Two rural areas, two views of Richland County’s future

By DAWN HINSHAW; The State

Residents of two of Richland County’s remaining rural areas are worried the county will allow the countryside they love to be devoured by uncontrolled growth.

Those attending planning meetings this month in Lower Richland and, at the other end of the county, Spring Hill, expressed some of the same concerns but focused on different solutions.

Residents in Lower Richland said they wanted close-by services, like a medical center, sidewalks and bike lanes, to make their communities more livable. Consultants talked about new ways to live off the land — preserving rich farmland by tapping into the “local food” movement and capitalizing on Congaree National Park and numerous historic sites to attract tourists.

In Spring Hill, county planners got a chilly reception from residents who said local officials had betrayed them, choosing their remote area for new schools and the subdivisions that will follow. They said they don’t want commercial development and have no interest in new services.

“The developers have a say-so, believe me. Everything they develop means more taxes for the county,” former real estate agent Ann Ashworth said. “So I want to know who listens to us.”

Here’s more on the conversations surrounding the areas’ master plans – the last two…Read More