buffer around them. Page 22 of the agenda packet includes a rather long Pro-mining letter opposing the ordinance change.

I believe that for our community, this proposed amendment to the ordinance is a positive step. It aims to control some of the sand mine truck traffic pummeling us in our area.

This is an open public meeting that includes public feedback and comments. Please plan to attend and make your voices heard for a positive change.

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Notes from the Dorchester County Planning Commission Workshop on the Issue of Mining

Resource Extraction Areas 2.5 Mile Buffer

Dorchester County Planning Commission held a workshop meeting on Monday, November 4, 2024, in the Summerville County Council Chambers at 500 N. Main Street to discuss a proposed amendment to the existing County Ordinance 20-17. While few introductions were made in the meeting, several people were assumed to be from the county commission, several people present were representing the mining interests, a couple representing the Town of Dorchester and the local area, and our State Representative for Dorchester District 97 (Colleton & Dorchester Counties) Robby Robins were in attendance.

The members of the Planning Commission indicated the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed amendment to Section 10.4.11 of the Dorchester County Ordinance 20-17, by inserting the following language:

“10.4.11(b)(8) Location. Resource extraction use shall not be allowed on a lot located within 2.5 miles of another lot on which another resource extraction use has been permitted or is currently in operation, whether located in incorporated Dorchester County or within a municipality. Distances shall be measured as a radius from the nearest property line of the subject lot to the nearest property line of a lot containing another resource extraction use.“

There was discussion about a wide range of topics, including property rights, road design, state & county road maintenance and construction responsibilities, the significant increase of quad-axle trucks over the last year, augmenting the triaxle mining truck traffic, the destruction of Salem Road due to truck traffic, taxation of trucks, geology, and a lot of general discussion unrelated to the specific proposed ordinance change.

Resource Extraction Areas 2.5 Mile Buffer
Shaded areas are the proposed 2.5-mile buffer around existing mines in Dorchester County.

A few items specifically discussed related to the proposal were:

  • Mining will continue in the area for the foreseeable future to serve development and road projects.
  • The proposed change is modeled after a similar Charleston County Ordinance. Despite mining opposition, the Charleston County ordinance remains in effect and is currently unchanged.
  • State DOT borrow pits would not be exempt from this ordinance or this change.
  • The issue of determining “currently in operation” was raised, i.e., what would be the definition of in operation? Would permitted mines not actively mining be considered in operation?
  • Possible consideration for small mining (less than 2-5 acres) exemption was suggested.

At the end of the meeting, the proposed ordinance change was to move from the workshop meeting to the next Dorchester County Planning Commission Meeting. No action was taken to change the proposed language of the change from the workshop group.

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Dorchester County Planning Commission Workshop on the Issue of Mining

Sand Mine

I received a notice for posting this morning from Robby Robbins (our state representative for Colleton & Dorchester Counties) stating the Dorchester County Planning Commission is having a workshop on the issue of mining in the greater Dorchester area today (November 4, 2024) at 3 PM in Summerville. I’ll assume the location is the Summerville County Council Chambers located at 500 N. Main Street (Cedar St. Entrance). If you can attend or stop in even for a few minutes it would help show our community interest on this topic. This workshop meeting is not listed on the Dorchester County website. Please note this is a Planning Commission workshop and not necessarily a public hearing. Please. I do not know their protocols for comment or input but we want to convey any interest and concerns allowed politely and productively.

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Dorchester County Council To Consider Limiting Mining

Sand truck

After years of public feedback, it looks like the Dorchester County Council is finally considering some action to limit the negative impacts of mining operations in our area.

There is a Dorchester County Council meeting tonight at 6 pm (the County Planning meeting is at 5:45 pm). The hot topic is the Public Hearing, which is to amend the county mining regulations to limit the proximity of new mining operations.

If you can attend, please do and make your voices heard.

Planning Committee Agenda: https://docs.google.com/gview?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgranicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdorchester%2Fa342504a3e608349ebebcd358899ee2e0.pdf&embedded=true

County Council Agenda: https://docs.google.com/gview?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgranicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdorchester%2F25f03316663850fa45e5aaf192b723ba0.pdf&embedded=true

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It’s Farmers Market Season!

Stock Farmers Market Picture

Local farmers’ markets offer a unique opportunity to support your community while enjoying fresh, high-quality produce. By shopping at farmers’ markets, you’re helping local farmers thrive, which in turn boosts the local economy and reduces environmental impact through decreased transportation emissions. These markets provide access to seasonal fruits and vegetables, often grown organically and picked at peak ripeness, ensuring better taste and nutrition. Additionally, farmers markets foster a sense of community, connecting consumers directly with the people who grow their food, and creating a vibrant, social shopping experience that’s both enjoyable and educational. Supporting local farmers markets means investing in sustainable agriculture and healthier, more resilient communities.

Here’s a short list of local farmers’ markets in and around our town (listed by distance from Dorchester).

Dorchester Farmers Market

218B Delee Circle Dorchester, SC 29437
Season: Starting in late April
Days & hours: Designated Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094776452196
Web: https://dorchesterscfarmersmarket.com/

Ridgeville Farmers Market

154 Church Street, Ridgeville, SC 29472
Season: April – August
Days & Hours: Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RidgevilleMarket
Web: https://www.ridgevillefarmersmarket.com/

St. George Farmers Market

225 N Parler Ave, Saint George, SC 29477
Season: May – October
Days & Hours: Thursdays from 3 pm to 6 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stgeorgefarmersmarket

Summerville Farmers Market

218 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483
Season: April to Mid-November
Days & Hours: Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/summervillefarmersmarket
Web: https://summervilledream.org/farmers-market/

Visiting a farmers market for the first time can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Here are some tips to make the most of your visit:

Key Takeaways

  1. Bring Cash: While many vendors now accept credit cards, cash is still king at farmers markets. It’s easier for small transactions and can help you stick to your budget.
  2. Arrive Early or Late: Arriving early ensures you get the best selection of produce, while arriving later might net you some deals as vendors often discount items at the end of the day.
  3. Bring Your Own Bags: Vendors may not always provide bags, so bring reusable ones to carry your purchases and reduce plastic waste.
  4. Wear Comfortable Shoes: Farmers markets can be large and spread out, so comfortable footwear is a must for walking around.
  5. Talk to the Farmers: Don’t be shy! Ask the farmers about their produce, growing practices, and any tips for preparation. They are a great resource for learning more about what you’re buying.
  6. Explore Before Buying: Take a lap around the market to see what’s available before making purchases. This way, you can compare prices and products from different vendors.
  7. Be Open to Trying New Things: Farmers markets often have unique and seasonal produce that you might not find in regular grocery stores. Be adventurous and try something new.
  8. Bring a Cooler Bag: If you plan to buy perishable items like dairy, meat, or fish, a cooler bag with ice packs will keep your purchases fresh until you get home.
  9. Plan Your Meals: Having a rough idea of what meals you want to prepare can help you buy the right amounts and types of produce, reducing food waste.
  10. Check the Market’s Schedule: Farmers markets often have special events, live music, cooking demonstrations, or seasonal celebrations. Check the schedule to make the most of your visit.

Enjoy the experience of supporting local agriculture and discovering fresh, delicious food!

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Hurricane Preparedness Expo at Ashley River Park

Hurricane Expo 2024

With the 2024 Hurricane Season about to start, Dorchester County is encouraging residents to attend the Hurricane Preparedness Expo at Ashley River Park. The Hurricane Preparedness Expo aims to provide valuable information, tips, and resources to help residents of our county prepare for hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Event Details: 
Date: Sat. June 1, 2024
Time: 10:00AM – 1:00PM
Location: Ashley River Park, 200 Renken Road, Summerville

Win a New Generator!
The Hurricane Preparedness Expo will feature a range of fun activities and offerings. These include interactive exhibits, food trucks, an inflatable obstacle course, an electric children’s train, balloon art, face painting, and emergency services demonstrations. Charleston Electric will also be raffling off a brand new 3600-watt Generac GP3600 portable generator. 

Other Fun Activities at the Expo
Representatives from Tradesman Brewing Company will be there with samples for our 21-year-old and older crowd with our special hurricane beer, Know Your Zone.

Coastal Coffee Roasters will also be there with our one-of-a-kind coffee, Storm Surge.

The Red Cross will host a blood drive during the Expo. You can Pre-register to give blood here. Visit this link to pre-register and sign up to donate blood. 

Please note: If you do not have a Park Annual Pass, admission to the park is $2 per person (free for 3 years-old and under).

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A Salem Road Update with a Twist

Sand truck

After Channel 4 came out last week, Channel 2 News also came out on Monday May 6th, and did another short new piece focused on Salem Road and the truck damage to our roads by the sand trucks. (Link to the Channel 2 Live news story Trucks carrying dirt from nearby mines causing damage to roads in Dorchester).

Members of our town have discussed in-person the road condition issues with our District 1 County Council Member Harriet Holman and our SC State Representative House District 97 – Robby Robbins. Mr. Robbins toured our area on Sunday, May 5th, and Mrs. Holman was to tour our area on Tuesday, May 7th. Early feedback is the Department of Transportation (DOT) folks are “working on a plan to completely redo” Salem Road. While it may take them a few weeks to get everything together the end product should be a completely new Salem Road.

In trying to research the Salem mine permit (there is none) with the DHEC Mining folks, I learned the two mine sites on Salem Road are Department of Transportation (DOT) “borrow pits.” And it should come as no surprise, DOT borrow pits are apparently exempt from having to obtain a mine operating permit. This would also explain the lack of community notice for mining operations and why the DOT is so quick to come up with a plan to replace the road.

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Salem Road Update

Sand truck

Channel 4 News came out Friday and did a short new piece focused on Salem Road however this is bigger than just a few sand trucks on a country road, it’s the tip of a complicated iceberg.

(Link to the Channel 4 Live news story Dorchester residents raise concerns over street damage and noise from truck traffic ) And it’s not a “salt mine” it’s a sand mine, one of dozens encircling our community.

Almost every road around our Town of Dorchester now has at least one sand mine feeding these massive sand trucks onto them. Sandridge, Salem, Zion, and East Main/178 all have heavy sand truck traffic from pre-dawn to dusk, six days a week.

Sand trucks and potholes
Sand trucks and potholes

Sand mines and the associated truck traffic are destroying taxpayer-funded roads for the profit of others. The County and DHEC continue to approve private sand mine zoning and permitting over repeated citizen impact concerns and then seemingly do nothing when there is a problem. But of course “Dorchester County says it’s working to manage it all.” How? By collecting your tax money and then throwing asphalt at the problem? Or maybe by passing another law the mines won’t follow?

Our town benefits ZERO from these state and county-approved, highly profitable, mining operations destroying the area, our roads, and the environment around us. I would encourage everyone concerned to continue to contact your representative and advocate for more local control over the damage to our roads from sand mines.

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Our Town Roads

Sand truck drivng over fresh repairs

Our roads are being destroyed by sand trucks. I recently responded to a neighbor’s complaint related to the road condition along Salem Road and took some time to drive Salem from Railway Drive to Halfway Gut Creek. I was aghast at the deterioration of the roadway in less than a year.

Salem Road
Salem Road potholes

There is now a new sand mine straddling both sides of the road just before Halfway Gut. Someone installed a steel plate in the road due to the trucks turning in and out of the mine tearing up the road. The road directly in front of the Salem United Methodist Church is largely destroyed now. There are potholes everywhere.

Road crews unsuccessfully attempted to repave the section in front of the Methodist Church, I don’t think their work lasted more than a few hours. The sand trucks were driving over the repairs before the crews were finished.

I have sent the following letter from our town association to Mrs. Harret Holman and the Dorchester County Commissioners seeking their support.

Letter to Dorchester County Commissioners
Letter to Dorchester County Commissioners

Almost every road around our Town of Dorchester now has at least one sand mine feeding these massive sand trucks onto them. Sandridge, Salem, Zion, and East Main/178 all now have heavy sand truck traffic six days a week for at least eight hours a day. I would encourage everyone concerned to contact your representative and advocate for more control over the damage to our roads from sand mines. You can call, email, or write a letter asking for their support for our committee.

Please feel free to use the following template and your own words. You can also cut and paste into an email and send it directly to the commissioners (or anyone else you think may support this issue). This link (https://www.dorchestercountysc.gov/government/county-council/council-members) gives our County Council members’ phone numbers and email addresses.

Resident-Letter-to-DorchesterCC-for-road-Maintenance.docxDownload

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