Seneca City Council

Seneca Planning Commission

Seneca, South Carolina

Re: Proposed Amendment to City of Seneca Ordinance No. 2019-01

Dear City Council and Planning Commission Members:

On October 12, 2026, a community meeting was held where the owner  of 108+/- acres on South Cove Road and Indian Oaks Road (the “Property”) shared details of their proposed “Keowee Bluff” residential development (“Keowee Bluff”).  The owner told us the Property’s current PD-R ordinance No. 2019-01 (the “Ordinance”) allows for the development of 3 units per acre and mandates “cottage” lot sizes of 4,500 sf to 6,500 sf.  The owner told us they proposed to the City of Seneca an amendment of the ordinance of 1)  a 73% reduction in density from 3 units per acre to 120 lots and 2) a minimum lot size of ½ acre for all interior lots previously described in the ordinance as “cottage lots.” 

The owner promised us the Property will not be mass graded and that Keowee Bluff will include engineered stormwater and septic systems designed to minimize potentially harmful discharge into Lake Keowee. 

The owner told us the City’s Planning Director could, in his discretion, deem the proposed amendment to be a “minor” change to the Ordinance but has thus far been unwilling to make such determination. 

Based upon what the owner told us, we believe the proposed amendment to Ordinance No. 2019-01 is in the best interests of the City and its’ residents.  We ask that you consider adopting the above-described proposed amendment as a “minor” change to the Ordinance.  In the event you determine that the proposed amendment constitutes a “major” change to the Ordinance, we ask that you take note of our support and adopt the proposed amendment as soon as possible.