By HALEY HUGHES
Aiken County Council passed by majority second reading of the proposed modifications to codes for RV parks and campgrounds with an amendment, but debate on the issue appears to be far from over as several Council members expressed a desire to find a middle ground but don't yet know what that is.
Discussion, including public comment, on the changes took up the lion's share of Tuesday's meeting as Council members volleyed back and forth about the intent of the original ordinance regulating RV parks and campgrounds, the intent behind the proposed changes and code enforcement of existing and future facilities, among other things.
The suggested code modifications are that an RV park and campground be a minimum of 2 acres instead of 5; that maximum density not exceed 12 vehicles or campsites per acre instead of 10; and that minimum setbacks, among others, be 30 feet from a local street and 20 feet from other RVs and structures.
Council Chairman Ronnie Young and Council members, Kathy Rawls, LaWana McKenzie, Gary Bunker, Willar Hightower and Charles Barton voted to approve the changes as amended. Councilmen Chuck Smith and Scott Singer voted in opposition. Councilman Sandy Haskell was absent.
No perfection can be found in the proposed modifications, said Councilman Gary Bunker, who cautioned the rest of Council not to let perfection be the enemy of good enough.
Caroline Sparks and Bob Samples, each owners of RV parks in Aiken County, have urged Council to approve the changes. Both of their facilities have been shut down for not meeting current code requirements, but both have applications to reopen pending in the Planning and Development department.
Councilman Scott Singer held up the two parks as examples of those which do not meet County regulations, but operate in a "fine manner." Meanwhile, he said, there are multiple parks which are also not permitted and which do not operate in a fine manner. He is concerned that the County is punishing a few and letting others go scot-free.
In all of Aiken County, only one campground is permitted, according to Stephen Strohminger, director of Planning and Development. Only two mobile home parks are permitted, both of which also have campgrounds.
Any RV park, campground or mobile home park that opened in Aiken County after 1992 - when zoning was instituted - is illegal if it does not hold the required permits. Only two zonings permit those kind of parks - rural development (RUD) and urban development (UD).
The reason why more parks have not been shut down is because Planning and Development's code enforcement is complaint-based, according to Council.
"We do nothing about all these others unless someone calls about it," Rawls said, who believes code enforcement could be more uniform. "How can you drive by one that's obviously illegal to cite another?"
Unless the County decides to fund a battalion of code officers, complaint-based enforcement is how things will be, said Bunker.
"There is no other alternative for a county of this size," he said.
Several residents of Good Hope Farms Road spoke out against the changes, believing that making them less stringent will open the door for a host of undesirable parks.
"To us, an RV park will reduce the value of our property," said Gilbert Vance. "What makes it serious is changing it (the minimum size requirement) to 2 acres from 5 acres. There are a whole lot of people in Aiken County with 2 acres of land. They could clear 2 acres and put as many trailers on there as they can."
Bunker offered the one amendment, changing the property line setbacks revert to the original 50 feet. Council members McKenzie, Hightower, Smith, Barton and Young voted to approve the amendment. Councilman Singer abstained and Councilwoman Rawls voted in opposition.
Singer said he abstained because, while Bunker's amendment is a good idea, he doesn't want to piecemeal amendments but approach the changes holistically.
Final reading of the changes is expected at Council's Oct. 16 meeting.![]()
Aiken County Council passed by majority second reading of the proposed modifications to codes for RV parks and campgrounds with an amendment, but debate on the issue appears to be far from over as several Council members expressed a desire to find a middle ground but don't yet know what that is.
Discussion, including public comment, on the changes took up the lion's share of Tuesday's meeting as Council members volleyed back and forth about the intent of the original ordinance regulating RV parks and campgrounds, the intent behind the proposed changes and code enforcement of existing and future facilities, among other things.
The suggested code modifications are that an RV park and campground be a minimum of 2 acres instead of 5; that maximum density not exceed 12 vehicles or campsites per acre instead of 10; and that minimum setbacks, among others, be 30 feet from a local street and 20 feet from other RVs and structures.
Council Chairman Ronnie Young and Council members, Kathy Rawls, LaWana McKenzie, Gary Bunker, Willar Hightower and Charles Barton voted to approve the changes as amended. Councilmen Chuck Smith and Scott Singer voted in opposition. Councilman Sandy Haskell was absent.
No perfection can be found in the proposed modifications, said Councilman Gary Bunker, who cautioned the rest of Council not to let perfection be the enemy of good enough.
Caroline Sparks and Bob Samples, each owners of RV parks in Aiken County, have urged Council to approve the changes. Both of their facilities have been shut down for not meeting current code requirements, but both have applications to reopen pending in the Planning and Development department.
Councilman Scott Singer held up the two parks as examples of those which do not meet County regulations, but operate in a "fine manner." Meanwhile, he said, there are multiple parks which are also not permitted and which do not operate in a fine manner. He is concerned that the County is punishing a few and letting others go scot-free.
In all of Aiken County, only one campground is permitted, according to Stephen Strohminger, director of Planning and Development. Only two mobile home parks are permitted, both of which also have campgrounds.
Any RV park, campground or mobile home park that opened in Aiken County after 1992 - when zoning was instituted - is illegal if it does not hold the required permits. Only two zonings permit those kind of parks - rural development (RUD) and urban development (UD).
The reason why more parks have not been shut down is because Planning and Development's code enforcement is complaint-based, according to Council.
"We do nothing about all these others unless someone calls about it," Rawls said, who believes code enforcement could be more uniform. "How can you drive by one that's obviously illegal to cite another?"
Unless the County decides to fund a battalion of code officers, complaint-based enforcement is how things will be, said Bunker.
"There is no other alternative for a county of this size," he said.
Several residents of Good Hope Farms Road spoke out against the changes, believing that making them less stringent will open the door for a host of undesirable parks.
"To us, an RV park will reduce the value of our property," said Gilbert Vance. "What makes it serious is changing it (the minimum size requirement) to 2 acres from 5 acres. There are a whole lot of people in Aiken County with 2 acres of land. They could clear 2 acres and put as many trailers on there as they can."
Bunker offered the one amendment, changing the property line setbacks revert to the original 50 feet. Council members McKenzie, Hightower, Smith, Barton and Young voted to approve the amendment. Councilman Singer abstained and Councilwoman Rawls voted in opposition.
Singer said he abstained because, while Bunker's amendment is a good idea, he doesn't want to piecemeal amendments but approach the changes holistically.
Final reading of the changes is expected at Council's Oct. 16 meeting.