Hartsville City Council OKs rezoning request, community garden project

Hartsville City Council gave first-reading approval to an ordinance to rezone about 5.5 acres of undeveloped property on Heatley Drive in the South Hartsville area to allow the construction of apartments on the property.

The measure, which passed unanimously Tuesday, will change the zoning of the property owned by Debbie Myers from Residential One (R1) to Residential Two (R2), which will clear the way for construction of multi-family dwellings.

The city planning commission voted to support the change in February. The staff also recommended it, Interim City Manager Vern Myers (no relation to the owner) said.

The change is compatible with existing uses of neighboring land, officials said.

The rezoning is also in keeping with the city’s comprehensive land use plan. The plan says affordable housing, both rental and non-rental, is needed for a variety of different income levels.

South Hartsville was identified and targeted in the plan as a key area for apartments, town homes, row houses, patio homes, senior citizen complexes and mid-priced single-family development.

The measure will come up for final approval at council’s April meeting.

On another property related matter, council approved a resolution supporting the use of a vacant lot at 638 S. Fifth St. as a community garden. The Hartsville Family YMCA is proposing to partner with the city on the project.

Plans call for dividing the property into smaller parcels on which various groups can grow produce for sale to the public. Howard Tripp of the Hartsville Family YMCA presented the proposal to council at its work session on March 2.

The property owner has granted permission for the project at no charge, according to the resolution. The city will also waive business license and service fees for the project.

Supporters of the project say a community garden will bring people together, increase access to healthy foods, create opportunities for recreation and create income opportunities for participants.

The community garden concept is also in keeping with the city’s comprehensive plan, supporters say.

Mike Root of the U.S. Census Bureau gave council a brief update on efforts to encourage a thorough and accurate count in Hartsville in the upcoming 2010 census.

Root said that in the 2000 census, Hartsville was one of the 12 worst tracts in South Carolina in responding to the census.

Root told council several activities are planned in the coming weeks to encourage a higher response rate. On Green Day March 20, Piggly Wiggly grocery stores around the state are sponsoring activities to encourage people to respond. On April 10, organizers are planning a March to the Mailbox in Hartsville, he said.

Census forms should be arriving at Hartsville area homes soon, he said.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the interim city manager told council that private land owners, city officials and officials with Progress Energy will meet next week to discuss what to do about trees planted along South Fourth Street to keep the tops from interfering with the utility company’s power lines.

Some council members expressed concerns about the potential impact on the appearance of the trees, which line a major corridor coming into the city between the Highway 15 overpass and the area in front of Lowe’s and Belk’s.

The trees are on private property. Myers said the city planted them in the mid-1990s as part of its effort to qualify for the All America City designation.

Council also got an annual update from the Parking & Beautification Commission on its efforts in the downtown area. Carol Ann Godwin of the commission told council that the commission spent $29,286 on improvements at Centennial Park and downtown parking areas in 2009.