August 30, 2023

Dear Friends & Neighbors:

This is one of the most urgent messages you will ever receive from us.

PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS

COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN UPDATE

Georgetown County recently announced that it will hold three (3) public input sessions on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update. It is critical that you ATTEND AND PROVIDE INPUT at one of these meetings. This update will guide the future of land use in our county for the next ten (10) years.

(1) Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 5:30 pm

Howard Auditorium

1610 Hawkins Street, Georgetown

(2) Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at 5:30 pm

Murrells Inlet Community Center

4462 Murrells Inlet Road, Murrells Inlet

(3) Thursday, September 7, 2023, 5:30 pm,

Northwest Regional Recreation Center at Choppee

8259 Choppee Road, Georgetown

Citizen input is the driving force in a land use plan update. Your participation at these meetings is necessary to guide our future.

NEED A RIDE OR CAN'T MAKE IT?

The county did not schedule a meeting in Pawleys Island-Litchfield, one of the most heavily populated areas of the county. It is absolutely crucial to have input from residents of Pawleys Island-Litchfield! In the event you need transportation to one of the meetings, please email us at keepitgreen.pi@gmail.com and we will arrange a ride for you.

The meetings are scheduled immediately following the Labor Day holiday when folks may be out of town or traveling. It would be best if everyone could personally attend one of the three meetings. If you are unable to attend any of them, we encourage you to please email your input to the county planning director at hrichardson@gtcounty.org

TOP ISSUES AND CONCERNS

We have not been told what the format of the meetings will be, so it is important for you to take the initiative to raise issues that concern you.

The following is a list of the top issues you have shared with us in the past. We would encourage you to share these and any other concerns at one of the meetings.

1. Traffic & Safety
2. Flooding & Stormwater
3. Overburdened infrastructure – roads, emergency services, evacuation
4. No density increases over what is allowed in current comprehensive plan
5. Avoid high density, density increases & over-development
6. Update zoning ordinances to conform to comprehensive plan density
7. Retain density limitations on pages 23 & 25 of our current land use plan and expand them to include the entire Waccamaw Neck (see explanation below)
8. Preserve golf courses and open space
9. Protect traditional minority communities
10. Manage growth sustainably & preserve trees, wetlands & wildlife
11. Maintain 90-foot setback on Route 17 corridor
12. Building height restrictions
13. Maintain unique character and Lowcountry charm of our community
14. Enforce the overlay zone along Route 17 that requires commercial buildings to be residential in size and character
15. Protect our estuaries and water quality

PAGES 23 & 25 OF THE CURRENT LAND USE PLAN

The fate of the density limitations on pages 23 & 25 of our current land use plan is critical. These were put into place many years ago by council members who were concerned about potential mismanagement of population growth on land and infrastructure that is not capable of safely accommodating explosive growth.

• Page 23 states: “The overriding issue in the Pawleys-Litchfield area is population density. The general concept of allowing higher density to prevent sprawl is no longer applicable in this area. The key now is to limit the number of new residential units that are added so that the impacts of additional development (i.e. increased traffic congestion, increased storm water runoff, greater pressures on our overall infrastructure) are minimized as much as possible." This should be expanded to include Murrells Inlet and the entire Waccamaw Neck.

• Page 25 states: “Density increases in new development should only be allowed if open space is provided by use of planning tools: as part of a Planned Development District, Transfer Development Rights, Cluster Development, or land placed in a Conservation Easement, etc.” In other words, density increases are only allowed where there is a corresponding density decrease.

At the very minimum, citizens of the Waccamaw Neck must insist that the density limitations on page 23 and 25 STAY IN THE UPDATED PLAN and are EXPANDED to include the ENTIRE WACCAMAW NECK. Ideally, these density limitations should be made even more strict and well-defined.

DANGEROUS AGENDAS

Unfortunately, there are many in our county government who promote an agenda of continuing to increase density on the Waccamaw Neck. At the current rate, we will soon become Myrtle Beach. Our roads and other infrastructure cannot safely handle increased density. We do not have adequate police, fire and other emergency services, and hurricane evacuation would be a hazardous nightmare.

The future is in our hands. Time is running out and once the damage is done, it cannot be reversed. Together, we must continue protecting all we love about this special place - the ocean, salt marshes, beaches, rivers, creeks, and sprawling live oaks, along with its rich history & cultural heritage.

VISION STATEMENT

The following is a model Vision Statement that was published more than a year ago based on feedback from Waccamaw Neck residents. Please feel free to share it at the public input meetings if you so desire.

"Our vision for the Waccamaw Neck preserves and protects its pristine beaches, waterways, trees and wetlands, rich history and low country charm. We need planned growth that is sustainable, consistent with our infrastructure, and emphasizes development of low density single-family residences and small local businesses in keeping with the unique character of our community. High density and urban development trends are not appropriate or desirable for the Waccamaw Neck."

We appreciate your continued support of our work to protect and preserve our community. Together, we are making a difference.

Thank you!

Your friends at

KEEP IT GREEN