KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — Confusion and concern are mounting among Kershaw County residents over a newly proposed land use ordinance for the area surrounding Woodward Field Airport.
The county is in the early stages of updating its land use ordinance within the airport overlay district, a zoning area created to regulate land use and ensure compatibility with airport operations. However, the plan has raised questions about its potential impact on areas right around the airport.
The county said the change primarily focusing on preventing high-density developments from being located too close to the runway. But some are worried about their farmland and ranches where they keep their animals might also be affected, and change what they could be used for.
During a recent public meeting, residents expressed their frustrations.
“I’m also wondering why all of a sudden horses near the airport are a problem after all these years,” one resident said. Another added, “I believe in the airport overlay, but I don’t think it should take advantage of the situation and try to push the horse out.”
Jonathan Bazinet, another local, called the proposal, "my biggest concern first was it's a bit of a crazy idea, to eliminate all of the horses in hunt country.”
In response to the backlash, Kershaw County Administrator Danny Templar clarified that the proposal is still in its preliminary stages and is focused on balancing safety and property rights.
“There are some concerns, I think there are maybe some misunderstandings about what we’re trying to do,” Templar said. “It’s not this all-encompassing blob that takes away particular land use as it relates to private property for this project. This is again a compliance mechanism for the Aeronautics Commission and the FAA.”
Templar emphasized that the changes are to ensure safety for both residents and airport operations.
“I grew up in this area. I am very aware of the equine industry, the equine hobby in some cases, out there,"
The county administrator reassured residents that no plans exist to expand the airport’s runways and that the proposal will undergo several revisions before final approval.
“I would not recommend a plan coming from staff and again there's three other iterations of this process to go through. I do not intent to restrict anyone from having horses on Red Fox Road or chickens or things like that, again we're looking for safety not restriction. At the end of the day, I want to produce an overlay district that blends safety and preservation of the area's out there.”
The Kershaw County Planning Commission reviewed the proposal Monday night, made amendments, and forwarded it to the County Council for further consideration.
There is no date for when it will face county council.