Commission hears second reading of Ordinance 1001 to clarify rules for nonconforming lots of record

Laurens County officials presented the second reading of Ordinance 1001, proposed to amend Ordinance 926 to address nonconforming lots of record.

County planning staff explained the amendment would allow owners of lots that met local standards when created but now fall short of current minimum acreage or width to develop those lots if the proposed structure meets the setbacks and other dimensional requirements that were in effect when the lot was created. The work group reviewing the amendment included building codes, public works, the county attorney’s office, administration, the assessor’s office and E‑911, and staff reported the changes come on the recommendation of those departments.

A motion to approve Ordinance 1001 on second reading was made and seconded. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how the ordinance interacts with variances and the planning commission’s role; staff and planning commissioners said the draft aims to reduce the number of variances by aligning standards with historical lot configurations. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote result for Ordinance 1001 within the meeting record provided.

The item will proceed according to the county’s three‑reading ordinance process; commissioners indicated they will handle remaining questions before the next meeting.