Aiken County Revises Growth Map After Public Opposes Eastern Transition Area Designation

The Aiken County Planning Commission will revise the Growth Priorities Map after strong pushback from residents. Over 160 people showed up at the March 10 public meeting at the Government Center, accorrding to the Aiken Standard. They opposed the Transition Area designation east of Aiken.

Joel Duke proposed that staff switch the eastern section to the Rural Preservation Region. This area holds Couchton, Montmorenci, and parts of S.C. Highway 302 and U.S. Route 78 corridors. Farms, forests, and equestrian neighborhoods fill the land.

Staff suggested expanding Rural Preservation and reducing the Transition Area size near Beech Island and Jackson. Duke shared these ideas during a March 11 work session.

Comments poured in through an online survey and paper forms at the meeting. They showed intense resistance to the eastern Transition Area. A memo from the Planning and Development Department staff to the panel confirmed this.

A Transition Area is a buffer region between priority development areas and the Rural Preservation Region. These zones fit areas ready for construction because of planned or anticipated service expansions. Higher-density projects need adequate services extended or expanded before approval.

Public input backed measured construction for projects with infrastructure support, confined to areas that already have buildings.

The panel will discuss the plan at its next monthly meeting at 6 p.m., March 19, in the Sandlapper Room. After the commission and staff finish their work, the panel will approve its version and send it to the County Council.

The County Council's approval is required for the plan to take effect. The process will include a public hearing and three readings of an ordinance.