Sandhills Neighborhood Plan seeking public feedback

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Richland County is seeking feedback from Northeast residents on the Sandhills Neighborhood Plan, featuring recommendations developed based on surveys and community meetings with area residents and businesses.

The plan address issues such as recreation, transportation, housing and business development, and community identity. The draft recommendations, including a vision map and a survey link, are available online at www.renewpontiac.com/input. Suggested interventions to date are also listed.

“Public input and engagement are critical components to ensuring that we capture the community’s vision through our neighborhood plans,” Brian Crooks, interim planning services manager for Richland County, said in a news release. “We are asking the public to review and give feedback on the recommendations that will guide future development and projects in the Sandhills area and bring that vision to life.”

The Sandhills Neighborhood Plan boundary includes the Richland Northeast Industrial Park on Clemson Road as well as historic businesses and residences at Two Notch and Spears Creek Church roads, an area commonly known as Pontiac.

County development officials began seeking neighborhood input for the plan in September 2019 with two public input sessions .

“At this point, everything is on the table,” Clayton Voignier, director of Richland County Community Planning and Development, said last October. “It could be anything from a park, to better access for transportation, more bus shelters. It could be better signage for their neighborhood.”

Master plan suggestions include redesigning Spears Creek Church Road from Interstate 20 through its intersection with Two Notch Road to address streetscaping, additional lane needs and stormwater issues; investigating new bus service options with the Central Midlands Transit Authority; creating a walkability loop and dog park; and coordinating public educational programs and greenspace access with Clemson University’s Sandhill Research and Education Center.