Home > News > FOLKS and AQD co-sponsor Forum

On Planning & Growth Management
by Bill Graham

Date: Thursday-March 27
Where: Duke World of Energy

Growth management and planning is probably the most critical issue facing Oconee County. Among the questions facing us are:

• What will the Upstate look like in 2030?
• How much green space will survive?
• How long can we wait to take action before it will be too late?

Given current trends, a new Clemson study indicates that the Upstate’s developed acreage will triple by 2030, paving over land now devoted to farms and woodlands.

• Is this the future we want?
• If not, can we grow smarter while we grow larger?

If you have never attended a FOLKS Forum, this is the one with which you should start. Speakers will be Dr. Jeff Allen with Clemson University’s Strom Thurmond Institute (STI) and Brad Wyche, Executive Director of Upstate Forever. The forum, open to the public, will be held on Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m. at Duke World of Energy.

Dr. Allen was the project leader for the recently released STI study that predicted the tripling of developed land by 2030. The professor will discuss his study and its methodology. Dr. Allen believes that the forecasted results “can be avoided by planning for more efficient growth.” (The complete press release may be viewed on this website (click here for Upstate news release (125k pdf)).

Brad Wyche will discuss the fiscal and environmental impacts of unplanned growth. He will also review various policies and programs for managing growth, such as concentrating infrastructure and services in areas where growth is desired; transfer of development rights programs; zoning and land use controls; affordable housing programs; revitalization of existing developments; infill developments, and increased funding for conservation. According to Wyche, “Cities and counties in the Upstate need to start implementing these policies now.  We don’t have much time.”

Both FOLKS and AQD favor responsible growth but oppose unplanned growth that can forever change the Upstate’s environment and quality of life. Steve MacLeod, AQD President put it well:  “We hope this forum will serve as a wake-up call to the public at large and give our Councilmen and Commissioners an opportunity to learn more about some of the latest tools available to manage growth”. In particular, we need strategies to protect one of our most valuable resources - our lakes. This forum offers a unique opportunity for our communities to gain an understanding of the potential ramifications of development by default.