Bluffton staff outline proposed wetland-ordinance changes, launch 30-day public comment

Bluffton — Town staff on Tuesday presented a package of proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance that would clarify how the town identifies and protects wetlands, add resilience-focused language to stormwater rules, and create a new wetland-mapping tool to guide applicants.

Andrea, a town planning staff presenter, said the proposal focuses on UDO Section 5.10 (stormwater) and Section 9.2 (definitions) and is intended to replace an interim ordinance adopted last year. "We are here tonight to discuss proposed amendments to UDO, specifically section 5 1 stormwater and 9 2 are defined terms," Andrea said, summarizing the scope and the consultant work with McCormick Taylor.

The changes would keep the town's 50-foot undisturbed wetland buffer as the baseline but add several clarifications and tools. Staff described a wetland-mapping tool that screens properties and flags low, medium and high wetland potential so applicants know in advance whether a field delineation is likely to be required. According to staff, the overlay analysis identified roughly 3,000 more wetlands and about 500 more wetland acres on undeveloped parcels than the National…