MAYOR WILLIAM COGSWELL SUPPORTS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO ALIGN GROWTH WITH INFRASTRUCTURE

Today, Mayor William Cogswell expressed strong support for H. 4050-a bipartisan bill under consideration at the South Carolina Statehouse that would give municipalities a powerful tool to manage growth in coordination with infrastructure capacity. The legislation, if passed, would mark the first time concurrency regulations are authorized in the state.

On behalf of the Mayor, Chief Policy Officer Logan McVey testified before the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee in Columbia today, advocating for the bill's passage and highlighting its potential to transform how fast-growing cities like Charleston plan for the future.

Concurrency laws require that infrastructure-such as roads and stormwater measures-must be implemented or in-process before new development is approved. While these laws are common-sense planning tools used successfully across the country, they have never been implemented in South Carolina. H. 4050 would change that, giving cities and towns the authority to ensure that development doesn't outpace the infrastructure needed to support it.

"This bill is about giving local communities the ability to grow smarter," said Mayor Cogswell. "It's a chance to build a better future-one where development, infrastructure, and quality of life move forward together. We have a real opportunity to work together across all levels of government to make sure growth works for everyone."

Mayor Cogswell emphasized that H. 4050 is not about stopping development-it's about guiding it responsibly. The bill promotes collaboration between municipalities, developers, counties, and state agencies like SCDOT. It ensures infrastructure becomes a shared responsibility-not an afterthought.

Mayor Cogswell encourages lawmakers across the aisle to support H. 4050 and help usher in a new era of responsible, infrastructure-first growth for communities across South Carolina.