Administrator outlines Comprehensive Plan timeline, to recommend consultants for zoning updates and impact-fee review

Administrator Higgs briefed Colleton County Council on the Comprehensive Plan process at the March 2 meeting, providing tentative dates for upcoming public input hearings and meetings and outlining next steps.

Higgs said the county will seek professional services to help review and modernize land use and zoning language as part of the Comprehensive Plan update. He also said he will bring recommendations at the next council meeting for professional services related to consideration of impact fees and provided a brief overview of how impact fees are intended to function as a capital‑improvements funding tool.

The administrator's remarks signal that council can expect contract recommendations and specific proposals to appear on an upcoming agenda, and that public engagement will be scheduled as part of the plan update. No formal vote was recorded on contracting professional services at the March 2 meeting; Higgs said he will present recommended scopes and vendors at a future meeting.

Council members used council time to raise related operational issues: Councilman Phillip Taylor reported on SCDOT road and bridge work and explained how residents may report road concerns; Vice‑Chairman Bubba Trippe acknowledged recently installed playground equipment at Womble Park; Councilman Steve Murdaugh thanked Emergency Management and Fire‑Rescue departments for communications during recent weather incidents.

Next steps Administrator Higgs will return with formal recommendations for professional services to support land-use/zoning review and an impact‑fee study; the timeline for final adoption of any ordinance or fee schedule will depend on upcoming hearings and subsequent council action.