(Richland PIO) – Richland County residents will soon have several opportunities to review revisions to the County’s zoning map and Land Development Code (LDC) before the changes go to County Council for consideration.
In April 2022, County Council directed the County’s Planning Commission to prepare a new zoning map and recommend related text revisions. In November, the commission finished its work and requested that its recommendations be shared with the public before being presented to Council.
“Richland County residents and business owners have told us that transparency and communication are important to them,” County Administrator Leonardo Brown said. “As such, the County Council restarted the code and zoning map amendment process in order to provide more opportunities to participate in the process.”
The County plans to hold a series of open house meetings to give notice about the recommended changes. The drop-in meetings will include the Planning Commission’s recommended zoning map and changes to the text. County staff will be on hand to answer residents’ questions; residents can also submit comments to County Council and staff via comment cards.
The first open house meeting is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 at Richland Library Ballentine, 1200 Dutch Fork Road, Irmo. When confirmed, Richland County will provide dates and times of future meetings for:
- Central Richland County/Olympia/Lower Broad River Road
- Upper Lower Richland/Lower Richland Boulevard
- Eastover/South of Lower Richland Boulevard
- Blythewood/Northeast Richland
- Arcadia Lakes/Forest Acres/Sandhills
“Richland County residents and businesses have engaged the Planning staff and the Planning Commission throughout this process,” said Aric Jensen, assistant administrator. “We encourage the public to review the recommendations of the Planning Commission and provide comments.”
More About the LDC
The LDC and accompanying zoning map are adopted County ordinances that regulate land use, growth and development outside of incorporated cities and towns. They govern the types of uses, location and size of developments within various zones, as well as establishing the procedures for how development proposals are reviewed.
The LDC also controls various development and subdivision standards such as parking, landscaping, signs, addressing, building form and open space within a development, and the division and platting of land as well as road layout and other infrastructure requirements.
Richland County adopted its current LDC in 2005 and has amended it many times since then. In November 2021, County Council adopted a comprehensive LDC text revision, but in 2022 Council and the Planning Commission decided more time was needed to engage the public and make additional changes, and they directed County planning staff to “restart” the LDC and zoning map amendment process.
County Council and the commission reason that, as Richland County adapts to changes in technology, lifestyles and economic conditions, corresponding changes must be made to the LDC to assure that development occurs in a logical and planned fashion.
Residents with questions regarding the ongoing Land Development Code Restart Process should email Jensen: jensen.aric@richlandcountysc.gov. Those with general questions on the existing Land Development Code should email LandDevelopmentCode@richlandcountysc.gov.
Find updates, public notices and other information on the remapping restart for the LDC online: www.richlandcountysc.gov/Government/Departments/Planning-Development.