• Restrict allowed uses outside the UGB to bonafide agriculture commercial and rural residential uses only.  For example, currently permitted uses include amusement parks and miniature golf courses.  Uses such as these would be more appropriate in Myrtle Beach and should not be allowed uses in rural Johns Island.  This requires the addition of an action plan in the comprehensive plan for the review of rural land uses.

• Require any future land use housing density bonus currently allowed in rural areas to have significant natural open space in exchange for the higher densities.  For example, currently for a planned development in AG-8 (1 house per 8 acres) to obtain a 100% density bonus and include commercial usages, only 0.2 acres per house and only 10% of the area designated for commercial activity has to be open space.  This requires a change to Appendix A.1Aii of the comprehensive plan.

• In a rural area "open space" should consist of natural highland areas that preserve the rural character of the land and enhance its natural resilience.  Currently items such as golf courses, swimming pools, and public squares can be counted towards this rural open space to obtain density bonuses.  Only the preservation of natural highland areas should be allowed to count as open space to obtain any density bonus in rural areas.  This requires a change to Chapter 4.1 of the comprehensive plan.

• Provide greater protection for smaller grand trees and contiguous swaths of forests.  Currently a grand tree is defined as any tree 24 inches or greater in diameter, with the exception of pine and sweetgum trees.  Using a growth factor of 4, that means live oak trees which are 100 years old can be cut down without public input.  This needs to be addressed.  Also, the preservation of landscape-scale swaths of trees that provide resilience to water events and provide wildlife corridors needs to be addressed.  This requires the addition of a tree/forest action plan in the comprehensive plan.