Heated public comment on Pickens County hotel ordinance as council orders drafts for setbacks and lot sizes

The Pickens County Council heard extended public testimony on a proposed commercial lodging ordinance (referred to in public comment as Ordinance 691). Seven speakers participated, including a hydrologist representing "the reserve," counsel for the reserve, local residents, and a developer. Public comments ranged from technical assessments of water-quality protections to warnings that the ordinance targets a specific developer and could prompt lawsuits.

Dr. Cody Hail, a professional hydrologist speaking "on behalf of the reserve," argued water quality is protected by strong buffers, stormwater controls and properly managed wastewater systems and urged performance-based standards rather than land-use-based distance rules: "water quality is protected by effective buffers, storm water controls, and properly managed wastewater systems, not by singling out unland use category for additional restrictions." Walt Wilkins, counsel for the reserve, said the reserve holds vested development rights for approximately 4,000 acres and warned that the ordinance "feels like it's targeting reserve" and could result in lawsuits that would cost the county.

Other residents echoed concerns that existing protections such as the county's 50-foot vegetated setback and stormwater rules are adequate, while some speakers—including Robert Moore and Brody Glenn—urged exemptions for small B&Bs and noted potential economic benefits from lodging-related taxes. Council Wallace asked staff to revise the draft: he moved that he work with staff to craft minimum lot-size and waterway-setback language for commercial lodging and the motion was seconded and approved by council for further drafting.

Council and staff also debated why the planning commission recommended applying the county's strongest "class 6" buffer to hotels when other institutional uses would not receive the same classification. Staff explained buffer classes derive from a table in Article 8 tied to the proposed use and adjacent land uses, and that class 6 represents the county's highest-buffer level typically reserved for industrial-to-residential adjacencies. Council agreed to invite written suggestions and to continue the ordinance revision process before any final vote.