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Greenwood council adopts new future land‑use definitions and lifts moratorium
Summary
Council adopted an update to the city/county future land use element that revises density definitions and a new future land‑use map; the vote also lifted a moratorium on rezonings earlier than planned. Consultants said the change swaps some high‑density for medium‑density residential acreage after field verification.
Council adopted an amendment to the Greenwood City–County future land‑use element that revises the definitions for low, medium and high‑density residential areas, adopts a new future land use map and associated table, and lifts the moratorium on rezonings. The measure was approved unanimously.
City planning staff presented the ordinance and said the change does not alter zoning directly but aligns the future land use element with how zoning is applied in practice. Consultant Trip told council the update was largely a “pretty simple swap” of some acreage from high‑density to medium‑density residential and that staff and consultants verified conditions neighborhood by neighborhood, including two days of on‑the‑ground fieldwork. “There was a way in which y’all went about that,” Trip said, describing drives through neighborhoods to confirm existing conditions.
No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition during the public hearing. After discussion about the mapping approach and consultant methods, councilmembers moved and seconded the ordinance and voted to adopt it and to lift the moratorium roughly three weeks earlier than the original scheduled date.
Why it matters: the new future land‑use map will guide how properties are expected to be developed and reviewed against zoning requests. Staff said the amendment clarifies language that previously conflated city and county policies and reduces the mapped acreage of high‑density residential while retaining opportunities for higher‑density projects where appropriate.
What’s next: the ordinance takes effect as adopted; rezonings and development proposals that were held under the moratorium may now proceed through the normal review process.
Attribution: consultant Trip (consultant) and Carol Coleman (Planning Director) summarized the technical approach and the rationale for the changes during the public hearing.
