LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (Oct. 13, 2025) — County Council voted to advance a nine-month moratorium on new residential projects in designated fast-growth areas on first reading, amending the draft and invoking the pending-ordinance doctrine so staff can begin applying the pause during the update cycle. Council also approved first reading for the Whitehall Phase 2 comprehensive plan change (4–3) and heard the companion rezoning, postponed action on the Collins Road (PDD-26) amendment and Arbor Meadows/AM Group development agreement to an ad-hoc committee, unanimously authorized litigation against manufacturers of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and handled several administrative items and board appointments. The meeting opened with a joint session and required public hearing with the Board of Voter Registration & Elections regarding the November transportation sales-tax referendum.
Detailed Summary by Agenda Item
Joint Session & Public Hearing — Transportation Sales-Tax Referendum
Council convened with the Board of Voter Registration & Elections to satisfy the state-law public-hearing requirement for the Nov. 4 transportation sales-and-use tax referendum and associated bonds. No speakers addressed the hearing.
Agenda Approval
Council unanimously re-ordered the agenda to take up the moratorium (originally Item 9G) earlier as Item 9A, then adopted the amended agenda.
Citizens’ Comments (Highlights)
Residents largely supported the nine-month moratorium, citing rapid growth and pressure on EMS, fire, law enforcement, schools, and roads. The Clerk also read several dozen electronic comments, the vast majority favoring the pause and stricter growth management.
Special Presentation — Women’s Enrichment Center (WEC)
WEC outlined a new Amazon returns partnership that could deliver pallets of donated goods (food, hygiene, pet supplies, etc.) to local nonprofits and asked the County to consider temporary staging space—suggesting the former Carolina Pharmacy site at the Barnett Complex.
Land Use, Development & Policy Actions
Collins Road PDD-26 Amendment — Public Hearing & Second Reading (Ordinance 2025-1982)
After initial discussion and a procedural clean-up, Council postponed this item to an ad-hoc committee for further review. No final action on second reading; the matter remains pending in committee.
Shiloh Woods Development Agreement Extension — Second Reading (Ordinance 2025-1987)
Council considered the third extension of the DA’s effective date to June 30, 2026. Discussion highlighted concerns about repeated delays in DA effective dates and the need for clearer timing expectations going forward.
AM Group / Arbor Meadows Development Agreement — Public Hearing & First Reading (Ordinance 2025-1988)
Rather than proceed to first reading, Council referred the proposal to the same ad-hoc committee handling Collins Road and postponed action until the committee reports back.
Whitehall Phase 2 Comprehensive Plan Amendment — Public Hearing & First Reading (Ordinance 2025-1990)
PASSED first reading, 4–3. The amendment changes the future land-use designation from Rural to Neighborhood to enable Phase 2 of the established Whitehall subdivision near Bailey Rd. & Flat Creek Rd.
Whitehall Phase 2 Rezoning — Public Hearing & First Reading (Ordinance 2025-1989)
Council conducted first reading to rezone ~60 acres from RN to MDR at Bailey & Flat Creek. Staff captured follow-up questions to be addressed before second reading.
Kershaw Comprehensive Plan Addendum — Public Hearing & First Reading (Ordinance 2025-1991)
PASSED first reading, 7–0. Adds a tailored land-use element for the Town of Kershaw, including updated trail and connectivity objectives.
Nine-Month Residential Moratorium — Public Hearing & First Reading (Ordinance 2025-1992)
Action: Unanimous approval on first reading after amending the draft to remove Section 8 (“Effect on Pending Matters”) and rely on the pending-ordinance doctrine to guide immediate administrative practice.
Scope:
- Applies to new residential subdivisions and multifamily in mapped high-growth areas—notably the Panhandle and rural areas between the Catawba River and Riverside.
- Exemptions:
- Developments with previously approved vested rights
- Single-family permits in established subdivisions
- In-process projects that have already met specified milestones
- Commercial permitting not tied to residential multifamily
- Duration: Nine months, with the option for one extension of up to 90 days if needed to finalize development-regulation updates.
Rationale & Next Steps:
- The pause responds to explosive growth, service-capacity constraints (public safety, utilities, schools, recreation), and the need to modernize the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which has not seen a substantial update since 2016.
- During the moratorium, staff will evaluate public-service performance, propose UDO updates, and return with refined boundaries, exemptions, and administrative guidance for second and third readings.
Budget & Administrative Items
Budget Amendment — First Reading (Ordinance 2025-1993)
Unanimous first-reading approval. Adjustments include facility needs (e.g., ambulance facility roof) and various operational line-item updates.
Animal Control / Code Enforcement Officers — First Reading (Ordinance 2025-1994)
Unanimously approved on first reading, authorizing code-enforcement officers within the Animal Shelter division to strengthen compliance and response capacity.
Authorization to Litigate — Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs)
Council unanimously authorized the County Attorney to pursue litigation against UPF manufacturers, modeled on prior opioid and tobacco actions, to recover alleged county costs tied to adverse public-health impacts.
Boards & Commissions
- Historical Commission (District 4): Richard Van Hall appointed (unanimous).
- Library Board (District 7): Council discussed applicants Richard Garcia, Douglas Fowler, and Shawn Banks; final selection to be confirmed in subsequent records if not captured during the meeting segment.
What’s Next
- The moratorium returns for second reading with the amendment applied; staff will continue UDO updates and capacity analysis during the pause.
- Whitehall Phase 2 comp-plan change and rezoning will come back with staff responses to Council questions.
- Collins Road (PDD-26) and Arbor Meadows DA will reappear after ad-hoc committee recommendations.
- The transportation sales-tax referendum proceeds to the November ballot following the joint public hearing.
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