News Summary
Lexington County is set to welcome a new single-family housing development, covering 80 acres along Edmund Highway and bringing 200 new homes to the community. This project marks the sixth development to undergo the county’s concurrency review process, aimed at ensuring sustainable growth in line with public service capacities. Collaborative input from local agencies is crucial in identifying potential challenges early on, ensuring that as the population grows, adequate services remain available. As the first area in South Carolina to adopt these regulations, Lexington County seeks to balance housing needs with the capabilities of public services.
New Housing Development on the Horizon in Lexington County
Lexington County is gearing up for some exciting changes! A brand new single-family housing development is set to grace the area, spanned across an impressive 80 acres along Edmund Highway. This ambitious project is poised to bring 200 new homes to the community, creating a vibrant neighborhood for residents.
A New Approach to Development
This development is the sixth to enter the county’s newly implemented concurrency review process, which rolled out in June of this year. What does that mean? Well, the concurrency rules are all about ensuring that growth doesn’t outpace the county’s capacity to provide essential public services. The county aims to address the challenges stemming from the area’s rapid population growth while making sure that new residents have access to adequate services.
The concurrency review puts a spotlight on collaboration, requiring reviews from different agencies. Local school districts, public safety departments, and even solid waste management services need to take a look and give their feedback on proposed developments like this one. It’s like a team effort to make sure everything lines up before construction kicks off!
Identifying Challenges Early
By implementing the concurrency review process, Lexington County is taking a proactive step to pinpoint potential hurdles before any project gets the green light. This way, if any necessary adjustments need to be made, there’s plenty of time to do so without holding things up too much.
Lexington County proudly stands as the first area in South Carolina to adopt such concurrency review regulations aimed at managing rapid growth effectively. These new rules are particularly thorough for developments with ten or more homes on smaller lots, ensuring all bases are covered before anyone moves in.
Collaborative Efforts from Various Agencies
As part of the review process, local agencies—like police departments, fire services, and solid waste management—are invited to contribute their insights. Public school districts also play a role by providing demographic information to the Planning Commission. After staff approval of the initial sketch plan, there’s a 20-working day window for public comments. This ensures that everyone has a chance to weigh in before the project goes for further review by both the Planning Commission and County Council. The entire process could take anywhere from one to two months before a final decision is made.
Local school districts are optimistic about welcoming new students into their schools, although they cannot comment on specific developments in the approval process. Meanwhile, some local water supply entities, such as the town of Chapin, have raised concerns about not being included in the concurrency review. It’s certainly a conversation starter around town!
Pros and Cons: The Ongoing Debate
While no projects have faced outright rejection under this new framework, it’s worth noting that some developers may need to tweak their plans based on feedback from the relevant agencies. This has sparked some criticism among real estate professionals in the area, who argue that the concurrency process might slow down developments and potentially hike up housing costs. This could put a damper on affordability, which is a hot topic for many.
Traffic issues remain at the forefront of discussions regarding growth management in Lexington County. As more developments like this one come to fruition, the ongoing conversation about road use, public transport, and overall accessibility continues to be vital for future planning.
A Model for Future Growth
All these efforts represent a significant undertaking by Lexington County to strike a balance between the need for housing and the capabilities of public services. With an influx of new residents expected in the coming years, this concurrency review process could very well become a model for other rapidly growing areas in the state. It’s an exciting time for Lexington County, and residents can look forward to what the future holds!
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Additional Resources
- WLTX: New Proposed Subdivision on Edmund Hwy
- Greenville Business Magazine: Midlands Economic Development
- Shopping Center Business: Lexington Land Development
- The State: Local News Article
- Wikipedia: Housing Development
