COASTAL OBSERVER
March 19, 2026

To the editor:

It appears that Carole Farrell did not review the facts before writing her recent letter criticizing Georgetown County Council members Stella Mercado and Clint Elliott, as well as Sheriff Carter
Weaver. While I am glad Ms. Farrell survived her medical ordeal, it is unclear how County Council could be responsible for staffing decisions at a private hospital.

The record shows that Council Members Mercado and Elliott have led some of the most significant reductions in residential development density on the Waccamaw Neck since zoning was first established in the 1970s.

Documentation of their votes is available through the county’s public records portal: georgetowncosc.portal.civic-clerk.com

On July 23, 2024, they voted to approve a future land use map that reduces potential residential development on the Waccamaw Neck by roughly 50 percent – eliminating approximately 12,000 potential housing units under current zoning. Information on the comprehensive plan and future land use map can be found at gtcounty.org.

On Sept. 24, 2024, they supported a council-initiated rezoning of nearly 80 acres at the intersection of Highway 707 and Highway 17 in Murrells Inlet, changing the designation from
“community mixed use” (up to 12 units per acre) to “commercial corridor “ (up to six units per acre), a 50 percent reduction in residential density.

On Dec. 10, 2024, they voted to reduce allowable multi-family density on the Waccamaw Neck from 16 units per acre to five units per acre, a 70 percent reduction.

Then on June 24, 2025, they voted to protect neighborhoods from golf course redevelopment by rezoning golf courses from “R-10” (20 units per five acres) to “neighborhood amenity” (one unit per five acres), a 95 percent reduction in potential development density.

These actions represent historic efforts to reduce tens of thousands of potential housing units on the Waccamaw Neck.

Regarding the incorporation effort, state law does not require counties to provide services within a municipality. Any new town on the Waccamaw Neck – like Pawleys Island or Andrews – would be responsible for funding its own law enforcement while residents would still pay county property taxes that support the sheriff’s department.

This is information the incorporation study group should have understood before collecting petition signatures.

Sheriff Weaver is simply explaining state law and protecting county taxpayers. He has my full support.

Michael Oliver
Hagley Estates