Lancaster County Council updates continuity plan, advances highway‑corridor height change and approves board appointments

Lancaster County Council approved Resolution 1288 R2025, an update to the county continuity-of-government plan, by a 7-0 roll-call vote during Tuesday’s meeting. The resolution is a routine two‑year update staff said the state requests and it restates the county’s succession and emergency-management roles.

“This is something that is asked for by the state of South Carolina that each county update its continuity county government plan,” said Paul Marstahl, a county staff member, explaining the purpose of the resolution and noting staff checks cited state code and regulations when updating the plan.

The council also advanced Ordinance 2025-1945 on second reading without opposition. The ordinance would amend the Unified Development Ordinance, chapter 4, to allow properties in General Business (GB) zones that are within the Highway Corridor Overlay District to be extended to a height of four stories, not to exceed 55 feet, with a maximum story height defined at 14 feet. Staff said the change is targeted to predominantly commercial areas along the highway corridor and noted the Indian Land Fire District has apparatus to serve taller buildings.

The council voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance’s second reading; a public hearing will be held at the third reading, and staff asked the council to keep the item on the non‑consent agenda for that hearing.

Council also approved removals and appointments to several boards and commissions. The council voted 7-0 to remove Lori Ayers from the Van Wyck Fire Protection board and Betty George from the Community Relations Committee because of attendance and health issues, and it approved nominees to fill multiple vacancies: a nomination of David Reeder (listed in materials as an applicant) to the Lancaster Beautiful committee was approved, and the council appointed two at‑large members (listed in the packet as Middleton and Rigo) to the Community Relations Commission.

Several vacancies remain, including a geographic opening on the reconstituted Board of Zoning Appeals that staff said specifically requires a Panhandle-area representative; councilors declined to fill that seat at this meeting and asked staff to continue seeking applicants.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 1288 R2025 — "Updating the continuity of the county government plan, as last amended by resolution 1225 R2023" — Outcome: approved 7-0. Vote record (roll call): Stuart Graham — yes; Charlene McGriff — yes; Billy Mosteller — yes; Jose Luis — yes; Steve Harper — yes; Bridal Neal — yes; Brian Karnes — yes. - Ordinance 2025-1945 — "Amend Unified Development Ordinance chapter 4 to increase the height limit for properties in General Business within the Highway Corridor Overlay District" — Action: second reading approved unanimously; public hearing scheduled at third reading; specific adoption not yet final. - Removals — Lori Ayers (Van Wyck Fire Protection) and Betty George (Community Relations Committee) — Outcome: approved 7-0 (removal for attendance/health reasons reported by staff). - Appointments — David Reeder to Lancaster Beautiful (district vacancy), Middleton and Rigo to Community Relations Commission (at‑large) — Outcome: approved unanimously.

Council took no other legislative votes at the meeting. Staff told council that any amendments to the continuity plan may be returned by resolution and that the ordinance language was clarified from first reading to define maximum story height and to update the public‑hearing notice.

The council’s roll calls and the recorded voice approvals during the meeting were used to compile vote tallies and names.