Neil McLean
Blythewood planning commissioner Neil McLean resigned his seat on the commission at the end of the Aug. 6 meeting.
McLean said it was time to step down due to business opportunities and family commitments. Two years remained on his current four-year term. The position is appointed by the Town Council.
In other business, town administrator John Perry told the commission that changes would need to be made in the town’s tree and landscape ordinance to reflect the
Attorney General’s opinion that the town does not have jurisdiction over the clear cutting of trees in buffering areas along right-of-way areas.
Perry said that in that instance, “We do not have the authority to enforce rules that are set forth in our town ordinance.”
“If land is assessed by the County,” Perry said, “then it is governed by the forestry rules.”
Perry discussed the need to look at the town’s sign ordinance again in terms of window signage. Perry said that while some businesses want to put signs in their windows, the commission might want to look at balancing businesses’ desires for the signs with the architectural standards of the town. Perry also announced that the Town had contracted with Wayne Schuler at the Central Council of Governments (COG) to be the project manager for the updating of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
Perry discussed the Town’s and SCDOT’s joint beautification project at the I-77 interchange.
“We will be planting 100 live oak trees and other landscaping,” Perry said. He also said construction had begun on new decorative signal lights on the west side of I-77. The landscaping of the interchange is expected to be completed by December of this year.
