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Planners urge council to consider building‑permit allocation as moratorium alternative
Summary
In discussion after the Shell Ring denial, commissioners reviewed moratorium examples in nearby jurisdictions and voted to recommend that council study a building‑permit allocation system as an alternative for managing growth.
During the same meeting that produced the Shell Ring decision, the Awendaw Planning Commission discussed moratorium policies and alternatives for moderating development pace.
Several commissioners cited out‑of‑town examples — including Mount Pleasant and Charleston County — as they considered options beyond a long moratorium. Members noted that other municipalities used building‑permit allocation systems (sometimes tied to an annual percentage increase) to manage construction volume while allowing individual property owners to pursue limited development.
After deliberation the commission moved to recommend that the town council consider a building‑permit allocation or permit‑allocation system as a tool to control growth and to provide staff time to prepare comprehensive revisions to zoning and land‑use rules. The commission recorded its recommendation and asked staff to outline how an allocation system might work, including exemptions for very small projects.
