Environment
Commission wants to review changes to natural resources plan
An update to Georgetown County’s plan for natural resources drafted nearly two years ago won’t be adopted until early next year at the earliest after a mistake on the County Council agenda delayed action this week.
Natural resources is the last of the 10 required elements of the state mandated comprehensive plan the local governments are required to adopt and revise every 10 years.
The Planning Commission approved the plan in November 2022. County staff changed some goals and objectives before presenting the draft to County Council, saying that some were outside the county’s authority – such as limits on septic tanks and maintaining water quality for shellfish beds.
Other goals, such as land conservation were seen as creating additional cost for the county. The revised language encouraged partnerships and private conservation efforts.
After public outcry from residents and groups that provided input, the council tabled the natural resources element in July 2023. It agreed to revisit the issue after the update of the land use element. That was completed this July.
When the council proposed in August to put the element on its September agenda, the S.C. Environmental Law Project and the Coastal Conservation League objected.
They pointed out that state law requires the Planning Commission to draft the element. In addition to altering the commission’s goals, “this draft also raises significant due process concerns,” Amy Armstrong, executive director of the law project, and Monica Whalen, a staff attorney, said in a letter to the council.
“The County’s internal staff revisions to the draft Natural Resources Element without any public notice bypass the statutorily required process,” they wrote. “The public was deprived of the opportunity to meaningfully participate in decisions impacting their community.”
And they added that the county was at risk of “legal challenges.”
Holly Richardson, the county planning director, last week asked the commission for guidance.
“Hopefully, we can give some direction to council,” she said.
Commission member Marla Hamby said they shouldn’t even consider the changes unless the council voted to remand the element for commission review.
If it did, Hamby said she would be willing to eliminate the goal of adopting a green space sales tax since the county is now proposing two other sales taxes.
“I don’t think we should even be looking at this,” Hamby said.
The vote was unanimous to seek a remand.
But the council agenda this week listed the element for first reading. It should have been second reading, Richardson said, so no action was taken.
A vote by the council in October would return the element to the commission in November. If it takes action, the element would return to council in December for the second of three readings.
