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Council reviews draft Unified Development Ordinance from planning commission; requests targeted follow-ups
Summary
Council received the planning commission's draft UDO, discussed outstanding items (zoning map, bed-and-breakfast provisions, accessory dwelling units, architectural review board) and agreed to schedule follow-up review and a possible special workshop.
City of Easley councilmembers reviewed a draft Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) recommended by the planning commission July 14. Council members and planning staff discussed outstanding items that remain to be completed or clarified before the UDO would be final.
Planning commission representative (Feder) said the draft captures the vast majority of the commission’s work but noted a few items still required completion, including the zoning map and specific bed‑and‑breakfast language. Planning staff (Mario and Rico) said those items could be added quickly and that the commission’s intention was advisory; the council will have final approval authority.
Councilmembers raised several substantive questions: which sections remain incomplete; whether the Architectural Review Board (ARB) should be included or delayed until members can be appointed; how accessory dwelling units (ADUs) would be handled; who will serve as zoning administrator; and whether the UDO should mandate specific retail requirements (council discussed a provision that would require convenience stores to stock a minimum square footage of fresh produce and expressed concern about municipal regulation of private stock choices).
Staff advised that the draft is not the final ordinance and that the council should submit targeted questions and requested edits to staff and planning so they can produce a focused workshop. Several council members favored a short, multi‑hour special workshop rather than an all‑day, line‑by‑line read in general session.
Next steps
Planning staff said they would update the draft to include outstanding items (for example, bed‑and‑breakfast provisions) and make it available for council questions, with the possibility of a special workshop in August for concentrated review. The city attorney said he would respond to specific legal questions submitted by council rather than reading the entire document himself.
