The People Have Spoken—Will Leaders Listen?
If there’s one thing the first round of public feedback on Kershaw County’s Comprehensive Plan made clear, it’s this: the people are paying attention. And they’re not happy with what they see.
From equestrian land preservation to rapid housing developments, infrastructure failures to public safety concerns, the county’s residents have voiced their frustrations, concerns, and demands. The real question now? Will county leaders take this feedback seriously—or will this plan become another bureaucratic exercise in wishful thinking?
The Battle to Preserve Kershaw County’s Identity
One of the loudest messages in the public comments is a resounding call to protect the county’s equestrian heritage. The request for an Equine Overlay District came up repeatedly, with residents arguing that Kershaw County’s $30 million equine industry is too important to be left vulnerable to poor zoning decisions.
A particularly heated issue is the designation of Hunt Country as "Urban and Suburban." Residents were stunned that land preserved in trusts—land that should, by all logic, be classified as rural—is being eyed for future development. One commenter asked pointedly, “Why is Hunt Country not considered rural? How will there be growth in land that is preserved?”. That’s a great question—one that county officials have yet to answer.
Equally concerning is the plan’s wording that treats equestrian and agricultural land use as "conditional", subject to approval on a case-by-case basis. This opens the door for arbitrary rezoning, making residents understandably nervous about the future of their land.
The bottom line? The people of Kershaw County want stronger protections for their equestrian identity—not vague promises that could be easily ignored.
Unchecked Development: The Growth No One Asked For
Another major theme in the feedback? Rampant, poorly planned housing developments.
Residents expressed concern over “large, ugly housing developments going up everywhere”, often with no consideration for the infrastructure needed to support them. Many pointed to ongoing traffic congestion and strained public services as proof that growth is being prioritized over livability.
Even more alarming is the revelation that Charlotte is looking to pull more water from the Catawba Basin—a move that could have dire consequences for Kershaw County’s long-term water supply. Shouldn’t that be a bigger priority than squeezing in another cookie-cutter subdivision?
One resident put it bluntly: “If the county commission truly supports this plan, then it will abide by it and limit growth in undeveloped areas.” That’s the crux of the issue. A plan isn’t worth much if leaders refuse to follow it.
Where’s the Action? Where’s the Accountability?
Beyond the specifics of land use and development, there’s a larger frustration with the Comprehensive Plan’s vague and noncommittal language.
Several commenters pointed out that the document is riddled with aspirational fluff rather than concrete commitments. One particularly sharp critique? “There is a lot of aspirational language in the plan where there should be direct action verbs.” In other words, stop saying the county will “consider” changes—say it will do them.
And then there’s the $300,000 question—literally. A taxpayer expressed outrage that the county spent $300,000 on the Comprehensive Plan, yet key officials seemed unaware of major conservation efforts like the Mulberry Land Trust. As the commenter put it, “If I am paying this amount of money, I expect them to know this.”
Fair point. Shouldn’t the people drafting the plan actually understand the county they’re planning for?
So, What Happens Now?
The first round of feedback is in. The issues have been laid out, the frustrations voiced. Now, Kershaw County’s leaders have a choice:
Listen to the people and revise the plan accordingly.
Ignore the feedback and push forward with a plan that fails to address key concerns.
It’s really that simple.
The Comprehensive Plan isn’t just a bureaucratic document—it’s a roadmap for Kershaw County’s future. And right now, residents are making it clear that they want a future where:
Equestrian land is protected, not rezoned.
Development is controlled, not reckless.
Infrastructure is built before houses, not after.
Public officials are held accountable, not excused.
This is a defining moment for the county. The people have spoken. Now it’s time to see if their leaders are listening.
