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Bluffton delays new development over concerns on stormwater rules
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In other action:
• Bob Fletcher, assistant town manager of engineering, told council that design flaws will delay completion of the Streetscape project on Bruin Road by about eight weeks. The project, scheduled for completion in September, is now expected to be finished in November. Substantial completion on the May River Road segment, however, is still expected Sept. 30.
• Council voted 3 to 2 on a first reading to approve annexation of 132 Burnt Church Road. Members Charlie Wetmore and Allyne Mitchell opposed the motion. The annexation still faces a second reading.
• Council voted unanimously:
To amend the public notice requirement and candidate filing period for elections. Now the filing date for candidates will close 30 days before an election.
Bluffton Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday not to consider any new development until Beaufort County decides how it will change stormwater regulations or until 60 days has passed -- whichever comes first.
The motion from council member Charlie Wetmore came after Marc Orlando, assistant town manager for growth management, presented council with an update on the differences between town and county stormwater requirements.
The county is working to change its stormwater rules to require the volume of runoff in developed areas to match that of pre-development conditions -- a standard that doesn't currently exist in town or county ordinances.
Orlando told council the county has hired two engineering firms to answer whether anything can be built under the tougher standard.
The engineering reports and the county's draft for new requirements are expected at the end of September, Orlando said.
"At that time we'll review a draft, and then we might make some changes to our stormwater ordinance," Orlando said after the meeting. "I anticipate we will make those changes if they are viable."
Some of those changes might also lead to setting the rate, temperature and duration of flow to pre-development conditions.
"This is so critical," Wetmore said during the meeting. "I move the town not allow any new initial master plans to come before council until the Beaufort County report has come or until 60 days has passed ... so we can get the guidelines set."
Council member Fred Hamilton also asked staff to study whether runoff can be stored and released over a longer period than the existing requirement of 72 hours.
Orlando said staff is already studying that issue. He also said new development applications that have already been submitted to the town would be allowed to move through the process.
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