County Kicks Off Comprehensive Plan Update in Homeland Park

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County kicked off the first of nine community meetings to offer the five-year updates on the current countywide comprehensive plan and to get citizens suggestions for the 2026-2036 plan. But many of those in attendance expressed confusion about the purpose of the meeting.   

The event, and those to follow, are intended to provide updated statistics and other information concerning the progress of the 2016 plan, and to offer those attending to write down suggestions on the needs and concerns of their district ahead of the upcoming 2026 comprehensive plan.

The South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994 requires the plans for each county, along with meetings to gather public input from citizens. The elements of the plan include population, economic development, natural and cultural resources, community facilities, housing, land use, transportation, and priority investment. A new category, resilience, was added in the plan’s 2020 addendum to the 2016 update.

The first meeting, held in County Council Dist. 2 at the Homeland Park Fire Department, was met with some confusion about the purpose of the meeting and the role of the planning committee meeting. Many thought the meeting was to improve the current plan, which was approved in 2016 plan, and others saw the event as an opportunity to express all concerns, present and past about issues and needs of Homeland Park.

Some asked questions about the growth of multi-family housing and potential schools overcrowding. Others asked that Anderson County Council and the Anderson County Planning and Development Department pay more attention to the needs of Homeland Park. 

Notable updates of the comprehensive plan for Anderson County include:

Population increase. The official census count of 2020, which some suggest might be an undercount, shows an increase of more than 10,000 since 2016. Since 1980, the county has increased by 32,403, an increase of 53 percent. (South Carolina’s statewide population grew by 63 percent during the same decade, from 3,1218,20 to 5,118,425.) The Pelzer/West Pelzer/Williamston, Powdersville/Piedmont and Pendleton areas are the fastest growing, a trend that is expected to continue in the decade ahead. Those ages 60 and up are the fastest growing population segment. Racial diversity is also increasing in the county, which is 77 percent white, 16 percent black, four percent Hispanic/Latino, 1.8 percent missed race and one percent Asian. 

Education. The number of Anderson County residents without a high school diploma dropped nearly 12 percent in the years between 2000-2020 even as the high school graduation rate remained constant. The number of residents with college degrees – Associate’s, Bachelor’s and advanced degrees – also was up four percent in each category. 

Income/Employment. The median household income almost doubled between 1990-2020, to an average of $50,865, though it still lags slightly behind the South Carolina figure of $53,199. Manufacturing represents the largest employment segment in the county, followed by health care/social assistance, retail, accommodation/food service, education, public administration (federal/state/local) and administrative and waste services.

Cost of Living. Residents of Anderson County face some of the highest costs of living in comparison to Atlanta, Greenville, Charleston and the United States. Anderson has the highest health care costs and utility costs but is ranked lowest overall. Note: These are 2019 figures and do not represent changes of the past four years, including Anderson County having the third highest increase in housing costs in 2022. 

Emergencies and Social Vulnerability. The county emergency management division has detailed plans in place for such emergencies as extreme weather, including response to help/protect the most vulnerable populations.

The current planning for the 2026 report includes land map usage and managing growth. The planning department will continue to seek public suggestions concerning priorities in the weeks and months ahead.

Two more meetings are scheduled for Anderson County Council Dist. 2: June 1 at 6 p.m. at Robert Anderson Middle School and June 15 at Nevitt Forest Elementary School. 

Here is the schedule for comprehensive plan updates for other districts:

Dist. 6, June 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Powdersville Fire Department

Dist. 4, 6 and 7 joint meeting July 27 at 6 p.m. at Spearman Elementary School

Dist. 7, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. at Williamston City Hall

Dist. 3, 7 joint meeting Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. in Belton City Hall and Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at Honea Path Town Hall

Dist. 1, 7 joint meeting at 6 p.m. at T.L. Hanna High School