NEWBERRY COUNTY — Newberry County Council has passed the third and final reading of an ordinance amending and revising the zoning ordinance for the Newberry County Code of Ordinances.
Before the third reading was approved, four amendments were added.
The first amendment establishes conditional permitting of cemeteries, minimum size, setback and signage requirements for cemeteries. Conditions pertaining to cemeteries are included in the current zoning ordinance, but were inadvertently not included in the new zoning ordinance draft.
“There are two issues here, one there is no reason why churches should be treated any different/more favorably in the siting of cemeteries and second not having these conditions/requirements, especially the setback requirements, has, in the past, resulted in graves being located up to the traveling surface of the roadway. This can make it impossible to widen roadways when necessary and to maintain proper roadway drainage,” said County Administrator Wayne Adams. “The conditions for cemeteries are reasonable requirements. In fact, they existed, for churches, and everyone else, in the old ordinance. This amendment simply corrects a mistake that was included in the new ordinance draft.”
The zoning ordinance for cemeteries, including gravesites, mausoleums, crematoriums and columbariums had the following requirements where conditionally permitted: minimum size of the property shall be two acres, the use, including gravesites, must meet all setback requirements for the applicable zoning district and one non-illuminated sign not over 30 square feet in area or 10 feet in height is allowed.
This amendment was approved after Councilman Scott Cain made a motion and Councilman Travis Reeder seconded.
The second amendment establishes conditional permitting of large animal processing and taxidermy uses, concealment of carcasses and disposal of remains (animal processing and taxidermy; management of emissions and odorous gases (taxidermy).
Large animal (including deer) processing and taxidermy are not specifically addressed in the current zoning ordinance and are not included in the new zoning ordinance draft.
The zoning ordinance for processing of large animals including deer, but not including slaughterhouses, will now have to meet the following requirements where conditionally permitted: Animal carcasses and any processing activities related to the use must be screened form view from road rights of ways and adjacent property lines, either by storage in an enclosed structure or by an opaque screen, and all animal remains must be discarded per applicable state regulations.
Additionally, animal carcasses from taxidermy and any processing activities related to the use must be screened from view from road rights of way and adjacent property lines, either by storage in an enclosed structure or by an opaque screen, all animal remains must be discarded per applicable state regulations, all hazardous material associated with the use must be stored in an enclosed structure, and the area must be kept free of gases or matter that would be offensive to those near the property line or right of way.
The amendment passed after Councilman Leslie Hipp made a motion and Cain seconded.
The third amendment amends the zoning district table of permitted uses to include “agritourism” as defined in the South Carolina Code of Laws as an accessory use to an agricultural use in the R2 Rural District as a Permitted (“P”) use without conditions.
Cain said the reason they added this was so they could define agritourism, and by adding this it will help protect farmers and agriculture.
“I want to define it so we can help the farmers do what they do normally,” he said.
The amendment passed after Cain made a motion and Hipp seconded.
The final amendment established that all principal and accessory structures must be set back no less than 50 feet from the 360 contour line on Lake Murray and the 440 contour line on Lake Greenwood. However, where adjacent lake properties on both sides of a property are developed the setback shall not be less than the average of the setback from 360 contour on Lake Murray or the 440 contour on Lake Greenwood of the principal structure on the adjacent lake properties.
Mapping and survey data as provided by the Newberry County Geographic Information System will be used by zoning administrator to determine the original location of the 360 or 440 contour lines. Local, state or federal setback requirements from the lake shore may also apply.
This amendment was approved after Hipp made a motion.
In other business, council:
• Recognized the following county employees: Betty Boulware, five years, Treasurer’s Office; Richard Hudgens, five years, Sheriff’s Office; Janet Rutherford, five years, Sheriff’s Office; Wayne Adams, 10 years; and William “Bill” Waldrop, 30 years, councilman.
• Passed final reading of an ordinance that repeals an unused provision regarding petty cash purchases and inserts an affirmative action statement, as required by the Central Midlands Council of Governments.
• Approved second reading of an ordinance that amends an existing 20 year fee in lieu of tax agreement with West Frasier that is now three years old. West Frasier is committing to invest an additional $33 million under the new agreement.
• Passed a resolution adopting a Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• Passed a proclamation declaring September 2016 as Kinship Care Month.
