Greenville County committee tables Unified Development Ordinance, effectively killing proposal

Greenville County Council’s Committee of the Whole voted to table the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), effectively killing the proposal, after divided votes at the committee meeting.

The UDO, which the meeting record shows had previously been adopted in an attachment dated "adopted December 3" with an "effective December 23" notation and that council members said had been passed last year and later recalled for reconsideration, drew two formal votes in the committee. An initial motion to move the UDO to full council failed on a roll call, with three votes in favor and six opposed. Councilor McGahn then moved to table (kill) the item; that motion passed on a roll call, 6–4, with Councilor Kelly Long texting her vote in favor of tabling.

Committee members exchanged sharp remarks during the discussion. Councilor Tripp urged colleagues not to kill the measure, saying, "you're being foolish when you kill a bill," and later added, "You are throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars away, mister Magahi. It's foolish." A committee member asked whether "tabling" meant killing the ordinance; a clerk confirmed to the chairman that, per the committee's rules, tabling in this context would kill the item. Members also asked about the UDO's history; a staff speaker said the ordinance had been passed previously and was being reconsidered under council rules.

The committee did not adopt any alternative direction or refer the UDO back for further drafting during the meeting. With the tabling vote, the UDO will not advance from this committee at this time. The committee adjourned after final motions.