It’s an honor to represent District 6 on the Georgetown County Council. Protecting our quality of life and natural resources is vital to our community. That’s why I want to make you aware of the facts about the recently passed county Land Use Plan and Future Land Use Map and overall Comprehensive Plan.

After gathering public input for several years, including nearly 2,000 citizen-submitted surveys (70% came from the Waccamaw Neck), stakeholder focus groups, public “open house” meetings, and Planning Commission recommendations, County Council approved a Land Use Plan and Future Land Use Map in July that cuts residential development density by 50 percent on the Waccamaw Neck.

 According to a county consultant’s report, the Future Land Use Map cuts Waccamaw Neck development density that’s allowed under the current county zoning ordinance, from 25,201 units to 12,622 units, a 50% reduction.  

Based on public input, the following are also included in the plan:

•  Significant density reduction in General Residential zoned areas
• Preservation of existing neighborhoods on the Waccamaw Neck for low to medium density
• Preservation of golf courses with very low-density zoning and significant open greenspace requirements
• Preservation of 50% of open space for remaining undeveloped land on Waccamaw Neck
• Wetlands protections
• Greenbelt preservation program
• Preservation of historic and cultural places

Georgetown County is starting a rewrite of its zoning ordinance to incorporate the policy recommendations in the Land Use Plan. The Future Land Use Map will be the guide for zoning map updates.

In the interim, I led, and County Council passed, an ordinance in September of 2024 to reduce multi-family density by 70% (16 units per acre to 5 units) on the Waccamaw Neck.

The Land Use Plan and Future Land Use Map are just one element of the County Comprehensive Plan, which considers the area's existing conditions, future goals and a general vision for what future growth and development within the county will look like over the next 10 to 20 years. The other elements of the Comprehensive Plan are natural resources, transportation, housing, population, resiliency, economic development, priority investment, community facilities, and cultural resources. The goals and objectives of these elements are tied closely together to form a unified Comprehensive Plan.  

Under state law, the Comprehensive Plan and all elements, including the Land Use Plan must be re-evaluated and reviewed every five years, and must be rewritten every 10 years. The next review for Georgetown County is 2029 and rewrite is 2034.

Information about the plan can be found on the Comprehensive Plan page of the County website.

I hope this information is helpful. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance. 

• GT County office:  (843) 545-3058
• Email:  stellamercado@gtcounty.org