By Paul Gable
David Ellis, a candidate for Horry County Council District 8, is developing a plan to help county planners with infrastructure needs associated with new growth.
“Development in Horry County is not going to go away as some residents seem to wish,” said Ellis. “Council must be constantly aware of infrastructure needs, especially roads, when considering new development rezoning requests.”
Ellis believes he can bring his unique experience in the development industry to help county council discussions on improving infrastructure in growth areas.
“I believe I can bring a different perspective to council, especially where rezonings are being considered,” said Ellis.
That different perspective includes using state laws that provide for local agencies to do what is called a Public Works assessment.
A Public Works assessment can be thought of as a complement to impact fees without the onerous charges the state impact fee law causes on commercial structures.
Ellis said he recently spent approximately two hours in a meeting with a S. C. Department of Transportation commissioner discussing state road policy.
“State road policy is to use SCDOT funds to repave and reclaim state roads and to repair bridges,” Ellis said. “There are no funds to widen state roads. SCDOT uses funds to widen federal roads, such as interstates, but there are no funds to specifically widen state roads.”
Finding funds for widening state roads, such as Hwy 90 and Hwy 905, is one of the dilemmas Horry County Council currently faces.
Ellis said the use of a public works assessment in certain targeted areas, such as currently undeveloped parcels of 10 acres or more along Hwy 90 and Hwy 905, could generate money to help pay for widening those roads. The assessment would begin after a certificate of occupancy was issued for housing units in those currently undeveloped parcels.
Ellis said his discussion with SCDOT brought to light that the agency may be more willing to match local funds for widening state roads but generally will not fund widening state roads on its own.
“The thing we can do as a county is be better planners for development,” said Ellis. “Whether I am elected to council or not, I hope to make a presentation to the I&R Committee on the use of public works assessments.”
Ellis has a unique perspective on solving problems associated with infrastructure needs for developing areas. His expertise would be a benefit to county council discussions on rezoning and infrastructure.
Ellis said he plans to live in this county a long time and wants to see the ongoing development not be a heavy burden on taxpayers.
Many candidates talk about promoting ‘smart growth’ but have no concept to offer beyond their words. Ellis has specific ideas that can help with growth in the county.
“Things like impact fees are a necessary evil but they bring along some issues in the way state law is written. As planners, we have to look at every possibility to help the citizens,” Ellis said.
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