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Greenville County Planning Commission

Purpose(s)/Service(s): provides for planning and development throughout the County.
Enabling Legislation: SC Code of Laws, Title 6, Chapter 29: South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994, Act 1963, Act 129, Greenville County Ordinance # 3203

The Planning Commission consists of a board of nine commissioners appointed by County Council and a full-time staff of professional planners supported by administrative and technical personnel. The mission of the Greenville County Planning Commission is to promote managed growth in Greenville County by maintaining a comprehensive planning program which minimizes land use conflicts, coordinates the provision of public services, and optimizes the quality of life for all county residents.

It is the function and duty of the planning commission to undertake a continuing planning program for the physical, social, and economic growth, development, and redevelopment of the area within its jurisdiction. The plans and programs must be designed to promote public health, safety, morals, convenience, prosperity, or the general welfare as well as the efficiency and economy of its area of jurisdiction. Specific planning elements must be based upon careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of existing conditions and probable future development and include recommended means of implementation.

Power and duties
In the discharge of its responsibilities, the local planning commission has the power and duty to:

  • prepare and revise periodically plans and programs for the development and redevelopment of its area as provided in this chapter; and
  • prepare and recommend for adoption to the appropriate governing authority or authorities as a means for implementing the plans and programs in its area:
  • zoning ordinances to include zoning district maps and appropriate revisions thereof, as provided in this chapter;
  • regulations for the subdivision or development of land and appropriate revisions thereof, and to oversee the administration of the regulations that may be adopted as provided in this chapter;
  • an official map and appropriate revision on it showing the exact location of existing or proposed public street, highway, and utility rights of way, and public building sites, together with regulations to control the erection of buildings or other structures or changes in land use within the rights of way, building sites, or open spaces within its political jurisdiction or a specified portion of it, as set forth in this chapter;
  • a landscaping ordinance setting forth required planting, tree preservation, and other aesthetic considerations for land and structures;
  • a capital improvements program setting forth projects required to implement plans which have been prepared and adopted, including an annual listing of priority projects for consideration by the governmental bodies responsible for implementation prior to preparation of their capital budget; and
  • policies or procedures to facilitate implementation of planning elements.

No member of a planning commission may hold an elected public office in the municipality or county from which appointed. Compensation of the members, if any, must be determined by the governing authority or authorities creating the commission. Vacancies must be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. The governing authority or authorities creating the commission may remove any member of the commission for cause.

In the appointment of planning commission members the appointing authority shall consider their professional expertise, knowledge of the community, and concern for the future welfare of the total community and its citizens. Members shall represent a broad cross section of the interests and concerns within the jurisdiction.

The planning commission elects one of its members as chairman and one as vice chairman whose terms must be for one year. It shall appoint a secretary who may be an officer or an employee of the governing authority or of the planning commission. The planning commission shall meet at the call of the chairman and at such times as the chairman or commission may determine.

The commission adopts rules of organizational procedure and keeps a record of its resolutions, findings, and determinations, which record must be a public record. The planning commission may purchase equipment and supplies and may employ or contract for such staff and experts, as it considers necessary and consistent with funds appropriated.

The planning commission may cooperate with, contract with, or accept funds from federal government agencies, state government agencies, local general purpose governments, school districts, special purpose districts, including those of other states, public or eleemosynary agencies, or private individuals or corporations; it may expend the funds; and it may carry out such cooperative undertakings and contracts as it considers necessary.

The Greenville County Planning Commission meets the 4th Wednesday of each month in Conference Room “A” at Greenville County Square. The meetings begin at 4:00 p.m. and generally last two hours.

Address:
Greenville County Planning Commission
301 University Ridge, Suite 400
Greenville, SC 29601
Telephone: (864) 467-7270
http://www.greenvilleplanning.com/