2020-2030 Comprehensive Plan

CITY OF

Ba÷nSOUTH e CAROLINAw ll

2021 - 2031 Comprehensive Plan

Prepared by Lower Savannah Council of Governments on behalf of the City of Barnwell Planning Commission

2021-2031 Comprehensive Plan

City of Barnwell Planning Commission Barnwell City Council Michael Peters, Chair Billy Dozier, District 1 Andy Thompson Peggy Kinlaw, District 2 Sheridan Bolen Alicia Davis, District 3 Garnette Alexander Jimbo Moody, District 4 Bennie Wiggins Jr. Robert S. Pattillo, District 5 Shelby Broomfield Pickens Williams Sr., District 6

Mayor Marcus Rivera

City Administrator Lynn McEwen Table of Contents

Introduction ...... i

Chapter 1: Population Element ...... 1

Chapter 2: Economic Element ...... 9

Chapter 3: Natural Resources Element ...... 19

Chapter 4: Historic and Cultural Resources Element ...... 27

Chapter 5: Community Facilities Element ...... 35

Chapter 6: Housing Element ...... 47

Chapter 7: Land Use Element ...... 53

Chapter 8: Transportation Element ...... 61

Chapter 9: Priority Investment Element ...... 74

APPENDIX: Goals and Implementation Strategies Timeline ...... 80

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Introduction

The South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994 requires all units of local government utilizing zoning or land use controls to complete and adopt a comprehensive plan. The law requires that an independent board of local citizens called a Planning Commission act as an advisory committee to the governing body on constructing and adopting the plan. The objectives of the planning process are to develop an inventory of the community’s historical and existing conditions and trends and to develop goals and objectives regarding community growth and development. These goals and objectives communicate the suggested policy directions for the local government.

The comprehensive planning process consists of three separate, but equally important steps. The first step is designed to provide an inventory of facts and to undertake a fundamental analysis of community issues. This account of existing conditions will be used in subsequent decisions in the planning process. During the inventory process, basic information and statistics from the community are analyzed to identify historical trends and current conditions as well as to uncover potential problems or opportunities in the city.

In the second step of the planning process, the needs and goals of the community are generated from the analysis of the community’s historical and existing conditions. In this step, the Planning Commission decides which trends or issues encountered in step one are important enough to warrant further attention or action from the local government. Once these issues are identified, it is necessary to decide the overall goals of the community.

The final step in the planning process involves developing a plan of action for achieving the City’s goals. This implementation strategy identifies specific activities, programs, or policies to be carried out by the local government to address the identified objectives.

Nine different elements have been inventoried and analyzed in the plan to determine the City of Barnwell’s needs and future development strategies. These elements include population, economic conditions, natural resources, historic and cultural resources, housing, transportation, community facilities, priority investment area and land use.

Ultimately, the Comprehensive Plan should be utilized as a guide for policymakers to develop consistent and reasonable solutions that promote the goals of the plan. Community growth and development and the policies subsequently established should be developed in accordance with the implementation strategies of the Comprehensive Plan.

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Chapter One: Population Element

The population element of the Comprehensive Plan relates to the people residing in the City of Barnwell, South Carolina. This element includes information on the number of people, population trends, and selected characteristics of the population. Included in this section of the report is data provided by the United Sates Census Bureau, Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and American Fact Finder and ESRI Business Analyst. This information is provided to give decision-makers an understanding of how the population affects the existing and future potential of an area.

A. BACKGROUND AND INVENTORY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS

Key factors of population changes over time include births, deaths and migration. While births and deaths change gradually over time, migration trends can be more dramatic from one decade to another due to economic circumstances. The population trend of the City of Barnwell is shown below in Table 1.1. Recent census estimations indicate that the City of Barnwell has experienced a drop in population since the 2000s. The US Census estimates a total population of 4,367 people in 2018, compared to 5,035 in 2000. The population decreased from 2000 to 2010 by an estimated 285 persons or 5.7% and from 2010 to 2018 by an estimate 383 or 8%. The decline in population seen during these times may be attributed to various factors that could include, decrease in available job opportunities for skilled workers and slow rebound from the 2008-2010 housing crash.

Table 1.1: Population for County Incorporated Places, 2000- 2018 Municipality 2000 2010 2018 (est.) Barnwell 5,035 4,750 4,367 Blackville 2,973 2,406 2,217 Elko 212 193 180 Hilda 436 447 418 Kline 238 197 184 Snelling 246 274 259 Williston 3,307 3,139 2,932 Barnwell County 23,478 22,621 21,112 Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-year Estimates

The population trends from the City of Barnwell and the other incorporated municipalities of Barnwell County are shown in Table 1.1. Overall, Barnwell County’s population has experienced a decline in population.

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While the City of Barnwell has seen moderate to slight population decline since 2000, ESRI forecast projects that the City of Barnwell will show a flat to slight increase in population growth by 2024 with a population of 4,424.

Figure 1.1 below depicts the fluctuation in the population of the municipalities within Barnwell County from 2000 – 2018.

Figure 1.1 Population of Municipalities in Barnwell County, 2000 - 2018

Population of Municipalities in Barnwell County 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000

Population 2,000 1,000 0 Barnwell Blackville Elko Hilda Kline Snelling Williston Municipality

2000 2010 2018

Population Composition

The City of Barnwell has generally experienced some change in racial composition since 2000. Over a ten-year period, the African American population has increased by about 2.6% and the white population showed a decrease of about 15.3%. Table 1.2 shows the racial population trends in the city by total number and percentage of the total population for 2000 through 2010. There were 31 people of Hispanic descent in the City of Barnwell in 2000 and 47 in 2010. For Census purposes, Hispanic is considered an ethnic group rather than a race. Hispanic persons are counted in one of the racial groups in the table 1.2. The Census Bureau’s ACS estimates project the city’s Hispanic population as 126 in 2017, representing approximately 2.8% of the total population.

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Table 1.2: City of Barnwell Population Characteristics, 2000-2010 Race 2000 % of Total 2010 % of Total Black or African American 2,385 47.4% 2,448 51.5% White 2,508 49.8% 2,116 44.5% American Indian and Alaska Native 2,385 20 0.4% 2,448 11 0.2% Asian 53 1.1% 72 1.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2,508 2 0.0% 2,116 3 0.1% Other 17 0.3% 20 0.4% Two or more Races 20 50 1.0% 11 80 1.7% Total 5,035 100% 4,750 100% 53 72 Source: US Census Bureau

2 3

Age Distribution 17 20

The age distribution of the population for the City50 of Barnwell is shown below80 in Table 1-3. The data shown in the table indicates that the largest percentage of persons in the City of Barnwell in 2017 were between the ages of 45-54, and followed5,035 by age group 25-34. 4,750 2,385 2,448 Table 1.3: City of Barnwell Age Distribution, 2000-2017 2017 % of Age Group 2000 % of Total 2010 % of Total (est.) Total Under 5 407 8.1% 342 7.2% 470 10.3% 5 to 9 364 7.2% 383 8.1% 433 9.5% 10 to 14 431 8.6% 336 7.1% 315 6.9% 15 to 19 363 7.2% 317 6.7% 358 7.9% 20 to 24 316 6.3% 303 6.4% 226 5.0% 25 to 34 671 13.3% 607 12.8% 485 10.7% 35 to 44 720 14.3% 543 11.4% 542 11.9% 45 to 54 617 12.3% 622 13.1% 548 12.0% 55 to 59 239 4.7% 312 6.6% 156 3.4% 60 to 64 164 3.3% 261 5.5% 271 6.0% 65 to 74 386 7.7% 342 7.2% 472 10.4% 75 to 84 278 5.5% 277 5.8% 193 4.2% 85 and over 79 1.6% 105 2.2% 83 1.8% Total 100% 100.0% 100.0% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau,5,035 ACS 5-year Estimates4,750 2013 -2017 4,552

Figure 1.2 below depicts the city’s age profile from 2000- 2017. This chart shows that there are higher numbers of working aged persons as well as older citizens. The 35-54 age group tends to

City of Barnwell Comprehensive Plan 2021-2031 DRAFT represent people whose needs generally revolve around their family. This data would indicate that the City of Barnwell is appealing for quality of life characteristic for families.

Figure 1.2: City of Barnwell Age Profile, 2000 - 2017

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year Estimates 2013-2017 As the data shows the 20-24 age group has shown a decline in population over time. This could be attributed to various factors such as lack of post-secondary entry level job opportunities or educational opportunities.

Gender

The gender ratio in City of Barnwell remained relatively unchanged between 2000 and 2010. In 2017, females comprised approximately 60% percent of the population while males comprised approximately 40%.

Table 1.4: City of Barnwell Gender Composition, 2000- 2017 2000 Percent 2010 Percent 2017 (Est.) Percent Male 2,340 46.5% 2,244 47.2% 1,824 40.1% Female 2,695 53.5% 2,506 52.8% 2,728 59.9% County Total 5,035 100% 4,750 100% 4,552 100% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Income Levels

Figure 1.1 shows the breakdown of household income for the City of Barnwell for the year 2017. The city’s median household income in 2017 was $27,054. Approximately 36 percent of

City of Barnwell Comprehensive Plan 2021-2031 DRAFT households had an income of less than $15,000. According to the American Community Survey, it is estimated that 34.5 percent of families had incomes that were below the poverty level in 2017. Income and employment will be discussed further in the next chapter of this plan, Economic Development Element.

Figure 1.3 Household Income, 2017

Source: 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Education

The illustration below, as reported by the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS), shows that approximately 33 percent of the population aged 25 years and older have received a high school diploma or equivalent. Additionally, 23 percent of the same population age group have some college, 11 percent have an Associate’s Degree. Education will be discussed in further detail in the other elements of this plan.

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Source: 2013-2017 ACS 5-Year Estimates

Household Size

For Census purposes a household is defined as a person or people who occupy a housing unit as their usual place of residence. A family, on the other hand, take into account the family or legal relationship of the residents in a household. While the terms are similar, they should not be used interchangeably.

According to Table 1.5, there were a total number of 2,035 households in the City in 2000. In 2010 the total number of households was 1,934, which corresponds to the decrease in the total population between 2000 and 2010. In 2017, there was still a decrease in the total number of households, by approximately 19 percent from 2000.

Table 1.5: Households, 2000- 2017 2000 2010 2017 Total Households 2,035 1,934 1,645 Average Household Size 2.42 2.39 2.68

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B. NEEDS AND GOALS

The inventory section of the Population Element focused attention on the current and historical demographics of the City of Barnwell. This evaluation of the city’s population characteristics is an important part of the planning process because of the impact that population trends can play on demand for infrastructure, public services and the apparent health of the community.

The overall population of the City has been modestly decreasing since 2000. While the overall population profile shows a decrease, there has been various fluctuation in the 15-59 age group since 2000. This age group represents the employable population segment and can be viewed as an indicator for a community’s health. The City should continue to strive to draw younger family-oriented population to the area to ensure further growth in a segment of the population that will have a greater impact on economic growth. Another point to highlight is the approximately 38 percent increase from 2010 to 2017 in the age group 65-74. Consideration should be given to this demographic in future planning.

The basic need is to recognize that the population of the city is dependent upon the growth of job opportunities in the area, and the steps the city must take in order to make the area inside the city attractive to a cross section of citizens so that everyone living there has an opportunity to take pride in the city.

➢ The primary Population Element goal for the City of Barnwell is to focus on issues that will foster sustainable growth by promoting opportunities, community services and the quality of life. Efforts to increase growth in the city should offer opportunities that will increase diversity in the age, sex, race, ethnicity and educational background of the citizens.

• Another goal for the City is to employ every measure available to ensure an accurate Census count for the Census 2020.

C. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

This section of the Population Element offers suggested policies for implementation of the desired goals and objectives. The city should strive to improve its image as a pleasant community for raising families, and as an ideal retirement community, in order to attract new growth.

Work to improve the population characteristics for the City of Barnwell should begin immediately and may proceed in a variety of different ways. The following policies are offered for consideration by City of Barnwell Planning Commission to implement the goals and objectives:

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1.1. Seek opportunities with local, state and federal officials to focus on economic and infrastructure improvements in the City of Barnwell specifically to increase industrial recruitment efforts and to promote advanced technologies.

1.2. Place a high priority on projects and programs that generate and attract employment, improvements, or investments that are consistent with the policies of the City of Barnwell Comprehensive Plan.

1.3. Continue programs and initiate new projects in the city center that will improve the aesthetics of the city, increase community pride, and attract more visitors and development to Barnwell.

1.4. Strive to retain the best and the brightest of the community by focusing on technology education, adult education, emphasis of work ethics in the educational system, and partnering with local businesses in a school-to-work program.

1.5. Continue to support and promote cultural efforts and work towards eliminating language and cultural barriers in order to develop a recognizable and unique character that will instill pride in its citizens as well as attract tourists and potential residents of varied ethnic backgrounds.

1.6. Improve efforts to increase the availability of affordable and workforce rental housing and provide incentives to developers to build a wider variety of housing types that include workforce housing and retirement and assisted living housing.

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Chapter Two: Economic Element

The Economic Element identifies current trends for the City of Barnwell in employment, industry, income, and education. A broad and regional vision is required when assessing economic conditions, constraints, and potential for growth. Economic development is an element included to help balance business and employment growth with that of population, housing, land use, and transportation. A balance is necessary to ensure the community continues to thrive.

A. INVENTORY

Barnwell County is located in the southwestern part of the state along the Savannah River and is bordered by Aiken, Orangeburg, Bamberg and Allendale counties in South Carolina and Burke County in Georgia. The centralized location and pastoral open spaces of Barnwell County help to provide a relaxed country lifestyle while maintaining convenient access to some of South Carolina’s larger communities as well as the state’s coastal and mountain regions. The City of Barnwell is the most populated municipality in the county.

For decades, the United States Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS) has made a significant impact on the City of Barnwell’s economy. SRS is 310 square miles and is located in Aiken County, Allendale County, and Barnwell County. Approximately 187 of those square miles are in Barnwell County and make up approximately 33.5% of the County’s total area. The downsizing that began in 1991 as a result of the end of the Cold War has had a tremendous impact on the employment structure of the city. After maintaining a relatively stable workforce of 8,000 to 10,000 employees throughout the operating history of the site, in 1991 SRS employment peaked at 25,180. By 1998, the employee count had decreased by 43.9% to 14,134 employees. As of 2019, SRS has a workforce of approximately 11,000 individuals.

The following agencies play an important role in Barnwell’s economic development:

• Barnwell County Economic Development Commission is an economic development agency located in the City of Barnwell. The mission of BCEDC is to encourage the expansion of existing industry, encourage the location of new industry, facilitate and foster an environment in which community development takes place, jobs are created and capital investment is made in Barnwell County.

• Savannah River Regional Diversification Initiative (SRRDI) was created in the early 1990’s with the following goals: to diversify the region’s economic development base, to create and retain high-value, long-term private sector jobs, and to transfer SRS technologies to new and existing firms for commercial application. Other organizations that partnered in this strategy include Lower Savannah Council of Governments, CSRA Regional Development Center, and Aiken-Edgefield Economic Development Partnership.

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• Southern Carolina Alliance is a regional non-profit industrial development agency for Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. The Alliance is responsible for recruiting new industry to the region and helping local businesses to grow and succeed in its region. The Alliance also manages the South Carolina Advanced Technology Park located near Barnwell in the Town of Snelling.

• Barnwell Development Association assists with the support of local businesses and creating programs to improve the community and quality of life of its members.

• Southern Palmetto Regional Chamber serves as a liaison to local businesses and industries to identify common needs, goals, and educational opportunities in Barnwell County and Allendale County. The Chamber focuses on business and industrial growth, job creation, and tourism.

• South Carolina Department of Commerce assists with community development and infrastructure improvements. They also focus on helping new and existing businesses to grow and provide economic opportunities for businesses with programs like workforce training.

Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate is one way to measure economic success in a community. This figure is calculated by taking the number of unemployed individuals in the labor force and dividing that by the total number of individuals in the labor force. In 2018, Barnwell County had an unemployment rate of 4.8%. Figure 2.1 shows the annual unemployment trends for Barnwell County, South Carolina, and the United States. Since 2009, the unemployment rate has been decreasing. Unemployment rates for Barnwell County have remained higher than rates for South Carolina and the U.S. However, this gap has been decreasing each year.

FIGURE 2.1 ANNUAL

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES Barnwell County South Carolina United States

0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Source: S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce

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Labor and Industry

Knowledge of the types of industries employing citizens in an area is as important to understanding the character of a community and planning for future changes as are projections of population growth. The growth or decline of certain industries can impact how much land should be dedicated to commercial or industrial uses, the type of educational resources needed in the area, provide insight on where to focus future economic development efforts, and what government services will be needed in the future.

Figure 2.2 compares the percentages of individuals working in different industries in the City of Barnwell and Barnwell County in 2010 and 2017.

Figure 2.2 Trends in Industry for the Employed Population 16 Years and Over City of Barnwell Barnwell County Industry 2010 2017 2010 2017 Agriculture/Forestry/Mining 0% 0% 2% 2% Construction 2% 4% 7% 6% Manufacturing 25% 21% 26% 21% Wholesale Trade 3% 1% 1% 2% Retail Trade 6% 9% 10% 9% Transportation/Utilities 3% 2% 7% 7% Information 0% 2% 1% 2% Finance/Insurance/Real Estate 7% 6% 4% 4% Professional/Administrative 9% 5% 8% 8% Education/Healthcare 27% 26% 18% 21% Entertainment/Recreation 1% 2% 0% 1% Accommodation/Food Service 3% 12% 5% 5% Public Administration 9% 8% 7% 7% Other Services 5% 2% 4% 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 & 2013-2017 American Community Survey

The industries that employ the most individuals in the City of Barnwell are education/healthcare and manufacturing. However, manufacturing jobs had a slight decrease since 2010. Jobs in accommodation/food service had a significant increase from 2010 to 2017 in the City of Barnwell.

Figure 2.3 shows the number of jobs per square mile in the City of Barnwell. Job density is primarily greater towards the city center and gradually decrease towards the outskirts.

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Figure 2.3, 2017 City of Barnwell Labor Shed Map

Source: OnTheMap, US Census

Figure 2.4 shows the inflow and outflow of workers in the City of Barnwell. 1,714 are employed within the City, but live outside of the City, while 1,473 workers live in the City, but are employed outside of the City. 261 workers are employed and live in the City.

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Figure 2.4, 2017 City of Barnwell Inflow/Outflow Map

Source: OnTheMap, US Census

Figure 2.5 shows a comparison of estimated average wages for Barnwell County and South Carolina for the year 2017. The average wage for South Carolina is approximately 29% higher than the average wage in Barnwell County.

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Figure 2.5: 2017 Employment Wage Comparison *Average Hourly Average Weekly *Average Annual Location Wage Wage Wage Barnwell County $16.00 $640 $33,280 South Carolina $20.70 $828 $43,056

* Assumes a 40-hour work week and 2080 hours per year Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Figure 2.6 alphabetically lists the 20 largest employers in Barnwell County.

Figure 2.6: 20 Largest Employers in Barnwell County (Listed Alphabetically) Corporation Name ALLENDALE & BARNWELL COUNTIES DISABILITY & SPECIAL NEEDS BOARD AMERICAN ZINC RECYCLING CORP AUGUSTA FIBER GLASS COATINGS INC BARNWELL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 45 BLACKVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BODDIE NOELL ENTERPRISES INC CASEY INDUSTRIAL INC COUNTY OF BARNWELL CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS INC DAYCO PAY AGENT INC LAUREL BAYE HEALTHCARE OF BLACKVILLE LOW COUNTRY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ORCHIDS PAPER PRODUCTS PRUITTHEALTH-BARNWELL LLC SC REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY NO 3 SWISS KRONO SC LLC UNIFIRST CORPORATION UNITECH SERVICES GROUP INC WALMART ASSOCIATES INC WILLISTON SCHOOL DISTRICT 29 Source: South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce

Figure 2.7 breaks down annual household income levels for the City of Barnwell and Barnwell County. The City of Barnwell has a higher percentage of individuals in the lowest income category, with almost a quarter of residents having a household income of less than $10,000 in the past 12 months. Barnwell County has a higher percentage of individuals in the highest income groups. Barnwell County’s median household income is approximately 26% higher than the median household income for the City of Barnwell.

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Figure 2.7: 2017 Annual Household Income Estimates City of Barnwell Barnwell County Less than $10,000 23.5% 16% $10,000 to $14,999 12.8% 12% $15,000 to $24,999 13.0% 13% $25,000 to $34,999 10.4% 11% $35,000 to $49,999 8.0% 13% $50,000 to $74,999 14.8% 15% $75,000 to $99,999 15.6% 11% $100,000 to $149,999 1.0% 7% $150,000 to $199,999 0.0% 2% $200,000 or more 0.4% 1% Median Household Income $27,054 $34,035 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey

Education

This section reviews the educational characteristics of the City of Barnwell and Barnwell County. Level of education is an important component to the local economy because it is positively correlated with income. Income of a population typically affects the quality of housing and development, and areas with lower incomes are typically impacted negatively. Therefore, education plays an important role in the overall economy and should be taken into consideration when creating economic development plans in a community.

Figure 2.8 breaks down the educational attainment of individuals 25 years of age or older for the City of Barnwell and Barnwell County. This table provides figures from the 2000 Census and the Census estimates for 2010 and 2017 from the American Community Survey. Overall, educational attainment in the City of Barnwell and Barnwell County has increased since the year 2000. For the City of Barnwell, the percentage of individuals with a high school degree or higher increased from 73% to 79%. The percentage of individuals with an associate degree increased by more than double. However, the percentage of individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher decreased from 15% to 12%, but there was an increase in the percentage of individuals with a graduate or professional degree.

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Figure 2.8: Educational Attainment of Persons 25 Years of Age & Over City of Barnwell Barnwell County 2000 2010* 2017* 2000 2010* 2017* Less than 9th Grade 8.7% 5.4% 8.4% 11.6% 7.6% 7.4% 9th - 12th No Diploma 18.2% 12.0% 12.7% 20.9% 14.1% 12.8% High School Diploma or Equivalent 36.3% 43.4% 32.4% 34.7% 41.7% 35.0% Some College, No Degree 16.4% 13.7% 23.3% 16.4% 17.7% 21.4% Associate Degree 5.3% 6.3% 11.2% 4.8% 7.4% 11.8% Bachelor's Degree 11.3% 13.3% 6.0% 8.4% 7.5% 8.3% Graduate or Professional Degree 3.7% 6.0% 5.9% 3.2% 3.9% 3.4% *Estimates Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The City of Barnwell is serviced by Barnwell School District 45, which consists of Barnwell Primary School, Barnwell Elementary School, Guinyard-Butler Middle School, and Barnwell High School. This school district enrolls approximately 2,175 students across its four schools.

SAT scores are an important measure of academic performance used by colleges to determine whether or not a student will be admitted. SAT scores are also taken into consideration for state scholarships. Because of this, populations with lower SAT scores will have fewer students who are able to go to college. Figure 2.9 shows the mean SAT scores for 2018 graduating seniors from schools in the region and compares them to the state average. Barnwell High School scored higher than other schools in the region. However, their average score was lower than the state average. Out of all South Carolina public schools, Barnwell High School’s SAT average was at the 43rd percentile. This means that Barnwell High School’s SAT average was lower than 57% of all other schools’ SAT average.

Figure 2.9: Mean SAT Scores for 2018 Graduating Seniors English, Reading, & Writing Math Composite Barnwell High 518 500 1018 Williston-Elko High 490 461 951 Blackville-Hilda High 423 412 835 South Carolina 543 520 1064

Source: South Carolina Department of Education

B. ECONOMIC ELEMENT NEEDS AND GOALS

The level of economic activity and new development in an area is a primary contributing factor to the level of growth and the amount of revenue available to a unit of government. With increased revenue, the government entity has the opportunity to improve services, which improve quality of life and, in turn, can facilitate additional growth. The City of Barnwell should strive to achieve and maintain economic resilience.

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Economic Development needs include, but are not limited to the following:

• Work with Barnwell School District 45 to improve school programs for students to increase their educational and career opportunities.

• Support programs that will help improve per capita and household incomes in the area.

• Continue working with Southern Carolina Alliance, the Barnwell County Economic Development Commission, the Barnwell Development Association, and other economic development organizations to create high-quality jobs, downtown development, and investment in the city.

• Support existing businesses and encourage new business startups.

• Create and maintain a competitive business climate.

C. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

Suggested policies for the implementation of these goals include:

2.1. Place a high priority on projects that will generate and attract private sector employment, improvements, or investments that are consistent with the policies of the comprehensive plan.

2.2. Strive to attract clean, safe, and high paying industries to the city.

2.3. Establish and support a close working relationship between the city, county, regional and state economic developers, and area education providers.

2.4. Continue to support and encourage infrastructure improvements that will improve quality of life and attract new businesses and industries.

2.5. Nurture existing businesses as well as provide incentives for new businesses by communication of local events and activities.

2.6. Encourage tourism by promoting the city’s assets through marketing campaigns.

2.7. Continue to promote and support the improvement of local schools that will encourage a well-trained and diversified workforce.

2.8. Encourage renovation and re-use of vacant industrial and commercial properties.

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2.9. Encourage the operation of small, independent businesses and promote and encourage residents to support local businesses.

2.10. Promote and encourage education and guidance opportunities, such as the Local Entrepreneur Acceleration Program (LEAP), for new local business owners in the city.

2.11. Continue the implementation of relevant projects listed in the Barnwell Central Business District Master Plan.

2.12. Promote initiatives to get a new grocery store in the City of Barnwell.

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Chapter Three: Natural Resources Element

The natural resources element includes information on climate, topography, water and air quality, soil characteristics, and other natural resources in the City of Barnwell. This element is required by South Carolina State Planning Law because of the significant impact that natural resources have on the character and quality of life in communities. The landscape of the City is characterized by agricultural and forestlands, wetlands, and extensive plant and animal habitats.

A key component in protecting natural resources is the promotion of sustainable development practices and patterns. The concept of “sustainability” involves the ability of a community and society to meet the needs of the present population while ensuring that future generations have the same or better opportunities.

There are increasing concerns that, as a culture, we are using resources at a faster rate than we are replenishing them and are creating communities that are not sustainable in the long run. The City of Barnwell seeks to progress in a manner that conserves natural resources and minimizes degradation of the natural environment.

A. BACKGROUND AND INVENTORY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS

Several federal and state agencies are responsible for the protection of natural resources, including the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Other agencies, such as non-profits and local citizen groups are also involved in the stewardship of the natural environment.

Climate

Climate is the pattern of weather in an area over long periods of time. Weather refers to temperature, rainfall, humidity, sunshine, and wind, among other things, on a day to day basis, while climate is the pattern of these events across seasons, years, decades, or longer. Understanding an areas climate is important to the planning process. Areas with heavy rainfall will need to plan accordingly to have proper road drainage to prevent flooding. Other municipalities and counties may have heavy snowfall, and may require extra resources to remove snow from roads or prevent roads and bridges from freezing. Each area has its own climate that must be taken into consideration throughout the planning process.

The warmest month of the year in the City of Barnwell is July. The average high temperature in July is 94 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average low is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. January is typically the coldest month of the year in Barnwell. The average high temperature in January is

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59 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average low temperature is 33 degrees Fahrenheit. The City of Barnwell’s average annual precipitation is around 48 inches. Rainfall is primarily evenly distributed throughout the year. However, July has the highest average precipitation rate. Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Topography

Barnwell is within the area called the Aiken Plateau, an upland plain with steep sided valleys. The terrain is gently rolling in much of the County, yielding few impediments to urban or agricultural development. The County is characterized by low relief, with a few localized areas having wetlands, flatlands, and steep hills. The northwestern and eastern parts of the County are the only areas with slopes over 6 percent. The average distance above sea level is approximately 90 feet. Barnwell County also has Carolina Bays, which are shallow, elliptical depressions in the land that typically fill with rainwater and provide habitats for various wildlife species.

Water Resources

The City of Barnwell lies within the Salkehatchie River Basin and contains several important water resources. This basin is made up of forested land (51.3%), agricultural land (24.4%), forested wetland (17.7%), urban land (5.3%), non-forested wetland (0.7%), water (0.4%), and barren land (0.2%). Although no rivers run directly through the City of Barnwell, the Salkehatchie River runs approximately 2 miles from the city limits. Lake Edgar Brown is a 96- acre lake located on the border of city. The lake is primarily shallow, with an average depth of 3 feet, and a maximum depth of 9 feet. This lake was constructed in the early 1960s by impounding Turkey Creek and is managed for recreational fishing by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Turkey Creek is a blackwater stream that flows out of Lake Edgar Brown, through the city, and connects with the Salkehatchie River. Blackwater systems are characterized by their dark and acidic water. Water is stained and made more acidic naturally from fallen leaves and logs, which release tannins into the water.

The City of Barnwell has the potential to experience flooding from the Salkehatchie River on the City’s southwestern border. There is also potential for flooding from Lake Edgar Brown and Turkey Creek from the northcentral portion of the City through the southcentral portion of the City. Jordan Branch poses a risk for flooding on the northeast border of the City. Figure 3.1 shows a FEMA flood hazard map with the City of Barnwell’s flood zones. Flood zones A and AE are high-risk zones for flooding. Zone A is an area with a 1% chance of annual flooding and a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage, for which no base flood elevations have been determined, while Zone AE is an area with the same odds of flooding, but base flood elevations have been provided.

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Figure 3.1: City of Barnwell FEMA Flood Hazard Map

Wetlands

Wetlands are areas of land that become inundated seasonally or permanently from rainfall or flooding with hydric soil conditions that support various species of plants and animals. Wetlands can include swamps, bogs, Carolina bays, and marshes among others. Ephemeral wetlands provide a habitat for many animal species, such as certain amphibian species that rely on a nonpermanent hydroperiod. Other species, such as fish, rely on wetlands that are permanently inundated. Not only do wetlands provide habitats for plants and animals, they are also purifiers for lakes, rivers, and groundwater, and provide storage for floodwaters.

Wetlands in Barnwell are situated throughout the City. However, forested and shrub wetlands are mostly located along the Salkehatchie River, Turkey Creek, and Jordan Branch. Wetlands are considered by the State and Federal Government to be important to the public interest because of the significant impact they have on the environment and community. Because of this, the City of Barnwell should give consideration in establishing protected areas to ensure that these lands are conserved. Figure 3.2 shows a map of documented wetlands in the City of Barnwell.

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Figure 3.2: National Wetlands Inventory Map for the City of Barnwell

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Soil Characteristics

Soil is primarily made up of minerals, but also includes liquids, gases, and organic materials. Soil characteristics are important for agriculture, infrastructure, and recreation. The soils in the Barnwell area are primarily of the Varina-Fuquay-Dothan Association and Fuquay-Blanton- Dothan Association. These soil associations are nearly level to sloping, well-drained soils that have a sandy surface layer and a clayey or loamy subsoil. Fuquay soil and Blanton soil are the two most abundant soil types in Barnwell County and make up approximately 25.8% and 21.8% of all soil in the County, respectively. Fuquay and Blanton soils tend to be very deep, well drained, and consist of sandy and loamy sediments.

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Soil is especially important to infrastructure because it has the potential to cause severe damage. As soils dry out, they tend to shrink, and as they get wet, they tend to expand. This is known as the soil’s shrink-swell potential. The continuous shrinking and swelling of soil can cause damage to building foundations and roadways. Over 90% of soil in Barnwell County has a low shrink-swell potential. Soil type also plays an important role in supporting buildings and roads. Approximately 19.5% of soil in the County is unfavorable for supporting dwellings, commercial buildings, and roadways. Special consideration and planning should be implemented when building these structures over unfavorable soil types.

Air Quality

Air quality is monitored and regulated by several agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the SCDHEC Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ). The Clean Air Act, which was last amended in 1990, requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for wide-spread pollutants from numerous and diverse sources considered harmful to public health and the environment. The Clean Air Act established two types of national air quality standards. Primary standards set limits to protect public health, including the health of “sensitive” populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary standards set limits to protect public welfare, including protection against visibility impairment and damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings. EPA has set NAAQS for six principal pollutants, which are called “criteria” pollutants. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review scientific information and standards for each pollutant every five years. In 2008, EPA set new standards for ozone pollution, called primary 8-hour ozone standards that reflect new scientific evidence regarding ozone and its effects on public health and the environment. The new standards set the ozone limit at a maximum of 0.075 parts per million. The BAQ is responsible for the conservation and enhancement of air resources in South Carolina in accordance with regulations pursuant to the Pollution Control Act, the Asbestos Licensing Act, and the Clean Air Act. The EPA and the BAQ have implemented an air quality monitoring program throughout South Carolina that measures concentrations of major pollutants in the ambient air. The effectiveness of the State’s air quality program is measured in part by the rate of compliance with applicable statutes and regulations, and in part by the State’s attainment status for the NAAQS. Nonattainment of NAAQS has serious implications including: • Public health impacts such as asthma and lung issues; • New stringent air pollution control regulatory standards such as requirements to develop traffic restrictions to reduce nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from automobiles, mandated use of low sulfur fuels, carpooling or busing requirements, and reduced driving days (failure to comply with such regulations can result in withholding of federal highway construction funds); and • Impacts to industry and economic development due to required air pollution controls resulting in increased costs for goods and/or reduced employment opportunities.

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More information about air monitoring and the ambient air network monitoring plan can be found on SCDHEC’s website: www.scdhec.gov/HomeAndEnvironment/Air/AmbientAir/.

Educational and Recreational

There are several sites in or near Barnwell that are important in the field of education and the preservation of natural resources, or are of recreational value. Both the Nature Route and Discovery Route of the South Carolina Heritage Corridor run through Barnwell County with the purpose of stimulating economic revitalization through heritage tourism. Lake Edgar Brown is maintained by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and offers a fishing pier, boat ramp, and walking trails. Ray’s Crossing provides access to the Salkehatchie River a few miles outside of city limits. Barnwell State Park, located near Blackville, is situated on 307 acres and offers picnic areas, campsites, shelters, a community building, cabins, lakes for fishing, and nature trails. The Clemson Edisto Research and Education Center, also near Blackville, is an agricultural research station maintained by Clemson University. Another important natural and cultural resource is God’s Acre Healing Springs located in Blackville, approximately 12 miles from the City of Barnwell. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) maintains a district office and a fish hatchery in the City of Barnwell. SCDNR also owns and maintains the Ditch Pond Heritage Preserve located off of US 78 in Barnwell County and Aiken County. Protection of these valuable resources is not only essential in preserving the ecological integrity of the county, but also promotes nature based tourism and educational ideals.

B. NEEDS AND GOALS

The City of Barnwell and surrounding areas contain an abundant supply of open space where wildlife is plentiful and land remains in its natural state. • A primary goal of the City of Barnwell is to promote the protection and preservation of natural and scenic areas within and around the Barnwell area.

• Respect and manage natural resources through conservation of intact natural environments and restoration of disturbed natural environments. Natural resources include native plants and wildlife, significant scenic areas, and water resources such as rivers, lakes, creeks, aquifers, and wetlands.

• Strive for cleaner air and water and support policies and programs that will foster energy and water conservation, storm water management, reduced solid waste generation, and cleanup of contaminated sites.

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• Increase the number of beautification projects in the city that help to accentuate the abundant natural resources in the area.

• Promote the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Barnwell and increase their quality of life by having attractive natural resources and recreational opportunities afforded to them.

C. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

The following strategic actions should be undertaken by the City of Barnwell and cooperating agencies that promote and protect natural resources in the community. These implementation strategies will be reviewed at a minimum of every five years and updated every ten years from the date of adoption of this plan. 3.1. Continue to review and update the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance to better ensure more compatible growth and development and the protection and preservation of existing development.

3.2. Develop and adopt land development regulations that will ensure that natural resource preservation is included in all future development within the city.

3.3. Minimize or stop the expansion of invasive species, especially aquatic plants, in Barnwell through educational efforts.

3.4. Promote the beautification of public areas of the city through landscaping and maintenance of the land.

3.5. Support and develop special recreational and outdoor activities through existing groups and through the development of new groups.

3.6. Continue to comply with state and federal regulations as related to the management and protection of floodplains and wetland areas.

3.7. Cooperate with South Carolina Department of Transportation to maintain clean roadways and storm water systems.

3.8. Work with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to create more recreational opportunities at Lake Brown.

3.9. Support and encourage programs that take advantage of natural resources in the city limits, such as Lake Brown.

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3.10. Create and implement innovative efforts to clean up and reduce litter within the city.

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Chapter Four: Historical and Cultural Resources Element

The Historic and Cultural Resources Element of the Comprehensive Plan lays out the general history of the City of Barnwell and inventories historically significant sites and cultural resources within the city and the surrounding area. This element identifies the historical and cultural resources in need of preservation. The recognition and appreciation of the City of Barnwell’s historic legacy is not just an issue of historic preservation, but a key contributor to the local economy as well.

Historical Overview

Various tribes of Native Americans inhabited the land that is present day Barnwell County prior to the colonization by European settlers. In 1629, King Charles I of England established the Province of Carolina.1 This province contained modern day South Carolina and North Carolina, as well as parts of other southeastern states. In 1663, King Charles II granted the province to 8 of his supporters, who he deemed, “true and absolute Lords Proprietors.”1 By 1712, North Carolina and South Carolina split and became independent provinces and, in 1729, became part of the British royal colonies.2

During the 1730s, German Lutherans migrated to South Carolina from Switzerland, and by 1769, the land they inhabited became known as the Orangeburg District, an area that contained modern day Barnwell County.3 During the Revolutionary War in the early 1780s, 3 battles took place in modern day Barnwell County, which included the battle of Morris Ford, the battle of Vince’s Fort, and the battle of Slaughter Field.4 After the American Revolution, the Orangeburg District remained intact, but became divided into four counties, including Lewisburg, Lexington, Orange, and Winton. However, in 1791, these counties were abolished, and in 1800, the Orangeburg District was abolished.5

By 1789, what was formerly known as Winton County was renamed Barnwell County after John Barnwell, a leader in the Revolutionary War.6 Originally known as Red Hill, the City of Barnwell was also named after John Barnwell and became incorporated in 1829.7 During the 1930s, the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company built a 126 mile railroad, which ran from the western border of the state, down to Charleston.8 This stretch of railroad tracks ran through Williston and Blackville, bolstering their economy, while decreasing the economic success of Barnwell.

One of Barnwell’s most iconic monuments is the vertical sundial that stands in front of the courthouse. This sundial was given to Barnwell in 1858 by Joseph Duncan Allen, a wealthy politician and soldier. During the American Civil War, Major General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick’s cavalry burned most of the town’s public buildings and businesses. However, Kilpatrick spared

City of Barnwell Comprehensive Plan 2021-2031 DRAFT the churches, four of which still stand today.7 After the destruction of the majority of the town during the war, Barnwell began to slowly recover after its end in 1865.

Agriculture played a large role in Barnwell’s economy going through the turn of the century and throughout the first quarter of the 1900s. Major crops in the area included cotton, corn, melons, asparagus, and grains. However, after World War II, the economy shifted to become more industrial based. The 1950’s brought the Savannah River Plant to several counties including Barnwell. Other major industrial facilities also opened during this time. The increase in industry drew more people into the area, which led to an increase in the town’s population. Since the early 1990s, the population has slightly decreased. Today, the City of Barnwell has approximately 4,500 residents and has the largest population in the County.

A. INVENTORY

The City of Barnwell has a wealth of historically and culturally significant places. Only five of these sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Several sites, particularly the Barnwell County Courthouse and Sundial, are eligible to be included in the National Register. Attention should be given to those sites and their potential for nomination to the national register when planning for the preservation of Barnwell’s historic and cultural resources. Listed below are some of the many important resources of Barnwell and the surrounding area. Sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places are shown in bold and include the date they were recognized.

1. Banksia Hall, NR 5/31/1974, Barnwell – Banksia Hall was built in the late 1700s and is a classic example of Georgian-style architecture. This site also served as Federal headquarters during the Reconstruction era. During this time, Banksia Hall’s drawing room was used as an office where an oath of allegiance to the United States was administered, and those who swore allegiance to the Union and to the United States would be pardoned after the Civil War ended. The original document remains on display inside the house.

2. Barnwell County Courthouse – Courthouses in Barnwell County have an interesting history. Prior to 1800, Barnwell County was known as Winton County and a courthouse was built at Boiling Springs in 1789. However, the County seat was moved to Barnwell Village in 1791, and the first courthouse in Barnwell was built in 1800. This courthouse was regarded as being of poor quality and was torn down after a new courthouse was built in 1819. Just 29 years later, a new courthouse was constructed in 1848. During the Civil War, Union soldiers destroyed the courthouse and court was held at the Presbyterian Church until 1869, when the County seat moved to Blackville. However, the seat moved back to Barnwell in 1874 and a new courthouse was completed in 1879, which serves as the present courthouse.

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3. Bethlehem Baptist Church, NR 7/10/1979, Barnwell – This pre-Civil War church was created in 1868 as an offshoot of Barnwell Baptist Church. Originally, Barnwell Baptist Church consisted of black and white members. Black members of the congregation were given permission to preach during the 1830s and a separate conference was established for them. During the 1850s, a new church was built and black members of the congregation requested to use the old site to hold meetings and worship. Circa 1867, the black members of the congregation petitioned to create an independent church separate from Barnwell Baptist Church, and by 1868, Bethlehem Baptist Church was established. Approximately 30 years later, the floor of the church caved in, and the church was demolished. Between 1898 and 1899, a new church was built by members of the congregation and materials from the old church were used in construction.

4. Buckingham House, Barnwell – The Buckingham House is located on Jackson Street. This antebellum residence was built around 1825 for the Buckingham family. A small building located on the same lot is thought to be Barnwell’s first post office.

5. City Hall/Bank of Barnwell, Barnwell – The Bank of Barnwell was established in 1887. By 1932, the bank closed and was purchased by local residents, who established the new Bank of Barnwell. By 1996, First Citizens Bank took ownership of the building until they purchased a new building on Dunbarton Boulevard. By 2009, the bank was purchased and renovated by the City of Barnwell, and the first story is used as Barnwell’s City Hall.

6. Church of the Holy Apostles, Episcopal, NR 4/13/1972, Barnwell – This church is notable for its Gothic architecture and is one of the few remaining antebellum structures in Barnwell. This church was established in November of 1848 and consisted of white and black members. Early services for this congregation were held in the Masonic Hall, but in 1856, a plantation was purchased by Rev. Edwin A. Wagner and approximately one acre of land was set aside for a church and churchyard. The church was built between 1856 and 1857. During the American Civil War, Major General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick’s cavalry occupied the church and damaged it. In 1883, the church was repaired.

7. Church of the Holy Apostles, The Rectory, NR 4/13/1972, Barnwell –The Rectory is a Gothic revival style residence built around 1857. Due to the destruction that ensued upon the city during the Civil War, this is one of the few remaining antebellum structures in Barnwell. It is generally believed that The Rectory was used as a billet during the war due to its proximity to the Church of the Holy Apostles, which was used by union soldiers. Several notable political figures lived in the house since then, including James T. Aldrich and Dr. Angus Bethune. Aldrich was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in the late 1800s until he was elected as a judge of the Second Judicial Circuit of South Carolina in 1889. Dr. Bethune was a physician and legislator who served for the South Carolina House of Representatives and the South Carolina Senate in the early 1900s. Although The Rectory has been a private residence for most of its existence, it now belongs to the Church of the Holy Apostles.

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8. Fuller Park – This park, built and opened in 1933 with funding from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), was named for Cornell G. Fuller (1895-1972), mayor of Barnwell 1932-38 and chair of this and other New Deal-era public projects in Barnwell. The park included a swimming pool and bathhouse, dance pavilion, tennis courts, and baseball stadium. The minor league Albany (N.Y.) Senators held spring training at Fuller Park for several years in the 1930s and 1940s.

Fuller, an Ohio native, was a contractor and early innovator in building roads of asphalt instead of concrete. He moved his company to Barnwell in 1928 and paved 50 miles of the state’s earliest asphalt roads, in Barnwell County. In 1932 Fuller, with S.C. Senator Edgar A. Brown and Perry A. Price, founded the Bank of Barnwell. When the Barnwell County Public Library was founded in 1953 Fuller and his wife Effie Barber Fuller donated their house as the new library.

9. Iris Hill, Barnwell – Built by Lewis O’Bannon in 1815. O’Bannon also laid out the original streets in the town of Barnwell.

10. Old Barnwell Presbyterian Church (Circle Theater), NR 4/13/1972, Barnwell – In the early 1830s, the organization of the first Presbyterian church in Barnwell took place by Reverend Dr. James H. Thornwell, and the present church was constructed in 1848. During the Civil War, William Sherman’s soldiers destroyed the courthouse and the Barnwell Presbyterian Church served as the courthouse until the County seat was moved to Blackville. During the 1960s, a new church was constructed on site and the old church was given to the Barnwell County Historical Commission and moved to its current location. The church is now used as a center for performing arts and is known as The Circle Theater.

11. The Sundial and the Circle – This vertical sundial was given to Barnwell in September of 1858 by J.D. Allen, a wealthy politician and soldier who served in the South Carolina House of Representatives and the South Carolina Senate. This sundial is thought to be the only one of its kind in the United States. Allen had the sundial made by D.B. Haselton, an ironmonger from Charleston, SC. This sundial is located on Main Street, next to the Barnwell County Courthouse. During the Civil War, the courthouse was destroyed, however, this monument survived and is still in its original location. In 1918, concrete curbing was added to the monument for protection, and since then it has also been repainted. The Courthouse and the Sundial are the anchors in what is known as the Circle, or downtown area, which contains many historic commercial structures.

12. St. Andrews Roman Catholic Church, Barnwell – Built circa 1831, this church is the oldest religious building in Barnwell, and the oldest Catholic church in the state. Fortunately, the church was spared when Sherman’s troops destroyed most of the buildings in the area during the Civil War.

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13. Collins Park, Barnwell – This park is located on the corner of Main Street and Marlboro Avenue and was established in 2000 as a dedication to the history of Barnwell, including the “Barnwell Ring”. The park was donated to the City of Barnwell by Robert O. Collins and was designed by Robert Marvin of Walterboro.

Other historic sites located outside of city limits are not included in this list, but are still significant to the history and culture of Barnwell. The map below shows the five sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places for the City of Barnwell.

Map 4.1: City of Barnwell Sites on the National Register of Historic Places

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There is a strong preservation community composed of a number of organizations that have made a commitment to preserve cultural and historic resources in the counties and municipalities of South Carolina and Nationwide. Much of the responsibility for protecting cultural resources lies outside the purview of local government. Some of the agencies involved in the protection of cultural resources include:

• The State Historic Preservation Office • The SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology • SC Department of Archives and History • The National Trust for Historic Preservation • Barnwell County Museum

Arts, Culture, and Recreation

An abundance of art, cultural, and recreational opportunities exist within the area for Barnwell residents. The Barnwell County Arts Council is an important organization that has utilized large venues throughout the county for performing arts events. The Council provides increased exposure and hands on experience in the arts for children in schools throughout the county and even offer the Jean Orr Belcher Scholarship, a $500 scholarship given to a Barnwell County resident to further their education in the arts after high school.

The Circle Theater, which is housed in the old Presbyterian Church, offers multiple productions each year. The Barnwell County Museum houses exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of the County and offers residents the opportunity to connect with their history and heritage. The Museum also offers tours for school field trips. The Barnwell County Library is also an integral part of cultural activity and attracts many people who are researching their genealogy in the county.

The mild climate inherent to this area provides an environment that is conducive to many outdoor activities such as year-round golf, fishing, and other sporting and recreational opportunities. Lake Edgar Brown is operated by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and offers residents boating access, a fishing dock, and a walking trail. Fuller Park has 2 basketball courts and a disc golf course, and Lemon Park has several baseball/softball fields as well as a multi-purpose field. A number of annual events take place in the City around certain seasons and holidays. Some of these events are run by the city and some are by dedicated citizens working to make Barnwell a fun and interactive place to live. Other organizations, such as SCDNR and the Barnwell County Chamber of Commerce also organize city events. Barnwell also has clubs and professional organizations that contribute to the cultural significance of the area. These organizations include the Aiken-Barnwell Genealogical Society, Lions Club, the Masons, Rotary Club, Boy and Girl Scouts, Garden Club of SC, and the NAACP among others.

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B. NEEDS AND GOALS

The inventory section of the Historic and Cultural Resources Element focused on the existing historic resources and cultural amenities in the City of Barnwell and the surrounding area. This section will suggest methods of sustaining existing resources as well as possible needed improvements based on the results of the previous section.

• The primary goal of this element is to maintain and enhance the economic viability of historic structures in the community in order to increase the quality of life and enjoyment for the citizens of Barnwell

Additional goals include:

• Improve the aesthetic appeal and commercial viability of the downtown area through preservation of historic and cultural resources.

• Support the Central Business District Master Plan programs and development.

C. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

The following are suggested policies for the implementation of desired goals and objectives of the Historic and Cultural Resources Element.

4.1. Continue to review and update the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance to ensure that land use compatibility is maintained and preserved.

4.2. Develop and adopt land development regulations that will ensure that historic preservation is considered in all future development within the city and that infill development is compatible with existing development.

4.3. Develop and adopt a historic preservation ordinance to ensure the preservation of important historic properties.

4.4. Develop and adopt design standards for the central business district to maintain integrity in historic downtown commercial structures.

4.5. Implement the recreational goals of the Central Business District Master Plan.

4.6. Promote the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historic houses and commercial buildings in the city.

4.7. Provide incentives to purchase and rehabilitate deteriorating or substandard historic buildings in the city.

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4.8. Work with the State Historic Preservation Office (SC Department of Archives and History) to submit applications for eligible properties and districts to the National Register of Historic Places.

4.9. Support the efforts of professional, fraternal, and cultural organizations to provide services and bring cultural events to the city.

References

1. Bassett, J.S. (1894). The Naming of the Carolinas. The Sewanee Review, 2(3), 343-352.

2. Stewart, D.O. (2016). South Carolina – North Carolina Border. SC Encyclopedia, http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/south-carolina%C2%96north-carolina-border/

3. Lewis, J.D. A History of Winton County, South Carolina. Carolana. https://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/winton_county_sc.html

4. Lewis, J.D. The Known Battles and Skirmishes in South Carolina. Carolana. https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/SC_Revolutionary_War_Known_Battles_Skirmishes.htm

5. Lewis, J.D. Orangeburgh District, South Carolina. Carolana. https://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/orangeburgh_district_sc.html

6. Jenkins, E.B. & Belcher, P. (2016). Barnwell County. SC Encyclopedia. http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/barnwell-county/

7. Jenkins, E.B. & Belcher, P. (2016). Barnwell. SC Encyclopedia. http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/barnwell/

8. Marrs, A.W. (2016). South Carolina Railroad. SC Encyclopedia. http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/south-carolina-railroad/

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Chapter Five: Community Facilities Element

The Community Facilities Element focuses on growth, development, and redevelopment of the community. For the City of Barnwell, this includes information on existing infrastructure and other facilities, as well as plans for addressing future facility needs. This chapter provides a basis for development of plans and policies in each area described, as well as others that may arise. The first section of this element identifies and evaluates existing community facilities and public services provided in the City of Barnwell, and evaluates their extent in relation to current and anticipated future needs. The second section sets forth goals and objectives designed to minimize or avoid problems and to maximize opportunities.

A. INVENTORY

City infrastructure and community programs are critical to the growth and wellbeing of the City of Barnwell. This element is an essential component for developing priorities for future investments.

Water Services

The City of Barnwell’s water system serves a population of approximately 4,563 with 1,735 residential connections and 353 commercial connections. The City of Barnwell’s public water system received an overall rating of satisfactory in a sanitary survey report from SCDHEC in 2019. Drinking water comes from 5 wells located throughout the city, which are tapped into an underground aquifer system and pumped into two elevated storage tanks. The city has an average production of 1,720,800 gallons per day, with a maximum daily production of 2,012,000 gallons.

Wells six, seven, and nine serve the Main Street Water Tank. This tank serves the east side of the city with a storage capacity of 500,000 gallons. Wells ten and eleven serve the Rose Street Water Tank. This tank serves the west side of the city with a storage capacity of 150,000 gallons. The city owns two generators, which are capable of running well seven and eleven in an emergency situation. In addition, the system uses a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system to help with the operation of the water system. A generator has been purchased to run the SCADA system in the event of a power outage. The table below gives the status, yield, and regulated capacity of each well in the city, while map 5.1 displays the City of Barnwell’s water mains.

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Table 5.1: City of Barnwell Well Information Well Status Yield Regulated Capacity Well #6 – Clinton Street Well Permanent 550 gpm 528 TGD

Well #7 – Shop Well Permanent 500 gpm 432 TGD

Well #8 – Main Street Well Emergency 250 gpm 240 TGD

Well #9 – Hwy #3 Well Permanent 550 gpm 432 TGD

Well #10 – Shuron Well Permanent 450 gpm 432 TGD

Well #11 – Rose Street Well Permanent 500 gpm 432 TGD

Map 5.1: City of Barnwell Water Mains

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Map 5.2: City of Barnwell Sewer Utilities

Sewage Facilities and Services

The Wastewater system for the City of Barnwell consists of the Wastewater Treatment Facility, which is a conventional activated sludge treatment facility, and 8 lift stations. The city upgraded the Wastewater Treatment Facility in 2002. This upgrade increased the capacity for treatment to 3.0 million gallons per day (mgd), but on average, the facility treats approximately 1.7 mgd. In 2016, the Capital Project Sales Tax was approved, which allocated $650,000 that will be used

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for sewer line improvements on Jackson Street. A new digester was also purchased for the wastewater treatment facility in March of 2020. Funding for this came from a South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) Grant as well as from city water and sewer funds and savings.

Solid Waste Collection and Disposal

The City of Barnwell contracts with S&S Disposal Inc. to collect residential and business solid waste from roll carts. However, this service does not provide pickup from large dumpsters. Yard debris is also collected once per week. The city has 3 full-time employees who manage public areas such as sidewalk lanes and other areas along roadways. They assist in keeping roadways clean from dead animals and other debris.

To further assist with roadway trash and other forms of litter, the City of Barnwell has implemented a community cleanup campaign called, “Make a Difference Monday.” This community program consists of volunteers who meet each month to remove litter throughout the city as a beautification initiative. Barnwell County operates several residential recycling centers outside of city limits that collect cans, various papers, plastics, scrap metals, glass, batteries, used oils, white goods, and tires, among other things.

Police and Fire Services

The City of Barnwell Police Department serves as the city’s law enforcement agency. This department is made up of 17 full-time employees, several of which serve dual roles. The department’s mission statement is:

To safeguard the lives and property of the citizens we serve, to reduce the incidence and fear of crime, and to enhance public safety by enforcing the laws of the State of South Carolina and the City of Barnwell. Our mandate is to accomplish this with honor and integrity, while always conducting ourselves with the highest ethical standards to maintain public confidence. To provide professional, high quality Police and effective Police service in partnership with the community through T.R.U.S.T.

T – Training to ensure quality Police services R – Respect for the dignity and rights of all citizens U – Understanding the community that we serve S – Safety to ensure service excellence T – Transparency always to ensure public confidence

The police headquarters is located at 105 Burr Street in a newly constructed building. Construction was completed in 2019, and the total cost of this project was around $3 million. Funding for this project came from the Capital Project Sales Tax as well as the city. The new building provides adequate space for records, a state-of-the-art evidence storage system, and a vault. There is also a room used for training and officer development courses, a prisoner holding cell, an interview room, an evidence processing area, and a garage.

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Currently, the City of Barnwell Police Department has several goals to improve the organization. The first goal is to improve training of its officers. In order to do this, the department wants to hire a full-time training officer. There are times when the department has gaps in police coverage. These gaps have to be filled by off duty officers, Detectives, or sometimes, an Animal Control Officer. To eliminate these coverage gaps, the department wants to hire another officer. The department also needs evidence processing equipment. Currently, State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) assists with evidence processing. However, this increases the wait time for evidence processing and can lead to delays and back log in the courts. The City of Barnwell’s Police Department consists of fleet vehicles with year models ranging from 2010- 2018. It is a goal of the department to rotate vehicles every six years to reduce vehicle maintenance costs and to ensure that officers have more reliable vehicles. In order to decrease redundancy and increase efficiency, the department would also like to place laptop computers and printers into patrol vehicles.

Table 5.2 displays 2018 SLED data on reported crime frequencies for various violent crimes, breaking and entering, motor vehicle theft, larceny, and arson. Larceny was the most reported crime in the city in 2018.

Table 5.2: City of Barnwell Reported Crime Frequencies (2018) Violent Sexual Aggravated Murder Robberies B&E MVT Larceny Arson Crime Battery Assault 57 0 1 4 52 100 6 197 1 Source: South Carolina Department of Public Safety, SLED

Crime data can be better understood when standardized into a crime rate. This rate is the number of occurrences per 10,000 citizens. This method takes population size into account, which allows for the comparison of crime data across time and between cities and counties. The table on the following page compares annual crime rates for the City of Barnwell.

Table 5.3: City of Barnwell Reported Crime Rates 2010-2017 Sexual Aggravated Year Murder Robberies B&E MVT Larceny Arson Battery Assault 2010 0 4.2 20.9 29.2 271.3 6.3 457.1 N/A 2011 0 0 37.7 39.8 280.8 12.6 563.7 N/A 2012 4.2 6.3 46.4 116.1 323 27.4 612.2 N/A 2013 6.3 6.3 25.4 67.7 272.9 8.5 495 N/A 2014 0 2.1 38.2 84.8 118.7 10.6 447.3 0 2015 0 8.6 15 49.3 158.7 25.7 476 4.3 2016 2.2 2.2 13 95.2 235.8 30.3 348.3 4.3 2017 0 4.4 13.2 54.9 138.4 13.2 325.1 2.2 Source: South Carolina Department of Public Safety, SLED

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Fire Service

Fire service for residents and businesses is provided by the City of Barnwell. The Barnwell Fire Department was founded in 1919 and started as a volunteer fire department. Today, it consists of four career staff members (1 Chief, 1 Captain, and two Engineers) and 35 volunteer staff members (1 Deputy Chief, 2 Captains, 4 Lieutenants, and 28 firefighters). The Fire Station for the Barnwell Fire Department is located at 280 Washington Street, which houses 3 Engine Companies, 1 Heavy Rescue Company, 1 Ladder Company, and 1 administrative vehicle. The original Fire Station was constructed in 1954 and was 4,695 square feet. Since the station’s construction, two additions have been made, which added 2,500 square feet to the building. These additions were completed in 1974 and 1992. Renovations for the Fire Station are planned within 2021-2022 once funding is available. Future additions are also planned, which will include new dormitory space and new bays.

The services provided by the fire department include fire suppression, fire investigation, vehicle and industrial extrication, hazardous material incident response, and disaster preparedness and response, among other things. In 2019, the fire department responded to 264 incidents. Approximately 60 percent of responses were medical first responder related, approximately 20 percent of responses were fire related, and approximately 20% were related to community service.

The Barnwell Fire Department currently has an ISO Class 3 rating. ISO ratings are given to assess the risk of fire damage for insurance purposes in a community. Scores range on a scale from 1- 9, with 1 being the best rating. The department also plans to replace a 34-year-old fire engine by 2022. The fire department also engages with the community through fire prevention education and training for local businesses, industries, churches, schools, and civic organizations.

Emergency Medical Services

Currently, emergency medical services (EMS) are contracted through Medshore Ambulance, a privately-owned ambulance service in South Carolina. In Barnwell County, Medshore operates out of stations in Barnwell, Blackville, Hilda, and Williston. In 2016 Southern Palmetto Hospital in Barnwell closed. Due to shared EMS concerns in the community, The Barnwell County Emergency Medical Services Committee was formed in January 2019 to provide recommendations for improving the overall effectiveness and efficiency of EMS services in Barnwell County. In order to improve EMS services, the committee has recommended increasing the number of staff and EMS vehicles.

The closest area hospital is Allendale County Hospital approximately 20 miles south of the City of Barnwell. The RMC Bamberg-Barnwell Emergency Medical Center opened a 20,500-square- foot facility in 2019, which is located on the outskirts of the west side of Denmark, SC, approximately 12 miles northeast from the City of Barnwell. This facility provides 24-hour

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emergency care, state of the art diagnostic imaging, laboratory service, outpatient x-ray, CT and ultrasounds services along with ER radiology services.

Energy Services

The City of Barnwell receives its electricity and natural gas services from Dominion Energy. The city has multiple propane service providers including ThompsonGas, AmeriGas, and Edisto Gas Company. In order to increase efforts to create a more sustainable future, many companies and customers throughout the United States have invested in renewable options, such as solar and wind power, to serve energy needs. In 2017, Cypress Creek Renewables announced the construction of a solar facility under the name of Barnwell Solar LLC. This site is located off Patterson Street, and since the construction of this site, two other sites have been constructed in Barnwell. Energy harnessed from these sites is sold to Dominion Energy.

Telephone and Internet Services

Home telephone service in the City of Barnwell is provided by Atlantic Broadband and AT&T. Cell phone service is offered through Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, among others. Atlantic Broadband offers high-speed cable broadband internet, Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative offers high-speed fiber broadband internet to businesses, AT&T provides DSL broadband internet, and several other companies provide satellite internet service (FCC). Currently, not every household in the City of Barnwell has an internet subscription. Estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS 2013-2017) showed that only 56% of households had any type of internet subscription in 2017, while 73% of households statewide had some type of internet subscription. This could be due to broadband access, financial constraints, or personal interests.

Table 5.4: Number of Households by Type of Internet Subscription (2017) Internet Subscription Broadband: Cable, Cell Phone No Internet (Any Type) Fiber Optic, DSL Data Plan Subscription City of Barnwell 923 (56%) 687 (42%) 656 (40%) 722 (44%) Barnwell County 4,663 (55%) 2,752 (33%) 3,400 (40%) 3,763 (45%) South Carolina 1,366,055 (73%) 1,138,254 (61%) 852,983 (46%) 505,252 (27%) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Education

Public education in the City of Barnwell is served by Barnwell School District 45. The school district operates four schools throughout Barnwell as well as its administrative building located at 770 Hagood Avenue.

• Barnwell Primary School is located at 9286 Marlboro Avenue. This school enrolls approximately 755 students in K3 through third grade.

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• Barnwell Elementary School is located at 10524 Marlboro Avenue. This school enrolls approximately 483 students in grades four through six.

• Guinyard-Butler Middle School is located at 779 Allen Street. This school enrolls approximately 325 students in grades seven and eight.

• Barnwell High School is located at 474 Jackson Street. This school enrolls approximately 600 students in grades nine through twelve.

• Barnwell County Career Center is located on Reynolds Road in Blackville. This educational facility offers students throughout Barnwell County educational courses in various fields.

Denmark Technical College is approximately 16 miles from the City of Barnwell, but also has an off-campus site located on Ellenton Street in city limits. Voorhees College is a private four-year college located in Denmark, approximately 16 miles from Barnwell, and offers students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields. The University of South Carolina- Salkehatchie offers associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees and is located approximately 17 miles from the City of Barnwell.

General Government Facilities

City Hall is located in the center of the city at 130 Main Street. Previously, City Hall was located at 124 Burr Street. However, that building became too small to meet the space needs for general city services. The city purchased a historic building that was previously used as a bank, and this building was renovated between 2008 and 2009 to serve as the current City Hall. Other government facilities located in the City of Barnwell include:

• City of Barnwell Fire Station – 280 Washington Street. • City of Barnwell Police Headquarters – 105 Burr Street. • Barnwell Post Office – 221 Main Street. • Barnwell Department of Motor Vehicles – 1270 Main Street. • Barnwell County Courthouse – 141 Main Street. • Barnwell County Administration Building – 57 Wall Street. • Barnwell County Animal Shelter – 55 Diamond Road. • Barnwell Regional Airport – 155 Airport Road. • Barnwell Rural District 11 Fire Station – 332 Calhoun Street. • Barnwell County Detention Center – 318 Calhoun Street. • DHEC/Barnwell County Health Department – 11015 Ellenton Street. • Barnwell County Public Library – 40 Burr Street. • Barnwell County Public Works – 48 Ammie Avenue. • Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office – 599 Joey Zorn Boulevard.

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• Barnwell County Veterans Affairs Office – 34 Pechman Street. • Barnwell County Voter Registrations and Elections – 367 Fuldner Road. • South Carolina Department of Social Services – 10913 Ellenton Street.

Senior Care Facilities

• PruittHealth – 31 Wren Street • Gail Reyes Senior Center – 11403 Ellenton Street

Childcare Facilities

• New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church CDC – 9303 Marlboro Avenue • Sissy’s Little Rascals Daycare – 44 Begonia Street • Creation Station Child Development Center – 282 Wall Street

Library

The City of Barnwell is served by the Aiken-Bamberg-Barnwell-Edgefield Regional Library System. The Barnwell County library is located at 40 Burr Street and operates Monday through Saturday. This branch has 19 total public computers which consists of 13 computer stations, 3 children’s computers, and 3 catalog computers.

Communications

The People-Sentinel is a weekly newspaper publication in Barnwell County. It is owned by Gannett Media Corporation. The People-Sentinel also provides news through social media and their website. WDOG 93.5 FM provides daily communication on the area and news updates of local, state, and national news through their radio station and social media. The WIZ 97.9 out of Blackville and WUCC 99.9 out of New Ellenton are two other local radio stations, which serve the City of Barnwell. Websites and social media pages of other news outlets outside of Barnwell County, such as the Aiken Standard, WJBF, and WRDW, provide updates and news coverage for Barnwell.

Recreation

The City of Barnwell Parks and Recreation Department, along with the Barnwell Baseball Association and the Barnwell Soccer Association, provides a wide variety of recreation activities for the community. Various youth leagues including flag football, soccer, softball, basketball, baseball, and cheerleading are available throughout the year.

The Parks and Recreation department operates several parks throughout the city.

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• Collins Park is located at 486 Main Street. This park offers an open play area, garden, historical markers, a lighted gazebo, 4 large park swings, and partially covered picnic areas. The City has future plans to add restroom facilities to this park.

• Darnell Park is located at 192 Hagood Avenue. This park offers an open play area, gazebo and picnic tables. The City has future plans to add a picnic shelter to this park.

• Fuller Park is located at 9987 Dunbarton Boulevard and offers Barnwell citizens with various recreation opportunities with access to 2 outdoor basketball courts, a walking trail, a boardwalk along Turkey Creek, a 9-hole disc golf course, and a sheltered picnic area with 9 tables and four grills. Recent improvements to the park have been made with funding from a Parks and Recreation Development (PARD) grant from the State. In 2016, more funding was approved for Fuller Park through the Capital Project Sales Tax. This ordinance allots $350,000 to the development of a splash pad and playground equipment. $133,979 was also allotted to add restroom facilities to the park. The City also has future plans to add an outdoor amphitheater on the park’s property.

• Jack Phillips Park is located at 17 Galilee Road and offers a wooded setting for picnics with several benches and picnic tables available to use.

• Kilkenny Park is located at the corner of Jackson Street and Wellington Road. This park is the city’s newest park and features ADA accessible picnic tables, as well as benches, and grills. This park also offers access to Lake Edgar Brown. The city received funding from a PARD grant for $23,000, which was used for grading, landscaping, tables, trash cans, and signs. The park also features a sign, which details the history surrounding the name of the park. The City also has plans to add a restroom facility to this park.

• Lemon Park is a 16 acre sports complex located at 123 Park Street. The complex features 4 200-foot fields arranged in a clover leaf pattern, which surrounds a press box, 1 300- foot baseball field with a press box, a tee-ball field, a multi-purpose field, a concession stand, 2 playgrounds, and a figure 8 walking track.

The City also has future plans for a recreational facility to house 4 basketball courts/sports courts for indoor use.

Lake Edgar Brown is another resource that offers many recreation opportunities to Barnwell residents. This 96-acre lake is owned and maintained by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. During the 1960s, the lake was created by impounding Turkey Creek and is managed for recreational fishing. There is a parking area with a fishing pier located off Jackson Street, which provides citizens with more access to the lake. There is also a boat ramp located off Wellington road as well as a walking trail that runs along the lake. There is also another fishing pier located across from the boat ramp, which provides more fishing access for citizens.

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The community also has access to Sweetwater Country Club, an 18-hole golf course located approximately 1 mile outside of city limits. This course offers recreation opportunities for Barnwell residents and also attracts golfers from other areas as well. Sweetwater Country Club hosts golf tournaments throughout the year and serves as the home course for the Barnwell High School golf team.

Just 6 miles outside of city limits, Barnwell residents can enjoy the recreation amenities at Barnwell State Park. This state park is 307 acres and consists of 3 small lakes, a community building, 4 picnic shelters, 5 park cabins, 25 campsites, and a walking trail. The park also hosts multiple events throughout the year. The park is open every day of the week, is pet friendly in most areas, and has WiFi.

B. NEEDS AND GOALS

The Community Facilities Element of the Comprehensive Plan focuses on the facilities that contribute to the success and quality of life of a community. Improving a community’s facilities can be one of the most important methods of promoting growth and development in an area. However, improving community facilities can be difficult at times due to the high costs typically involved. Throughout the planning process, a variety of new improvement projects have been suggested, all of which are important to the development of the City of Barnwell.

• The primary goal of the Community Facilities Element for the City of Barnwell is to continue improvements to the viability and the livability of the city by supporting efforts to strengthen the infrastructure and services available to the citizens and by offering new ideas to continue these improvements.

Other goals include:

• Maintain the quality of existing development and assure the quality and compatibility of future development.

• Provide for the convenient and sanitary disposal of solid waste.

• Provide reliable emergency, medical, fire, and police services.

• Promote improvement and expansion of education facilities and opportunities in the city.

• Promote improvement and expansion of recreation programs and facilities in the city.

• Provide adequate water service and wastewater treatment service to developing areas, consistent with the growth management goals of Barnwell.

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C. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

The implementation strategies for the proposed goals should begin immediately and continue until the suggested projects have been completed.

5.1. Seek State and Federal funding assistance to expand and improve infrastructure in the City of Barnwell, including funding for additions to the existing Fire Station or funding for a new Fire Station.

5.2. Expand and repair water and wastewater treatment services to allow for and encourage industry to locate in and near the City of Barnwell.

5.3. Work with the local school district to improve education needs to increase student success.

5.4. Promote the expansion of high-speed broadband internet services to citizens without access.

5.5. Continue to improve and maintain efficient emergency medical services in the City.

5.6. Promote the expansion of recreational opportunities in the City of Barnwell.

5.7. Continue to seek State and Federal funding for recreation projects throughout the City.

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Chapter Six: Housing Element

The Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan provides an overview of housing needs to accommodate the current and future population of the City of Barnwell. This element analyzes supply, owner/renter occupancy, affordability, condition, and characteristics of housing in the city. Housing characteristics are closely related to the economy of the area as housing values reflect some income characteristics of the population.

A. INVENTORY

Housing Supply and Conditions

Data from the U.S. Census show that the total number of housing units increased by approximately 10% between the years 1990 and 2000, and decreased by approximately 2.78% between the years 2000 and 2010.

Table 6.1: Number of Housing Units Units % Change 1990 2,094 2000 2,304 10.03% 2010 2,240 -2.78% Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Table 6.2 shows changes in vacant, owner-occupied, and renter-occupied housing from 2000 to 2010. There was a 13.75% increase in the number of vacant houses, a 14.75% decrease in owner-occupied housing, and an 11.4% increase in renter-occupied housing.

Table 6.2: City of Barnwell Housing Characteristics 2000 2010 Change 2000-2010 Total Housing Units 2,304 2,240 -2.78% Vacant Housing Units 269 306 13.75% Owner-Occupied Housing 1,272 1,084 -14.78% Renter-Occupied Housing 763 850 11.40% Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Table 6.3 shows the percentages of vacant, owner-occupied, and renter-occupied housing from 2000 and 2010, and an estimate for each category for 2017. The number of vacant households increased significantly from 11.7% to 25%. Since 2000, the percentage of owner-occupied housing has decreased from 55.2% to 38.5%. Renter-occupied housing has increased slightly since 2000, from 33.1% to 36.5%

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Table 6.3: City of Barnwell Housing Characteristic Rates 2000 2010 2017* Vacant Housing Unit Rate 11.7% 13.7% 25.0% Owner-Occupied Housing Rate 55.2% 48.4% 38.5% Renter-Occupied Housing Rate 33.1% 37.9% 36.5% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey Estimates*

Table 6.4 shows Census estimates of the distribution of values of owner-occupied housing in the City of Barnwell. The median value for housing is $98,600, with approximately 52% of households valued below $100,000.

Table 6.4: 2017 CoB Owner-Occupied Housing Value (Estimates) Units % of Total Less than $50,000 32 4% $50,000 to $99,999 402 48% $100,000 to $149,999 173 20% $150,000 to $199,999 181 21% $200,000 to $299,999 41 5% $300,000 to $499,999 16 2% $500,000 to $999,999 0 0% $1,000,000 or more 0 0% Median Value $98,600 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Table 6.5 compares the estimated median values of the City of Barnwell, Barnwell County, and the state of South Carolina. The median house value in the city is significantly higher than that of the county. However, the City of Barnwell’s median house value is significantly less than the median for South Carolina. Housing values significantly affect the revenue of local government and school districts attained from property taxes. Property taxes are ad valorem and are based on the fair market value if each property Lower property values equate to less revenue for the municipalities that reside in.

Table 6.5: Comparative Housing Values (2017 Estimates) Median House Value Median Rental Cost City of Barnwell $ 98,600.00 $ 626.00 Barnwell County $ 76,200.00 $ 603.00 South Carolina $ 148,600.00 $ 836.00 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

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Table 6.6 includes information about plumbing and kitchen facilities, vehicle availability, and heating fuel type. 2017 estimates show a slight increase in the number of owner-occupied homes that lack complete plumbing and kitchen facilities since 2010. The estimated number of households with no vehicle available increased from 13% to 14.5% from 2010 to 2017. Heating fuel sources changed slightly for households from 2010 to 2017. Estimates show an increase in the use of electricity as a fuel source for households, which increased from 58.4% in 2010 to 65.7% in 2017.

Table 6.6: City of Barnwell Housing Conditions (Estimates) 2010 2017 # of Units % of Units # of Units % of Units Lacking Complete Plumbing Facilities 354 14.5% 358 16.3% Lacking Complete Kitchen Facilities 332 13.6% 358 16.3% With No Vehicle Available 252 13.0% 239 14.5% Heating Fuel: Utility Gas 666 34.3% 540 32.8% Heating Fuel: Bottled/Tank/LP Gas 126 6.5% 17 1.0% Heating Fuel: Electricity 1,132 58.4% 1,081 65.7% Heating Fuel: Other 15 0.8% 7 0.4% No Heating Fuel 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 American Community Survey, 2013-2017 American Community Survey

Housing Characteristics

Estimates for the City of Barnwell show that 66.3% of households are family households, while 33.7% are non-family households. Since 2010, the number family households has increased from 60.5% to 66.3%. However, the number of married-couple families has decreased and the number of single-mother families has significantly increased. The average household size has increased slightly since 2010 from 2.47 to 2.69.

Table 6.7: City of Barnwell Households by Occupancy Type 2010 2017* # of Units % of Units # of Units % of Units Total Occupied households 1,939 1,645 Family households (families) 1,173 60.5% 1,090 66.3% Non-family households 766 39.5% 555 33.7% Married-couple families 814 42.0% 571 34.7% Female householder, no husband (family) 310 16.0% 487 29.6% Householder living alone 607 31.3% 489 29.7% Average household size 2.47 2.69 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates*

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Table 6.8: Estimates of Mobile Home Ownership by Occupancy Type Occupancy Type # of MH % of total Family (married) 27 38% Family (Male no wife) 0 0% Family (Female no husband) 41 57% Non-family 4 6% Owner-occupied Mobile Home Total 72 100% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey

Mobile homes are often purchased as an affordable alternative to stick-built homes. Mobile homes make up approximately 4% of all owner-occupied homes and approximately 8% of all housing units in the City of Barnwell. Single-mother families made up the majority of mobile home ownership (57%), while married-couple families had the second highest percentage of mobile home ownership (38%) in Barnwell.

Modular homes have also been used as an affordable alternative to stick-built homes. Modular homes are mostly constructed off site and are then shipped to their intended location. Unlike manufactured homes, modular homes typically use the same materials as stick-built homes and are affixed to a foundation. The South Carolina Modular Housing Institute (SCMHI) represents the modular industry in the State and is a resource for modular homebuyers.

Table 6.9 City of Barnwell Household Size # of Rooms 2010 2010 (%) 2017 2017 (%) 4 or less 664 27.3% 363 16.6% 5 to 7 1,495 61.4% 1,473 67.2% 8 or more 275 11.3% 357 16.3% Median 5.5 5.7 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

The Census Bureau measures housing size by the number of rooms a household has. Estimates from table 6.9 show that housing size has increased slightly since 2010. The percentage of households with 4 or less rooms decreased from 27.3% to 16.6%, households with 5 to 7 rooms increased from 61.4% to 67.2%, and households with 8 or more rooms increased from 11.3% to 16.3%.

B. NEEDS AND GOALS

The primary goal of the Housing Element is for the City of Barnwell to improve housing opportunities in a manner that will raise standards for new developments, protect the historical value of the community’s older residences and provide safer housing for those areas in which substandard housing currently exists. Other goals include: • Promote neighborhood enhancement programs such as volunteer days, park cleanups, and plantings.

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• Promote the construction of quality infill housing in vacant residential lots.

• Promote fair housing activities, especially during the month of April, which is national Fair Housing Month.

C. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGEIES

The following policies are offered to help the city encourage the objectives of the primary goal:

6.1. Enforce building standards: adopt and enforce zoning and land development standards for new development.

6.2. Maintain a building inspector/zoning administrator to enforce building standards, zoning and land development standards for new development.

6.3. Support agencies and businesses that seek to eliminate housing discrimination.

6.4. Pursue funding and tax incentives for housing construction, rehabilitation, vacant lot clearing, neighborhood beautification, and home ownership programs in low to moderate income neighborhoods in the City.

6.5. Encourage development of a variety of quality housing unit types and sizes to meet the varying needs of all families and their associated income levels.

6.6. Encourage programs and projects designed to preserve and enhance the character and integrity of existing residential neighborhoods and to preserve Barnwell’s historically significant structures.

6.7. Promote the rehabilitation of historic houses and assist quality developers with applications for federal and state incentives to purchase and rehabilitate deteriorating or substandard historic buildings for residential units or adaptive reuse.

6.8. Enforce building code standards to upgrade substandard housing units and to remove through due process non-repairable structures and to clear vacant lots. The city shall use condemnation proceedings only when rehabilitation is not feasible or if public safety is jeopardized.

6.9. Work toward eliminating the factors that degrade the neighborhood such as incompatible land uses, code violations, abandoned houses, and derelict cars.

6.10. Continue to support and enforce zoning policy that addresses the disposal of abandoned structures (mobile, manufactured, stick/foundation built).

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6.11. Provide incentives for first-time homeowners in Barnwell.

6.12. Support Safebuilts’ efforts to enforce existing code violations

6.13. Review and update, if necessary, City ordinances that concern derelict, dilapidated, and/or abandoned homes. Seek cooperation from appropriate regulatory and enforcement bodies to ensure enforcement of such ordinances.

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Chapter Seven: Land Use Element

The Land Use Element addresses existing development patterns, problems, and conflicts as well as future land use needs and controls. The Current Land Use map reflects the existing land use coverage of the City of Barnwell. This element identifies current land uses, presents needs and goals, as well as implementation strategies.

The Land Use Element is not intended to be a regulatory device, but rather to act as a policy tool to assist the city in the endeavor of growth management, taking into consideration the needs of property owners. An existing land use survey forms a basis for determining development problems and desirable and undesirable trends. It also serves as a guide for projecting desirable future land uses, based on community goals and objectives. This element identifies current and future land uses and presents needs and goals as well as implementation strategies.

A. INVENTORY

The City of Barnwell is approximately 8 square miles. Existing land use in the City of Barnwell includes the full range of urban uses including residential, commercial, public, agricultural, industrial, and vacant.

Residential Land Use

Residential land use primarily focuses on residential single-family housing, residential multifamily housing, as well as residential manufactured housing. Residential housing in the City is located primarily off of SC 64, SC 70, SC 3, and US 278. Residential development is dependent upon soil type and topography because these are primary factors that relate to the ability of the site to support development outside of floodplains that can render a portion of the site unusable. In the City of Barnwell, residences account for approximately 21% of the City’s land use with residential single-family accounting for 18.8%, residential multifamily accounting for 1.3% and residential manufactured homes accounting for 1.3%.

Commercial and Industrial Land Use

Commercial land use consists of real estate being used by for-profit businesses such as retailers, service stations, and restaurants among other things. Most businesses are located off major routes, with most businesses being located on SC 64. Commercial land use accounts for approximately 8.2% off the City’s total land use. Industrial land use includes warehouses, distribution facilities, petroleum products storage, junk yards and similar uses in addition to

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manufacturing plants. Industrial land use accounts for approximately 4.3% of the City’s total land use. Public and Semi-public Land Use

Existing public and semi-public land use in the City include the City Hall, Court House, County Offices, Library, Schools, Parks and Recreation facilities, and churches. Public land use represents approximately 8.1% of the City’s total land use. This type of land use can be broken down into three categories: Public Institutional (PUBI), which represents churches, schools, libraries, and cemeteries among other things, Public Administration (PUBA), which represents governmental type facilities, Public Recreation (PUBR), which represents parks, open space and recreational facilities available to citizens. Public Institutional represents approximately 4.2% of the City’s total acreage, Public Administration represents approximately 1.8% of the City’s total land use, and Public Recreation represents approximately 2.1% of the City’s total land use.

Agricultural and Vacant Land Use

There are some identified areas within the City comprised of either vacant land or land that is being used for agricultural purposes. The vacant land existing in Barnwell consists of both platted lots as well as vacant acreage. Agricultural land use comprises the majority of the City’s land use, with approximately 30.1% of its acreage. Vacant land accounts for approximately 27.9% of the City’s acreage.

Table 7.1: Current Land Use Category Count Acres % Agriculture (AGR) 39 1,409.81 30.10% Commercial (COM) 264 385.37 8.23% Industrial (IND) 10 199.87 4.27% Public Administration (PUBA) 27 82.60 1.76% Public Institution (PUBI) 53 195.72 4.18% Public Recreation (PUBR) 22 101.18 2.16% Residential Multifamily 68 62.69 1.34% Residential Manufactured Housing (RMH) 36 60.98 1.30% Residential Single Family (RSF) 1,499 878.82 18.76% Vacant 717 1307.12 27.91% Total 2,735 4,684.16 100%

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Figure 7.1: City of Barnwell Current Land Use

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Current Land Features

The City of Barnwell consists of developed land, forests, shrubland, grass, pastures, wetlands, cropland, and open water. Patterns of these land features have changed over time within the City. The table below shows the percentages of each land type for 2010 and 2019. The third column shows the percent change from 2010 to 2019. Since 2010, there has been a 20% increase in developed land in the City of Barnwell. The amount of forests, grass/pastures, and cropland has decreased by 33%, 75%, and 18%, respectively. The amount of wetlands within city limits has almost doubled within the last decade.

Table 7.2: Land Type Percentages Land Type 2010 2019 % Change Developed 32.5% 38.9% 20% Forest 29.6% 19.7% -33% Shrubland 0.1% 7.6% 7500% Grass/Pasture 15.0% 3.8% -75% Wetlands 9.2% 18.1% 97% Cropland 12.0% 9.9% -18% Open Water 1.7% 1.7% 0% Source: USDA

Land Development Constraints

Assuming that vacant property can be purchased at a reasonable price when a market for additional land development occurs, the topography of the land and current land features in these areas will be a consideration. Much of the existing land development in the City is characterized by narrow streets and inefficient lot layout. It may be worthwhile for the City to consider adopting land development regulations to set forth standards for street design and construction, as well as drainage and site design to guide new land developments for all types of land uses. Though the existing commercial areas are adequate, the City may wish to consider enlarging these areas to prepare for future expansion, given the recent economic development activities to attract industry, which will in turn attract new residents who will need to be supported by additional commercial enterprises.

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Figure 7.2: City of Barnwell Future Land Use

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Future Land Use

The City of Barnwell’s future land use patterns are reflected on the Future Land Use Map, which provides the foundation for this Comprehensive Plan. The Future Land Use Map indicates the intended distribution and intensity of land uses over the next 10 years to provide greater land use predictability and transparency, and to create a logical framework for future zoning and development.

The Future Land Use Map, like the Current Land Use Map, uses color-coded categories to express public policy on future land uses across the City. Its land use designations have been drawn based on existing and desired development patterns, streets, parcel lines, environmental features and other logical boundaries.

B. NEEDS AND GOALS

The inventory section of the Land Use Element focused on existing land use in the City of Barnwell. This section will project the achievements the city wishes to obtain based on the inventory of land uses presented and the other elements of the comprehensive plan.

➢ The primary goal of the Land Use Element is to develop, implement and enforce land use and development regulations in compliance with the city’s Zoning Ordinance. This will assure the quality and compatibility of future development, maintain the quality of existing development, and further develop the character of the city. Other goals developed from the objectives in this plan are listed below:

• Promote efficient land development that is compatible with adjacent land uses, is well integrated with the transportation system, and is sensitive to the natural environment.

• Promote the balance of conservation and development.

• Support innovative operations and facilities to encourage an appropriate balance of automobile use and to encourage energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources.

• Maintain and strengthen scale and character of existing development by avoiding land uses that are overwhelming and unacceptable due to their size and scale.

• Support innovative and varied approaches to development and provide for the coexistence of urban and rural land uses.

• Support economic development efforts and encourage the entry of new industry while assuring the quality and compatibility with neighboring areas.

• Support local and regional efforts in the comprehensive planning process.

• Improve the aesthetic appeal of the developed areas.

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• The compact character of the downtown central business district should be preserved.

• Industrial development should occur primarily in the northwest portion of the City, toward the airport, thereby severely limiting the expansion of light industry in the center of town.

• Commercial strip development along the radial arterial streets should be limited to compact nodes whenever possible to prevent encroachment onto residential uses on adjoining lots. The appearance of the existing strip commercial areas could be enhanced with corridor beautification efforts.

• Development of high-quality single and multi-family, low-density and medium-density, residential uses within the City should be encouraged, especially in the larger, multi-acre vacant land areas.

• The City should focus on redevelopment of empty commercial buildings and shopping centers, known as “grayfields.”

• Redevelopment is needed for some of the low-density areas, which could be used for recreational land use.

• Extended care facilities should be increased in number.

• Higher density areas should be assessed to ensure quality of life is maintained.

• Recreation areas should be increased in number, and some should be located close to residential areas.

• The large old houses in the City need to be preserved. Adaptive uses should continue to be allowed by permitting internal renovations to accommodate apartments, bed and breakfast establishments, or professional offices, while maintaining the stately exteriors.

• Manufactured home parks should continue to be made available.

C. IMPEMENTATION STRATEGIES

This section of the Land Use Element offers suggested policies for implementation of desired goals and objectives.

7.1 Maintain and continue to develop the downtown area.

7.2 Work with the Barnwell Development Association Beautification Committee and keep them apprised of any concerns the citizens may express to the City staff. 59

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7.3 Continue to enforce and update the City’s Zoning Ordinance.

7.4 Adopt land development regulations that guide the harmonious growth of the City.

7.5 Utilize vacant lots located in various zones throughout the city to ensure best use of land and allow easy access for citizens to make use of any such facilities.

7.6 Promote compatibility and gradual transitions between areas of different land uses and enhance desirable characteristics in mixed use areas by utilizing the planning and zoning process to create opportunities for new mixed-use development.

7.7 Encourage industrial development to occur in existing industrial areas.

7.8 Periodically evaluate changes in land use in the context of regional needs and overall welfare of the community impacted by new development.

7.9 Assign responsibility for maintaining proper updates of the City of Barnwell’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. Establish schedule and procedural methods for review of the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance.

7.10 Encourage and support techniques for the acquisition and maintenance of open space in the city.

7.11 Encourage residential development that provides opportunities for a variety of income levels.

7.12 Encourage appropriate mixed-use development within future planned communities. For example, retirement communities would not be expected to include employment generators other than local community services.

7.13 Encourage appropriate buffers to mitigate conflicting land uses.

7.14 Encourage high quality residential, commercial, and industrial land developments.

7.15 Encourage new development to preserve significant natural resources, historic resources, and scenic areas.

7.16 Discourage development within 100-year floodplains, areas with hydric soils, and other areas not suitable for development.

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Chapter Eight: Transportation Element

The Transportation Element was originally included in the Community Facilities chapter. However, transportation planning no longer focuses exclusively on the transportation infrastructure itself. This element focuses on the transportation system and how it facilitates the diverse needs and goals of a community. This includes major road improvements, new road construction, and pedestrian and bicycle projects among other things.

The Transportation Element lays out the current transportation system used in the City of Barnwell and works as a strategic plan to improve and maintain a multi-modal transportation network that functions as a primary component of the Comprehensive Plan. The transportation system must take into consideration land use and growth patterns, commercial activity, economic development, quality of life imperatives, and the needs of special populations. Creative handling of the transportation/land use connection can provide a balanced transportation system that makes it both convenient and efficient for people traveling throughout the community. This element describes the existing condition of the transportation network, and sets forth policies and objectives, which integrate the network functionally with the Land Use Map of the Comprehensive Plan.

A. BACKGROUND AND INVENTORY

The Transportation Element provides the City of Barnwell with the planning tools and resources to help guide development of multi-modal transportation infrastructure that best serves the needs of the community. In Barnwell County, transportation planning is a combined effort of the County, adjacent counties and municipalities, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), and the Lower Savannah Council of Governments (LSCOG), which is the rural transportation planning organization for the region as designated by the SCDOT. Together, these agencies analyze the short and long-range transportation needs of the region and offer a public forum for transportation decision making. The LSCOG prepares a five year plan which is included in the SCDOT Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The SCDOT is responsible for transportation planning for federal and state highways. Its focus is on providing statewide regional networks of transportation. Plans from SCDOT allocate federal and state funds toward projects. The SCDOT Commission determines the funding priorities for the federal-aid program following each new federal highway bill and annual appropriations act which includes the funding level allocated to the LSCOG for rural transportation planning functions. Since the mid-1990s, the allocation between urban and rural federal-aid funds for MPOs and COGs, called Guideshare, has been based on study area population.

There are many ongoing planning efforts associated with the LSCOG that focuses on rural regional transportation improvements. Three primary documents encompasses the regional transportation efforts:

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1. The Rural Planning Work Program (RPWP) lists the transportation tasks to be performed by the LSCOG planning staff on an annual basis

2. The Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is used as a guide for region plans to invest in the transportation system over a 25 year period. The plan includes environmental, social, and intermodal considerations. The vision of the LRTP is guided by estimated available financial resources. The LRTP was adopted in 2005 and must be updated every five years to reflect changing conditions. The plan was most recently updated in 2015 and is currently going through an update, expected to be completed in 2020.

3. The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a short-range five year capital improvement program prioritizing projects for federal funding. The current program spans from fiscal years 2017-2022. A project must have available funding and be included in the LRTP to be included in the TIP.

Functional Class Definitions

Interstates: Roadways that serve high-speed and high volume regional traffic. Access to a freeway is limited to grade separated interchanges with mainline traffic signals (e.g., I-20).

Principal Arterials: Roadways that serve high-volume traffic over long distances. Access is highly controlled with a limited number of intersections, medians with infrequent openings, and no direct parcel access. Adjacent land uses are served by other network roadways, service roads and inter-parcel connections (e.g., US-78).

Minor Arterials: Roadways that serve high-volume traffic over medium distances. Access is restricted through prescribed distances between intersections, use of medians, and no or limited direct parcel access (e.g., US-278).

Collectors: Roadways that serve as links between local access facilities and arterial facilities over medium to long distances, outside of or adjacent to subdivision developments. Collectors are managed to maximize the safe operation of through-movements and to distribute traffic to local access.

Locals: Roadways that provide direct parcel access and deliver parcel generated trips to the collector network; neighborhood streets.

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Map 8.1: City of Barnwell Functional Classification

Transportation and Land Use

In the City of Barnwell, approximately 97% of workers age 16 and over in the labor force drive to work. Approximately 83.4% of workers drive alone, while 13.6% car pool. Walking is used by

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approximately 2.1% of workers, while public transportation to work is used by approximately 0.4% of workers. Overall, driving is the most common way individuals get to work, and most individuals who drive to work drive alone.

Figure 8.1: Transportation to Work (2018 Estimates) Frequency Percentage Drove Alone 1,339 83.4% Car Pooled 218 13.6% Public Trans. 6 0.4% Bicycle 0 0.0% Walked 34 2.1% Work from Home 10 0.6% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Table 8.2 shows the 2018 estimates of travel times for individuals going to work. Approximately 48.7% of workers travel less than 15 minutes to work. Approximately 23% of workers left their house between 7:00am and 8:00am.

Figure 8.2: Travel Time to Work (2018 Estimates) Percentage Less than 15 minutes 48.7% 15 to 29 minutes 24.5% 30 to 44 minutes 15.3% 45 to 59 minutes 7.8% 60 minutes or more 3.8% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Land use patterns affect transportation infrastructure requirements and increase transportation costs. Suburban sprawl and inefficient land use increases environmental degradation by reducing air quality and increasing habitat destruction. It also increases resources consumed including fuel wasted from traffic congestion and time spent in traffic instead of more productive activities. As residential developments and commercial businesses expand out beyond the urban periphery, transit dependent populations become more limited in their employment choices.

Current and Future Transportation Considerations

The relationship between transportation and land use is significantly influenced by local population. Population growth in areas where current transportation infrastructure is inadequate adds significantly to travel times. Alleviating potential traffic woes requires identifying existing traffic problem areas, while looking at future population projections and identifying potential long-range road improvement projects.

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Map 8.2: City of Barnwell 2019 Traffic Counts

City of Barnwell 2019 Traffic Counts

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One way to monitor traffic volume is with traffic counts. Traffic counts measure the average daily traffic (ADT) on a roadway. Knowing the traffic volume is important for transportation planning because of the impact that traffic and road networks have on the community. The map above shows traffic counts provided by South Carolina Department of Transportation for the City of Barnwell.

Traffic volumes are especially important when planning for future growth and development. Businesses may be attracted to areas with high rates of traffic. However, high volumes of traffic can cause problems when roadways become congested. Traffic congestion can deter businesses, reduce air quality when cars are on roads longer, decrease productivity, and inconvenience residents living in the area among other things. Determining which roads have issues with traffic congestion is an important element of transportation planning.

Table 8.3 shows the average daily traffic counts for 8 major routes that run through the City of Barnwell. The road section with the most traffic in Barnwell runs from Dunbarton Boulevard to Allen Street. This Road section has an annual average daily traffic (AADT) count of 16,500 vehicles. The second busiest route runs from Barwick Road to Ellenton Street. Other prominent roadways in Barnwell have an AADT of less than 2,000 vehicles.

Table 8.3: 2019 Average Daily Traffic Counts for the City of Barnwell Est. Station Route Route Location AADT 120 US 278 SC 64 (DUNBARTON BLVD) TO SC 70 (ALLEN ST), S- 11, S-235 16,500 119 US 278 SC 37 (HWY 37) TO SC 64 (DUNBARTON BLVD) 6,600 121 US 278 SC 70 (ALLEN ST), S- 11, S- 235 TO SC 3 (MARLBORO AVE) 2,400 123 US 278 SC 3 (MARLBORO AVE) TO S- 499 (SEAY ST) 7,500 125 US 278 S- 499 (SEAY ST) TO SC 300 (HWY 300) 7,300 131 SC 3 US 278 (JACKSON ST) TO SC 70 (ALLEN ST) 4,200 133 SC 3 SC 70 (ALLEN ST) TO S- 156 (CALHOUN ST) 3,900 162 SC 64 S- 555 (BARWICK RD) TO US 278 (ELLENTON ST) 12,300 Source: South Carolina Department of Transportation

One way to determine if roads need improvement is by measuring their Level of Service (LOS). LOS ranges from A to F depending on the particular road and traffic counts. An LOS of A signifies that desired speed and movements are virtually unaffected by the presence of other vehicles and constrained only by the geometric features of the roadway and driver preferences. An LOS of E signifies the road is operating near maximum capacity and that traffic flows at about 30 mph. An LOS of F means that traffic flows in a stop and go fashion because of capacity

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inadequacies. This measure is typical within densely developed urban areas along freeways. When this condition occurs there are a number of alternatives:

• Widen the road to carry more traffic. • Build other new roads to better distribute traffic in the area. • Discourage increasing per capita automobile travel while encouraging the use of transit or carpooling (historically not feasible or successful in rural areas). • Promoting and facilitating bicycling and walking as a viable means of transportation. • A combination of the above.

Currently congestion does not present a significant problem for the transportation network in the City of Barnwell. However, that does not mean that in the future this issue could arise. Based on the traffic volumes for the routes throughout the City of Barnwell, the LOS for the transportation system is an A to B, which is a range from a completely free-flow condition to free flowing with some influence by others.

Roads

As in all predominantly rural areas of the State, the City of Barnwell’s system of roads and highways provides the main mode of transportation. Currently, all surfaced roads and highways

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within the City are maintained by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). The County maintains the unpaved public roads. Primary north-south access to the City is provided by US Highway 278, as well as by SC Highway 3 from the north. East-west movement is primarily by SC Highway 64 and SC Highway 70. US 78 is a major arterial that has been designated the second corridor priority in the Statewide Multimodal plan developed by SCDOT, primarily due to its port access (Charleston), access to intermodal and economic facilities, evacuation route importance, and its Heritage Corridor designation along with other criteria.

Interstate

The City of Barnwell lies approximately equidistant from four interstates: I-520, I-20, I-26, and I- 95. I-520 is the closest interstate to the City at approximately 40 miles and 46 minutes from the City center. I-26 is the second closest interstate at approximately 43 miles and 59 minutes away. I-20 is located approximately 49 miles and 60 minutes away, while I-95 is located approximately 50 miles and 57 minutes from the City center.

Distance from City Center Distance from City Center Interstate (Miles) (Minutes) I-520 40.2 46 I-26 43.3 59 I-20 48.9 60 I-95 50.2 57

Air

The Barnwell Regional Airport is located at 155 Airport Road in Barnwell. This airport was originally constructed in 1942 by the U.S. Army Corps as a training base during World War II. Currently, this airport serves corporate and recreational flights, as well as flights for medical shipments and training. Barnwell Regional Airport has two active asphalt runways. The first runway measures 5,119’x100’ and the second runway measures 5,255’x75’. The City of Barnwell also has access to two commercial airports: Augusta Regional Airport and Columbia Metropolitan Airport. The Augusta Regional Airport, approximately 55 minutes away, offers daily flights through Delta to Atlanta and daily flights through American Airlines to Charlotte and Dallas. Columbia Metropolitan Airport, approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes away from the city center, provides flights to many locations on the eastern half of the United States through Delta, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

Public Transportation/Transit

Local Motion, Barnwell County's Public Transit System, operated by Generations Unlimited offers demand response transportation services for all communities in Barnwell County. Rides are provided to and from medical appointments, employment, training, shopping

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and more. The transportation service operates from 3:00 a.m. until midnight, Monday through Saturday.

Biking/Walking Provisions should be considered for biking and walking, which are alternative modes of transportation. Infrastructure to accommodate both modes could include additional sidewalks, bike lanes, wider shoulders, trails, pedestrian crosswalks with ADA compliant ramps and tactile pads, signage, etc. A multimodal approach to transportation planning is important when it comes to reaching the needs of all citizens. Biking and walking may be the only option for some citizens of the community, and it is imperative that the City of Barnwell be mindful of this transportation option. The City of Barnwell published a Bicycle and Walk Friendly Community Action Plan in August of 2012. Bicycle and pedestrian transportation projects within the City should align with the recommendations set out in this plan.

Rail Access

The City of Barnwell has rail access through CSX in several locations. The first rail line runs along the Savannah River, throughout the bottom of the county. This rail line branches off northeast for approximately 12 miles toward Snelling. Another CSX rail line runs north to south just east of Barnwell County. Rail access to this track is available through Amtrak in Denmark, approximately 14 miles from Barnwell’s city center.

Map 8.3: Railway Systems in South Carolina

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Source: South Carolina Department of Transportation

Sea Ports

The Port of Savannah and the Port of Charleston are the two closest sea ports to Barnwell. These ports are two of the largest ports in the United States in terms of import and export value. Currently, the Port of Charleston has 5 public terminals, which handle containers, vehicles, rolling stock, and non-containerized goods among other things. It also serves as a port for cruise ships. The Port of Savannah is operated by the Georgia Ports Authority and is the largest single container terminal in North America.

Other Transportation Initiatives

The SCDOT “C” Program is a partnership between SCDOT and the 46 counties of South Carolina to fund improvements on state roads, county roads, city streets, and other local transportation projects. The “C” funds are derived from 2.66 cents per gallon of the state gasoline tax. These funds are distributed to each of the 46 counties based on a three part formula. The formula allocates one-third of the “C” funds based on the ratio of the land area of the county to the land area of the state, one-third based on the ratio of the county population to the state population, and one-third based on the rural road mileage in the county to the rural road

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mileage in the state. By law, each county is responsible for establishing a County Transportation Committee (CTC) appointed by the County’s Legislative Delegation. The number of members on the committee can vary from county to county. The CTC is entrusted with the authority to select and approve projects to be funded utilizing “C” funds.

The Barnwell County “C” Program apportionment of funds for fiscal year 2019-2020 was $1,050,900. This amount is based on the following:

County Area Population Rural Roads Apportionment Sq. Miles Percent Number Percent Miles Percent Percent Amount Barnwell 549 1.82 22,621 0.49% 624 .96% 1.09% 1,050,900

The total amount of “C” funds for the State of South Carolina was $96,480,700.

Table 8.4 below shows a list of the active and scheduled C-Fund projects for Barnwell County.

Table 8.4: Barnwell County C-Fund Projects (Active and Scheduled as of 3-2020)

Active Projects Location ACTIVITY/PHASE ESTIMATE $ Jewel Ln (.26), Roy & Holms St (.25) DESIGN $65,000.00 Sanders Ln, & White Oak (.74) CONSTRUCTION $55,000.00 Lunar Lane (.85 mi) CONSTRUCTION $925,000.00 (2019-11-005) Saddlebrook rocking CONSTRUCTION $58,000.00 Dicks Street PAVING $40,000.00

Scheduled Projects Location ACTIVITY/PHASE ESTIMATE $ OLD JACK ROAD DESIGN $45,000.00

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WOODCREST SUBDIVISION DESIGN $45,000.00 SANDY HOOK ROAD DESIGN $55,000.00 BALIN, THOROUGHBRED, & TRUCKER DESIGN $75,000.00 WILLOW CREEK CIRCLE DESIGN $55,000.00

Complete Streets

In the past, transportation planning has been largely focused on the transportation needs of automobiles. However, planning that solely focuses on automobile transportation excludes other modes of transportation including walking and cycling. The Complete Street initiative takes all modes of transportation into consideration in the planning process. This includes items such as sidewalks, bike lanes or shoulders, bus lanes, transit stops, crosswalks, median refuges, curb extensions, appropriate landscaping, and other features that add to the accessibility and utilization of multiple forms of transportation.

Transportation planning that only focuses on automobile needs, may lead to areas that are unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians who may be unable to travel by vehicle, or who choose to walk or cycle for exercise. Utilizing multiple methods of transportation can also reduce traffic congestion in certain areas. Overall, Complete Streets create a transportation system that offers more opportunities to meet the current and future needs of communities.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) supports the Complete Streets concept. In February 2003, the SCDOT Commission approved a resolution affirming that bicycling and walking accommodations should be a routine part of the Department’s planning, design, construction, and operating activities and will be included in the everyday operations of its transportation system. Multimodal transportation projects, which include bicycle and pedestrian projects should align with recommendations from the City’s current Bicycle and Walk Friendly Community Action Plan.

Safe Routes to School

South Carolina is the only state in which the State Department of Education owns, operates, and maintains the fleet of school buses that service all South Carolina public schools. This bus service is not required to provide pick up or drop off to students living within a 1.5 mile radius of their school. For students living within this 1.5 mile radius who walk and bike to school with non-existent or inadequate facilities, such as sidewalks or bike lanes, getting to school can be unsafe.

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a growing movement across the United States that brings together parents, schools, and community leaders to encourage students, including those with

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disabilities, to walk and bike to school. SRTS activities and resources focus on improving walking and biking conditions around schools while building healthy habits and safety skills.

B. NEEDS AND GOALS

The transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan highlights the transportation network and services that provide mobility to residents. Improving the road network can be one of the most difficult undertakings because of the major expenses that can be associated with these types of projects.

o The primary goal for the City of Barnwell is to support a transportation system that is coordinated with land use patterns, community character, and promotes alternative modes of transportation with an acceptable level of service that supports economic development and maintains a high quality of life.

• Assure a safe, functional, and efficient transportation network that serves the needs of the residents, businesses, agriculture, and industry.

• Support and promote the opportunity for transit services in the city and county.

C. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

The implementation strategies for the proposed goals should begin immediately and continue until the suggested projects have been completed. The following policy suggestions are offered to City Council to implement these goals:

8.1. Seek Federal and State funding assistance to expand and improve transportation services in the City of Barnwell.

8.2. Improve communication efforts between the SCDOT District Maintenance Office and City Administration. Request notification from the District Office when improvements are planned (e.g. tree trimming, repaving, etc.).

8.3. Focus efforts on establishing a freight route to the Port of Charleston and other intermodal facilities, particularly if the Barnwell Industrial Park becomes a Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

8.4. Assist local transit operators in promotion of transit services for citizens.

8.5. Support a multimodal approach when planning for improvements to the transportation system.

8.6. Reference the City’s Bicycle and Walk Friendly Community Action Plan for all pedestrian and bicycle related transportation projects.

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Chapter Nine: Priority Investment Element

A. OVERVIEW

In 2007, the South Carolina Priority Investment Act (PIA) was signed into law by Governor Sanford. This Act is an amendment to the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994 and adds two new elements to the comprehensive planning process. The two new elements added in this act include the Transportation Element and the Priority Investment Element. The Act seeks to improve the planning and coordination of public infrastructure decisions in a community.

The Priority Investment Element gets local governments to analyze available public funding for public infrastructure and facilities, such as water, sewer, roads, and schools, over the next ten years and to recommend projects for expenditures of those funds for needed public infrastructure. The PIA Act also requires coordination with relevant jurisdictions and agencies, such as counties, municipalities, public service districts, school districts, public and private utilities, transportation agencies, and other public entities that are affected by or have planning authority over the public project. According to the Act, coordination means “written notification by the local planning commission or its staff to adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies of the proposed projects and the opportunity for adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies to provide comment to the planning commission or its staff concerning the proposed projects.”

Process

To prepare the list of public infrastructure projects, city administration developed a prioritized list of capital improvements based on needs identified in the separate elements, as well as those including facilities needed to maintain existing service levels or repair/replace obsolete or worn out facilities. Projects on the capital improvements list should include facilities identified in other plans such as the Central Business Master Plan and other infrastructure needs assessments.

Capital Improvements Plan

The result of this process is a Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) with an outlook of ten years. Projects are listed by department, projected construction date, facility cost estimates, and where appropriate, annual operating expenses. Projected revenues are also shown. The projects in the 10-year CIP reflect the best efforts of the City to identify and prioritize future needs. The project listing in the CIP is intended for use as a tool to guide growth and does not necessarily mean the projects are approved or funded at the policymaking level. Further

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analysis, prioritization, and review of the projects may be necessary prior to the actual implementation of the capital projects.

Future analysis, prioritization and review should be completed with comments and/or participation from relevant agencies and jurisdictions, to include at a minimum Barnwell County, neighboring municipalities within Barnwell County, public service districts, school districts, public and private utilities, transportation agencies, Lower Savannah COG, and other public and private entities that may be affected by or are adjacent to proposed projects. In process – for example, the Fire Department may facilitate coordination with county and municipal fire departments, emergency management agencies, and other applicable entities prior to the upgrade of firefighting vehicles or equipment. It is important that regional coordination efforts be documented and any comments received be considered in the planning process. It is important to identify the appropriate coordinator for each project listed in the CIP.

Likely federal, state, and local funds available for public infrastructure and facilities during the next ten years include, but are not limited to:

• General Obligation Bonds • The County Transportation “C” funds Program • The Capital Sales Penny Tax • Community Development Block Grants, PARD, SCDOT, USDA, etc. • The HOME Program • The Rural Guideshare Program • EDA/Workforce Investment Funds

The strategies and implementation measures contained in this element are intended to work in concert with and support current County initiatives to ensure that these efforts continue in the future. Summaries of the focuses of the other Plan elements are listed below. 1. Population Element Identifies demographic trends to help guide policy decisions that will meet the needs of current and future residents. 2. Economic Development Element Includes strategies to balance business and employment growth with population growth. 3. Natural Resources Element and Cultural Resources Element Focuses on strategies to preserve, protect, and enhance the County’s significant natural and cultural resources that contribute to the quality of life of its residents. 4. Housing Element Includes strategies to ensure a sufficient supply of diverse, safe, and affordable housing types. 5. Transportation Element

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Identifies the locations and types of improvements planned for the County’s transportation systems for the next 20 years. The Transportation Element also references the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) completed by the LSCOG, and the County Transportation Committee (CTC) that coordinates the recommended transportation improvements with the underlying land use recommendations carried forward in this Plan and provides recommendations for allocation of state and federal funding as well as the local Penny Sales Tax Program. 6. Community Facilities Element Focuses on strategies to balance land use planning with the availability of public facilities and services. 7. Land Use Element Contains specific recommendations on the location, type, form, and intensity of growth that should occur in the County. The Land Use Element contains specific guidelines for each of these areas, which reference the provision of services appropriate to maintain and enhance their respective character. The character of the Rural Area has been identified in this Plan as a unique and valuable resource in the County. There are limited public facilities and services in the Rural Area. The Plan includes guidelines for preservation of agricultural and rural landscapes, and makes it clear that roads and services should be of a high quality while maintaining and enhancing the rural character. Strategies and implementation measures for the Rural Area focus on improvement of quality without significant expansion of capacity that may encourage more suburban style growth. Because of the need for frequent review and updates, the Capital Improvements Plan is a separate attachment to the Comprehensive Plan and will be used as an administrative tool, to be updated on an as-needed basis. However, there are several identified projects as part of the 2016 Capital Project Sales Tax Ordinance (2016 Penny Sales Tax). Those projects are listed in the following table.

Table 9.1: 2016 Capital Project Sales Tax Projects Allotted Funding Total Costs Public Safety Building (Phase I) $1,800,000 $2,192,724 Fuller Park Splash Pad and Playground Equipment $350,000 - Fuller Park Restrooms $133,979 - Sewer System Improvements $650,000 - Source: Barnwell County Ordinance 2016-8-333-O

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2020 Capital Projects

Capital Project Points ¯ Sewer Improvement area

City Limits

0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles

Esri, HERE, Garmin, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

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Other Priority Projects

The City has received a State grant for $350,000 to use towards renovations to the fire station. The City is planning to renovate the existing building and when more funding is available, will plan for new construction and additions to the Fire Station. There are also plans to build a new water shop building at the wastewater treatment plant to house all equipment. This project has an estimated cost of $250,000. In order to comply with SCDHEC’s Regulation 61-58.1, the City has plans to construct a new drinking water well. This addition will prevent the City from exceeding the limit of 16 hours of run time per day for their wells. Currently, the City is at 75% capacity for their water tanks. If capacity reaches 80%, SCDHEC will require the City to plan to build another water tank. The estimated cost for this project is $2,500,000. The City must also continue major repairs and upgrades to the existing sewer and water systems due to aging pipes. The City also has plans for several recreation projects which include:

• An outdoor amphitheater on the Fuller Park property • A recreational facility to house 4 basketball/sports courts for indoor use • Picnic shelter at Darnell Park • Restrooms at Kilkenny Park and Collins Park

B. NEEDS AND GOALS

The primary goal for this element should be to sustain an infrastructure system that enhances economic development, promotes regionalism, and improves quality of life. Improvement of system delivery and performance should be a high priority while preparing a Capital Improvements Plan.

Throughout the process of identifying projects and funding sources, city administration should consider the benefits of regional planning and seek to attain these three important goals: clearly defined and established authority, meaningful participation, and ongoing funding sources. Without these elements, efficient delivery of local and regional services will be difficult to obtain.

C. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

The Priority Investment Element prioritizes the actions for the City over the next five to ten years. The strategies contained in this Element together with the implementation initiatives that follow, are intended to lay the groundwork to meet the goals of this Plan. All of the strategies contain elements of the implementation initiatives. Those initiatives are explained in detail following the strategies listed below. Some of the strategies come from other elements of this Plan to be carried forward through implementation actions described in this element. Other strategies are aimed at interjurisdictional coordination and cooperation, which is another implementation

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action the City will take to meet the goals of this Comprehensive Plan. These implementation strategies will be reviewed a minimum of every five years and updated every ten years from the date of adoption of this Plan. 9.1. Notify adjacent and relevant jurisdiction and agencies on proposed projects for the water system, sewer system, roads, and schools.

9.2. Request written comments from adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and/or agencies prior to expending funds on projects that may directly or indirectly affect these jurisdictions and/or agencies.

9.3. Actively participate and provide comments on capital improvement plans and projects of adjacent and relevant jurisdictions.

9.4. Develop a funding strategy and explore financing mechanisms to pay the cost of capital improvements necessitated by new development.

9.5. Repair or replace obsolete or worn out facilities that are necessary to maintain existing levels of service.

9.6. Continue to plan and implement vital human services programs with adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and regulatory agencies. Examples of these programs include homeland security, emergency management and response, natural and manmade hazard mitigation, and law enforcement.

9.7. Establish a CIP coordination process with city administration, council, and planning commission to provide a cohesive effort in the planning of projects.

9.8. Consider user fees or impact fees for city services when appropriate and/or feasible. Survey similar sized municipalities to maintain compatible rates.

9.9. Promote the expansion of high-speed broadband internet services to citizens without access.

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City of Barnwell Implementation Strategies and Timeline

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Population Element Time Frame 1.1 Seek opportunities with local, state and federal officials to focus on economic and Mid-Long infrastructure improvements in the City of Barnwell specifically to increase industrial ● ○ ○ Term recruitment efforts and to promote advanced technologies. 1.2 Place a high priority on projects and programs that generate and attract employment, Short Term improvements, or investments that are consistent with the policies of the City of ● ○ Barnwell Comprehensive Plan. 1.3 Continue programs and initiate new projects in the city center that will improve the Short Term aesthetics of the city, increase community pride, and attract more visitors and ○ ● development to Barnwell. 1.4 Strive to retain the best and the brightest of the community by focusing on technology Ongoing education, adult education, emphasis of work ethics in the educational system, and ● ○ partnering with local businesses in a school-to-work program. 1.5 Continue to support and promote cultural efforts and work towards eliminating Ongoing language and cultural barriers in order to develop a recognizable and unique character

that will instill pride in its citizens as well as attract tourists and potential residents of ● ○ varied ethnic backgrounds. 1.6 Improve efforts to increase the availability of affordable and workforce rental housing Short Term and provide incentives to developers to build a wider variety of housing types that ● ○ include workforce housing and retirement and assisted living housing.

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Economic Element Time Frame 2.1 Place a high priority on projects that will generate and attract private sector Ongoing employment, improvements, or investments that are consistent with the policies of the ● ○ ○ comprehensive plan.

2.2 Strive to attract clean, safe, and high paying industries to the city. ○ ● Ongoing 2.3 Establish and support a close working relationship between the city, county, regional Ongoing and state economic developers, and area education providers. ● ○

2.4 Continue to support and encourage infrastructure improvements that will improve Mid-Long quality of life and attract new businesses and industries. ● ○ ○ Term 2.5 Nurture existing businesses as well as provide incentives for new businesses by Short Term communication of local events and activities. ● ○

2.6 Encourage tourism by promoting the city’s assets through marketing campaigns. ○ ○ ● Short Term 2.7 Continue to promote and support the improvement of local schools that will encourage Ongoing a well-trained and diversified workforce. ● ○

2.8 Encourage renovation and re-use of vacant industrial and commercial properties. ● ○ ○ ○ Short Term

Encourage the operation of small, independent businesses and promote and encourage Ongoing 2.9 residents to support local businesses. ● ○

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Economic Element Continued... Time Frame 2.10 Promote and encourage education and guidance opportunities, such as the Local Ongoing Entrepreneur Acceleration Program (LEAP), for new local business owners in the city. ● ○

2.11 Continue the implementation of relevant projects listed in the Barnwell Central Business Mid-Long District Master Plan. ● ○ Term

2.12 Promote initiatives to get a new grocery store in the City of Barnwell. ● ○ Short Term

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Natural Resources Element Time Frame 3.1 Continue to review and update the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance to better Ongoing ensure more compatible growth and development and the protection and preservation ○ ● of existing development.

3.2 Develop and adopt land development regulations that will ensure that natural resource Short-Mid preservation is included in all future development within the city. ● ○ Term 3.3 Minimize or stop the expansion of invasive species, especially aquatic plants, in Barnwell Ongoing through educational efforts. ○ ● 3.4 Promote the beautification of public areas of the city through landscaping and Ongoing maintenance of the land. ○ ● 3.5 Support and develop special recreational and outdoor activities through existing groups Short-Mid and through the development of new groups. ○ ● Term 3.6 Continue to comply with state and federal regulations as related to the management Ongoing and protection of floodplains and wetland areas. ● 3.7 Cooperate with South Carolina Department of Transportation to maintain clean Ongoing roadways and storm water systems. ○ ●

Work with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to create more Short Term 3.8 recreational opportunities at Lake Brown. ○ ●

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Natural Resources Element Continued... Time Frame 3.9 Support and encourage programs that take advantage of natural resources in the city Ongoing limits, such as Lake Brown. ● ○ ○

3.10 Create and implement innovative efforts to clean up and reduce litter within the city. ○ ○ ● Short Term

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Historic and Cultural Resources Element Time Frame

Continue to review and update the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance to ensure Ongoing 4.1 that land use compatibility is maintained and preserved. ○ ●

Develop and adopt land development regulations that will ensure that historic Short-Mid 4.2 preservation is considered in all future development within the city and that infill ● ○ Term development is compatible with existing development. Develop and adopt a historic preservation ordinance to ensure the preservation of Short Term 4.3 important historic properties. ●

Develop and adopt design standards for the central business district to maintain Short Term 4.4 integrity in historic downtown commercial structures. ● ○

Implement the recreational goals of the Central Business District Master Plan. Short-Mid

4.5 ○ ● Term Promote the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historic houses and commercial Short-Mid 4.6 buildings in the city. ○ ● Term

Provide incentives to purchase and rehabilitate deteriorating or substandard historic Short Term

4.7 buildings in the city. ● Work with the State Historic Preservation Office (SC Department of Archives and Short-Mid 4.8 History) to submit applications for eligible properties and districts to the National ○ ● Term Register of Historic Places.

Support the efforts of professional, fraternal, and cultural organizations to provide Ongoing 4.9 services and bring cultural events to the city. ○ ●

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Community Facilities Element Time Frame 5.1 Seek State and Federal funding assistance to expand and improve infrastructure in the Short Term City of Barnwell, including funding for additions to the existing Fire Station or funding for ● a new Fire Station. Expand and repair water and wastewater treatment services to allow for and encourage Mid-Long 5.2 industry to locate in and near the City of Barnwell. ● Term Work with the local school district to improve education needs to increase student Ongoing 5.3 success. ● ○

Promote the expansion of high-speed broadband internet services to citizens without Short Term 5.4 access. ● ○

5.5 Continue to improve and maintain efficient emergency medical services in the City. ○ ● Short Term

5.6 Promote the expansion of recreational opportunities in the City of Barnwell. ○ ● Short Term

5.7 Continue to seek State and Federal funding for recreation projects throughout the City. ○ ● Ongoing

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Housing Element Time Frame 6.1 Enforce building standards: adopt and enforce zoning and land development standards Ongoing for new development. ● ○

Maintain a building inspector/zoning administrator to enforce building standards, zoning Ongoing 6.2 and land development standards for new development. ●

6.3 Support agencies and businesses that seek to eliminate housing discrimination. ● ○ Ongoing 6.4 Pursue funding and tax incentives for housing construction, rehabilitation, vacant lot Short-Mid clearing, neighborhood beautification, and home ownership programs in low to ○ ● Term moderate income neighborhoods in the City. Encourage development of a variety of quality housing unit types and sizes to meet the Short-Mid 6.5 varying needs of all families and their associated income levels. ● ○ Term 6.6 Encourage programs and projects designed to preserve and enhance the character and Ongoing integrity of existing residential neighborhoods and to preserve Barnwell’s historically ● ○ ○ significant structures. 6.7 Promote the rehabilitation of historic houses and assist quality developers with Short -Mid applications for federal and state incentives to purchase and rehabilitate deteriorating ○ ● Term or substandard historic buildings for residential units or adaptive reuse.

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Housing Element Continued... Time Frame 6.8 Enforce building code standards to upgrade substandard housing units and to remove Ongoing through due process non-repairable structures and to clear vacant lots. The city shall use condemnation proceedings only when rehabilitation is not feasible or if public safety is ● ○ jeopardized.

6.9 Work toward eliminating the factors that degrade the neighborhood such as Ongoing incompatible land uses, code violations, abandoned houses, and derelict cars. ●

6.10 Continue to support and enforce zoning policy that addresses the disposal of abandoned Ongoing structures (mobile, manufactured, stick/foundation built). ● ○

6.11 Provide incentives for first-time homeowners in Barnwell. ○ ○ ● Short Term

6.12 Support Safebuilts’ efforts to enforce existing code violations ● ○ Ongoing 6.13 Review and update, if necessary, City ordinances that concern derelict, dilapidated, and/ Short Term or abandoned homes. Seek cooperation from appropriate regulatory and enforcement ● bodies to ensure enforcement of such ordinances.

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Land Use Element Time Frame

Maintain and continue to develop the downtown area. Short-Mid 7.1 ○ ● Term 7.2 Work with the Barnwell Development Association Beautification Committee and keep Ongoing them apprised of any concerns the citizens may express to the City staff. ● ○

7.3 Continue to enforce and update the City’s Zoning Ordinance. ● ○ Ongoing

Adopt land development regulations that guide the harmonious growth of the City. Short-Mid 7.4 ● ○ Term 7.5 Utilize vacant lots located in various zones throughout the city to ensure best use of land Short-Mid and allow easy access for citizens to make use of any such facilities. ● ○ Term 7.6 Promote compatibility and gradual transitions between areas of different land uses and Mid Term enhance desirable characteristics in mixed use areas by utilizing the planning and zoning ○ ● process to create opportunities for new mixed-use development.

7.7 Encourage industrial development to occur in existing industrial areas. ● ○ Ongoing 7.8 Periodically evaluate changes in land use in the context of regional needs and overall Ongoing welfare of the community impacted by new development. ○ ●

7.9 Assign responsibility for maintaining proper updates of the City of Barnwell’s Short Term Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. Establish schedule and procedural methods ● for review of the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance.

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Land Use Element Continued... Time Frame 7.10 Encourage and support techniques for the acquisition and maintenance of open space in Ongoing the city. ●

7.11 Encourage residential development that provides opportunities for a variety of income Short-Mid levels. ● ○ Term 7.12 Encourage appropriate mixed-use development within future planned communities. For Ongoing example, retirement communities would not be expected to include employment ● ○ generators other than local community services.

7.13 Encourage appropriate buffers to mitigate conflicting land uses. ● ○ Short Term

7.14 Encourage high-quality residential, commercial, and industrial land developments. ● ○ ○ Ongoing

Encourage new development to preserve significant natural resources, historic Ongoing 7.15 resources, and scenic areas. ● ○ 7.16 Discourage development within 100-year floodplains, areas with hydric soils, and other Ongoing areas not suitable for development. ● ○

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Transportation Element Time Frame 8.1 Seek Federal and State funding assistance to expand and improve transportation Ongoing services in the City of Barnwell. ●

8.2 Improve communication efforts between the SCDOT District Maintenance Office and Short Term City Administration. Request notification from the District Office when improvements ● are planned (e.g. tree trimming, repaving, etc.). 8.3 Focus efforts on establishing a freight route to the Port of Charleston and other Short-Mid intermodal facilities, particularly if the Barnwell Industrial Park becomes a Free Trade ● ○ Term Zone (FTZ).

8.4 Assist local transit operators in promotion of transit services for citizens. ● Short Term

Support a multimodal approach when planning for improvements to the transportation Ongoing 8.5 system. ● ○ Reference the City’s Bicycle and Walk Friendly Community Action Plan for all pedestrian Ongoing 8.6 and bicycle related transportation projects. ● ○

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Priority Investment Element Time Frame

9.1 Notify adjacent and relevant jurisdiction and agencies on proposed projects for the Ongoing water system, sewer system, roads, and schools. ● ○ 9.2 Request written comments from adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and/or agencies Ongoing prior to expending funds on projects that may directly or indirectly affect these ● ○ jurisdictions and/or agencies.

9.3 Actively participate and provide comments on capital improvement plans and projects Mid Term of adjacent and relevant jurisdictions. ● ○ 9.4 Develop a funding strategy and explore financing mechanisms to pay the cost of capital Short Term improvements necessitated by new development. ● 9.5 Repair or replace obsolete or worn out facilities that are necessary to maintain existing Long Term levels of service. ● 9.6 Continue to plan and implement vital human services programs with adjacent and Ongoing relevant jurisdictions and regulatory agencies. Examples of these programs include homeland security, emergency management and response, natural and manmade ● hazard mitigation, and law enforcement.

9.7 Establish a CIP coordination process with city administration, council, and planning Short Term commission to provide a cohesive effort in the planning of projects. ● ○

Consider user fees or impact fees for city services when appropriate and/or feasible. Short Term 9.8 Survey similar sized municipalities to maintain compatible rates. ●

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Priority Investment Element Continued... Time Frame

Promote the expansion of high-speed broadband internet services to citizens without Short Term 9.9 access. ● ○