York County’s new zoning rules up for review

Changes to York County’s zoning rules are now up for public review.

County planners want to hear the public’s feedback ahead of the new rules moving through the county’s planning and approval process, although there won’t be an opportunity for a formal public hearing until September.

Until then, the proposed changes can be read online at yorkcountygov.com/planninganddevelopment.

Officials have held a long review process for proposed changes to the county’s zoning and subdivision rules, primarily motivated by public complaints about too much development around the Lake Wylie area.

An earlier push by the York County Council to establish a special overlay district in the lakeside community – driven by the approval of a large housing development in the formerly rustic area – was dropped last year in favor of changes to the countywide zoning ordinance.

Last fall, the overlay district hearings drew large crowds of Lake Wylie residents – and a few developers – and led to hours of discussion at County Council meetings.

Planners held a series of public meetings earlier this year to develop the new standards. The possible changes include a focus on improving road standards around new subdivisions to address traffic concerns; limiting areas where new multifamily housing, such as apartments, can be built; and, establishing new rules for how dense neighborhoods can be.

County planners will present the changes to the York County Planning Commission on Aug. 10, although the general public won’t have a chance to comment at that meeting.

The York County Council will hold its first vote on the changes Aug. 17, and the public will be able to speak during a hearing before a second vote on Sept. 8.

Comments can also be submitted to eddie.moore@yorkcountygov.com, or audra.miller@yorkcountygov.com.

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 2:23 PM with the headline "York County’s new zoning rules up for review."