Oconee County Council adopts moratorium on large residential subdivisions; developers ask for grandfathering

Oconee County Council on May 19, 2026 adopted Ordinance 2026-15, placing a temporary moratorium on new planned subdivisions proposing more than 10 residential dwelling units and directing staff to begin a broader review of county development codes.

The council amended the ordinance on third reading to clarify its scope by inserting language specifying projects “exceeding 10 dwelling units,” then approved the main motion on a voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally. The council also adopted Resolution 2026-07 directing planning staff to deliver an initial scope for code revisions by July 1, 2026.

The moratorium drew sustained public comment from builders, landowners and residents, many of whom asked the council to protect projects already underway. Tom Marovich, who said he understood the ordinance’s intent, urged clearer wording so that “developers who have already submitted initial plans” and those with vested rights can continue to move forward. He warned the current draft could be “easily confused” with language that might unintentionally block ongoing permits.

Landowner Ronald Martin described a property-sale contract executed earlier this year and said the moratorium risked “jerking the rug out from under us” and causing significant financial loss for sellers and buyers. Developer Brian K. Wilson said he has multiple small subdivisions in process and proposed forming a subcommittee to rewrite rules so projects that were already advancing can continue; he offered to help draft that language.

Craig Roy, representing a privately held development company, said his firm spent substantial money on a March 12 contract and related engineering and geotechnical work before learning of the moratorium and that planning staff had been difficult to reach in April. “When we have things like this occur, it really hurts,” Roy said, asking the council to consider exceptions for projects that were already under contract.

Brent Little said his Greenpaw project has already installed roughly $5 million of sewer infrastructure, has state and regional approvals and anticipates about $1.5 million in annual tax revenue; he asked to be allowed to continue construction through the end of 2028.

Supporters of the moratorium and the accompanying code review argued the pause is intended to give staff and council time to update road, design and zoning standards (chapters 26, 32 and 38) and to craft rules that balance growth with infrastructure, environmental and community goals. Resolution 2026-07 calls for an initial scope from planning staff by July 1 and a special committee meeting that month to set further direction.

The council did not record detailed vote tallies in the public transcript for the ordinance or associated amendments. Next steps: planning staff will produce the initial scope by July 1, 2026, and council committees will consider any proposed code changes in the weeks following that submission.