Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
During the regular meeting of the Madison County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, March 8, the commissioners held the first reading of an ordinance on a temporary moratorium on the “establishment and/or siting of recreational vehicles (R/Vs) within the county.” This ordinance, if passed, would have exceptions for R/V parks, for those home owners who have their own R/Vs located on their property and for presently and lawfully established and sited R/Vs. The ordinance also provides for a procedure for granting exceptions to the moratorium due to extraordinary hardship. The ordinance would be effective only in the unincorporated parts of the county.
As stated in the ordinance, “it has come to the attention of the board that there has been a proliferation of the location, siting and use of recreational vehicles within the county, and the board believes that some persons may be using recreational vehicles for residential uses. The board believes that the use of recreational vehicles has the potential for harming the county's economic development and redevelopment activities and otherwise significantly and adversely affecting public health, safety, morals and welfare.”
The ordinance would have no affect on existing or proposed RV parks. There is also an exception to homeowners who have RVs located on their property, “however, during the temporary moratorium, the homeowner shall not receive any permit nor do anything for which a permit would otherwise be required, without limitation by enumeration, the placement of a power pole or other electrical service connection for use by RVs on the homeowner's property.” The moratorium does not apply to RVs already lawfully established and sited in the county at the time the moratorium is in effect, provided the RV “not change its location, nor alter its use or size during the term of the temporary moratorium.”
The moratorium is being proposed in order to give the county time to complete a study and make recommendations concerning appropriate regulations “on the establishment and/or siting of any RVs for residential and other purposes, and if such are to be allowed, to develop the criteria for issuance of permits or other official action for the same, as well as the appropriate zoning and land use controls thereon, and to submit to the Board recommendations as soon as practicable.”
There will be a second public hearing on the ordinance during the next county commission meeting on Wednesday, March 22, at 6 p.m. The public will have an opportunity to address the board with any opinions or concerns on the matter. If passed, the moratorium will last until Oct. 1, 2023, unless extended by the board.
Byron Poore, with the Tourist Development Council (TDC) for Madison County, presented a branding project agreement with ChandlerThinks, a Tennessee company that specializes in destination marketing, with a niche for small rural towns. The base fee for the project is $63,292. The board approved the project.
The board approved a plan to piggy-back on a Columbia County contract with Leotta Location and Design for a community planning grant.
The commissioners approved four bids from Fla. Homes, Inc. and one bid from Grass Construction, LLC for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Rehabilitation Program.
The next meeting of the Madison County Board of County Commissioners is set for Wednesday, March 22, at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place in the meeting room of the Courthouse Annex, located at 229 SW Pinckney St., in Madison.