Richland County moving forward with revisions to land development code

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Richland County residents will soon have several opportunities to review revisions to the County’s zoning map and Land Development Code 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 and Arcadia Lakes/Fores Acres/Sandhill.

The land development code regulates land use, growth and development. It governs the types of uses, location and size of a development within various zones, establishes the procedures for how development proposals are reviewed and controls standards such as parking, landscaping and signage.

More information about the Land Development Code can be found online.

Residents with questions regarding the ongoing Land Development Code Restart Process should email jensen.aric@richlandcountysc.gov. Those with general questions on the existing Land Development Code should email LandDevelopmentCode@richlandcountysc.gov.