Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenter urges Mountain Creek Community District zoning protections to curb flooding
Summary
Brenda Buicek urged the Greenville County Council to adopt a proposed Mountain Creek Community (MCC) District zoning ordinance to require 100‑year storm water management, larger riparian and perimeter buffers, at least 50% protected open space in new subdivisions and historic‑site preservation to reduce flooding and protect community character.
Brenda Buicek of Taylors urged Greenville County Council members during the public‑comment period to adopt a proposed amendment to the county zoning ordinance establishing a Mountain Creek Community (MCC) District aimed at reducing flood risk and preserving the area’s low‑density character.
Buicek, speaking from the public‑comment podium and giving her Taylors address, outlined substantive changes she said the ordinance would impose: new developments would be required to design stormwater management for a 100‑year frequency (rather than the 25‑year frequency commonly used), low‑impact development features and on‑site infiltration to improve water quality, and stronger controls on impervious surfaces.
She proposed minimum buffers that exceed current standards: a 50‑foot undisturbed perimeter buffer (current standard she cited: 20 feet) and a minimum 100‑foot riparian buffer because of the watershed density in Mountain Creek. Buicek also recommended that at least 50% of a new subdivision’s total land area be protected as open space for habitat preservation, passive recreation and conservation, with no more than 50% of that protected open space counted as wetlands and floodplain.
Buicek said the watershed contains many parcels developed before modern stormwater rules and estimated “over 2,000 parcels” were built prior to protective regulations, and she warned that FEMA flood maps are no longer accurate in some local areas. She cited a 2022 multi‑day rain event that caused creek overtopping and flooding into backyards as an example of recurring risk.
Why it matters: The ordinance, if considered formally by planning staff or the council, would change allowable development patterns, buffer requirements and stormwater standards across a large watershed in Greenville County, with implications for developers, property owners and residents in the Mountain Creek area.
A councilor suggested sharing the proposal with the county’s Planning and Development chair (Chairman Bradley was named by a councilor) for review and possible public discussion. Buicek’s remarks were delivered as public comment; no vote or ordinance action occurred at the forum.
