Richland County launching zoning education effort

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A new series of videos, graphics and pamphlets aims to simply Richland County’s zoning process for residents.

The first component of the Zoning Made Easy campaign, a video titled “Zoning 101: What is Zoning?” is now available online on the county’s YouTube page. The video, which explains zoning and land development, is part of a continuing video series that will also provide information on rezoning and an overview of zoning districts.

The county will also produce graphics, pamphlets and other materials as it rewrites its Land Development Code, according to a news release from Richland County.

“Dialogue is important when it comes to map amendments, code language and understanding land development,” Tommy DeLage, Richland County assistant zoning administrator, said in the release. “The Zoning Made Easy series is designed to benefit the community by providing a better understanding of zoning, which will help citizens engage in a more informed discussion.”

The county expects to adopt the new code this summer, according to the release, and will include an abridged version in the educational effort. The campaign will highlight how the code interacts with the county’s comprehensive plan, which guides its growth and development decision making.

“The comprehensive plan includes the goals and objectives for how growth should occur, and the LDC is the tool for how that growth will occur,” said Brian Crooks, interim planning services manager. “The policies adopted within the plan inform the actual regulation within the LDC.”