Council adopts impact-fee option for budget; members raise affordability concerns

Council took up second reading and public hearing on a county ordinance that implements development impact fees under the South Carolina Development Impact Fee Act (Code of Laws of South Carolina, Title 6, Article 9, Chapter 1). Council members debated four fee options and procedural sequencing tied to the budget.

A motion to approve the "pink column" fee schedule (the option contained in the council packet) was made and seconded. Several council members, including member S2, expressed concern that one option (option C) would better protect affordability for lower‑cost housing; staff explained that the ordinance contains waiver provisions for qualifying lower‑income buyers that are funded from council‑designated sources and that the fee schedule could be revisited in a future budget cycle.

Staff advised that the budget presented for third reading would reflect the chosen fee schedule and that adjustments could be made later by amendment. Council voted to adopt the packet option (pink column) for now and signaled willingness to review impacts to affordability and waiver thresholds in future deliberations.

Why it matters: Impact fees generate revenue to offset infrastructure costs created by new development but can raise housing‑cost concerns. Council’s choice will be reflected in the coming budget and may influence development costs and long‑term revenue projections.

What the record shows: Council selected an option to include in the budget while staff confirmed waiver and subsidy mechanisms exist to mitigate impacts on low‑income housing; no final fee ordinance text beyond option selection was adopted tonight.