Coastal Observer

Land use: Dark clouds of opposition gather over proposed solar farm

An investment firm has delayed its request for approval for Georgetown County’s second large-scale solar farm in the face of opposition from residents and property owners in the Plantersville community. Sunrise Renewables is seeking...
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THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Land use: County moves to cut top residential density to 5 units an acre

A plan to cut the top residential density allowed by Georgetown County’s zoning ordinance from 16 to 12 units an acre was postponed this week. The county is now on track to cut the...
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Passages: They have not forgotten 9/11

A line of firefighters filed past a rusted piece of steel outside the Midway Fire and Rescue headquarters at 8:46 a.m. They touched the gray granite that held the fragment from the World Trade...
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Pawleys Island: Talks over inlet’s future raise ‘some optimism’

Negotiations are continuing between the town of Pawleys Island, state agencies and property owners at Prince George who say that a 2020 beach renourishment project on the island caused erosion along their shoreline. “There’s...
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Land use: Anderson will push for zoning changes based on people, not houses

While his constituents were raising concerns about the number of new homes that could be built on the Waccamaw Neck under a new land use plan, County Council Member Bob Anderson said he started...
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Environment: Underground stormwater system raises concern about impact on Pawleys Creek

Capturing stormwater from a proposed residential development on Pawleys Creek in an underground system has the potential to increase pollution, neighbors told county officials at a hearing last week. The creek has been closed...
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Land use: Developer claims citizens group behind lawsuit filed by others

The developer of 27 lots on Pawleys Creek is seeking damages from a citizens group that it claims is behind a lawsuit challenging Georgetown County’s approval of the project. Keep It Green is using...
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Environment: Council will take another look at resource plan it tabled in 2023

Natural resources will return to Georgetown County Council’s agenda this month after 14 months in the wilderness. The council tabled the natural resources element to the county’s state-mandated comprehensive plan in July 2023 after...
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Sales tax: Crowded ballot raises concern for lengthy referendum question

It took six months to put together a list of $74.3 million for funding through a capital projects sales tax. Officials are now worried that voters won’t take the time to read through them...
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Stormwater: New county rules play catch-up with aging infrastructure

A solution to one stormwater problem in the Parkersville area is already identified in Georgetown County’s master plan for the Waccamaw. A 36-inch pipe under Martin Luther King Road needs to be replaced with...
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Pawleys Island: Town’s ‘50 percent rule’ seen as incentive for teardowns

Any homeowner will tell you the cost of renovations adds up fast. But in the town of Pawleys Island, those numbers also count down until they reach 50 percent of a home’s fair market...
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Elections: First-time school board candidate unopposed in District 6

As a mother of four, Kristie Baxley is very familiar with public and private schools on the Waccamaw Neck. The Litchfield Country Club resident has set her sights on representing District 6 (Pawleys Island/Litchfield)...
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THE WEEK’S FEATURED STORIES

Education: Superintendent finalists share goals with public

Nearly 100 people stopped by the Georgetown County School District office on Tuesday to hear from the four educators who want to be the next superintendent. Bethany Giles, Gregory Hall, Glenda Sheffield and William...
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BUSINESS NEWS

Observer staff wins 15 state press awards

The Coastal Observer staff received 15 awards for reporting, writing, photography and design, in the S.C. Press Association’s annual news contest. The paper won first place for General Excellence among the state’s medium-sized weeklies....
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LOCAL EVENTS

Meetings

Georgetown County Board of Education: First and third Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Beck Education Center. For details, go to gcsd.k12.sc.us . Georgetown County Council: Second and fourth Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, 129 Screven St., Georgetown. For details, go to georgetowncountysc.org. Pawleys Island Town Council: Second Mondays, 5 p.m. Town Hall, 323 Myrtle Ave. For details, go to townofpawleysisland.com. , .

COASTAL OBSERVER