Design Guidelines: Many municipalities in South Carolina have design guidelines for new development within historic districts, outlining specific architectural styles, materials, and other requirements to ensure that new construction complements the existing historic fabric.
May 9th - KIG Community Forum: Proposed Land Use Plan for the Waccamaw Neck
Spot Zoning Deemed Illegal by SC Supreme Court
Land use lawsuits most commonly occur in situations where plaintiffs claim they are receiving unequal treatment. A common cause of such a lawsuit is “spot zoning.” In the 1963 case Bob Jones University, Inc. v. City of Greenville, the SC Supreme Court invalidated “spot zoning,” which it defined as giving a small land parcel a classification entirely unlike the zoning for surrounding areas in a way that benefits the owners of that property and harms other property owners.
Too close to the airport? Georgetown housing project stalls amid safety concerns
Plans for a housing development near the Georgetown County Airport face turbulence after aviation officials raised concerns about planes flying too close to rooftops.
Known as South Island Landing, the project would turn nearly 29 acres of undeveloped woods along the city’s southern border into 274 homes at the intersection of Old Charleston Road and U.S. Highway 17.
Georgetown City Council expected to approve sewer service for the new Winyah Fishing Village
According to documents, if approved, the city will assume ownership of this new sewer easement and will become responsible for its sewer line operation and maintenance in perpetuity.
The development, when complete, will contain 18 single-family lodging units and a commercial space adjacent to the Motel 6
Liberty Steel Layoff Announcement
Today it was announced the production of wire rod will end June 19 – at least temporarily – and the plant will produce wire mesh and welded steel products.
This will result in the layoff of 50 of the mill’s 79 workers, according to a Liberty Steel press release.
Company leaders say the move is necessary because “current market forces, along with a surge in imported steel, have led to a decrease in rod prices, causing the mill to incur higher production costs than the selling price of the rod.”
Georgetown County Council approves three, denies two, rezoning requests
By a 5-1 vote, Georgetown County Council has approved a rezoning request and a change to the county’s comprehensive plan that will allow 27 homes to be built on eight acres of land adjacent to The Hammock Shops in Pawleys Island. Councilman Bob Anderson cast the only “no” vote to the proposals. The vote was to amend the comprehensive plan from Conservation Preservation to Medium Density Residential.
The new development will be called Magic Oaks.
Waccamaw Neck residents show up in force to protest new Land Use Element plan
Scott Harper/GAB News•
One after one, residents from the Waccamaw Neck addressed the Georgetown County Planning Commission to speak out against the proposed Land Use Element portion of the Comprehensive Plan.
The meeting was held inside Georgetown County Council Chambers. The room was packed beyond capacity. There was also a large crowd outside the building that could not get inside because there was no more room.
After County Planning Director Holly Richardson gave a lengthy detailed explanation about the proposed Land Use Element, the public hearing was held. For more than an hour residents expressed concerns about parts of the plan.
The county must update its comprehensive plan every decade. Residents urged the planning commission to just tweak the current plan rather than the complete overhaul that is being proposed.
The biggest complaint expressed is about the increase in density that is part of the proposal.
One resident says a change in density would destroy the natural resources and the “quality of life.”
Many residents said the changes will result in the Waccamaw Neck becoming a place such as Mount Pleasant, Surfside Beach, or Myrtle Beach. Especially since high density would be allowed from the area near Hog Heaven all the way to the Horry County line.
Here is the public hearing portion of Thursday’s meeting:
After the public hearing, the planning commission decided to defer making a decision on whether or not to approve the Land Use Element, as presented.
With the matter deferred, Richardson is expected to meet with planning commission members to discuss what changes they want to see made before it is brought back before the full commission for reconsideration.
First Crown Pointe plans to be reviewed Thursday evening
Eighteen years after it was first introduced to the Georgetown County Planning Commission, Crown Pointe is now expected to become a reality.
Crown Pointe is a mixed-used planned development located along both sides of Highway 51 extending east to Highway 701 from Pringle Ferry north to David Ray Road.
It contains 1,716 acres. In 2010 it was approved for 3,244 residential units as well as commercial space.
Through the years, various zoning changes took place in the Crown Pointe area, but no construction took place.
Trying to Keep City Above Water (Charleston)
Chief among those is a new, elevation-based zoning map. In the lowest of the city's districts, which are the most vulnerable to flooding, the new strategy recommends reducing development density, and supporting provisions that boost natural "green" systems to absorb and filter rising waters. Simultaneously, the update calls for incentivizing more density and development, including affordable housing, on higher ground.