The Growth Of Suburbs - Fort Mill, Sc

We all know the story of accelerated growth trends that significantly impact the area that experiences that growth. Determining whether the effects of this growth are positive or negative is up for debate most of the time, and more often than not, people are found arguing from both sides with compelling points of view. Well, that’s exactly what’s been happening in the city of Fort Mill, South Carolina, because these periods of accelerated growth are starting to affect the suburbs as well.

Yes, we know that suburbs experienced growth because of their proximity to major cities. However, when this growth impacts the way of life in these expected-to-be, peaceful environments, the residents aren’t particularly happy about it. So, how does this happen? What generates this acceleration, and what can the municipalities do about it?

These questions are on the minds of any small-town mayor. How do you balance the massive influx of new residents with the developments necessary to provide the quality of life they expect? It’s a struggle; that much is real, even in Mayor Larry Huntley’s situation. 

Population Growth in Fort Mill, South Carolina

When you get a town with a population of 4.9 K that reaches 24.8 K in two decades and jumps over 27 K during the following year, you have to make it work for everything that those residents need. The city of Fort Mill, South Carolina, was a small town located between the border with North Carolina and the Catawba River. A small town of only 4,900 residents that just happened to be located in close proximity to North Carolina’s Charlotte. 

With the explosion of the suburban lifestyle, many cities similar to Fort Mill went through the same thing. The residents of the larger cities relocated to the close, neighboring, and much smaller cities to get away from the chaotic lifestyle of the big city. Many did that for their families, seeking safer areas where their children could grow, get an education and live in a less hectic environment. But a side effect that many might have overlooked was the accelerated growth of these much smaller towns.

A town’s development is usually gradual. Happening over long periods of time at a more normal pace, but what has happened with the suburbs placed immense pressure on their development. We’re not talking here about the development of new residential areas, but about everything else required for a town to be able to maintain its functionality for its residents. This can be seen from their roads, access roads, parks, school systems, medical care, safety and protection of residents, basic necessities, economic growth, and everything else. All these things are difficult to develop sustainably if you don’t plan for them ahead of time, and many of these small towns didn’t actually have the chance to do that before they realized that their communities are exploding.

Planning for the Suburban Future

City planners have been around for decades, if not centuries. Their job is to make sure that the city's plan takes into account the needs of those living within that city. Countless communities in America and worldwide have been through this process and played the game. Some have won, some are still trying, but accelerated growth places a lot of stress on city planners. While Fort Mill, South Carolina, has struggled with the balance between the supply and demand of the city’s residents, many other suburbs in the area went through the same turmoil.

When it comes to city planning, the most important thing is being aware that you have to plan and also knowing exactly what you are planning for. In many of the cities, towns, and unincorporated areas in the York and Chester Counties, the population growth has placed severe pressure on infrastructures of any kind. When you think of the population growth that occurred in these cities, chances are that those new residents did not consider that their influx will place strain on water supplies, transport infrastructure, amenities, or the quality of life. After all, when you move to a new place, it isn’t your responsibility to ensure that the city’s electric supply can keep up with the demand. 

But that’s where the struggle came from. The influx was so great that the city planners struggled to implement the necessary changes to their systems. Fort Mill, South Carolina, came on top, but not without some tension between the new residents and the planners. The reason for that is, while newcomers want the city to maintain its bedroom community atmosphere, the municipality is aware that without implementing change in the city’s supply chain, the quality of life of these newcomers will be negatively impacted.

Managing Accelerated Growth like a Pro

Looking at how cities like Fort Mill, South Carolina, managed to respond to the growing demands in their community while maintaining their small-town living appeal should be a lesson for many other cities that find themselves in similar waters. The same can be said about Frisco, TX. While, currently, Fort Mill is the fastest growing city with at least 15,000 people in the country, they bypassed the taxation limitations imposed at the state level in South Carolina. These limitations implemented a tax cap to restrict the maximum amount for tax growth based on population growth and the consumer price index. However, in 2015, Fort Mill implemented development impact fees for residential construction. 

These development impact fees were implemented to supply the necessary funds for the city’s use and tear, for lack of a better word. The city’s ability to function at an accelerated growth rate means that all the services provided by the city must be equipped for the needs of the city’s residents. This means improved roads, education, fire stations, recreation facilities, and so much more. Because the state taxation system does not allow for an increase of taxes after that tax gap, this method came as a solution to Fort Mill’s problem. The development impact fees are a one-time fee collected when a building permit is issued. The calculation of these fees is based on an algorithm that considers every aspect of the new development. Some exemptions are in place for rebuilding, repairing, remodeling, or replacing projects for residential additions, neighborhood amenities, volunteer fire stations, schools, and affordable housing units. These fees cover the additional costs of the municipality for managing and maintaining the quality of life of their residents by implementing change where it is needed and upgrading what needs to be upgraded.

Conclusion

For cities like Fort Mill, South Carolina, implementing the steps necessary to maintain the quality of life of their residents, despite the accelerated growth the city experienced, wasn’t easy. However, they did manage to find the best way for their situation by using a method that bypassed the system in place. This method will sustain the city’s growth from a population number perspective and from an economic, business, amenities, educational point of view. Finding that balance hasn’t been easy, but things just started rolling in the right direction once they found it. The residents’ quality of life increased, the safety rating improved, and the education system, which was already a vital attraction of the city, managed to maintain and enhance their scores. 

If you find this city suitable for your family’s life, then don’t hesitate to contact real estate agents in Fort Mill SC. The accelerated growth impacted the city’s housing market, so turning to a professional for a potential real estate transaction might be in your best interest. With how the city is developing, many families will be drawn to it in the future. You don’t want to miss the best opportunities available from living in a city like Fort Mill, South Carolina.