On Thursday, December 12, The Commission met at 4:00 PM. The meeting was held in the Summerville County Council Chambers at 500 N. Main Street (Cedar St. Entrance). Here is the link to the Planning Commission December Meeting Agenda Packet: https://www.dorchestercountysc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/25045/638666671247439337. Our Dorchester District 97 Representative Robby Robbins was also in attendance.
The amendment to limit new mines came before the Commission for the third time. This time, they finally stopped delaying the decision. This time, they outright rejected the staff recommendation. They refused to adopt the amendment. This decision denied our community some form of relief from the sand mine truck traffic.
Of interest to the community of the Town of Dorchester in this meeting was Agenda Item 6 (Old Business) B. “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.”
This text amendment was requested in response to concerns voiced regarding the condition of roads with high volumes of large trucks. The ordinance amendment was modeled after a similar condition in Charleston County. It limits the number of mines that can operate close to each other. This reduction would help decrease the amount of large-truck traffic on certain roadways (package pages 45-49). This amendment had been studied and recommended for approval by the commission staff. Amendment input included a public workshop of stakeholders and feedback from the county on roads and traffic.
Unlike prior agenda items at this meeting, no public comment was allowed during the commission’s discussion of this item. Commission Members Chris Ackerman and Bret Judy were the most vocal in opposition to the amendment. There were no other options or alternatives discussed. They led the vote to reject the amendment to reduce the density of sand mine traffic in the county. With no other alternative on the table to reduce the truck traffic density, I feel the commission’s rejection of the ordinance amendment was irresponsible. This was an open public meeting and included public feedback and comments at the end. I did rise and express my dissatisfaction to the Commission on their lack of action in this matter.
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Why does this NOT surprise me! Dorchester County folded under the pressure of the mining companies & the only thing they care about is lining the county pockets! They don’t give two cents about the citizens that live here. They refuse to fix the damage brought here by these trucks & they couldn’t care less about the safety of those who live here. Of course they’re not going to allow us to speak, because they’re not interested in hearing anything further. I’ll make sure & right those names down & remember them come election time!