FLORENCE — The redevelopment of downtown Florence should be a city and county priority for the betterment of the entire county, according to a draft of the updated county comprehensive plan.
The Florence County/Municipal Planning Commission discussed the issues Friday, when it met to work on the Economic Element of the comprehensive plan, undergoing an update after 10 years.
Commission chairman Glynn Willis said Florence’s downtown revitalization is largely a city issue and that county planners also should consider the revitalization efforts of Lake City, Johnsonville and other municipalities in the county.
“Shouldn’t we be inclusive?” Willis asked.
County planning services officer Scott Park agreed, but also said the county is considering a 2-percent hospitality tax to help build a new museum in downtown Florence.
“There’s a clear county initiative that’s focused on the downtown,” Park told the commission.
The city of Florence on July 1 is leaving the county/ municipal planning commission and establishing its own commission. The city’s three appointees to the county commission — Willis, Drew Chaplin and Dorothy Hines — will serve on the city commission.
Another goal of the Economic Element is to establish Florence County as a regional cultural center.
The county hopes to create an “icon,” possibly something developed along Interstate 95, that identifies Florence County, Park said.
Park said he’s discussed ideas with Alex Palkovich, formerly of GE in Florence.
“He told me I can’t share them,” Park said, laughing.
Planning officials will consider ways to tie their efforts in with a recent tourism study encouraging the county to brand itself with the image of Revolutionary War figure Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox.”
The county also must beautify public buildings and use building standards to ensure attractive architecture that would present a good image to visitors, county planning director Bill Hoge said.
“I think goal No. 1 should be getting more jobs in the county, because we’re hurting,” commissioner Peter Knoller said, adding the county has lost many textile jobs at plants including Wellman in Johnsonville, where he lives.
The county also should strive to use local, sustainable products, build energy-efficient buildings and improve the area’s air quality.
“We need to work on ozone,” which is a harmful pollutant at surface level, Park said.
When an area doesn’t meet federal ozone standards, it has difficulty attracting industry because companies must show they’d go beyond regular measures for protecting air quality in the area, Hoge said.
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