Georgetown County environmental groups speak out against proposed county-wide development plans
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Georgetown County environmental advocacy organizations are speaking out on a recent vote to defer a plan, they say could bring more homes and development to the county.
Hundreds of residents showed up to Thursday night’s county planning commission meeting to tell officials areas like Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island have no more room for development.
The Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan frames the future of development for the next 10 years.
“In 10 years, if that plan is implemented, Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island will be unrecognizable,” Cindy Person said. Person is the executive director for Keep It Green advocacy.
The plan was last drafted in 2007 and the county is now updating it. It’s held several public meetings in the past several months for residents to give their input.
Person was at the commission meeting and said more than 20 people talked about the need to maintain natural resources.
“Citizens can make a difference if they engage and show up and that was evidence last night,” Person said.
Person said the Waccamaw Neck, which includes Murrells Inlet, Litchfield and Pawleys Island would see the most growth both residentially and commercially if the current plan passes as is.
She said the new plan maps show almost double the amount of growth than the previous one. She’s worried how much density this plan is proposing off an already busy Highway 17.
“There is only physically so much infrastructure and development that we can handle and we’ve already maxed out on that,” Person said.
Leon Rice, president of Preserve Murrells Inlet said the new plan does not reflect what residents want. He says the Inlet has its own character and lifestyle and cannot let the county turn it into another Myrtle Beach.
“They are so interested in getting development in here for their taxes for the treasury, that they’re not listening to what the people who already live here want in here,” Rice said.
Both organizations said the commission didn’t say when the comprehensive plan would be on its agenda again. If it does pass, it will have to go to county council for three readings.
Count on News13 for updates.
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Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work, here.
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