Rock Hill poised to temporarily stop new home construction. Here’s what it means
Rock Hill City Council approved a first step toward pausing residential construction in the city.
Monday’s decision comes as Rock Hill’s population has increased 47% over the last 20 years.
The moratorium on new homes, city leaders say, will allow its staff time to review and improve codes to better handle development projects. Staff would refine rules on parking and alleys, architectural design, pump stations, amenities, open space and buffers. A moratorium also would help the city keep pace with building infrastructure such as roads and utilities.
“The pending ordinance basically shuts the door for just the time being so that folks won’t rush in under old standards,” said city attorney Paul Dillingham.
Building permit applications for most new home projects would not be processed for six months.
“We’d like to get to a day where our zoning code and our standards are such that you don’t have to look at every development with a microscope,” Dillingham said.
Moratorium exceptions
The moratorium would apply to building new homes, but not all of them.
“We do recommend that there would be exceptions, so that we wouldn’t just put a complete stop on development,” Dillingham said.
The moratorium wouldn’t apply to projects that the city already approved but houses haven’t yet been built. It also wouldn’t apply to additions on existing homes or lots that haven’t been developed within a built out subdivision.
“It’s mainly for new subdivisions,” Dillingham said. “The city manager would make a judgment call, and I’m sure he’d involve council if need be.”
Mayor John Gettys said the move isn’t an all-out ban on development.
“I describe this as a moratorium light,” he said.
Council also could grant individual exceptions for projects. The moratorium allows potential builders to bring in a sketch plan. If Council likes the plan, it could proceed as an exception.
Will it hurt or help builders?
Despite Monday’s unanimous decision, some council members say a moratorium might send the wrong message to builders about building in Rock Hill, while others say it could help developers lower costs.
There’s a need for code changes, Councilman John Black said. But Black said he’s conflicted about circumventing the typical process that could give developers the impression Rock Hill doesn’t want to build.
“I don’t mind the end result,” Black said of the moratorium. “I just have some reservations about what this projects.”
Councilwoman Nikita Jackson shared those concerns.
“I guess it’s going to set a tone for not wanting to develop a certain type of (home),” she said.
But City Manager David Vehaun said a pause in new residential building could be positive for developers, too.
“Developers still can bring projects in,” he said. “This doesn’t stop the development. It just allows (Council) to see the plan before it moves to the planning commission. That’s all this does.”
Submitting early sketch plans also could lower costs compared to investing in full site project plans for approval before Council sees it.
“This is actually, in my mind, something that’s very pro development,” Vehaun said.
Moratoriums aren’t new
Moratorium is not a new concept in Rock Hill.
Seven years ago, a city moratorium on apartment construction ended with new rules for where apartments can be built. That moratorium was set up for nine months.
Three years ago, the city passed a moratorium on new self-storage sites after a plethora of projects popped up across the city.
Throughout the last 10 years, other areas of York County also have approved or considered a moratorium, housing freeze or similar effort i high-growth areas.
Two years ago, York County set and extended a residential moratorium in Lake Wylie that remains in place.
A similar moratorium plan passed in Clover at the same time.
For Rock Hill’s moratorium to pass, it must go through a public hearing next month, a planning commission review and multiple council votes.
