County advances plan to limit residential growth
Council members voted to move forward with a suite of nine new ordinances designed to manage the county’s rapid population growth and infrastructure strain. The most significant measure is a proposed two-year building permit allocation system, which aims to cap the number of residential permits issued every six months.
Building Permit Allocation System (1st Reading):
Development
Unanimous · 7-0
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detailsless
PASSED (Unanimous). The ordinance was amended to include a 30% reduction cap on permits as a placeholder while the Planning Commission reviews the data
Votes at a glance ▸ showhide
Building Permit Allocation System (1st Reading):
Development
Unanimous · 7-0
▸
detailsless
PASSED (Unanimous). The ordinance was amended to include a 30% reduction cap on permits as a placeholder while the Planning Commission reviews the data
Slate of Eight Smart Growth Ordinances (1st Reading):
Development
Unanimous · 7-0
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detailsless
PASSED (Unanimous). This package includes new design standards, open space requirements, sidewalk mandates, and revised developer performance guarantees
Discussed, no vote ▸ showhide
Council members held a formal discussion on the work of the ad hoc Smart Growth Committee. Councilman Derek Shoemake presented the committee’s findings, highlighting that Kershaw County is the fastest-growing inland county in South Carolina.
The council discussed the permit allocation process, clarifying that "accessory dwelling units" like pool houses or storage sheds without living quarters would generally fall under exemptions, while the council and planning staff prepare more precise language for the next reading.
Public comment ▸ showhide
There were no members of the public who spoke during the public comment portion of this special called meeting.
Coming up ▸ showhide
- The next steps for the nine ordinances include further review by the Planning Commission and continued refinement of the permit allocation numbers.
- Council expects to have more information on implementation procedures from the Planning Director prior to the second reading of these ordinances.
Independent summary, generated from the county's public video, not an official county communication.