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January 17, 2024
Dear Friends & Neighbors:
There is a new high density rezoning request in Pawleys Island that requires your immediate attention.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Tomorrow night, Thursday, January 18, the Planning Commission will hear a high density rezoning request involving an 8.3 acre wooded tract of wetlands next to the Pawleys Island Hammock Shops known as the "Tanner Parcel," which is currently designated by the Comprehensive Land Use Map as "Conservation-Preservation."
The Tanner Parcel is located on the east side of Highway 17 immediately south of the Hammock Shops and north of the Village Shops and runs east from Highway 17 all the way back to the salt marsh. It contains significant wetlands and protected trees.
DETAILS
The rezoning asks to change a 3.22 acre portion of this parcel along Highway 17 from General Commercial to General Residential, which is the highest residential density zoning classification available. The proposal also requests a Comprehensive Land Use Map change from Conservation-Preservation to High Density Residential on the entire 8.3 acre parcel.
If granted, this rezoning would allow up to 130 dwelling units on the entire parcel and up to 50 units on the front 3.22 acres immediately adjacent to the iconic Pawleys Island Hammock Shops, the signature example of low country charm on the commercial corridor. This would be devastating.
CURRENT ZONING & MAP DESIGNATION
The Tanner Parcel is currently split-zoned with three different zoning designations: General Commercial, General Residential and Conservation-Preservation, AND the entire parcel is designated by the Comprehensive Land Use Map as Conservation-Preservation which allows minimal development.
State law requires zoning to conform to the comprehensive plan, not the other way around, and therein lies the biggest problem with this request. The land is designated as Conservation-Preservation and it should not be zoned inconsistently.
Official maps show significant wetlands on this parcel and our research reveals that the parcel has enjoyed the benefit of reduced taxes because of its classification as "agricultural," all of which is consistent with a proper Conservation-Preservation designation on the official map.
This mismatched zoning and comprehensive plan designation is an egregious example of the problem created by Georgetown County's 25-year failure to follow the state law requirement that zoning regulations must be made in accordance with the comprehensive plan. This issue is the subject of four pending lawsuits.
REZONING SHOULD BE DENIED
The law requires the comprehensive plan to be the basis for zoning and land use decisions. A zoning change to General Residential on this parcel would be inconsistent with its comprehensive plan designation as Conservation-Preservation and should not be approved.
There is no provision in the text of our comprehensive plan that would support a map change for this parcel from Conservation-Preservation to High Density Residential. To the contrary, the plan specifically restricts density increases in the Pawleys-Litchfield area.
ACTION ITEMS
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Please attend the Planning Commission public hearing on
Thursday, January 18 at 5:30 pm
Council Chambers
Old Courthouse
129 Screven Street
Georgetown
Your input and attendance are very important.
We appreciate your continued support of our work to protect and preserve our community. Together, we are making a difference.
Your friends at
KEEP IT GREEN
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