Edgefield County Discusses Multi-Family Housing Zoning District

Edgefield County Council met Sept. 15 in joint session with the planning commission to discuss creating a zoning district for multi-family housing. This was the first combined session since 2024. It showed that more zoning could happen soon in this largely unzoned area.

The potential district would set aside areas best suited for multi-family housing. Planning Director Hart "Doc" Clark laid out a process similar to the one used for the Residential Agriculture district. This means creating the new district first, then determining requirements and where it would be most appropriate.

More than 2,000 properties now fall under the Residential Agriculture district. The large-lot zoning initiative was meant to protect the area's character. Growth has exceeded 16% since 2020.

Commission Chair James "Fab" Burt said the group faces challenges balancing growth with citizen impact. "We try to keep the county in mind — growth, plus what impact it's going to have on the citizens," Burt said, per The Post and Courier. "Our regulations, we don't want to have them too strict, but we don't want to have it too lenient."

Last year's zoning took several months to complete. It was a citizen-led effort that picked up steam after the planning commission rejected a developer's proposed subdivision in the Sweetwater area outside North Augusta.

The Sept. 15 session was for information only. No votes took place. The planning commission indicated it had interest in taking up the zoning question.

The area previously tried more comprehensive zoning in 2021 under the proposed Land Management Ordinance. That met with strong pushback and failed. Last year's effort also faced criticism over its "one size fits all" approach and concerns about affordable housing impacts.