by Dean Nguyen
Greenville County earned a key victory last Tuesday when council members voted “Yes” to advance the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to a third reading in December. During this final reading, councilors will vote on its formal adoption. A coalition of conservation organizations joined the SCNPS Upstate Chapter to help make this possible, playing an essential role in advocating for the UDO through education and persistence. Key partners included Upstate Forever (UF), Save Our Saluda (SOS), South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP), Trees Upstate (TU), and Conservation Voters of SC (CVSC).
For nearly half a decade, the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) has been an ongoing endeavor of county staff, community members, and other stakeholders to help address critical planning-related issues confronting Greenville County.
Greenville County’s population is projected to grow a whopping 40% by 2040, adding 222,000 residents. It’s important that this growth be managed in an environmentally responsible way. The UDO helps in this regard with its modernized framework for sustainable land use practices. It enhances protections for clean water. It encourages the preservation of existing trees in new developments. It sets standards for plant biodiversity. It also strengthens requirements for sidewalks and internal connectivity in and between communities, which helps reduce our reliance on cars and other resource-intensive modes of transportation. All of these align with the guiding policies set forth by the county’s current comprehensive plan.
Advocates of the UDO recognize that future changes to the document may be necessary. But for now, much of the heavy lifting has been done to consolidate the current hodgepodge of regulations, address clear issues in current laws, incorporate modern best practices in environmental stewardship, and ensure our residents’ voices are heard.
While getting the UDO to a third reading is a promising signal, it’s essential that our community continues to support this ordinance — and, by extension, our environment — until it is formally passed.
“Engagement matters,” says Rick Huffman, SCNPS co-founder and Advocacy Chair. “Our voices are all we have, and the conservation of the quality of life and nature in the Upstate depends on our voices.”
If you are a Greenville County resident, be sure to continue to use your voice to thank the following council members who voted “Yes” and ask them for their continued support for the UDO.
As of 12/3/24 vote:
Voted Yes
- District 18 Michael F. Barnes – 864.877.9457
- District 25 Ennis Fant, Sr. – 864.467.2787
- District 21 Chris Harrison – 864.467.4917
- District 27 Butch Kirven – 864.228.9300
- District 23 Alan Mitchell – 864.483.6952
- District 24 Liz Seman – 864.501.4126
- District 28 Dan Tripp – 864.915.9212
Voted No
- District 19 Benton Blount – 864.483.2474
- District 20 Steve Shaw – 864.553.9713
- District 17 Joey Russo – 864.483.0689
- District 22 Stan Tzouvelekas – 864.467.4958
- District 26 Rick Bradley – 864.483.3090