On Monday, July 15th at 6:00 PM, Jasper County Council will consider updating its zoning code t0 add the Euhaw Okeetee Cultural Heritage Overlay District (ECHOD) as a special purpose district.
Additionally, two new categories are proposed for the ECHOD: Rural Preservation-10 and Village Commercial zoning. You can view a map of the proposed changes here.
If approved, these zoning improvements would be a huge win, helping to keep this sensitive area which drains to the Broad River rural! We encourage you to show up at the meeting on Monday night to support strong rural zoning for the Euhaw District.
Rural Preservation-10
The intent of the RP-1o district is to preserve, sustain, and protect rural areas and resources, particularly forests and agricultural, from suburban encroachment and to maintain a balanced rural-urban environment.
The current rural zoning in the Euhaw District allows for one unit per acre (1:1 density ratio). For example, on a large 1,500-acre tract, the current zoning could allow for around 1,500 homes. Development at this scale is actually more suburban/urban in character than rural and would require the installation of significant infrastructure where none currently exists.
Under the new RP-10 zoning, the allowable density on a 1,500-acre tract would be 150 units. This ensures residential development in the Euhaw District will maintain rural character and compatibility with existing neighborhoods while also safeguarding natural resources and lowering the financial burden on taxpayers to provide services.
Village Commercial
The Village Commercial district is designed to encourage small-scale retail and commercial uses that serve nearby communities. This district will be applied primarily to crossroads, square footage will be limited to a maximum of 2,500 square feet, and any new construction must draw inspiration from Lowcountry-style architecture.
Click here for complete list of allowed uses and proposed changes.
Moratorium Set to Expire
These code updates are needed now more than ever! With the County’s moratorium set to expire on July 31st, developers will turn their attention back toward Jasper County. It is imperative that we have strong rural zoning in place to combat suburban sprawl.
Please attend the meeting Monday night in support of stronger rural zoning for the Euhaw District!