Zoning

Why Zoning in Cherokee County?

In many areas across the country where development hit hard and fast, zoning, land management, and infrastructure planning had to become an afterthought. Corridors have had to be restructured to allow for the type of development that ended up locating where it did, homeowners displaced due to industry closing in around them without warning, and some residents have seen plummets in their home value due to adjacent industry settings.

Too much government oversight is never the intention; however, it is virtually impossible to facilitate responsible development within a county without a degree of government involvement. To date, Cherokee County is vastly undeveloped. If the process of zoning is to begin, now would be the most beneficial time for implementation. Currently, if any one property owner sells a parcel or parcels, there is nothing in place to restrict what happens next after this parcel is sold. In several cases, there is no issue with this model. Fifty years ago, there were no issues with this model. When an issue does arise with this model, however, the question is directed at the local government of why was nothing done to prevent this? This could be an industry generating tires situated beside a planned 500 home development situated beside a fifth-generation cattle farmer.

Cherokee County is comprised of approximately 400 square miles. Although not large in comparison, if developed appropriately, our county has the potential to house an abundance of industry, retail, housing, agriculture, recreation, tourism, historic landmarks, etc.

One goal of zoning and land management within Cherokee County is to identify which corridors are planned for the most economic development and what types of development will be housed within those corridors. This ensures sufficient long range and collaborative planning with all agencies involved in ensuring the infrastructure within these identified corridors will be addressed accordingly.

Additionally, overall organization of a county that is in the best interest of residents and industry can be preserved when zoning is instated prior to mass development.

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