For the purposes of guiding development in accordance with existing and future needs and in order to protect, promote, and improve the public health, safety, morals, convenience, order, appearance, prosperity, and general welfare, the governing authorities of municipalities and counties may, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified in this chapter, regulate the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot which may be occupied, the sizes of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density and distribution of populations, and the uses of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, recreation, agriculture, forestry, conservation, airports and approaches to them, water supply, sanitation, protection against floods, public activities, and other purposes. The regulations must be made in accordance with the comprehensive plan for the jurisdiction as described in this chapter and must be designed to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers, to promote the public health and the general welfare, to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to protect scenic areas; to include provisions for landscaping and protection and regulation of trees in consideration of their value from an environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, scenic, or preservation standpoint, however, this authority does not include the regulation of commercial timber operations, nor shall this authority restrict the ability of public utilities and electric suppliers from maintaining safe clearance around utility lines; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements. The South Carolina Forestry Commission, through its urban forestry assistance program, may provide recommendations and assistance to municipalities and counties for evaluation, care, and preservation of trees covered by regulations under this chapter as part of the comprehensive plan for the jurisdiction. These regulations must be made with reasonable consideration, among other things, of the character of each area and its peculiar suitability for particular uses, and with a view to promoting desirable living conditions and the sustained stability of neighborhoods, protecting property against blight and depreciation, securing economy in governmental expenditures, conserving the value of land and buildings, and encouraging the most appropriate use of land and buildings and structures.