After spending 50 minutes in closed session, and taking no action, Laurens County Council on July 14 transacted items of business that included pausing for no more than 6 months the permitting of open-space developments within the county.
Two subdivisions are affected directly; and one of the legal, closed session matters discussed by council was the potential effects of this moratorium.
The vote to enact the moratorium was split, 4-3, with Council Vice-chairman Matthew Brownlee and Council Members Brown Patterson and Arthur Philson Jr. opposed.
County Staff and the Planning Commission requested the pause to provide time to potentially close loopholes that developers are using to increase the residential density of their subdivisions. The 6 months can be extended with a council resolution if that is not enough time to conduct the review.
The issue is particularly acute in Northern Laurens County where residential development has caused tensions between farm-ranch owners and developers trying to build enough houses to accommodate spill-over residential development from fast-growing Simpsonville and Woodruff. Five people spoke in favor of the delay during a 2nd reading public hearing, saying that rapid residential growth is stressing out-dated bridges in the northern area and potentially adversely affecting emergency services.
Under “open space”, developers can pack more houses into one part of a tract of land, in exchange for designating other portions as open-public space (parks, walking trails, ponds, etc.); but one argument against the designation is that utility rights-of-way can be considered open-space and those are not truly “open” since they require regular maintenance by utility companies. Laurens County does not have zoning, but regulations like this fall under the county’s subdivisions ordinance.
The moratorium requires one more reading to become official.
The other closed (executive) session matters discussed by council were:
-- a worker’s compensation claim filed by an employee of Laurens County EMS;
-- joining a class action litigation concerning ultra-processed foods, and
-- pending litigation: Lowe v. Laurens County, et. al (filed by the mother of a boy mauled by dogs in Clinton, Valentine’s Day, 2024, claiming negligence).
Council went into closed session at the 13 minute mark of its meeting and re-emerged at the 1:03 minute mark of the meeting. No action was taken in closed session, and no motions were introduced as a result of the closed session.
In open session, council gave final reading approvals to fees-in-lieu-of-taxes ordinances for industrial prospects slated to create 46 jobs.
Project Wolf is Norelem, a European parts supplier that provides components for mechanical engineering and industrial applications, investing $9.5 Million in the Woodfields Park at Fountain Inn.
Project Armor is Brawo USA, which forges brass and aluminum for plumbing, gas, and other industries, investing $23 Million for a 30,000 sq ft expansion of its plant in the Hunter Industrial Park, Laurens (article, P. 3B).
Council also agreed to FILOT extensions for Brawo and Yanfeng, which has been in Laurens County for 12 years.
Council also heard reports on a grants application process for community groups that will be outlined on the county website, and equipment acquired at reduced cost by the Laurens County Fire Service. Emergency Management Director Sonny Ledda reported on preparedness during the second month of hurricane season – Laurens County was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
He urged citizens to apply for Code Red through the county website to receive weather and other emergency-related information from the counties that they designate on an application form.
Coroner Patti Canupp reported on recent tragedies within Laurens County. She said the office has responded to reports of 8 teens and people in their early 20s related to DUI, 3 homicides, 6 suicides, 6 overdoses and 1 drowning in the last few months. She said local officials are planning to get out into the schools to give age-appropriate anti-driving under the influence and highway safety talks.
More about Laurens County here.
