Jan Wiliams
Citizen Reporter
Several hundred Greenville County residents unhappy with the Greenville County Comprehensive Land Use Plan were able to get the county council to amend the plan during a recent meeting.
Many Greenville County residents had expressed concerns with the plan in recent months because it didn’t do enough to protect private property rights, they say.
A petition presented to the county council during the plan’s third reading on Dec. 1 read:
“We the People of Greenville County,
“Whereas the majority of citizens of Greenville County have no knowledge of the effects of the Greenville County Comprehensive Land Use Plan; And, whereas the effect of this plan may in due time cause irreversible harm to property rights of said citizens; We the undersigned, do hereby petition the Greenville County Council to insert strong language in the Greenville County Comprehensive Land Use Plan to observe private property rights when any plans are brought to County Council for implementation.”
Afterward, County Council Chairman Butch Kirven offered a summation of the plan and its development, and then Councilman Willis Meadows made a motion to remove one of the plan’s appendixes. The council then went into executive session because of concerns over legal issues.
When they returned, the appendix in question had been partly revised, with its goals retained to comply with legislative requirements and wording added to protect private property rights. These changes were unanimously approved by the council.
The passage of the plan was seen as a step in the right direction because the amendment to insert strong language to protect private property rights received unanimous passage from council members.
Another positive is the fact that the plan cannot be implemented until each item is reviewed, debated and voted on again individually.
Jan Williams is a former Navy supply corps officer and a retired automotive fabrics development engineer from Milliken and Co. who lives in Greenville.