Aiken County Comprehensive Plan
2024-2034 Update
Aiken County’s Comprehensive Plan provides a framework for how the County will change, through public and private investment, in the next two decades. The comprehensive planning process provide residents, property owners, merchants, industry, builders and developers a reasonable forecast of the county’s future. The plan is long-range and seeks to address the county’s future needs for housing, economic development, recreation and cultural resources, and transportation facilities. The plan seeks to balance the desire for growth and development with protection and preservation of the county’s unique natural resources.
If you are interested in learning more details about the 2024-2034 Comprehensive Plan, please contact us at planning@aikencountysc.gov.
Opportunities for Community Input
The Aiken County Planning Commission would like to hear from you regarding the future of Aiken County. The Commission is offering three ways to provide input.
Public Information Sessions. In January 2025, the Commission and county staff will conduct four public information meetings. The meetings will provide opportunities to review demographic, housing, economic, land use, and transportation information reflecting current conditions and future projections. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of county staff, and to provide comments for review by the Planning Commission. The location and times for each meeting are listed below:
Public Information Session #1
January 14, 2025, 6:00 pm - 8:00pm
Roy Warner Park
4287 Festival Trail Road, Wagener, SC 29164
Public Information Session #2 - Rescheduled due to weather
January 29, 2025, 6:00 pm - 8:00pm
Aiken Senior Life Services
1310 E Pine Log Rd, Aiken, SC 29803
Public Information Session #3
January 27, 2025, 6:00 pm - 8:00pm
Gregg Park Civic Center
1001 A Avenue, Graniteville, SC 29829
Public Information Session #4
January 28, 2025, 6:00 pm - 8:00pm
North Augusta Community Center
495 Brookside Ave, North Augusta, SC 29841
Interactive Map. Are you concerned about a specific roadway or intersection, do you have a suggestion for the next recreation park, or do you have an idea for protecting or improving your neighborhood? You can share your idea or concern and mark the location on a county map at:
Community Survey. Take the Community Survey Here.
Plan Information
Demographic & Economic Inventory Report
The demographic and economic inventory report summarizes the economic and market anchors and major public and private investments that could impact growth in Aiken County. An analysis of population, households, and employment trends of Aiken County was performed and compared to the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area (Augusta MSA).
Market Analysis Report
The real estate market analysis sections summarize Aiken County by providing a review of employment and real estate trends. The commercial real estate sectors analyzed include retail, office, hospitality, and industrial for Aiken County and the larger Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area (Augusta MSA). An overview of housing trends is also provided for the existing for-sale housing inventory and rental housing market. National trends in housing that could impact Aiken County will be described.
Expected by January 13, 2025.
Aiken County Transportation Planning
Transportation planning is the process of evaluating, designing, and implementing strategies to create efficient, safe, and sustainable transportation systems. Its primary purpose is to meet the mobility needs of individuals, businesses, and communities while addressing economic, social, and environmental objectives. By analyzing current and future transportation demands, planners develop policies, infrastructure, and services that enhance connectivity, reduce congestion, minimize environmental impact, and promote equitable access. Transportation planning also aims to integrate various modes of travel such as roads, public transit, cycling, and walking into a cohesive network that supports economic growth, improves quality of life, and ensures long-term sustainability.
ARTS 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan
The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) is the official multimodal transportation plan developed and adopted through the metropolitan transportation planning process for the Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) planning area. The current plan, entitled Future Mobility 2050, was adopted on September 3, 2020 by the ARTS Policy Committee. Development of the MTP is financed by a combination of federal highway and transit planning funds and state and local matching funds.
The ARTS MTP covers a 20- or 30-year planning horizon and is updated at least once every five (5) years. The MTP can be amended any time. The ARTS Policy Committee must approve any update or amendment to the MTP. Interested parties, including the general public, have an opportunity to review and comment on the MTP. The ARTS MTP was amended to extend the planning horizon to the year 2050. Projects must be included in the MTP before being placed in the ARTS Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
The ARTS MTP includes long-range and short-range strategies and actions that lead to the development of an integrated multimodal transportation system in the ARTS area. In addition, the MTP:
- identifies near term demand for passenger and goods movement;
- identifies Congestion Management System strategies;
- identifies pedestrian, walkway and bicycle facilities;
- assesses capital investment and other measures to preserve the existing transportation system;
- reflects a multimodal evaluation of the transportation, socioeconomic, environmental, and financial impact of the Transportation Plan;
- reflects consideration of local plans, goals and objectives;
- outlines, as appropriate, transportation enhancement activities; and,
- includes a financial plan demonstrating that the identified projects can be implemented using current and proposed revenue sources.
ARTS 2023 Bicycle and Pedestrian PlanIn 2003, the Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) completed its first comprehensive regional bicycle and pedestrian plan. These plans are typically updated once every decade, and in 2013, the ARTS MPO completed its first update. This 2023 document serves as the second update. Similar to the previous plans, this document focuses on program, policy, and infrastructure recommendations to continue improving the walking and bicycling environment in the two-state metropolitan area.
The ARTS Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan envisions a seamless network of safe and inviting bicycling and walking paths, trails, and on-street facilities, between South Carolina, and Georgia, and the four member counties, that equitably supports economic development, active transportation, healthy lifestyles, and improved quality of life for all ages and abilities of bicyclists and pedestrians in the region.
The Comprehensive Planning Process
Local governments are authorized, but not required, by the South Carolina Code to develop comprehensive plans. Local governments are not permitted to enforce zoning and land development regulations unless they adopt and maintain a Comprehensive Plan. Comprehensive Plans must be updated at least every 10 years. Comprehensive Plans must include the ten specific elements to comply with state code. Per state code, the comprehensive planning process is conducted by the Aiken County Planning Commission. The nine member commission exercises planning authority over the unincorporated areas of Aiken County, and the Town of Burnettown. The planning commission must conduct a continuous planning program for the physical, social and economic growth, development and redevelopment of Aiken County. Once complete the plan is presented to the Aiken County Council for review and adoption.
