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From Indian Land to Kershaw, growth is on full display in Lancaster County.

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LANCASTER, S.C. — It's often noted that about 100 people move to Charlotte every day, but the Queen City isn't the only area seeing growth.

Surrounding counties, cities, and towns are also seeing a surge of people moving in.

Lancaster, South Carolina is one of them with several major housing developments on the way.

Recent census data shows the city has a population of more than 8,800.

But, Alize Thomas, a city spokeswoman, said growth from Charlotte is bringing new life.

“All these years I've heard, you know, we're just a slow little town and all this, but now it's like, fastly moving," Thomas said. “Right now, we have three huge subdivisions happening right here in the city of Lancaster.”

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She said one project will bring around 280 homes to University Drive off Charlotte Highway with construction expected to begin next spring.

Then, minutes away, near the Arrowood subdivision, 250 homes are expected. Developers are working through the approval process and hoping to have it underway next year, according to Thomas.

Also, behind Applebee's off Highway 9 bypass, Thomas said, dozens of additional homes are on the way.

"It's just the beginning for Lancaster and even the county," Thomas said.

From Indian Land to Kershaw, County Administrator Dennis Marstall said there's a lot in the works.

"Where the new Duke Energy whitewater center is between here and Great Falls, there's going to be over 400 units there," Marstall said, "There's even a talk for larger track of maybe up to over 1000 units. So, we have growth county wide.”

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Nicholas Turbyfill lives in Lancaster and helps manage 521 BBQ & Grill downtown. He believes the developments will be good for the city and the restaurants bottom line.

"It’ll help out the economy a lot," Turbyfill said. "It’ll help everything build, you know? Just have more business going. In a town that’s really thriving for it.”

To accommodate the growth, the city said it's looking at ways to fix roads, improve traffic, and add to quality of life, including enhancing the greenway.

Anticipated to Open Summer 2024

LANCASTER, S.C., March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lennar, one of the nation's leading homebuilders, today announced plans for Roselyn, a brand new, master-planned Active Adult community designed specifically for homebuyers ages 55+ in northern Lancaster County. Situated south of Charlotte, the new community will feature three single-story home collections – Garden, Blossom and Primrose – and offer approximately 1,800 home sites combined with the best of contemporary, low-maintenance living for an Active Adult lifestyle. Model homes are anticipated to be completed in summer 2024 and sales will also begin summer 2024. The public is invited to join the VIP interest list for community updates by clicking here.

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"Roselyn is designed to meet the discerning tastes and preferences of homebuyers ages 55 and better," said Mark Henninger, Charlotte/Greenville Division President for Lennar. "The community offers the winning combination of thoughtfully designed single-story floorplans plus a robust suite of amenities geared toward the Active Adult lifestyle. We look forward to introducing this unique destination to the Charlotte market."

Ranging in size from 1,400 to over 3,500 square feet, Roselyn's three home collections will offer a variety of home designs. The floorplans incorporate generous living spaces, oversized center-island kitchens and spa-inspired owner's suites. All of the homes come with Lennar's industry exclusive Everything's Included^® program, where the homebuilder's most popular features and upgrades are built into the base price of the home. This includes Stainless steel appliances, quartz or granite countertops, upgraded cabinets and energy conscious features. Plus, residents will enjoy low South Carolina taxes.

Roselyn offers ample amenities including a clubhouse, pool, fitness center, pickleball courts, dog park, sidewalks, and trails connecting to the Carolina Trail Thread. The community will offer a lifestyle director for added recreational activities.

Situated off US-521, Roselyn is just a short distance to all the recreational activities offered in Downtown Lancaster. Residents will enjoy the 350-acre Andrew Jackson State Park located just three miles away as well as multiple golf course options in the surrounding areas. US-521 is the main transportation corridor connecting the Lancaster County panhandle to the greater Charlotte metro region and all the activities and opportunities it has to offer.

Located just ten minutes from the Promenade at Carolina Preserve, residents will enjoy upscale shopping and dining options, as well as proximity to modern healthcare facilities at Spring Memorial Hospital, MUSC Health, and Carolinas Healthcare System. For more information, visit www.lennar.com.

About Lennar CorporationLennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LEN^X drives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit www.lennar.com.

Contact: Danielle ToccoVice President CommunicationsLennar CorporationDanielle.Tocco@lennar.comDirect Line: 949.789.1633

SOURCE Lennar

Indian Land residents who haven’t been here long want their community to slow down the growth. But would they want to create their own city?

Tucked into a new Lancaster County long-term plan is a goal to consider a “measured and intentional plan” to transition the county panhandle to a municipality.

Work on the plan began in 2021. Once approved by Lancaster County Council — which could be as soon as next month — it will guide land use decisions for more than a decade.

The plan doesn’t list details for when and how a push might form to incorporate Indian Land. But if it happens, it won’t be the first time Indian Land faced the townhood question.

A small but connected group of residents pushed for an incorporation vote in early 2018.

The issue became contentious between residents concerned about tax increases and organizers who wanted to keep tax revenue, franchise fees and more from the high-growth Indian Land there.

Organizers cleared several state hurdles to get the decision to a ballot. That push in Indian Land caused the smaller Van Wyck community to hurriedly petition for their own incorporation so they wouldn’t be sucked into Indian Land. Van Wyck became a town by public vote in 2017.

The Indian Land campaign, scrambled somewhat by the loss of Van Wyck, sputtered.

About 83% of voters opted not to make Indian Land a town. The only intrigue in the election came from a question of what the potential town should be named. Voters got creative, with options from “Fancy Town” to “Overtaxville” to “Towny McTownface.”

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March 29, 2018 12:14 PM

If a new move toward incorporation develops, it will have to focus north of Van Wyck. That area still includes most of the county panhandle, north of Highway 75.

The Lancaster 2040 plan includes a lot of numbers that highlight what the panhandle has become in recent years:

? 40,680

The panhandle resident count in the 2020 Census is roughly the same as the populations of Fort Mill, York and Lancaster combined. If the panhandle were a city or town, it would rank No. 10 in South Carolina ahead of Spartanburg, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach and others.

? 476%

Panhandle growth from 2000 to 2020 transitioned a mostly rural area into an urbanized one. The county grew 179% from 2000 to 2010 and 106% from 2010 to 2020.

? 14,400

New homes built in the panhandle from 2000 to 2022, which provided space for about 30,000 residents.

? 12%

Developed land in the panhandle increased from 2010 to 2020.

? 5,360

New homes (3,200) and apartments (2,160) were approved but not yet built, as of last fall. Those residences are expected to add 13,000 people.

? 32,000

The average number of daily traffic trips along U.S. 521, or Charlotte Highway, is the most in the county. S.C. 160 and S.C. 5 in the panhandle see more than 10,000 trips a day.

? 2030

The year almost all Lancaster County schools are projected to be over capacity, though planning is ongoing for a bond referendum.

? 83.2%

The share of panhandle homes built since 2000 shows dwarfs any prior period. The 2000 to 2009 decade accounts for 42.8% of homes, followed by 40.4% since then.

? 70%

Panhandle residents who moved to their current address since 2010 are in the majority.

? $113,000

The panhandle median household income is well above Lancaster County ($72,186) and state ($63,623) averages.

? 46.9

The median age of panhandle residents is almost seven years older than Lancaster County as a whole. A major driver of that difference is the Sun City retirement community.

Indian Land’s potential to become a municipality is one of almost 20 panhandle priorities.

Others include possible Charlotte Area Transit System bus connection to Ballantyne and light rail at the Interstate 485 station in Pineville, North Carolina; a “central civic gathering space” in Indian Land, a funding stream for road improvements and more access to the Catawba River.

Of almost 2,000 survey responses to Lancaster 2040, some 62% came from panhandle residents. About 79% came from some unincorporated part of the county.

About 59% of responses consider quality of life in the county as average. Just 30% marked high, and 11% went low. Among concerns, growth and development was the top first- and second-place answer given by the most participants. Traffic was second, for both. Schools were the third-greatest concern.

Most responses, 63%, said growth is happening too fast. In the panhandle, 82% said its too fast.

Countywide, 74% of responses listed traffic congestion as the top transportation issue. In the panhandle, congestion was the top issue for 95% of people. In southern Lancaster, by contrast, the top response was “no concerns” at 41%.

Among all responses, 26% of residents have lived in Lancaster County less than five years. More than half, 52%, moved here in the past 10 years.

The Lancaster 2040 plan has public meetings upcoming Tuesday at the Kershaw library, Jan. 29 at the Lancaster County Historic Courthouse and Jan. 30 at the Del Webb library in Indian Land.

All meetings begin at 6 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — Some Lancaster County homeowners claim their tap water has had a strange taste and odor for about three weeks now.

The water looks normal, but neighbors say it tastes and smells weird. The Lancaster County Water and Sewer District is calling it an aesthetic issue.

One woman told Channel 9′s Almiya White she started buying cases of water because she says the taste is unbearable.

“It tastes horrible,” Susan Danna said.

ALSO READ: Attorneys file lawsuit claiming New-Indy is releasing toxins in Catawba River

Danna said she hasn’t been able to drink the tap water inside of her Lancaster County home.

“About three weeks ago, I started to notice that the water was tasting kind of weird,” she said.

“For me, it’s a combination of dirt and chemicals,” she described.

Danna said the strange taste forced her to buy cases of water to drink and cook with.

“So that’s another issue from the cost, paying for water that I can’t use and buying water. So it’s a lose-lose for consumers,” she said.

Danna said Lancaster County Water and Sewer acknowledged the unusual taste and tested her water. She said they told her the water was safe and said the odd taste should go away in a week.

“It’s been over three weeks,” she said.

There was no change so she reached out to Channel 9.

According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, “the seasonal turnover in the raw water reservoir caused the recent taste and odor concern,” adding “the drinking water carbon treatment system needed repair.”

The Lancaster County Water and Sewer District released a statement saying, “these are aesthetic issues not related to water safety.” The department said they’ve already implemented water treatment modifications to help return the taste and order of water to normal.

Danna said once things are back to normal, she’ll feel comfortable drinking the tap water again.

“I’d like the water to be drinkable and be reassured that it’s safe,” she said.

DHEC said the carbon treatment system has been repaired. Lancaster County Water and Sewer District said it usually takes two weeks for the adjustment to be fully effective. For areas still experiencing issues, it could take a few additional days to work throughout the system.

Read the full statements from the Lancaster County Water and Sewer District and DHEC below.

Lancaster County Water and Sewer District:

“The temporary taste and odor issues experienced by some LCWSD customers are related to changes in the untreated water from the Catawba River and our 92-acre reservoir before it is treated at the Catawba River Water Treatment Plant.

“It is important to note that our treated water is safe to drink, and it has always met or exceeded state and federal standards during this issue. The safety of our drinking water is confirmed by a water quality testing regimen conducted in full accordance with state regulations with samples taken at the water plant and throughout our water distribution system.

“We understand the concerns of some of our customers, but we would like to assure them these are aesthetic issues not related to water safety.

“Taste and odor issues can be common across the Southeast, including South Carolina. There are multiple potential causes for the issues including warm weather, higher levels of iron and manganese, and impacts from non-toxic algal blooms. The existence of one or more of these factors can cause the water to have a musty or earthy taste and odor, which some people are more sensitive to than others. Our area has experienced warm weather, dry conditions, and seasonal changes and we are continually conducting testing to confirm other potential causes.

“Two weeks ago, LCWSD first implemented water treatment modifications to help return the taste and odor of the water to normal. When conditions require an adjustment to the treatment process, it can take up to two weeks for the adjustment to be fully effective throughout our entire system.

“Some areas have already returned to normal, however, it may take a few additional days for our adjustment to work throughout our system. We will continue to closely monitor the situation.

“There are ways an affected customer can reduce their temporary taste and odor issues. Chilling the water and/or adding lemon can help, as well as the use of a properly maintained carbon filter like a Brita pitcher or faucet filter. There is no need to purchase bottled water for safety.

“We greatly appreciate our customers’ understanding and patience as we continue addressing the issue.”

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control:

“DHEC has been in contact with the drinking water system. Seasonal turnover in the raw water reservoir has caused the recent taste and odor concerns. During this turnover time, the drinking water carbon treatment system needed repair and was not effectively treating the taste and odor issues. The carbon treatment system has been repaired and the taste and odor issues are being addressed. The water system took coliform samples which came back negative. They are also testing for indications of an algal bloom, but we have not received those results yet. Everything that is contributing to the taste and odor issues are believed to be naturally occurring and should not be considered to be harmful to health.”

(WATCH BELOW: Charlotte Water reverses developer’s plan to cut off water for some of Hidden Valley)

The fire happened Sunday at the Archer Daniels Midland factory in Kershaw.

KERSHAW, S.C. — A large fire at the Archer Daniels Midland factory in Lancaster County prompted a large response on Sunday afternoon and evening.

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The fire began around 5:20 p.m. and was contained by 8 p.m. on Sunday night. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Several crews were on the scene this evening battling the flames. Kershaw County Fire Service also responded after Lancaster County requested assistance.

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The ADM Kershaw location is a soybean processing plant, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce. It is located in the 400 block of N. Hampton Street in the Town of Kershaw.

Dane Lisser, a spokesperson with ADM, sent WCNC Charlotte the following statement about Sunday's fire:

ADM is committed to ensuring the safety of our employees, our communities and the environment.

At approximately 5:20 p.m. Sunday evening, ADM officials detected a fire in the aspiration system of the preparation plant at ADM’s Kershaw, South Carolina, facility. ADM immediately contacted the Kershaw fire department. The fire was contained around 8 p.m. and the Kershaw Fire Department remains on site as a precaution. There were no injuries. We appreciate the fast response of the Kershaw Fire Department to quickly get the resulting fire under control. We are investigating the cause of the incident.

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