The Pickens County Planning Commission held a workshop yesterday, August 14th, to discuss establishing a possible special events ordinance for Pickens County.The meeting came as a result of a special one-time music event held this past weekend by the company Long Branch Entertainment allowed by the Pickens County Planning Commission.

In the workshop, the Planning Commission discussed with their attorney Philip Landrum what kind of specifics the ordinance should include. Some things the Planning Commission did not want to regulate were special events such as homecomings held by churches, and other events such as fundraisers held by schools.

To avoid this, Landrum suggested that the Planning Commission define in its ordinance what a special event is and what type of events should be regulated. Landrum also said in the meeting that one way they could do this is by stating if a special event is a type of event that is held on private property that would have a direct impact on county services whereas the event would have to utilize county emergency vehicles or police services. Other issues to be noted in the ordinance according to the Planning Commission are sound and whether or not the ordiance would include a beer and wine permit.

After the meeting, Planning and Zoning Director Joey Lowe told FYN that the next step is for the Planning Commission to develop a draft of the ordinance that will be approved at a later meeting.

FYN will bring you more news from last night’s Pickens County Planning Commission as soon as possible.