Welcome to the newsletter for Lancaster County!

The second edition will focus on the comprehensive plan and a development application that could potentially greatly impact Walnut Creek and Van Wyck Rd.

I will be sworn into office on January 6th at 6pm at the County Administration building. You are more than welcome to attend. The first full meeting for County Council will be January 13th at 6pm for 2025.

If you have any questions/comments, do not hesitate to reach out to me- 803-804-6017 or simply reply to this email. Love to hear your feedback on this newsletter and if you find value in it. Follow me on Facebook for more updates.

If you have friends/neighbors/family that would be interested in this information, forward the email to them and they can click this link to sign up.

Thanks,
​Stuart

Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan

When you hear that the county doesn't have a plan for development-not a correct statement. Here is a link to the Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan-2040 which is the roadmap for development in Lancaster County (approved in April 2024).
Download the pdf in the link above. Background goes for about 20 pages and then the document plan starts on page 20. The county is discussed in three separate areas: Panhandle, Greater Lancaster and Southern Lancaster. There is a lot of great information in this document.
Highlights:
-Page 37 - Implementation strategies for the County as a whole
-Page 51 - Implementation strategies for Panhandle area.

This is the document that needs to guide the county moving forward regarding development. As developers submit applications to the county for rezoning, the comprehensive plan will likely hold the best reasons/arguments for responsible, planned development. The next big discussions will be regarding the unified development ordinance (UDO). This document will spell out the rules for development within the county. As 2025 unfolds, the UDO will be a topic for several of these newsletters because there will be several big items related to density, look, etc.

Important Topics for Lancaster County

• Development application! The parcels are in front of Walnut creek entrance (horse farm) and stretch down to the back entrance of Sun City - 850 acres. The application is to change the comprehensive plan designation for the parcels from rural to growth. The reason is to set up a rezoning application from RN (house per acre) to a higher density designation. It is important to speak out at the public hearing for responsible development. More details to come in the January newsletter- Planning commission - January 21st 6pm
• Impact fees discussion- Very interesting discussion at the December 11th Committee of the Whole meeting regarding impact fees collected north of Hwy 5. The big item- wording of current ordinance means fees are not collected for any development approved before Fall of 2021 when impact fees were passed. Huge disconnect from projections of the consultant and what was actually collected. Minute 20 begins the discussion. Click here for meeting. Click here for power point presentation so you can see the actual numbers.
• Here is how to know what is coming up on county meetings with an email to your inbox!! Click here and sign up. An email will be sent about a week prior to meeting with agenda and supporting docs. Great way to see what is coming, determine if you need to comment/research plus it is a good reminder on what the meetings are happening. Miss a meeting- you can catchup by streaming the meeting. Click link. ​
• Lancaster County Development updates:
  • Click here for the status of in-process developments throughout the county.
  • There are significant number of developments that are approved by the City of Lancaster. I am working on a way to show what is approved/in process.
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• Ways to voice your opinion. Citizens comments by signing up as you enter the meeting. You may also click here to fill out a form that will be officially included in the minutes of the meeting and provided to each council representative. Great way to voice your opinion if you can't make the meetings!!

Lancaster County Council - December 9, 2024 Meeting Recap
Live Stream - Click here​

Highlights: District 1 County Councilman Terry Graham recognized, employees of the quarter named, all third readings pass.

Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation led by Councilman Graham, who invited his grandchildren to recite the pledge with him.

Citizens Comments: ​
1. John Baker agrees with the building moratorium issue, but feels the related issue of bulldozing building sites to completely remove trees also needs to stop. Other counties seem to realize air quality and birds are dependent on trees. To remove them is developer greed.
2. Electronic comment from Kelly Berber stating the Edgewater community fire codes are not being followed as there is no required second entrance.
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​Special Presentations: ​
​A. Recognition of Councilman Terry Graham for 8 years of service. Chairman Harper presented a crystal award and a Bob Doster palmetto sculpture to Councilman Graham and each member commented also. He reminded the audience he was an immigrant from Northern Ireland who worked hard to become a citizen and is prouder today than ever of the American flag. He promised he’d only serve two terms when elected since he believes in term limits and thanked council and the citizens. Audience gave standing ovation in thanks for his service.
​B. Recognition of Employees of the 4th Quarter. Those nominated were:
Stephen Blackwelder- Stormwater
Clay Catoe - EMS
Hunter Brown-Sheriff’s Office
Leah Clevenger - IT
Eddie Medina- Emergency Management
Alona Payne - Treasurer’s Office
Philip Pegram - Fire Rescue
Natalie Plyler - Parks and Recreation
Mary Ann Hudson - Voter Registration
Michelle Polston-Rogers - EMS
Cassandra Thompson - Sheriff’s Office
Carol Williams - Clerk of Court’s Office
Kim Stroud - Records Management
Cindy Johnson - Library
Ashley Kirkley - Public Safety Communications
Anne Marshall - Fire Rescue
Marilyn Couser - Building Maintenance
Daphne Creech- IT
Terry Faulkenberry- EMS
Clint Gardner- Fire Rescue
The winners were:
General - Mary Ann Hudson
Public Safety - Michelle Polston-Rogers
​Congratulations to the all the nominees and the winners .
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​Non-Consent Agenda : ​
​A. 3rd Reading to acquire 0.25 acre at 305 N. Catawba office space from Founders Federal Credit Union. Passed 7-0.
​B. 3rd Reading for an amended and restated fee in lieu tax agreement for Project Maple , identified tonight as Keer America Corp. , since they did not meet their goal $150 million goal by the end of 2023. Having spent millions and having been a large employer for 10 years , council passed this 7-0.
​C. 3rd Reading to amend the 2024-2025 fiscal budget for boiler purchase , sheriffs evidence building, and receipt of a private donation of $112k for public safety. Passed 7-0.
​D. 3rd Reading to amend institutional zoning for a grant for an archery program to be added for Parks and Rec. Passed 7-0.
​E. 3rd Reading to amend the ordinance to provide for a Board of Zoning Appeals . This would become a board with only 5 members , as they have had difficulty getting a quorum with the present 7 members. Councilman Luis wanted more specifics on this and the following related item (f) asking if a legal opinion had been received from the state attorney ( it had not) . Councilman Graham asked how many times the board had not been able to meet due to the lack of a quorum, and which district has no one on the board presently . Ms. Williams from zoning said they could not meet “one time” for lack of quorum since she started her job, and the new meeting rules require the liaison to report absences to council. Passed 4-3 with Councilmen Luis, Graham and Carnes voting against.
​F. 3rd Reading for merger of two boards of zoning / building with the Fire Marshall named as a building official. Councilmen Luis and Graham had the same issues with the board changing to 5 members instead of one from each district . Passed 4-3 with Councilmen Luis, Graham, and Carnes opposed .
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Discussion and Action Items :
A. Appointment of Patricia H. Clancy to the Historical Commission to fill an unexpired term ending 6/30/25. Passed 7-0.
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Adjourned at 6:53 to go into executive session to receive legal advice subject to attorney/client privilege regarding an update on cyber security.
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Large audience tonight with many family members in attendance for the special presentations. Once they left, there were only 7 citizens in the audience for the final council meeting of 2024. At the first January meeting, newly elected council members will be sworn in and new Council Officers will be named. These notes and photos may not be shared without my permission.
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Respectfully submitted,
​
Clare McConaughay

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