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Fort Mill council adopts comprehensive and downtown master plans, sets moratorium to implement code changes
Summary
Council approved second readings to adopt the town's comprehensive plan and downtown master plan, moved several ordinance items on second readings, and approved first reading of a six‑month moratorium to allow staff to draft text amendments implementing the new plans.
Council approved multiple planning‑stage ordinances and took a first reading of a temporary moratorium designed to let staff write zoning and code changes that implement recently adopted plans.
On second reading the council approved ordinance 2026‑13 to adopt the town’s comprehensive plan and ordinance 2026‑14 to adopt the downtown master plan. Councilmembers and planning staff described the approvals as the end of the planning phase that will now lead to regulatory updates. Town planning staff told council the moratorium would be limited to six months with a one‑time 90‑day extension to allow drafting and adoption of zoning text amendments and other code changes that put the plans into practice.
Town engineer Chris Pettit explained the moratorium’s scope and exemptions: applications already in the pipeline, purely commercial rezoning, amendments that do not increase residential density, utility projects necessary for safe operations, and finalization of projects under active approval would be exempt. “The temporary moratorium … is for the purpose of allowing staff time to work through those text amendments in the code,” Pettit said.
Council emphasized that the moratorium will not stop previously approved development from moving forward. The first reading was approved; staff will return with draft text amendments and a timeline for adoption.
Why it matters: The combination of plan adoption and a time‑limited moratorium signals a transition from vision documents to enforceable zoning and code changes designed to shape Fort Mill’s growth and development patterns.
