Comprehensive Plan Review Information Page

WHAT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?

	The comprehensive plan is the master plan used to guide future growth in the county. The comprehensive plan inventories existing conditions, states the needs and goal of the community, and provides implementation strategies for reaching the goals stated in the plan. Each local plan must include the following elements: population, economic, natural resources, cultural, community facilities, housing, land use, transportation, and a priority investment element. State law requires that each locally adopted plan be reviewed every five years and rewritten every ten years.

Does Oconee County have a comprehensive plan?

	Yes, the plan was adopted by County Council in 2004. Currently, the plan is under the 'five year' review, which should be completed by the end of 2009. The local plan will need to be rewritten in 2014. 2004 Comprehensive Plan.

What type of information does each element cover?

	The population element examines the historical, existing, and projected characteristics of the general population (age, race, income, household size, number of children, etc). The characteristics discussed will provide the reader with a picture of who lives here and based on the population trends what type of services will the population here today need in the future so that we can plan for those needs in advance.
	The economic element examines the historical, existing, and projected on the numbers and characteristics of the labor force, where people who live in the community work verses where they reside. This element also looks at the current employment sectors in the community and what they may need over the next ten years to remain viable businesses in the community and provide tax base with long term viability.
	The natural resource element inventories the major natural resources within the community and looks at how they can be managed in a sustainable manner. This element not only identifies the natural resources but also identifies those factors that threaten the continued existence of the resource. Things such as water quality, flood plains, prime agricultural and forest lands, unique and scenic views, soils, wetlands, and outdoor recreational areas including parks are examples of what may be included within this element.
	The cultural resource element examines those intrinsic characteristics that make a community unique. Cultural resources include historic buildings, structures, and places. Things such as educational facilities, religious institutions, and entertainment areas also can be included in this element.
	The community facilities element examines those activities to essential to the communities growth, development, and redevelopment. Consideration should be given to transportation, water and sewage supply-treatment-and distribution, solid waste collection and disposal, fire protection, emergency medical plans, government facilities, education facilities, libraries, emergency preparedness, and any other items that promote or are essential to growth. This element must be adopted prior to the adoption of any subdivision or land development regulations.
	The housing element examines the existing housing stock in the community by age, condition, owned or rented units, location, type, and affordability. This element must now also include an analysis to ascertain unnecessary housing regulations in place that do not protect health, safety, or welfare of the public. Possible market based incentives available to encourage the development of affordable housing.
	The land use element examines the existing land use and identifies those areas best suited for growth-residential-commercial-industrial, conservation, agriculture, and any other land use category present in the community. The future land use map shows what the citizens want the community to look like in the future, and brings together all the goals expressed in the comprehensive plan. The Land Use Element is non-regulatory and imposes no land development restrictions.
	The transportation element was recently added to the requirements of the comprehensive plan by the State Legislator in the 'Priority Investment Act'. This element considers the totality of the transportation network in setting goals and priorities. State law requires that this legislation be coordinated with the land use element of the comprehensive plan so that the transportation network will be adequate to accommodate expected land consumption and growth.
	The priority investment element examines the federal, state, and local funds available for public infrastructure and facilities during the next ten 10 years for needed public schools, roads, and water/sewer expansion.

Is the Comprehensive Plan zoning?

	The comprehensive plan is not zoning, it is a plan to help guide the decisions of the county as a whole. It is true that zoning is a possible tool that may or may not be used to implement the goals and objectives expressed in the plan.

Planning Areas	Meeting Pictures & Documents
Cleveland
Corinth Shiloh
Crossroads
Fair Play	view
Friendship
Keowee Key	view
Keowee Ebenezer
Long Creek
Mountain Rest
Oakway
Oconee County
Picket Post/Camp Oak
Salem	view
Seneca	view
South Union
Walhalla	view
West Union
Westminster	view