Anderson County Greenwood County Abbeville County Cherokee County Greenville County Upstate Comprehensive Plan Analysis Prepared by the Clemson University City and Regional Planning Program Fall 2014 Laurens County Oconee County Pickens County Spartanburg County Union County 1
Table of Contents I�t�odu�tio�…………………………………………………….� What it Mea�s to �e the �Upstate�……………..….� Cou�t� “�apshots……………………………………………� Co�p�ehe�si�e Pla� A�al�sis a�d Mat�i�………�� Upstate Futu�e La�d Use……………………………….�� La�d Co�e� Assess�e�t…………………………………�� Regio�al “WOT A�al�sis………………………………..�� Co��lusio�s…………………………………………………..�� P�oje�t Li�itatio�s………………………………………..�� Futu�e Resea��h……………………………………………�� Appe�di�………………………………………………………�� 2
Introduction The Cit� a�d Regio�al Pla��i�g Maste�’s p�og�a� at Cle�so� U�i�e�sit� is the o�l� p�ofessio�al graduate program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board in South Carolina. It has produced more than 530 graduates since achieving full accreditation in 1973. With a stated focus on integrating both theory and practice into its curriculum, the program prepares students to engage the critical planning issues that face communities in the 21st century. During their tenure at Clemson, students apply theoretical knowledge to local issues through projects that integrate both Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology and fieldwork. Students further engage the Upstate planning context through public assistantships at local agencies and participation in events sponsored by the South Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association. The project team consists of 6 second- �ea� Maste�’s �a�didates �ith a range of professional backgrounds including Anthropology, Psychology, Public Policy, and Computer Science. The �u��e�t p�oje�t is a� a�al�sis of ea�h of the te� �ou�t�’s �o�p�ehe�si�e pla�s to highlight regional trends. Although it does not include content of additional planning documents within each county, it can be used in conjunction with those documents as a tool to promote regional �o��e�satio� a�out �o��o� issues. This stud�’s �o��lusio�s a�e li�ited �� the fa�t that its findings are based on comprehensive plans that were written at different points in time, opening up the possibility that some of the plans no longer reflect the reality of their communities. In addition, the study is limited by the fact that one county does not have a comprehensive plan and several counties were unable to provide future land use data. Nevertheless, we hope this will be a useful product for Ten at the Top and Upstate planners to foster discussion of issues that affect the region as a whole. It is the first effort of its kind to compile data from the Upstate counties and analyze them from a regional perspective. 3
What it Means to be the �Upstate� O�igi�all� k�o�� as the �Up�ou�t��,� the te� �ou�ties that �ake up the p�ese�t da� Upstate have always played an important role in South Carolina history. From the Revolutionary War battlefields of Cherokee to the antebellum homes of Abbeville, the Upstate is proud to retain a strong sense of this history. The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor stretches from the coast up to the western corner of the Upstate, drawing tourists to its historic, natural, and cultural resources. Many of the counties have capitalized on these resources as economic development opportunities by promoting cultural tourism. The Upstate has abundant natural resources, such as Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell, which are assets both for their scenic beauty and their recreational draw. Residents enjoy these lakes for camping, fishing, and boating. The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway and the recent proliferation of multi-use trails in several counties provide opportunities to enjoy Lake Hartwell, Anderson County “outh Ca�oli�a’s �atu�al �eaut�. The Upstate has a long-standing reputation for its industriousness and entrepreneurial �italit�. I� the late ����’s, the �egio� �ega� its �ise to �e�o�i�g the �te�tile �apital of the �o�ld,� led �� G�ee��ille at its �e�te�. Mill �illages popped up a�ou�d the �egio� a�d developed into close-knit and thriving communities. For nearly a century these villages served as a framework for life in the Upstate, organizing their own sports leagues, churches, and neighborhoods. Union Cotton Mills, Union County 4
What it Means to be the �Upstate� As economic realities and technology have changed around the country, the Upstate has shown resilience in its ability to adapt. With the influx of international companies such as Robert Bosch in Anderson and BMW in Spartanburg, the Upstate has successfully re- invented itself with a focus on high-tech manufacturing and research. In addition to reviving the economy of the Upstate, these companies have enriched its culture by bringing thousands of international employees to live and work in the region. They have added their own traditions to those that South Carolinians have always celebrated, resulting in a more diverse set of cultural offerings in the Upstate. Given the strength of its economy and its location along the growth corridor of Interstate 85, the Upstate is poised for continued development in the coming decades. Recently completed projects like the inland port will ensure that the Upstate remains competitive BMW plant, moving forward. Spartanburg County Since the formation of Ten at the Top in 2010, the unique counties and municipalities of the Upstate have begun a renewed effort to share information and ideas to address multi- jurisdictional issues such as the transportation network, air quality, and economic development of the ten upstate counties. This ability to work together comes from an understanding that many of these issues affect the Upstate as a whole. Similarly, a positive change in one of the U pstate’s �ou�ties is a positive change for the other nine upstate counties. An Upstate Ma�o� �aptu�ed this �e� spi�it pe�fe�tl� �he� he �espo�ded to �eside�ts’ Fluor Field, i��ui�ies a�out att�a�ti�g thei� �it�’s o�� �ase�all tea� �� sa�i�g,� We al�ead� ha�e o�e, Greenville County a�d its �a�e is the G�ee��ille D�i�e.� 5
What it Means to be the �Upstate� Greenwood should celebrate the opening of a new factory in Laurens. Cleaner air in Pickens means cleaner air in Oconee. This new wave of regional cooperation is a recognition of the interconnectedness of the ten counties. It does not mean that every issue �ill ha�e a �lea� �o�e -size-fits- all� app�oa�h, �ut it does �ea� that the e�ti�e Upstate benefits when each upstate county shares its point of view and seeks mutual gains with the others. Ten at the Top has convened many meetings over the past several years to foster discussion among various stakeholders of the ten-county region. These conversations are centered on fi�e �d�i�e� a�eas,� �hi�h ha�e �ee� ide�tified as i�po�ta�t fo�us a�eas fo� the Upstate. This project is an important step in continuing these conversations, as it is the first time a g�oup of people has gathe�ed all the Upstate’s �o�p�ehe�si�e pla�s a�d �ele�a�t data i� Clemson University, Pickens County one place to analyze them. At its heart, the project has been designed to highlight trends and issues facing the Upstate, based on comprehensive plans and GIS data. It begins with an inventory of each of the �ou�t�’s �o�p�ehe�si�e pla�s, �hi�h is a� o�je�ti�e �a� to displa� the t�pes of p�oje�ts and policies that the community would like pursued. The inventory is a quick way to assess the efforts being made across all ten counties, and what is unique to each county. Presbyterian College, Laurens County 6
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