Pickens County SC Live Stream

The Pickens County SC council meeting on August 18, 2026, focused extensively on land use and environmental ordinances, particularly regarding solar farm siting and lake overlay district regulations. The council discussed amendments to the solar ordinance to align with state standards and best practices from South Carolina DNR and Clemson University, emphasizing environmental protection and wildlife passage. They approved moving forward with option one for fencing requirements and advanced the ordinance to third reading. A significant portion of the meeting addressed the Lake Keowee overlay district, debating setback distances, impervious surface limits, and prohibitions on commercial development such as hotels and marinas. The council voted to maintain a 50-foot setback consistent with existing stormwater ordinances and to clarify the appeals process by referencing the underlying Development Standards Ordinance (DSO). Additionally, a zoning map amendment was approved to designate certain areas as agricultural with one-acre lots to control growth, despite concerns about housing affordability and sprawl. Several motions related to ordinance language adjustments and procedural clarifications were passed, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance environmental protection with development and tourism interests in the county.