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Columbia City Council has set up an 2 year interim plan for neighborhoods to opt in to which provides for a review of proposed demolitions, subdivisions and removals. The plan also addresses the size of new construction in relation to the existing homes in the neighborhood. The interim measures will be immediately applied to those neighborhoods in the process of seeking historic designation which are the Cottontown, Heathwood, Hollywood/Rosehill, Shandon and Wales Garden neighborhoods. Other neighborhoods recognized by the Columbia Council of Neighborhoods can opt in to the plan's protection by a majority vote at a meeting of which the property owners in the neighborhood have been properly notified. Other contiguous residential areas may opt in by a process of collecting signatures of a majority of the property owners within the proposed area. The interim plan includes provisions for: LIMITS TO DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL The interim measures address limits to demolition and state that within the protected areas, the City shall not issue a demolition or relocation permit for any structure 50 years old or more without review and approval by the Design Development Review Commission (DDRC). Staff of the DDRC may review and approve the demolition or relocation of a building deemed "noncontributing" in accordance with existing regulations. In the event the DDRC denies the an application involving demolition or relocation, the applicant may appeal that determination to City Council. LIMITS UPON NEW CONSTRUCTION AND SUBDIVISIONS The interim measures also addresses subdivision of lots and new construction and state that the intent of City Council is that new construction that originates from new subdivisions be (1) oriented in a manner generally consistent with the existing orientation of proximate residences and (2) be generally massed and/or setback such that larger residences do not negatively impact adjacent smaller residences. Also, the side yard setbacks imposed upon the new lot shall be the mean side yard setback for all improved residential lots within a 750-foot radius. Other more specific situations including corner lot subdivisions and height and set back restrictions are addressed in the interim measures. The September 19 memorandum presented by Marc Mylott, Director of Development Services, which includes his notes, the opt in procedures and the interim measures is available on the City of Columbia web site (http://www.columbiascgateway.com/events_pz.asp). A smaller document containing the interim measures and the opt in procedures can be reviewed on our web site at http://www.sherwoodforestneighbors.org/pdf/Interim_Ordinance.pdf. Neighborhoods recognized by the Columbia Council of Neighborhoods opt in to the plan by: "a) placing an item upon the agenda of a regularly scheduled neighborhood association meeting labeled 'DISCUSS AND/OR VOTE UPON INTERIM MEASURES FOR COMMUNITY CHARACTER PROTECTION' and shall cause this agenda to be widely circulated at least 30 days prior to the meeting. At a minimum, the circulation of this agenda shall also include a copy of the interim measures and a map of the neighborhood association. b) At the meeting, the neighborhood association shall provide a sign-up sheet upon which persons may record their attendance. c) At the meeting, the neighborhood association shall conduct a vote upon the following question: Do you wish to ask City Council to apply Interim Measures for Community Character Protection to the neighborhood association? d) If a majority of those persons present vote "yes" to the above question, then the president of the neighborhood association shall send a letter to the Zoning Administrator and the Preservation Planner requesting that the neighborhood association be considered for interim measures (hereinafter referred to as an "opt-in letter"). The letter shall describe the ways in which the agenda/notice was circulated, a copy of the agenda and sign-up sheet, and a breakdown of the vote (number of "ayes" and "nays"). All requests for interim measures must be received by the Zoning Administrator or Preservation Planner by November 21, 2007. The consideration of all requests will be scheduled for the January 16, 2008 Zoning Public Hearing. Now is the time for input regarding development guidelines to prevent developers from wrecking our neighborhoods and city. Here are contacts for expressing your opinions: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONTACT INFO Mayor - Bob Coble - P.O. Box 147, Columbia , SC 29217 - 545-3075 mayorbob@columbiasc.net City Council District 1 - Sam Davis - 950 Rosedale Arch, Columbia, SC 29203 - 754-0525 sdavis@columbiasc.net City Council District 2 - E.W. Cromartie, II - 1607 Harden Street, Columbia, SC 29204 - 254-7243; email at ecromartie@columbiasc.net City Council District 3 - Anne Sinclair - 1898 Calhoun Street, Columbia, SC 29201 - 545-3065 asinclair@columbiasc.net City Council District 4 - Kirkman Finlay III - 1601 Shop Road, Suite A, Columbia, SC, 29201 - 748.1090 kfinlay@columbiasc.net City Council At Large - Tameika Isaac Devine 722 King Street, Columbia , SC 29205 - 254-8868 tidevine@columbiasc.net City Council At Large - Daniel J. Rickenmann PO Box 50734, Columbia, SC 29250 - 799-9477 djrickenmann@columbiasc.net Marc Mylott, Director of Development Services msmylott@columbiasc.net Sign up for the CNFAID email Update. Send your name and email address to cnfaid-subscribe@dmzgraphics.com and we will send you updates and action events. |