Special uses now allowed would include bed and breakfasts and children’s camps, while conditional uses would be provided for campgrounds and recreational vehicle and travel trailer parks.
Saluda resident Hal Green asked board members how decisions would be made regarding whether these special and conditional uses would be approved.
“What body is it that determines if a special or conditional use permit will be granted?” Green asked. “Also, what criteria would be used?”
County planner/zoning administrator Cathy Ruth said two separate boards would be responsible for those decisions.
Special use cases would go to the county’s zoning board of adjustments for a quasi-judicial hearing made up of five individuals. To approve the request, the board must have a four-fifths vote, Ruth said.
Meanwhile, conditional use requests for a zoned area must go before the planning board, with approval requiring the majority of votes from seven members.
Decisions from either would need to follow statutory law as their base decision, plus other criteria provided by the UDO committee.
Saluda resident Kirk Hall, owner of Orchard Lake Campground, said he felt the requirements placed on a business remained too restrictive even if one of these boards were to approve the use.
Hall pointed to areas of the MRPO that require an individual or company to hire site surveyors, environmental engineers and various other experts to prove that an area is stable enough for development.
“We want to do what’s right,” Hall said, “but please consider it’s got to be reasonable and cost effective. Some of these regulations are going to be astronomical to try to fulfill.”
UDO member Wayne Horne said he felt the UDO should do away with the 2,200 feet elevation restriction altogether.
“It hurts the whole county because there are so many regulations and restrictions,” Horne said. “Don’t just have some sort of set mark and say you are going to have to do this no matter what… give people a chance.”
McDermott, however, said not all of the things Hall cited would be applicable in all situations. Some of those restrictions apply at only the very highest elevations, not at the 1,650 feet, McDermott said.