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Murphy – Saying that Cherokee County’s environment and rural way of life are in danger without a limited land use ordinance, the Board of Commissioners established a county planning board and named themselves as ex officio members of that board.
The impetus to create a planning board followed the installation of three crypto currency mines in Cherokee County – in Marble, Murphy and Ranger – with the county having no tools to prevent the further spread of the often noisy facilities. That compares to neighboring Clay County, which took swift action to prevent a proliferation of crypto mines.
“The word ‘zoning’ evokes an immediate negative reaction in Cherokee County,” District 4 Commissioner Dan Eichenbaum said, reading from a prepared statement at the March 6 board meeting.
“Several years ago, in Marble, a crypto mine facility was constructed and operated in a manner that protected the neighborhood from noise pollution,” Eichenbaum said.
“Last year, a facility opened on Harshaw Road that did not respect the needs of that area. It was not a good neighbor.”
The Board of Commissioners attempted to address the issue by crafting a noise ordinance, but public outcry and fears of unintended consequences when the draft ordinance was unveiled in early February compelled the board to change course and focus on a land use ordinance that must be created and monitored by a planning board.
It is unclear what process led to the planning board ordinance, which was unveiled fully formed with no dissent from commissioners and, apart from Eichenbaum’s prepared statement, just a few brief comments from other commissioners that echoed Eichenbaum’s comments.
“This is the right thing to do in Cherokee County,” District 5 Commissioner Jan Griggs said.
“As we all argued about possible solutions, another important question arose – what other disruptive and dangerous high impact industries might want to locate here?” Eichenbaum said. “Several come to mind immediately. In addition to another crypto mine, how about toxic waste, nuclear waste, toxic chemical storage, asphalt plants, or paper mills?”
The planning board resolution states that the Board of Commissioners recognizes and champions the rights and liberties of the private land owners of Cherokee County. The board recognizes its duty to preserve and protect the rural values espoused by our citizens while promoting the growth and development of the county.
“The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners recognizes that dangers exist to the environment and rural way of life in Cherokee County,” according to the resolution, adding that the board owes a duty to citizens of the county to look to the future and plan for it.
The first step is to create a Planning Board that will consist of the five county commissioners in an ex officio capacity – they operate as a separate entity that operates under a set of rules it adopts for itself, Eichenbaum said.
The Planning Board aims to adopt a simple county plan that can be adopted quickly “so the commission can proceed with protecting our citizens against the high impact industries that could turn our county into a toxic wasteland,” he said.
Eichenbaum said every member of the Board of Commissioners has committed to oppose zoning in any form.
“The outcome of this process will not amend, alter, restrict or abolish the property rights of any individual,” he said. “Preventing high-impact industry from setting up shop anywhere in the county is not zoning, and the only restriction that I personally will vote for is one that prohibits high-impact industry. My goal is to create a shield that will prevent the loss of individual liberties and protect our way of life.”