Sustainability committee unanimously sends environmental-guidelines recommendation to city council

The Sustainability Advisory Committee on May 13 unanimously approved a recommendation asking city council to equip city planners with the resources needed to implement environmental guidelines for land development in Clemson.

The vote, approved as written “in alignment with the city of Clemson's recently adopted 2045 comprehensive plan,” moves the committee’s draft and attached materials to council for further action. The motion passed without recorded opposition; committee members said the item reflects months of drafting and outreach.

Committee members discussed next steps after the vote: the city plans to hire a consultant to work on the Unified Development Ordinance as part of the budget process, and committee volunteers (named members referenced in the meeting) will assemble a longer draft for that consultant to review. One member said an expanded draft will ensure the consultant includes the committee’s recommendations when the ordinance is formalized.

Members also discussed an alternative suggested by a former committee member, Andrew Evans: instead of hiring only an outside consultant, the city could hire two interns to support the work and strengthen the university–city connection while saving money. Committee members framed that as a supplemental idea to raise during the budget process, not a replacement for consultant oversight.

The committee resolved to update the recommendation draft, continue outreach during the budget cycle, and provide materials to planning staff and the consultant when appointed. The committee additionally agreed to keep the recommendation and draft on the agenda for tracking until it becomes part of the public ordinance process.

Next procedural steps: committee members will consolidate a longer draft for staff and the consultant, monitor the budget process through July 1, and follow up publicly when the consultant’s proposed ordinance text is available.