A guide to advocating for Greenville County's Unified Development Ordinance

Now, more than ever, we need your help to ensure Greenville County's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is adopted. After more than 4 years in process, our county is so close to achieving this major milestone, but we still need your help! We want to see the ordinance passed this fall, not at a vague future date.

Use the following talking points to urge Greenville County Council members to vote YES at the upcoming reading of the ordinance on Tuesday, November 5. Our points include a list of general reasons UF supports immediate adoption of the UDO, as well as a more detailed explanation of specific provisions within the ordinance and the benefits they provide. 
 

TALKING POINTS

Why UF supports immediate adoption of the UDO

• The county’s existing zoning and land development regulations are outdated and failing to meet the community needs of today. Beyond being antiquated, current ordinances are inconsistent, contradictory in places, and have resulted in multiple lawsuits against the county. The UDO puts a stop to this dysfunctional, band-aid approach and instead compiles those ordinances into one document, which is easier to understand and navigate. The UDO provides a more comprehensive, more modernized framework to guide land development.
   
• The UDO helps realize the vision of the county’s unanimously adopted 2019 comprehensive plan that outlines a clear strategy for more fiscally and environmentally responsible growth.
   
• The UDO aligns with Upstate Forever’s advocacy priorities. It supports development in already urbanized areas and works to limit the intensity of development in rural, undeveloped areas containing the county’s remaining forests and farmlands. Not only that, but the UDO also strengthens protections for tree preservation and riparian buffers and takes an improved approach to green space preservation in new developments, with an intent to create more meaningful access to the outdoors in those areas. Note: below, we’ve included a more detailed explanation of improvements the UDO would make to local land use frameworks.
   
• This process has taken long enough — it’s time to adopt the UDO. Although some opponents of the UDO claim this process is being rushed, in reality, it has been going on for 4+ years and has included many opportunities for public education and engagement.
   
• Finally, adoption of the UDO is not the end game. The UDO is, and will continue to be, a living document. Staff, advocates, citizens, and appointed & elected officials will be closely monitoring its efficacy, and Council can make adjustments as needed. Greenville County is at a fork in the road. The path taken will set a course for how we grow, for better or for worse, for years to come in Greenville County.
   

The Specifics

How the UDO is a better land use framework

Greenville County’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is far better than the outdated and inconsistent land use regulation we are currently working with. It will better protect natural resources, including clean water and tree canopy, and better manage and direct growth as our county continues to accommodate an unprecedented number of new residents, visitors, and businesses with every passing day. Here are some specific ways the ordinance improves on the status quo:

Clean water protection & managing growth:

• The UDO includes improved measures to not only protect water quality, but also to help focus growth in sewered areas. For example, it provides subdivision design standards for septic developments in unzoned areas and requires developers to identify primary and alternative septic tank sites on lots. It also requires consultation with sanitary sewer providers prior to subdivision application.
• The UDO revamps and modernizes parking requirements – adding a maximum parking limit to reduce excessive parking (and pavement) and provides incentives to reduce required parking by up to 25% (by way of car sharing, bicycle facilities, location within ¼ of a mile of a transit stop or station, frontage along a trail, including a new transit stop, or providing shuttle transit).
• The UDO carries forward important riparian buffer protections, adopted earlier this year, and eliminates confusing and inconsistent language within existing ordinances regarding how riparian buffers are regulated.

Tree canopy protection and open space:

• The UDO requires preservation of at least some existing trees (rather than clear cutting as existing regulations allow).
• The UDO provides incentives for preserving large trees; and strengthens plant selection and installation requirements, as well as enforcement of these regulations.
• The UDO takes a new approach to green space preservation in new developments, with an intent to create more meaningful access to the outdoors in those areas.

Mobility & connectivity:

• The UDO strengthens requirements for internal connectivity and sidewalks (ensuring more travel routes and options to get to places within and between subdivisions). This reduces congestion and gridlock on arterials and provides more opportunities for environmentally-friendly and health-conscious modes of travel such as walking, bicycling, and transit.

Easier initial zoning:

• The UDO simplifies the procedures and reduces barriers currently in place for initial zoning of unzoned parcels.

More diverse and affordable housing:

• The UDO expands housing choices in already urbanized, unincorporated areas of the county by allowing a variety of dwelling options, all of which fit well within the character of existing neighborhoods.
• The UDO gives landowners more options – for example, it expands opportunities for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to be built in residential areas, whereas current regulations limit ADUs to commercial & office districts, and the AG district.
• The UDO introduces incentives for creating affordable housing (homeownership).
   

Act now!

County council needs to hear from you by november 5

Use this guide to help you advocate for County Council's immediate adoption of Greenville County's Unified Development Ordinance at the upcoming reading on Tuesday, November 5. Don't know who represents you on County Council? Enter your address here to find out. Contact your representative and County Council Chairman Dan Tripp.

Greenville County Council Member Contact Info
County Council Chairman Dan Tripp: 864.915.9212, DTripp@greenvillecounty.org
County Council Vice-Chair Liz Seman: 864.501.4126, LSeman@greenvillecounty.org
Michael Barnes: 864.877.9457, MBarnes@greenvillecounty.org
Benton Blount: 864.483.2474, BBlount@greenvillecounty.org
Rick Bradley: 864.483.3090, RBradley@greenvillecounty.org
Ennis Fant: 864.467.2787, EFant@greenvillecounty.org
Chris Harrison: 864.467.4917, CHarrison@greenvillecounty.org
Butch Kirven: 864.228.9300, BKirven@greenvillecounty.org
Alan Mitchell: 864.483.6952, AMitchell@greenvillecounty.org
Joey Russo: 864.483.0689, JRusso@greenvillecounty.org
Steve Shaw: 864.553.9713, SShaw@greenvillecounty.org
Stan Tzouvelekas: 864.467.4958, stantz@greenvillecounty.org