GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - After more than four years of work Greenville leaders could be a few weeks away from overhauling the county's land management rules and adopting a new Unified Development Ordinance, or UDO.

Wednesday the planning commission voted on it, but they could not vote to approve or deny the UDO, only send a recommendation to council. However they were split 4-4.

The large UDO rulebook consolidates all county rules for land management into one, aligning with goals in the comprehensive plan.

"More cohesiveness, more consistency across the board for the county," said Planning Director Rashida Jeffers-Campbell, during the meeting.

The key takeaways: specific rules for both zoned and unzoned parts of the county. Newly added zoning designations, tree preservation goals, affordable housing incentives and design requirements for major subdivisions -- like open space, lot size and sidewalks. Plus public meetings before a developer submits an application.

"The idea with this is to reduce subjectivity and to have more concrete standards, more clarity," Jeffers-Campbell explained.

Some feel the new standards would give the commission less authority.

"What are you suggesting that we go ahead and abolish the entire planning commission? Is that what we're suggesting?" asked Commissioner Deborah Manning. "The public has subjectivity and they expect us to have that same subjectivity."

The commission's split vote means no recommendation could be sent forward to council.

The UDO will go to the council's planning and development committee for discussion. After that it'll go back to the full council who will vote to adopt the new rulebook or not.