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Greenville County draft open‑space rule draws developers, residents over density and affordability
Summary
At a public session on a draft cluster/open‑space ordinance, developers warned the language could make many sites undevelopable, drive up lot costs and spur sprawl; residents and conservationists urged clearer definitions and joint zoning-review; staff pledged to compile comments and pursue redlines and targeted workshops.
A public input session in Greenville County on a draft cluster (open‑space) ordinance on Nov. 12 drew sustained criticism from builders, developers and some residents who said the draft’s ambiguity would make many parcels effectively undevelopable and worsen housing affordability.
Speaker 1, a land broker who spoke first, said the draft increases per‑lot land costs and risks sprawl by pushing new residents "further out to find affordability." “If 27 people a day are moving here, they are going to live somewhere,” he said, arguing the county must allow higher density near employment centers and existing infrastructure to avoid outward growth.
Why it matters: County speakers and multiple industry participants said the draft’s definitions — notably the phrase "meaningful open space" — are vague, producing inconsistent application by staff and commissioners and…
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