Hello REALTORS®,
The elections are over, but there are a few key dates coming up to finalize the results of elections to federal offices, including one next week. You might want to mark your calendar.
- December 17: Electoral College Meets to vote for President of the United States (their votes were determined by the General Election last month)
- January 3: 119th Congress is Sworn In
- January 6: Congress meets to certify the results of the Electoral College
- January 20 (12 noon): President sworn in
Anderson County Council’s 2 new development ordinances
Anderson County Council considered 2 more development ordinances this month, but they delayed action on one of them. That makes 9 proposed new ordinances since June.
An ordinance limiting how often a property owner can apply to subdivide their property for a residential subdivision was on their agenda for final reading last week. But action was deferred on another ordinance requiring a 100-foot undisturbed “area” (buffer) around new residential subdivisions. Your Realtors Association has been asked for input on that ordinance.
Oconee County SC 130 Scenic Highway Designation
Keep Oconee Beautiful Association proposed designating SC 130 near Lake Keowee as a Scenic Highway. Many county residents opposed the request, and the Planning Commission recommended that County Council deny their proposal. County Council will consider it next, but the Planning Commission also plans to discuss alternatives at their next meeting.
Seneca considers an ordinance allowing ADUs
Seneca City Council was set to approve a new ordinance allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) throughout the city. However, a square-footage limit of 1,000 square feet became a sticking point. City Council defeated the ordinance at final reading and instructed the city manager to bring the ordinance back to them with an accommodation for neighborhoods that allow larger accessory structures.
An ADU is a separate dwelling on a single-family lot. They are often called granny flats or cottages and are common in many cities around the country, but have been heavily restricted in South Carolina. As I write this Watchdog Report, I am staying in an ADU in Colorado Springs while visiting family.
Clemson seeks volunteers for various boards and commissions
Are you interested in serving on a local government board or commission? Do you live in the City of Clemson? You have until December 13 to volunteer for one of the following real estate-related boards or commissions:
- Board of Zoning Appeals
- Board of Architectural Review
- Building and Fire Board of Appeals
- Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Planning Commission
- Sustainability Committee
There are others as well. You can check them out, and apply, by clicking here.
How our government affairs program collaborates
Each month at our Member Orientation meeting, I talk with new Realtors about how the Realtor government affairs program works to help Realtor professionals. I thought I would tell all Realtors about the program over the next couple of Watchdog Reports.
First, collaboration. It takes a team to be effective, and Realtors have one of the best government affairs teams in the country. Our team begins with the three levels of the Realtors Association:
- Western Upstate Association of REALTORS®
- South Carolina Association of REALTORS®
- National Association of REALTORS®
But it’s more than just the Western Upstate Association of REALTORS®. We collaborate with other local associations around South Carolina, and sometimes outside of South Carolina, to address common issues. One example of that collaboration is ongoing now: planning commissions around the state are routinely blocking proposed residential subdivisions, even though they clearly comply with all local ordinances and state law and regulations. This has resulted in multiple appeals and lawsuits, including more than a dozen in the last five years in Anderson County.
Your Realtors Association is currently discussing various remedies, including potential legislation, model ordinances, and may seek legal advice too. NAR, for example, offers a legal service that local and state associations can use to review issues like this one. Your Western Upstate Association of Realtors has used that service twice in the last year.
Next week, I’ll review some of the other common issues all local associations face as well as the key issues we expect the South Carolina General Assembly and United State Congress to take up in 2025.
How Realtors can help
There are 3 ways that Realtors can support their association’s government affairs program. First, you can tell us if you hear about an ordinance being proposed in your area. You may see it in a comment on your local community blog like Nextdoor or a Facebook group. You also may attend a local government meeting. Let us know if you hear about something there. We read the minutes of most local governments, but those are usually several weeks behind. And you may hear about a meeting on a local government issue; attend it if you can and report back to us.
Second, volunteer to help your association’s government affairs program. There are a couple of ways to do that: you can ask to serve on the association’s Government Affairs Team, which is a group of Realtors who meet from time-to-time to discuss local government issues and provide guidance on how the association advocates on your behalf. Or, you can simply volunteer to be one of our eyes and ears in your town. There are more than 20 cities and towns just in the three counties served by the Western Upstate Association of REALTORS®. We also monitor 8 school boards and multiple planning commissions and utilities. We can use your help.
Third, support RPAC. Our success in government affairs relies a lot 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