Kershaw County advances impact-fees ordinance after public hearings on temporary moratorium

KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — The Kershaw County Council on July 8 advanced an ordinance to impose impact fees, passing it on second reading, and held multiple public hearings on a proposed temporary moratorium on large-scale development.

The council voted unanimously among those present to adopt the impact-fees ordinance on second reading after members expressed support for using fees to fund roads, schools and other infrastructure. Chairman Connell reminded the public that a separate vote on the temporary moratorium is scheduled for July 22.

Proponents at the meeting urged a pause on development to allow a comprehensive plan and capital improvement plan to guide growth. “A temporary moratorium allows a democratic process to serve as a catalyst for responsible development,” resident Lynn Canto told the council. She said impact fees should ensure “the burden should be on the incoming developer, not the current residents.”

At the public hearing on the moratorium, Linda Knatzer said permits already issued and pending applications — which she described in aggregate as “a tsunami threat” of thousands of lots — could “dramatically change Kershaw County as we know it.” Knatzer urged converting a temporary moratorium into a permanent ban on large developments she said would “forever change the landscape.”

Council discussion focused on the process and on obtaining required data before imposing fees. “You have to get the data statutorily before you can actually impose it,” one councilman said, noting the county previously authorized an impact-fee study. Council members also expressed hope that the local school district would pursue a parallel study so school-related impacts could be assessed and, if appropriate, fees adopted by the district.

What the council took and did: the council held hearings on multiple agenda items related to growth policy and then approved the impact-fees ordinance on second reading. The moratorium itself was not decided; the council scheduled third reading and a final vote on the moratorium ordinance for July 22.

The discussion and public comments highlighted concerns about fire and emergency response capacity, traffic and school overcrowding, with speakers saying the county’s six ambulances cover some 726 square miles. Speakers pressed for impact fees to fund roads, safety services, parks and schools rather than shifting those costs to existing residents.

The council’s action on July 8 advances the legal process required to adopt impact fees but leaves the moratorium’s final adoption for a future meeting.

All direct quotes in this article are from speakers in the meeting transcript and are attributed to those speakers.