Page 127 - Florence County, SC Florence County 2032: Connecting Our Past, Defining Our Future

Existing County | Priority Investment

Why Plan?

Local planning allows Florence County to better control its future rather than simply react to change. Planning
enables the County to manage future growth and development actively as opposed to reacting to development
and redevelopment on a case-by-case basis without adequate and necessary consideration of community-wide
issues. The process for developing the plan involved leadership discussions about Florence County's priorities and
its capability to provide the necessary public services and facilities to support these priorities. This led to pivotal
discussions about what is “best” for the community and how everything from taxes to quality of life will be
affected.
Long-range comprehensive planning provides an opportunity for the County elected and appointed officials to
step back from pressing, day-to-day issues and clarify their ideas on the kind of place they are trying to create and
maintain. Through the plan development process, they can look broadly at programs for neighborhoods, housing,
economic development, and provision of public infrastructure and facilities and how these efforts may relate to
one another. The plan ultimately represents a “big picture” of the community and its near-term and longer-range
future. Bottom line, the essential reasons for long-range planning include to:
• Provide a balance of land uses and services throughout the County to meet the needs and desires of the
population.
• Ensure adequate public facilities to meet the demands of future development and redevelopment.
• Achieve and maintain a development pattern that reflects the values of the community, and which ensures
a balanced tax base between residential and non-residential development.
• Ensure the long-term protection and enhancement of the perception and image of the community.
• Involve local citizens in the decision-making process, provide a transparent planning process, and reach
consensus on the future vision for Florence County.

Use of this Plan and Important

Considerations

A comprehensive plan, if embraced by leadership and residents, has the potential to take a community to a whole
new level in terms of livability and tangible accomplishments.
The plan is ultimately a guidance document for County officials and staff, who must make decisions on a daily
basis that will determine the future direction, financial health, and “look and feel” of the community. These
decisions are carried out through the following considerations:
• In accordance with South Carolina State Law, Zoning and Subdivision regulations must be made in
accordance with the comprehensive plan. They must be made with a view to promoting the purposes set
forth throughout this plan.

Florence County, SC | Comprehensive Plan pg. 126