The Comprehensive Planning Process

Local governments are authorized, but not required, by the South Carolina General Assembly to develop plans and to adopt zoning and land development regulations.  Local governments cannot enforce zoning and land development regulations unless they first develop and adopt a Comprehensive Plan.  Comprehensive Plans must be updated at least every 10 years and reviewed every 5 years.

The Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994 required all local comprehensive plans, zoning and land development ordinances conform to the 1994 Act. 

Local governments must establish a local planning commission to begin comprehensive planning.  A county council can create a county planning commission of five to 12 members. The commission’s authority is limited to the unincorporated area of the county.  A county planning commission must conduct a continuous planning program for the physical, social and economic growth, development and redevelopment of the county.  

Comprehensive Plans must include ten specific elements to comply with the 1994 Act.  These ten elements address the following planning areas:

1. Population
2. Housing
3. Land Use
4. Cultural Resources
5. Natural Resources
6. Resilience
7. Transportation
8. Community Facilities
9. Economic Development
10. Community Investment Priorities

Each comprehensive plan element must be based on surveys and studies of existing conditions and probable future development and must include recommendations for implementing the plans.

• Helpful Links
  • 2014 Calhoun County Comprehensive Plan
  • 2018 Comprehensive Planning Guide for Local Governments
  • 2017 Guide to Land Use Planning for South Carolina
  • American Planning Association

Overview

• Calhoun County Comprehensive Plan Overview
• Calhoun County Comprehensive Plan Input Meeting Presentation

Population and Housing

• Calhoun County Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 1 - Population
• Calhoun County Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 2 - Housing
• Population & Housing Study Presentation

Land Use

• Existing Land Use Map
• Future Land Use Map
• Land Use Presentation

Cultural Resources

• Historic and Cultural Resources
• Churches and Places of Worship
• Historical Marker Locations and Text

Natural Resources

• Natural Resources
• Calhoun County Planning Commission Natural Resources Presentation

Resilience

• Resilience

Transportation

• Transportation
• Calhoun County Planning Commission Transportation and Community Facilities Presentation

Community Facilities

• Calhoun County Planning Commission Transportation and Community Facilities Presentation
• Community Facilities

Economic Development

• Economic Development

Community Investment Priorities

• Community Investment Priorities

Calhoun County Comprehensive Plan - Public Opinion Survey

• Calhoun County requests your participation in a public opinion survey regarding the Comprehensive Plan. The survey is hosted by Survey Monkey and available at this link.