Dorchester questions growth study
Census ranks county among fastest-growing
SUMMERVILLE — Dorchester County was one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation again last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The report is sure to renew the debate about overcrowded roads and schools, but the recent housing slump has complicated the situation.
The county is No. 34 on a list that was released Thursday. The list ranks the 100 fastest-growing counties with more than 10,000 people. The census measures population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007.
Dorchester County was No. 33 in a report that the Census Bureau put out two years ago. That report renewed calls for Dorchester County and Summerville officials to try to slow things down.
Dorchester County Council passed a six-month moratorium on major new developments in December. The moratorium didn't affect the 4,200 building permits that were already approved; construction has started on only about 200 of those permits since then, a fraction of the pace a year earlier, Council Chairman Larry Hargett said.
"Based on what I see, I think that information is a little dated," Hargett said of Thursday's report. "I think we've seen a significant slowdown in the last year, especially the last six months. Compared to two years ago, I think we are much more balanced."
Summerville Town Council passed a three-month moratorium on new developments in October, let it expire and voted against renewing it.
Building has slowed considerably in Summerville compared to last year, Summerville Planning and Development Director Charlie Miller said. A year ago this month, builders applied for 80 to 85 permits to build new houses, he said. So far this month the town has sold one building permit.
"That's a significant drop," Miller said. "(Growth) has come to a screeching halt, as far as new house permits are concerned."
For two consecutive years the town had a surplus of $750,000 to $1 million because of permit, inspection and impact fees, he said. This year, for the first time in two decades, the town had to increase taxes to pay for firefighters and police to serve new subdivisions.
The town would not have had to raise taxes if the bottom had not dropped out of the housing boom, Miller said.
On the other hand, many officials agree that the town and the county were growing too fast for infrastructure to keep up. The county's population grew last year from 117,752 to 123,505, a 4.9 percent increase.
An annual growth rate of 2 percent would be ideal, Miller said.
Summerville Councilman Bob Jackson sees the slowdown as an opportunity to get a better plan in place to handle the next growth spurt.
"I see it as a lull where we can actually make a plan, so we're ready when it comes again, because it's coming," said Jack- son, who recently led an effort to deny a proposal for the 780- unit Pine Trace development. "The market gave us a pretty good break, so let's use it to our advantage."
Dorchester County and Summerville are working this year to update their comprehensive plans, which guide what gets built and where.
How to handle growth is also the central issue in several election campaigns, which include seats in the state House and county council.
The only South Carolina county that grew faster than Dorchester last year was York County, which includes Rock Hill near Charlotte. York County was No. 19 with a 5.2 percent growth rate.
The bureau's county population figures are based on "administrative records to estimate components of population change, such as births, deaths, internal and international migration," according to its Web site.
The top two fastest-growing counties in the nation were in the New Orleans area, which was pounded by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Nine of the nation's 10 fastest-growing counties were in the South or West, and 70 of the top 100 were in the South.
Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@post andcourier.com.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly version
Comments
Slick50 (anonymous) says...
"Summerville Councilman Bob Jackson sees the slowdown as an opportunity to get a better plan in place to handle the next growth spurt."
A better plan?
Ladies and gentlemen, if you are tired of these myopic views, may I suggest voting in someone with clearer vision during the next round of city and county council elections?
March 21, 2008 at 6:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkhaynes (anonymous) says...
What is wrong with the county that they can't see the problem?? I grew up in Summerville and we were just back visiting. The mess of signs advertising "new homes" at the corner of Lincolnville and Ladson Roads was really disturbing. Something has to be done, or we won't be moving back.
March 21, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trod (anonymous) says...
corner of Lincolnville and Ladson Roads.a good portion of the nieghborhoods there attend charleston county schools.but the growth and infrastructure are not keeping pace with each other in summerville.i to wanted to move back but it is a disaster trying to get through traffic around the ville.
March 21, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pompusmaximus (anonymous) says...
They just need to utilize better urban design principles instead of sprawling the hell out of everything. Although when you use the phrase "increased density" around these parts people want to string you up from a tree. They did this to themselves.
March 21, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Indeed, pompus. Many of the lamebrains that literally have seizures at the word "density" should clue in to the fact that in a high-demand area such as the Chas metro, things don't stay the same. Knowing this fact, you have to either create more suburbs or you densify current urban areas. It really is common sense.
March 21, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
newbattleaxe (anonymous) says...
They're upset about increasing population density. They build their newest high school on 2-lane roads, just down from an intersection with poor visibility all 4 ways. A brand-new Publix shopping complex is being built on one corner of this intersection.
Sounds like good planning to me!
March 21, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MeanMom (anonymous) says...
Have we reached the point of no return? Will the continuing wrangling over developers' rights versus citizens' rights simply result in a stalemate instead of a positive plan for the future?
It may be too late to save Dorchester County. The damage has been done and there are too few leaders who have the vision to see what needs to be done. What a travesty. What can one citizen do?
Take a clear hard look at the Dorchester County leaders - their choices and their votes for approving hundreds of hodgepodge subdivisions without the necessary infrastructure.
Did their decisions exhibit any long-term vision for what was best for Dorchester County? Are taxpayers going to be stuck supporting their bad decisions?
Please convince me that Dorchester County has a positive future. Please convince me that Dorchester County schools are improving, rather than declining.
BIG steps must be taken. We are wallowing in "good ol' boy" politics instead of leaping forward into positive urban planning. We're stuck in the mud of the past and sinking fast.
March 21, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinaboy29556 (anonymous) says...
How about sending those developers into Williamsburg County? Our county is like a wasteland. Everything shuts down after 6 pm! LOL. I just can't wait to move into Dorchester County when I graduate from USC! I really have to say that growth is good, but not in a way that would devastate the lifestyle of everyone in Dorchester County. I agree with MeanMon when she stated that we are wallowing in "good ole' boy" politics because that is how SC is running currently and that is how is going to be in the future.
March 21, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Stewie (anonymous) says...
mkhaynes,
Wahhh. We don't care if you move back. Stay where you are. Continue to be disturbed. Grow up and quit complaining.
March 22, 2008 at 12:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.