Committee approves 12-month neighborhood-character 'pause' for Olympia with amendment ending pause upon overlay adoption

The Richland County Services Committee voted to create a neighborhood-character overlay for the Olympia neighborhood and to institute a temporary pause — described in the motion as applying to new construction, rezoning, demolition and rehabilitation equal to or greater than 50% of lot area or building square footage or a change of use — until the overlay and updated neighborhood plan are adopted.

The Chair read the motion, saying the intent is to "within 12 months create a neighborhood character overlay in tandem with an update to the neighborhood plan for the Olympia neighborhood," and proposed calling the temporary restriction a "pause" rather than a "moratorium." Committee member Brandon Branham offered a friendly amendment clarifying that the pause should end upon adoption of the overlay and neighborhood plan; the Chair accepted the amendment.

Committee members asked staff for the overlay boundaries and the governing parameters. Staff said the County would rely on an existing Mill Village plan conducted with the City of Columbia and that details and parameters were in the packet (pages 15–26). The county attorney said he would review the final language if needed and provide legal advice on exact timing or a sunset clause.

The motion, as amended to call the restriction a pause and to have it terminate upon adoption of the overlay, was moved, seconded and approved by roll call with one recorded 'no' vote from a member identified in the record as Bridal.

The motion directs staff to prepare the overlay and neighborhood-plan update and to proceed within the 12-month target; the pause will end earlier if the overlay and plan update are adopted before that deadline.