LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — Lexington County is booming with residents and tourists and now Lexington County Council is looking to expand tourism but with some regulations.
On Tuesday night, Lexington County Council took another step towards approving an $80 million bond for the expansion of Riverbanks Zoo.
Council Chair, Beth Carrigg, says she believes the expansion of the zoo will benefit residents.
“I think that the orangutans and the ability to cross the river and have dining sitting right there on the river between Columbia and Lexington is a value you can't put a price tag on," Carrigg said.
Her fellow council member, Larry Brigham does not feel the same and was the only member of the council to vote no on the funding.
“You do the math on $8.01 per $100,000 value home, and you multiply it by 470,000 tax notices, you're looking at about $3.7 million just in one year of tax collection. I just think those funds could be better utilized for our public safety folks," Brigham explained.
If fully approved the $80 million from both Richland and Lexington counties would allow the zoo to fund their ‘Bridge to the Wild’ project that has been in discussion since 2019.
The project seeks to create a primate forest bridge, and a multipurpose facility on the Saluda River, upgrade the lion and tiger habitats, and expand the carousel plaza.
Lexington County would be responsible for paying $36 million out of the $80 million over the next 20 years, while Richland County would pay $44 million.
Now Council Chair Carrigg says the ball is in Richland County’s court.
“I mean it doesn't pass until we all vote... We can pass it but it sits idle until they decide what they're going to do with it," Carrigg says.
As Lexington County hopes to make the zoo’s expansion part of its growth, they are also closely monitoring tourism growth through short-term rental properties.
The county council is noticing homes in Lexington County are being purchased for the purpose of making them an Airbnb or VRBO rental space, and now they’re trying to pass an ordinance to make sure they can keep track of each home operating as a short-term rental.
“Under the current draft of the ordinance, we are requiring a permitting process where everyone, whether it's investment properties or it's homeowner properties where they rent out a room, everybody would have to obtain a permit through Lexington County," Carrigg explained.
The short-term rental ordinance passed a first reading Tuesday and will still have to go through a public hearing and two more readings before approval.
The next council meeting for Lexington will be Wednesday, November 1.