►
From YouTube: Aiken This Week - July 20, 2015 : City Planning
Description
Interim Planning Director Tommy Paradise and Engineering & Utilities Department Director George Grinton discuss the purposes of their respective departments, the roles they play in advancing the City of Aiken, and upcoming plans and issues related to city planning and development.
A
A
C
First
thing
about
the
planning
department:
is
we're
really
not
the
decision
makers
on
a
lot
of
decisions,
our
jobs,
to
make
sure
that
the
policymakers,
the
people
that
do
make
the
decisions-
the
different
boards
commissions
and
council
has
the
information
that
they
need.
So
they
can
make
a
knowledgeable
decision
on
the
issues
that's
before,
but
we
really
look
at
the
long-range
planning
issues
that
the
city
may
may
be
affected.
By
keeping
our
development
review
process,
we
try
to
keep
that
responsive
and
streamlined.
C
You
know
we
get
comments
back
that
we're
not
user-friendly
from
time
to
time,
but
we
really
do
strive
to
keep
that
going
and
get
it
on
through
the
process,
and
then
we
also
help
with
the
development,
and
we
are
responsible
for
the
enforcement
of
the
regulations,
the
land
development
regulations
and
the
zoning
ordinance.
We
also
have
three
Commission's
that
we
provide
staff
support
for
the
Planning
Commission,
the
design
review
board
and
the
board
of
zoning
appeals,
and
there
again
just
like
these-
are
the
policy
and
decision
makers.
C
We
strive
to
give
them
adequate
information,
so
they
can
make
quality
decisions.
Okay
and
just
some
other
things.
We
do
is
we
review
the
site
plans
for
new
projects
whenever
a
project
comes
to
town
we're
one
of
the
first
stops
make
sure
it
fits
the
zoning
we're
to
drop
off
for
the
developer
so
that
we
farming
out
the
engineering
for
their
review
process
and
public
safety
and
the
subdivision
plans.
C
You
know
that
we're
to
drop
off
for
those
we've
got
land
development
regulate
that
regulates
how
subdivisions
are
built,
the
size
of
the
Lots,
the
availability
of
water,
sewer
service,
the
streets,
the
width
of
the
streets,
how
wide
a
cul-de-sac
has
to
be
debt
debt
in
road
links
so
that
you
don't
go
down
a
rock
long
dead,
end
road
and
have
no
place
to
turn
around.
We
also
review
and
issue
the
sign
permits.
C
There
is
just
because,
if
you
change,
if
you
purchase
a
piece
of
property
out
in
the
county-
and
it
has
water,
and/or
sewer
service
to
it-
and
you
change
that
use,
say
you
it's
a
single-family
residential
house
and
you're
going
to
put
a
business
in
it.
Our
policy
now
says
you
need
to
come
to
us
and
get
a
utility
agreement
for
that
commercial
use,
so
that
that's
been
a
big
change
and
then
the
like
I
said
we're
the
central
drop-off
point
for
the
alpers.
Okay.
A
That's
a
lot
and
planning
is
basically
a
small
department
in
your
departments
also
over
the
last
few
months,
you've
undergone
a
lot
of
change
with
staff.
Several
folks
have
retired.
Some
have
moved
on
to
other
agencies,
but
you've
brought
in
some
good
people
and
I
know
you're
excited
to
have
those
those
folks
on
board
tell
us
about
those
people
and
what
the
responsibilities
are
well.
B
C
Me
first
mention
the
ones
that's
left.
Mr.
Evans,
he
was
the
planning
director
for
planning
director
for
28
years,
he
retired
july
of
last
year
and
then
Sandra
Corbett.
She
was
a
senior
planner,
she
retired
in
November
and
I
forget
how
many
years
she
had
close
to
20
years.
Then
you
had
seasoned
french
with
15
years.
She
did
the
historic
preservation
she
recently
retired.
So
we've
lost
a
lot
of
the
institutional
history
that
did
that
the
department
had.
C
Landscape
Architecture
from
the
University
of
Florida
and
she's
also
has
previous
experience
with
the
emergency
preparedness
division
of
the
state
of
Maryland,
doing
Hazard
Mitigation
plan
and
also
was
a
subdivision
planner
and
for
the
Aiken
County,
and
then
she
served
a
time
with
the
augusta-richmond
county
planning
department.
As
a
transportation,
planner
and
she's
also
been
in
private
practice
and
of
course
you
know,
the
2008
downturn
didn't
help
people
in
private
practice
and
planning,
but
so
she
she
brings
a
lot
of
knowledge
and
experience
to
the
department
and
then
the
other
individual
is
Ron
Hannah.
C
He
is
a
recent
graduate
from
the
College
of
Charleston.
He
has
a
he's,
a
James
Island
native,
so
he's
down
from
the
Charleston
area,
and
he
does
staff
support
for
the
board
of
zoning
appeals
and
also
the
Historic
Preservation
Commission,
and
this
is
his
first
public
sector
job.
He
has
a
master's
degree
well,
his
undergraduate
degree
from
college
of
charleston
is
in
political
science
and
he
has
a
master's
degree
in
public
administration.
Would
a
graduate
certificate
in
urban
planning
and
development.
C
So
he's
he's
new
he's
excited
and
we're
looking
we're
looking
forward
to
him
having
a
long
future
with
the
city
and
then,
of
course,
we've
got
two
other
staff
members
in
it
with
a
step.
You
know,
I'd
be
remiss
if
I
didn't
mention
them
and
one
is
Marianne,
Hill
she's
just
anchor.
She
is
the
central
go-to
person
in
any
organization.
C
You
have
one
of
those
people
that
is
just
there
and
knows
that
you
can
go
to
the
public
can
go
to,
but
you
don't
there's
not
she's
kind
of
under
the
radar,
but
we'd
be
lost
without
her
and
then
there's
Paula
Jones
and
Paula
she's,
our
part-time
secretary
up
front
and
she's
just
a
bright
shining
face
when
you
come
in
she's,
always
bubbly
and
happy
and
does
everything
she
can
to
help
the
public
and
us.
So
we
would
really
be
lost
without
the
two
of
them
up.
There
I
know.
A
In
my
little
time
that
you
guys
allowed
me
to
have
an
office
up
there,
those
two
ladies
helped
me
out
a
lot
simple
things
like
you
know,
making
certain
copies
and
doing
those
kind
of
things
they
were
real
blessing
to
me.
You
mentioned
the
different
of
councils
and
committees
that
the
group
works
for
share
with
us
a
little
bit
about
those
folks
and
the
different
committees
and
commissions
that
plan
department
works
with
and
how
you
provide
staff
before
support
for
them
sure.
C
But
before
I
do
that
I
just
wanted
to
mention
something
about
our
volunteers,
the
people
that
serve
on
these
boards
and
commissions
that
a
lot
of
the
public
don't
realize.
In
fact,
I
was
astounded.
One
time
when
I
had
a
member
of
the
public
asked
me
how
much
they
got
paid,
and
these
are
volunteers.
They
don't
get
paid
a
dime,
they
do
it
out
of
dedication
to
the
community
and
they
get
put
in
a
position
where
they
have
to
make
some
very
difficult
and
hard
decisions
and
I
have
seen
them.
C
Do
the
research
and
really
study
and
struggle
over
issues
before
they
made
those
decisions
and
I've
also
seen
them
lose
friends
and
some
that
some
private
business
lose
business.
You
lose
customers
over
decisions
that
they've
made
serving
on
these
boards
and
commissions
and
I.
Think
that's
something
that
a
lot
of
times
we
take
for
granted
and
you
know-
and
we
need
to
recognize
the
dedication
and
the
value
that
these
members
bring
to
the
boards
because
they
take
it
serious.
It's
not
a
come
in
the
meeting,
make
a
vote
and
leave
they
research.
C
These
issues
they
visit
sites.
There's
a
lot
of
work
that
goes
into
their
decision
making
and
they
don't
get
paid
one
red
cent,
but
anyway
we
we
provide
staff,
support
for
the
Planning
Commission,
the
design
review
board
and
the
board
of
zoning
appeals
and
the
Planning
Commission
I
see
the
Planning
Commission
get
a
lot
of
heat
from
time
to
time
on
issues
Planning
Commission
for
the
most
part,
is
they
recommending
body
the
only
time
that
they
have?
The
final
say
is
if
land
development
regulations
developing
subdivisions?
A
C
Know
they
feel
like
a
variance
is
something
where
these
are
the
rules.
But
in
this
particular
case
it
doesn't
make
sense
to
apply
it.
They
make
the
final
decision
there,
but
other
than
that
they
make
recommendations
to
City
Council
and
they
make
recommendations
on
annexations,
rezoning,
zor,
zonings
city
services,
the
utility
services
that
I
was
talking
about
earlier,
and
then
they
propose
amendments
to
the
zoning
ordinance
and
land
development
regulations.
The
City
Council
and,
like
I
said
they
also
grant
variances
the
design
review
board
they
they're
responsible
for
the
overlay
districts.
C
We
have
two
overlay
districts,
there's
the
old
lake
and
overlay
district,
which
includes
downtown
and
part
of
the
old
Aiken
section
going
east
and
in
the
historic
districts,
and
they
they
were
formerly
known
as
the
historic
preservation
commission,
but
they
approved
the
construction
alteration,
dem
elation
demolition
and
relocation
of
buildings.
In
these
in
these
districts
they
also
make
res
men
recommendations
to
council
owned
properties
that
may
be
deemed
historic
and
then
the
Board
of
Zoning
Appeals.
C
They
do
here,
applications
for
special
exceptions,
variances
and
appeal.
An
administrative
appeals
and
a
special
exception
is
this.
Use
is
allowed
in
this
particular
district
by
special
exception,
which
means
it
has
to
have
a
public
hearing
and
gives
the
neighbors
and
opportunity
to
speak.
It's
not
allowed
by
right
as
we
call
it,
and
then
the
board
can
hear
the
neighbors.
It
can
hear
the
circumstances
of
this
particular
operation
and
make
that
decision
in
a
variance
like
I
said
earlier.
C
Is
these
are
the
rules,
but
in
this
particular
instance,
they
shouldn't
apply
and
in
an
administrative
appeal,
is
when
the
Planning
Director,
the
zoning
official
says,
makes
a
decision
and
the
applicant
disagrees
with
it.
That's
his
first
step
of
appeal:
let's
go
to
the
Board
of
Zoning
Appeals,
okay,.
A
Now
and
those
will
be
doing
a
show,
recent
up
coming
up
on
the
website,
but
all
their
agendas
and
I
think
all
the
minutes
eventually
end
up
on
the
city's
website.
So
people
want
to
see
discussion
that
went
on.
They
can
get
a
look
at
the
website
to
get
that
information
correct
one
of
the
things
that
people
ask
me
when
they
heard
you
were
coming
on
the
show
they
want
to
know.
C
C
It's
it
may
affect
our
land
values.
It
may
affect
their
competition
it.
It
may
affect
a
lot
of
things
that
may
end
up
that
project
not
coming,
and
you
know
we
want
to
be
user-friendly
when
it
comes
to
the
business
community
and
our
citizens,
and
so
it's
confidential
until
we
see
a
site
plan
once
they
submit
that
application.
Well,
then
they're
not
in
the
research
and
and
do
due
diligence
phase
anymore.
We've
got
an
application,
that's
public
information
and
I'm
glad
to
show
it.
Anybody
that
comes
into
the
office.
Okay,.
A
C
C
But
the
big
issue
coming
up
for
us
in
the
next
year
is
the
comprehensive
plan
and
we've
released
the
RFP
for
that.
Those
are
due
back
to
be
back
to
us
by
the
end
of
the
month
in
the
July
and
then
we'll
review
them,
but
that's
going
to
be
the
master
land
for
the
city
for
the
next
10
to
20
years,
and
we
hope
to
have
that
finished
by
October
one
2016.
C
It's
a
pretty
massive,
overtaking
we're
looking
at
not
only
the
city
limits,
but
how
we
want
to
do
in
our
utility
districts
and
when
we
provide
services
outside
of
the
city
limits.
We
can
say:
okay,
this
is
the
type
growth
we
want
in
this
area
and
we're
going
to
really
need
citizens
to
participate
in
that
process.
So
hopefully
people
will
keep
their
ears
open
for
it
and
come
out
to
the
meetings
when
we
have
and
participate.
C
One
of
the
we
work
together
on
a
daily
basis,
but
one
of
the
biggest
things
I
want
to
give
a
comment
about
is
the
GIS
day.
The
GIS
is
located
in
an
engineering
engineering
department
and
they
give
us
the
support.
They
do
the
zoning
maps
force
to
updates
and
they
really
do
a
fine
job
in
keeping
us
in
the
loop
where
we
can
provide
the
services
and
then
we
are
the
central
drop
off
and
we
coordinate.
C
When
we
get
plans,
we
have
to
coordinate
utilities
where's
the
sewer
lines
coming
in
at
versus
our
landscaping
and
planting
of
the
trees
subdivision
plans.
You
know,
make
sure
the
trash
trucks
have
enough
room
to
turn
around
fire.
Trucks.
Have
enough
turn
turn
around
and
also
George
and
I
are
both
active
with
the
transportation
planning.
That's
something
that's
new
to
me
since
I
become
the
interim
director
there's
just
a
lot
out
there
going
on
okay.
A
B
Basically,
it's
pretty
much
like
tommy
said
he
is
providing
us
with
the
information
when
there
are
developments
coming
in
and
there
are
plans
to
review.
He
gathers
all
that
we
respond.
We
inspect
the
plans
and
review
them
for
their
compliance
with
the
engineering.
You
know,
specifications
and
standards.
B
If
we
have
questions
about
codes
will
work
with
with
Tommy
and
his
group
to
understand
in
them
and
what's
allowed
in
different
areas,
but
we'll
send
back
the
comments
to
Tommy's
planning
department
and
then
they
will
interact
with
the
developer
and
we,
through
an
iterative
process,
get
a
plan
that
the
city
of
Aiken
will
be.
You
know
proud
to
have
a
development
or
something
new
come
in.
They
provide
us
with
the
information
so
that
we
can
update
our
GIS.
B
Engineering
is
the
technical
arm
of
the
city.
We
help
the
various
departments
when
they
have
projects.
Answer
technical.
You
know,
project
management
issues
we
actually
will
in
some
cases
manage
the
project
for
them.
From
you
know,
completion
of
the
bid
document
to
you
know
implementing
the
contract
and
overseeing
the
the
work
in
some
cases
were
more
of
an
advisory
to
that,
because
it
might
be
a
bigger
job
and
it
might
be
handled
with
a
consultant,
but
typically
engineering
will
will
review
the
new
infrastructure
needs
for
the
city.
Where
do
we
need
more
water?
A
B
Utilities
actually
makes
up
quite
a
few
departments.
There's
the
water
production
department,
there's
the
sanitary
sewer
with
which
has
lift
stations
and
moves.
You
know
the
wastewater
throughout
the
city,
there's
a
storm
water
which
is
trying
to
control
the
the
rain
so
that
it
doesn't
cause
a
lot
of
problems
and
flooding
and
streets
and
so
on.
We
are
responsible
for
the
streets
and
the
sidewalks
and
as
well
as
the
streetlights,
so
the
Utilities
Department
basically
responds
to
those
needs.
B
Our
street
crews
actually
spend
a
lot
of
time,
helping
the
sewer
and
water
crews
repair
what
happens
after
you
make
a
leak
repair.
The
leak
may
be
in
a
driveway,
maybe
in
a
yard
it
may
be
in
the
street,
and
so
our
water,
our
street
crew,
will
do
the
the
concrete
of
asphalt
repair
and
we
have
a
yard
crew.
That
comes
in
and
repair
the
Arts.
B
We
have
actually
a
new
initiative
that
the
utilities
is
working
on,
and
this
is
the
oil
and
grease
technician
we've
recently
reorganized,
so
that
we
could
focus
an
individual
to
go
out
to
various
restaurants,
where
we
have
oil
and
grease
traps
and
things
of
that
nature
that
need
to
be
inspected
and
kept
clean
to
keep
the
grease
and
oil
out
of
our
sewer
lines.
So
that's
something
that
we're
starting
new
well.
A
B
B
We
we
are
actively,
as
I
just
said,
going
after
some
of
the
businesses,
and
we
will
be
going
to
restaurants
around
the
city
and
inspecting
their
grease
traps.
All
all
restaurants
are
required
to
have
grease
traps.
They're
required
to
maintain
them
they're
actually
required
to
keep
a
log
and
a
manifest
of
who
is
coming
to
you
know
properly
licensed
contractors
coming
to
remove
the
oil
and
grease
and
dispose
of
it
properly,
and
we're
going
to
become
more
active
at
doing
that,
because
really
grease
is
that
the
number
one
cause
for
backups
in
the
city,
okay,.
A
B
We
have
three
different
water
treatment
plants,
the
newest
one
being
the
silver
bluff
water
treatment
plant.
Where
we
installed
two
wells,
it
actually
has
capacity
and
could
treat
an
additional
capacity
of
one
more
well
and
so
we've
planned
for
the
future
and
right
now
we
can
produce
about
18.6
million
gallons
per
day
of
water.
B
Typically,
this
time
of
year
when
it's
dry
and
people
are
watering
their
lawns,
we're
in
the
14
million
gallons
per
day
usage.
So
before
we
added
the
silver
bluff.
Well,
we
were
having
some
concerns
and
problems
with
low
water
pressures.
When
everybody
was
I,
guess
there's
the
Monday,
Wednesday
Friday
mentality
of
this
is
when
we
water
and
so
from
four
o'clock
in
the
morning
to
nine
o'clock.
In
the
morning
the
city
has
limited.
B
You
know
water
tank
capacity
and
and
basically
would
suck
it
dry,
and
then
we
would
be
maintaining
the
supply
through
active
production
in
the
whales
with
the
silver
bluff
plant.
We
now
have
an
additional
750,000
gallons
of
storage
plus
capacity,
so
we're
in
much
much
better
shape
and
we're
in
well
positioned
for
the
future.
So.
B
And
the
the
situation
we
basically
look
at
our
productions,
look
at
the
demand
and
then
we
would
only
implement
that
if
it
was
absolutely
needed.
The
state,
DNR
I
guess
has
a
committee
that
they
decide
whether
in
a
drought
conditions
and
if
our
capacity
started
such
and
the
demand
was
greater.
That
caused
our
water,
precious
has
dropped
and
we
would
make
a
recommendation
to
the
city
manager
to
put
restrictions
in
and
if
you
know
it
was
all
agreed
to,
then
that's
when
we
would
do
it.
But
I
don't
see
that
for
the
foreseeable
future.
A
We've
also
had
a
relatively
damp
spring
yeah
that
always
helps
I
know.
A
lot
of
people
are
excited
about.
What's
going
on
in
the
alley
which
is
which
is
right
behind
us
over
the
next
several
months,
we're
going
to
be
changing
the
face
of
the
alley,
but
not
only
what
people
will
see
above
ground
what's
going
on
below
grounds,
really
the
crust
of
what
we're
trying
to
do
that
tell
us
a
little
bit
about
that
project.
We're.
B
Really
excited
about
that
project
as
well.
The
project
really
started
because
the
city
has
had
an
objective,
I
guess
for
a
while
to
take
the
overhead
wires
and
put
them
under
ground
just
to
beautify
the
downtown
area,
and
when
you
start
looking
at
what
have
to
do
in
order
to
achieve
that,
we
would
be
cutting
up
the
sidewalks.
The
paving-
and
you
know,
patching
wouldn't
wouldn't
do
justice
to
the
alley
area
in
the
downtown.
B
So
when
you
we
started
looking
at
the
project,
we
decided
that
what
we
could
do,
then,
is
make
the
area
look
better
when
we
finish
the
project
undergrounding
all
these
wires.
Now
the
wires
you're
talking
about
are
not
just
the
electrical
wires,
there's
also
cable
and
telephone
wires.
So
you
start
talking
about
all
the
utilities
and
then,
when
you
start
thinking
about
what's
underground
and
where
you're
going
to
put
it,
you
know,
there's
been
a
lot
of
different
things
put
in
the
ground
over
the
years.
B
There's
gas
lines,
there's
water
and
sewer
lines,
the
water
and
sewer
lines
are,
you
know,
50,
plus
years
old,
so
what
we
made
the
decision
is
that
when
we're
going
to
dig
up
the
alley
will
do
it
will
cut
cut
the
cat's
tail
off.
You
know
one
time
not
not
an
inch
at
a
time
we
will.
We
will
take
care
of
all
the
utilities
so
that,
hopefully
we
will
not
have
to
worry
about
fixing
leaks
or
old
sewer
lines
or
old
water
lines.
So
what
we'll
be
doing
is
digging
up
the
the
alley
in
phases.
B
We
anticipate
three
phases
and
we
will
replace
the
water,
the
sewer,
we'll
put
all
the
utility
lines
we've
been
acquiring
and
talking
with
all
the
business
owners
and
the
building
owners
so
that
we
can
get
easements
so
that
we
can,
you
know,
put
the
lines
where
they
need
to
go
and
where
our
anticipated
timeline
would
be.
We
are
going
to
get
bids
actually
next
week
and
then
we'll
look
at
the
result.
B
If
they
are
acceptable,
then
we
would
go
to
council
asked
for
permission
to
proceed
and,
if
that's
granted,
then
who
would
anticipate
working
the
project
like
I,
said
in
three
phases.
Probably
the
first
phase
would
be
hopefully
completed
in
before
Thanksgiving
and
I
say
hopefully
I'm
hoping
that
maybe
they
could
do
two
phases
between
now
and
thank
giving,
but
that's
that'll
be
dependent
on
the
contractor
selected
and
the
amount
of
work
and
how
they
organize
it.
So
what
I'm?
We
will
not
do
any
construction
during
the
holiday
seasons.
B
We've
got
Thanksgiving
Christmas,
so
we'll
we'll
button
everything
up
so
that
you
know
people
won't
be.
There
won't
be
an
interference
with
all
the
festivities
planned
for
that
time
and
the
same
thing
in
the
spring
when
we
have
our
normal
golf
and
horse
season,
March
April
time
frame
will
work
in
between
those
so
that
we
will
not
interfere
with
any
of
the
businesses
and
the
other
thing
activities
the
citizens
want
to
enjoy.
Alright.