South is new chair of planning commission
by Tom Chillemi
At its January 12 meeting, the Middlesex Planning Commission elected Marilyn South as chair and John England vice chair for 2012.
The commission set its meeting date and time as the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the historic courthouse in Saluda.
Following a public hearing, the commission recommended approval of a 24-lot subdivision on 46 acres on Robins Point Avenue in Delta Shores Subdivision, Section C.
The applicant is William M. Woodson of Deltaville. His agent, Al Ramsey, told the commission a 2007 plat for the same property was approved for 40 lots.
Middlesex planning director Wally Horton said the new layout, with fewer lots, is less obtrusive.
The property did not need to be rezoned.
In another matter, the commission approved amendments to the zoning ordinance regarding appeals and variances that bring it into compliance with state law.
Some of the changes involve the criteria for granting a variance to the zoning code.
In one example, no longer will the Middlesex Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) need to find “that the strict application of the ordinance will produce undue hardship approaching unconstitutional confiscation without compensation.”
That condition has been stricken from the ordinance. In its place, the BZA must find “that the strict application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship relating to the property.”
The proposed changes were sent to the Middlesex Board of Supervisors for consideration and possible adoption.
