The City of Pickens Mayor, City Council, and others support the growth of the Pickens community. Together, we’re working to serve the residents of visitors of Pickens through our leadership and guidance.
Support, Leadership, and Guidance for Our City
Mayor Isaiah Scipio
Proud to Serve The Pickens Community
Mayor Isaiah Scipio has been serving the City of Pickens since 2023. Mayor Scipio graduated from South Carolina State University and has served the upstate as a minister for over 30 years. He is dedicated to improving lives and fostering the town he grew up in.
City Council
The Pickens City Council meets as one committee with all departments including Administration, Police, Fire, Public Works, and Recreation. The Council Committee meets on the second Monday of each month at 6pm in Council chambers at City Hall. The meetings are public, and all are welcome to attend. Council work sessions are held on the fourth Monday of each month at 6pm.
City Council Minutes, Agendas, and Livestream Recordings
The Planning Commission
Plans and Preparations for the Future
The Planning Commission has a duty to engage in a continuous planning program for the physical, social and economic growth, development and redevelopment of the area within its authority.
The Planning Commission meets once a month as needed, usually on the second Tuesday at 5:30pm.
In carrying out its responsibilities, the local Planning Commission has authority to do all of the following things:
Comprehensive Plan
Prepare and periodically revise plans and programs for development and redevelopment of its area.
Implementation
Prepare and recommend measures for implementing the plan by the appropriate governing bodies, including the following measures.
Zoning Ordinances
Prepare zoning ordinances, zoning district maps and necessary revisions.
Subdivision / Development of Land
Responsible for overseeing the administration of land development regulations adopted by the Pickens City Council.
Policies and Procedures
Recommendations to implement adopted comprehensive plan elements. These policies and procedures could cover such things as expanding corporate limits, extending public water and sewer systems, dedicating streets and drainage easements, and offering economic development incentive packages.
Advising City Council
The Planning Commission is an advisory board to City Council with text amendments to the comprehensive plan and the zoning ordinance as well as rezoning requests. The planning commission can be asked to help with updates and overhauls of the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance as needed. The City Council will make the final decision based on the recommendations of the Planning Commission.
Planning Commission Members:
Megan Thomas
Derrick Craft
Candice Heatherly
Caroline Rogers
Carol Anderson
Board of Architectural Review
The Board of Architectural Review is designed to implement the zoning ordinance for the Gateway Overlay Districts (main entrances into the city) and the City Center Overlay District. The Board of Architectural Review reviews any applications for façade improvements and sign applications in the two overlay districts as well as regulates the preservation and protection for the unique, special or desired character of a defined district, corridor or development area.
Architectural review provisions of the zoning ordinance include restrictions and conditions governing the right to erect, demolish, remove in whole or in part, or alter the exterior appearance of all buildings or structures within the designated areas. The majority of applications are reviewed through email.
The Board of Architectural meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 5pm as needed for variance requests from the overlay design guidelines as well as special situations with façade improvements and sign applications. Meetings are held.
Board of Architectural Review Members:
Amanda Gamble
Dave Michel
Beth Velner
Jonathan Holder
Coretta Arnold
Board of Zoning Appeals
The Board of Zoning Appeals has the authority to make final administrative decisions for the local government concerning the zoning ordinance. The powers of the board are limited to three specific subject matter areas:
- Determining appeals from administrative decisions of the zoning administrator
- Granting or denying applications for variances
- Granting or denying applications for special exceptions
A variance allows the board to modify an otherwise legitimate zoning restriction when, due to unusual conditions, the restriction may be more burdensome than was intended. The board of appeals has the exclusive power to permit uses by special exception subject to standards and conditions in the zoning ordinance. Appeals from administrative actions and decisions of the zoning administrator are taken to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
The Board of Zoning Appeals is a quasi-judicial board, which means the board has final say; city council has no say in the decisions of this board. If the applicant does not agree with the Board of Zoning Appeals decision, the next step would be circuit court.
The Board of Zoning Appeals meets once a month as needed usually on the first Tuesday of each month at 6pm.
Board of Zoning Appeals Members:
Courtney Stone
Tausha Blake
Louise Tate
Tina Bergholm
John Adams
Meeting Disclosures
Individual public notices for any regular, special-called, or rescheduled meetings will be posted/distributed per S.C. Code 30-4-80. Normally, public meetings will not be held on holidays observed by the city. Meetings for the Boards and Commissions will not be held if there are no agenda items.
Contact the City
Want to Serve Your Communiy?
Interested in learning more about or even serving in the City government? We are happy to answer question and provide addition information about our work and what it would be like to join a board or committee.
Join A Board
New board members will be appointed by council and any resident or business owner within the city limits of Pickens can apply to fill any vacancies. New board members will be required to take orientation training. Once orientation is complete, board members will be required to take continuing education training every year that they remain on the board.
If you are interested in serving your community in this manner, please complete this application and return it to City Hall.