Historic District Map
Land Development Regulations
Land Development Regulations Document - PDF
Waterfront Design Guidelines
Waterfront Design Guidelines - PDF
Waterfront Design Guidelines – Pertinent Excerpts
9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall
not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The
new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible
with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect
the historic integrity of the property and its environment.
Pg. 3-3
Any property owner or occupant wishing to make an exterior
alteration to any building, structure, or site within the
Georgetown Waterfront Area must make an application to
the Architectural Review Board (ARB) for a Certificate of
Appropriateness (COA). Demolition, relocation, and new
construction in the district also require a COA.
Pg. 4-4
4.10 New Commercial Construction
4.10.1 New buildings should match the scale, directional emphasis, setback,
and height of historic buildings in their area of influence. Structure
height should not vary from the pattern established by the
neighboring historic structures by more than ten percent.
4.10.6 New buildings should be a product of their time and not attempt to
be a reproduction of historic architectural styles or details.
4.10.7 New buildings should echo the dominant rhythms and patterns in
their area of influence.
Pg. 4-8
The height of new commercial buildings should be no higher, nor any lower than the lowest and highest buildings in the area of influence. New buildings should attempt to match the patterns and rhythms
within the area of influence. Floor heights, massing, and window placement and percentages of
window to wall space should match neighboring buildings.
Pg. 4-32
Any property owner or occupant wishing to make an exterior
alteration to any building, structure, or site within the
Georgetown Waterfront Area must make an application to
the Architectural Review Board (ARB) for a Certificate of
Appropriateness (COA). Demolition, relocation, and new
construction in the district also require a COA. The ARB
reviews each request as a unique case and bases it’s decision
on the design guidelines and the circumstances surrounding
the property such as it’s condition, age, and significance.
Properties that do not currently meet the design guidelines
will be required to conform to the guidelines when changes,
replacements, repairs, or new construction occurs.
These guidelines are based on the Secretary of the Interior’s
Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings. For
situations not covered by the Waterfront Industrial Design
Guidelines in this manual, please refer to the Standards.
Pg.5-1
5.3 New Construction
5.3.1 New buildings should match the scale, directional emphasis,
setback, and height of historic buildings in their area of influence.
Structure height should not vary from the pattern established by
neighboring historic structures by more than 150%.
Pg.5-4
5.3.8 New buildings should not obscure the sight-lines from the river to
the Waterfront Industrial Area nor from the Industrial area to the
Waterfront Commercial Area.
Pg. 5-5
Article VII: Provisions Governing Use Districts
ARTICLE VII: PROVISIONS GOVERNING USE DISTRICTs - PDF
PERTINENT EXCERPTS
701.2 HB District (Historic Buildings) It is the intent of this district to (1) protect, preserve and enhance the distinctive architectural and cultural heritage of the City of Georgetown as part of the educational and patriotic heritage of future generations; (2) promote the cultural, economic and general welfare of the people of the City of Georgetown; (3) foster civic pride; (4) encourage harmonious, orderly and efficient growth and development of the City of Georgetown; to strengthen the local economy; and (6) improve property values. It is the hope of the City that by encouraging a general harmony of style, form, proportion and material between buildings of historic design and those of contemporary design, the City's historic building district will continue to be a distinctive aspect of the City and will serve as visible reminders of the significant historical and cultural heritage of the City of Georgetown and the State of South Carolina. No building permit for construction, alteration, repair, moving, or demolition to be carried on within the district shall be issued by the Zoning Administrator until it is submitted to the Board of Architectural Review for its approval.
700.4 R4 District (High Density Residential) It is the intent of this district to provide areas for high density residential development and open areas where similar development is likely to occur. Limited professional services are permitted in the district provided that they meet applicable standards, and are limited so as not to encourage general business activity. In order to achieve the intent of the R4 District as shown on the Zoning Map of the City of Georgetown, South Carolina.
703.201 Master Planned Residential (MP-R): The intent of the MP-R district is to provide a mix of residential uses using innovative and creative design elements, while at the same time providing an efficient use of open space. Limited commercial uses will be allowed in the MP-R district to serve the needs of the residents in the development, unless it can be demonstrated that commercial/retail targeted towards the larger community is justified.
703.502 Compatibility with Surrounding Areas: Development along the perimeter of a MasterPlanned District must be compatible with adjacent existing or proposed future development. In cases where there are issues of compatibility, the Master Plan shall provide for transition areas at the edges of the Master Planned district that allow for appropriate buffering and/or ensure a complementary character of uses. Complementary character is identified based on densities/intensities, lot size and dimensions, street and block grid pattern, building height, building mass and scale, hours of operation, exterior lighting, landscaping, and siting of service areas.
703.503 Consistency with the Zoning Ordinance: Along with the consistency to the current Comprehensive Plan, the Master Planned zoning district and development shall conform to the minimum standards of the City of Georgetown Zoning Ordinance, including the Overlay District where applicable, unless more stringent standards are detailed in the Terms and Conditions section of the Master Planned district design.
700.9 WC District (Waterfront Commercial) It is the intent of this district to set apart and protect areas considered vital for the maintenance and enhancement of the City's image as a seaport. To these ends, it is intended to permit in such districts the full range of facilities necessary for successful and efficient utilization of the waterfront. Further, it is the intent of this district that permitted uses be conducted so that noise, odor, dust and glare shall be, to the extent possible, completely confined within enclosed buildings or controlled in other ways so that they do not constitute a public nuisance. This is intended to prevent frictions between uses within the district and also to protect nearby residential districts.
