On July 28, 2025, following public notice, the TOSI Town Council convened a special meeting to discuss the desirability of promulgating a formal annexation policy for the Town. This initiative, consistent with State law and guidelines published by the Municipal Association of South Carolina, is being undertaken to establish procedures and criteria to be used in any application for annexation, and for the review, consideration, and processing of all annexation requests.
There are no current or pending annexation requests at this time. This is a proactive effort to define the general policies, procedures, and criteria that the Council will use in evaluating requests for annexation, if and when one is received.
The starting point for the Council, at the July 28 work session, was discussion of the purposes, policies, and intent of the policy as will be articulated in the proposed annexation ordinance (the “Policy Statement”). The meeting may be viewed on our YouTube channel in its entirety here.
With a formalized annexation process, the applicant, the public, and the decision makers will share a comprehensive understanding as to what needs to be submitted and the standards on which a decision will be made. As stated in the Policy Statement, TOSI is seeking “a clear, predictable, and transparent annexation policy…which will provide useful guidance to prospective applicants, decision makers, and the public at large.” Moreover, the Policy Statement provides that it is “the policy of the town to approve annexation requests only…when annexation is deemed to be in the best interest of the town.”
TOSI Council agreed to move forward with the preparation of an annexation ordinance. Once a draft annexation policy is completed, it will be posted on the Town’s website for public review and comment before the council takes any action on it. You will see notice of further meetings and opportunities for written and oral comments posted on the Town’s website and the other normal places.
-Submitted by the Town of Seabrook Island
