Hello REALTORS®,
March brings with it a lot more than the first day of Spring. It also almost always brings with it a lot of government activity, especially regulation of real estate development. In the last year, we have observed an interesting trend related to annexation, which I’ll highlight at the end of this report. But first, this is what is happening at the county level in the Western Upstate.
Anderson County
Anderson County government has been especially busy since the 2024 primary elections in June. Since June, Anderson County Council has considered 13 different real estate-related ordinances:
- Piedmont Area Development Plan (enacted)
- Reduce summary plats from a maximum of seven lots to four lots (enacted)
- Amend stormwater design manual (enacted)
- Limit residential construction densities on steep slopes (enacted)
- Require utilities to be identified on preliminary plats, and require utilities to issue capacity letters to the developer before the Planning Commission considers the subdivision (enacted)
- Change the way planning staff reports their preliminary plat recommendations to the Planning Commission (enacted)
- Increase stormwater fees (enacted)
- Require a 100-foot undisturbed “area” (buffer) around new residential subdivisions (tabled)
- Limit how often a property owner can apply to subdivide their property for a residential subdivision (tabled)
- Apply buffer yard requirements of the zoning ordinance to unzoned areas of the county (second reading)
- Increase landscaping and buffer requirements for large-scale industrial and commercial developments (second reading)
- Update the stormwater requirements for grading of steep slopes (enacted)
- 6-month moratorium on large-scale residential development (25 lots or units or greater) (first reading)
Pickens County
Pickens County Council ended nearly a year of moratoriums on residential development last fall when it updated its Unified Development Standards Ordinance. However, the county’s Planning Commission is working on three new proposals:
- RV parks and RVs and dwellings
- Tiny homes
- Development standards for Highway 11 (the third time the county has worked on this in as many years)
Oconee County
Oconee County initiated, but did not approve, three ordinances last fall related to preliminary plats for subdivisions and traffic impact study requirements for new developments. They are currently working on one ordinance:
- Define who can petition to designate a road in the county as a scenic highway, and who can apply
Keep Oconee Beautiful Association has advocated for designating SC130 as a scenic highway.
All three counties are working on 10-year updates to their comprehensive plans required by state law and due in 2026
The Trend—Anti-Annexation
Now, for the trend. City governments tend to be more friendly to development, which you would expect. Cities are designed to serve urban areas. Cities heavily regulate development, but tend to be more accommodating, particularly density and high intensity uses.
Counties have done the opposite—reducing density and intensity of uses. That has been particularly true in all three counties in the Western Upstate, especially Pickens County. But in the last year, we have seen a trend of counties opposing annexation into cities because the annexation usually results in higher density development. The trend started in Easley.
This trend has made its way to the State House, where legislation has been introduced to give counties the ability to veto annexation. Your Western Upstate Association of REALTORS® position is that if the property owner and the city agree to annexation, there is no reason for a neighboring property owners, or the county, to have a voice in that decision. You can read the full policy paper on annexation by clicking here.
Next week, I’ll highlight some of the ordinances we are watching in our cities, followed by an update on what’s happening at the SC General Assembly.
Support RPAC
And finally, there’s RPAC. Our success in government affairs relies on elected officials who are friendly and supportive of real estate. Through RPAC, we support pro-real estate candidates who understand the importance of a vibrant economy for real estate. Supporting RPAC is easy. Your association includes a voluntary contribution to RPAC on your annual dues invoice. Pay it, and you are an RPAC supporter. If you haven’t supported RPAC this year, I encourage you to do so by clicking here.
One additional way you can support RPAC is by joining our RPAC Committee. They are charged with raising money for RPAC so that we have the funds to be successful. I can’t think of a better professional to raise money for RPAC than a Realtor.
If you want to get involved in our government affairs program, please contact me by calling the association office or emailing me at Michael@WesternUpstateMLS.com.
Michael Dey, Director of Government Affairs