GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. — Residents call it a “trojan horse,” and Georgetown County calls it the next step in preserving more land and green space.
The new Neighborhood Amenity Zoning District being proposed in Georgetown County promises to protect against development around golf courses and conserve as much land as possible.
Some are starting to come forward that the fear lingers on the inside, that the details of this new district are misleading.
The district was passed by the county council to Georgetown County’s planning commission members to look over on Thursday.
The zoning district for golf courses like Litchfield Country Club and Founder’s has been R-10, or 10,000 sq. foot residential.
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This would allow single-family development. However, it’s not just about the zoning that these courses are under, but also the designated use that residents say was changed without their acknowledgment.
Planning Commission member Marla Jean Hamby even questioned Georgetown County Planning Director Holly Richardson on if the newly adopted comprehensive plan was followed when making the golf courses mentioned, designated as “CONAG,” or Conservation Agriculture.
To many residents who spoke, these courses were supposed to be designated like they always have been, “private recreational,” and will allow no development.
Hamby asked Richardson if the plan that mentioned private recreational on these courses, was ignored.
Richardson said this isn’t a lot of development even if it were to happen, and things are spaced out with frontage and buffers between houses.
“You could pull out one acre to site a house but that would mean four acres would be pulled out to be protected,” said Richardson.
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Residents still have concerns about why old zoning laws are being used to match up with the newly adopted 2024 comprehensive plan.
Residents said it is state law to make sure these things are following the plan, to prevent new zoning districts like this from allowing development.
After some research, the Enabling Act of South Carolina does state:
“… all jurisdictions engaged in local planning and land use regulation must ensure that zoning ordinances are in accordance with the comprehensive plan.”
Richardson said this is still a step forward in terms of getting that green space.
“Everyone wants the continued open golf course. That is the goal that we would all hope to achieve. Unfortunately, we can’t always control if a golf course closes,” said Richardson.
There will be a public hearing on the district in April for residents to share with officials what their concerns and hopes are.
Planning commission members agreed with Richardson that some language needs to be introduced so that residents are not confused about what uses are permitted in the area.
