By a 5-1 vote, Georgetown County Council has approved a rezoning request and a change to the county’s comprehensive plan that will allow 27 homes to be built on eight acres of land adjacent to The Hammock Shops in Pawleys Island. Councilman Bob Anderson cast the only “no” vote to the proposals. The vote was to amend the comprehensive plan from Conservation Preservation to Medium Density Residential.
The new development will be called Magic Oaks.
Waccamaw Neck residents show up in force to protest new Land Use Element plan
Scott Harper/GAB News•
One after one, residents from the Waccamaw Neck addressed the Georgetown County Planning Commission to speak out against the proposed Land Use Element portion of the Comprehensive Plan.
The meeting was held inside Georgetown County Council Chambers. The room was packed beyond capacity. There was also a large crowd outside the building that could not get inside because there was no more room.
After County Planning Director Holly Richardson gave a lengthy detailed explanation about the proposed Land Use Element, the public hearing was held. For more than an hour residents expressed concerns about parts of the plan.
The county must update its comprehensive plan every decade. Residents urged the planning commission to just tweak the current plan rather than the complete overhaul that is being proposed.
The biggest complaint expressed is about the increase in density that is part of the proposal.
One resident says a change in density would destroy the natural resources and the “quality of life.”
Many residents said the changes will result in the Waccamaw Neck becoming a place such as Mount Pleasant, Surfside Beach, or Myrtle Beach. Especially since high density would be allowed from the area near Hog Heaven all the way to the Horry County line.
Here is the public hearing portion of Thursday’s meeting:
After the public hearing, the planning commission decided to defer making a decision on whether or not to approve the Land Use Element, as presented.
With the matter deferred, Richardson is expected to meet with planning commission members to discuss what changes they want to see made before it is brought back before the full commission for reconsideration.