Lancaster County Council Enacts 9-Month Residential Moratorium; Denies Major Coulston Development Rezoning and Land Use Change

The Lancaster County Council held its regular meeting on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 6:00 PM.

The meeting addressed several key county functions and development issues. The Council unanimously approved a resolution to adopt the Lancaster County Airport Capital Improvement Plan for Federal Fiscal Years 2027-2031. They also approved a significant 9-month moratorium on new residential development applications to allow for amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). A major development, the Collins Road Site (PDD-26), passed its third and final reading for an amendment to its agreement. However, a proposed land use map amendment and accompanying rezoning request for the Coulston Development at Bailey Road and Flat Creek Road were denied. The Council also established a new Ad-Hoc UDO Committee. The meeting concluded after an Executive Session primarily focused on legal advice and personnel matters.

Detailed Agenda Item Summary

Call to Order, Welcome, Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation, and Approval of the Agenda

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Brian Carnes and included the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation led by Council Member Charlene McGriff. The Agenda was approved.

Citizens Comments

Written comments, submitted prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting, were acknowledged.

Special Presentations

No special presentations were listed or discussed immediately following the Citizens Comments section.

Consent Agenda

The Consent Agenda, for items previously discussed and unanimously approved by Council, was approved.

• a. Approval of Minutes from the October 13, 2025, County Council Regular Meeting.
• b. 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2025-1991: To approve the Town of Kershaw’s request to add an Addendum to the Comprehensive Plan 2040 providing a tailored Land Use Element for the Town of Kershaw.
• c. 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2025-1994: To amend the County Code related to the definition of Animal Control Officer and to add a section for Commissioned County Code Enforcement Officers.

Non-Consent Agenda

• a. Resolution 1313-R2025: Lancaster County Airport Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
  • Action: Approved unanimously.
  • Purpose: To adopt the Airport CIP for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 through 2031, which includes a $2 million initial estimate for a large box hangar with $900,000 allocated from Capital Project Sales Tax funds. The remaining funding is yet to be identified, but the resolution does not have the force of law and does not commit the county to moving forward without full funding.
• b. 3rd Reading of Ordinance 2025-1982 (Collins Road Site)
  • Action: Approved unanimously.
  • Purpose: To amend a Development Agreement with UHF Development Group (PDD-26) to realign density and lot lines between Villages F and H, amend parking requirements, and add a list of permissible uses (Exhibit D).
• c. Public Hearing and 3rd Reading of Ordinance 2025-1987 (Century Communities)
  • Action: Approved (4-2-1).
  • Purpose: To extend the effective date of a Development Agreement with Century Communities Southeast, LLC to June 30, 2026. The vote was 4 to 2 with Council Member Harper recused.
• d. 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2025-1992 (9-Month Residential Moratorium)
  • Action: Approved unanimously.
  • Purpose: To impose a 9-month moratorium on new single-family and multi-family residential development applications and construction permits. This is to allow time for consideration of amendments to the County’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), invoking the Pending Ordinance Doctrine.
• e. 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2025-1993 (FY2025-2026 Budget Amendment)
  • Action: Approved unanimously as amended.
  • Purpose: To further provide for revenues and expenditures during the fiscal year. The amendment included three items funded by unassigned fund balance:
    1. Up to $100,000 for a roof replacement at the Indian Land Consolidated Fire District Station 2.
    2. Up to $600,000 for the Solicitor’s Office Expansion Project at the courthouse.
    3. $489,332 (and change) for the replacement of 11 defective cardiac monitors for Lancaster EMS.
  • Amendment: Council voted to allow the use of the vendor’s contract form for the EMS monitors, provided the County Attorney is involved in the negotiation and review.
• f. 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2025-1990 (Coulston Development Land Use Map Amendment)
  • Action: Denied (1-6).
  • Purpose: To amend the Future Land Use Map (Comprehensive Plan 2040) for the property at Bailey Road and Flat Creek Road, changing the designation from Rural to Neighborhood. The Planning Commission and staff recommended approval. The motion to approve failed.
• g. 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2025-1989 (Coulston Development Rezoning)
  • Action: Denied (0-7).
  • Purpose: To rezone the same 60.02 acres at Bailey Rd. and Flat Creek Rd. from Rural Neighborhood (RN) to Medium Density Residential (MDR). Since the companion comprehensive plan amendment (Item 8f) failed, staff could not recommend the rezoning.
• h. 1st Reading of Ordinance 2025-1995 (Pageland Highway Rezoning)
  • Action: Approved unanimously.
  • Purpose: To rezone approximately 59.14 acres on Pageland Highway from Rural Neighborhood (RN) to Agricultural Residential (AR) to accommodate the continued operation and upfitting of existing poultry barns (Circle S Ranch).
• i. 1st Reading of Ordinance 2025-1996 (Parks & Recreation Rules)
  • Action: Approved unanimously.
  • Purpose: To amend the County Code related to rules and regulations for Parks and Recreation areas/facilities. The amendments address safety measures for watercraft use, vehicle/trailer parking, fishing, and managing large events/abandoned property in parks. Staff agreed to bring back tweaks to the language defining “unattended” property and the rules restricting large groups to address Council concerns about public park access.
• j. 1st Reading of Ordinance 2025-1997 (Animal Enforcement Provisions)
  • Action: Approved unanimously.
  • Purpose: To amend the County Code related to animal enforcement provisions as part of the transition of the animal control function from the Sheriff’s Office to the County Animal Shelter. This included removing the requirement for spaying or neutering owned animals upon redemption, as the county shelter lacks the resources to perform the procedure.
• k. 1st Reading of Ordinance 2025-1998 (Van Wyck Fire Protection District)
  • Action: Approved unanimously.
  • Purpose: To amend the ordinance creating the Van Wyck Fire Protection District to expand funding authority (allowing district fees to be used for operating, maintenance, and personnel expenses, not just capital) and to clarify certain governance functions for the district advisory board.

Discussion and Action Items

• a. Appointment of a County Council Ad-Hoc Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Committee
  • Action: Chairman Carnes appointed the committee members.
  • Members: Council Members Steve Harper (Chairman), Jose Luis, and Stuart Graham, along with community members Maggie Norris and Daryl Walters.
• b. Consideration of and entering into a Development Agreement for Meritage Homes of the Carolinas, Inc.
  • Action: The request for a proposed Development Agreement with Meritage Homes for a 341-acre development off Highway 521 was assigned to the newly appointed Ad-Hoc UDO Committee (which will serve for all Development Agreements).
• c. Appointments and/or Re-Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions
  • Action: Approved unanimously.
  • Health and Wellness Commission: Robin Dawson appointed to serve as an At-Large Representative.
  • Community Outreach and Engagement Advisory Committee (formerly Community Relations): LaSandra Middleton moved to District 2 Representative; Chiquita “Nickie” Evans appointed as the vacated At-Large Representative.

Executive Session

The Council entered into Executive Session to receive legal advice on a pending Indian Land development matter and Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals issues, and for personnel discussions regarding the County Administrator’s office (including evaluation) and the County Attorney’s office. No motions were made, and no votes were taken upon returning to the regular session.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned.