ROADS REFERENDUM GETS CLOSER TO BALLOT
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GREENVILLEJOURNAL
City Council may hike property taxes
Friday, May 9, 2014 • Vol.16, No.18 • GREENVILLEJOURNAL.COM
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SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
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sjackson@communityjournals.com
– Greer City Limits in 2000 – Greer City Limits in 2014
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As the Upstate continues to be a desirable place to live, communities here continue to grow and urban sprawl continues to form. How do residents of these densely populated urban areas acquire the urban services they need? In most states, from the entity best suited to provide them: cities. But South Carolina’s annexation laws are among the strictest in the country, making it difficult to grow cities beyond their current borders. Cities exist because people living in close proximity need a higher level of police and fire protection, planning and zoning, building code enforcement, solid waste collection and the like, than is typically required by people . LVD who live in more rural, unincorporated areas. W. P NB OIN PTO M SET Elsewhere across the nation, state laws allow cities A H T ST DE A . W to automatically annex any adjacent property that W. meets an “urban density standard,” typically of at least 60 percent developed land and a popula. tion of at least 2.3 people per acre. RD K However, in South Carolina, the initiaE RE tive must come from the outside in. Here, says YC H US Mauldin City Administrator Trey Eubanks, propBR erty owners must spearhead the annexation and the city merely acts as a resource to the citizens so they can make an informed decision. “Someone has got to champion the cause and pursue it – to get the signatures on the petition and get it back to the city,” he said. Which is why the annexation successes of cities like Greer 5 – now casting covetous eyes on the newly announced Bass Pro TE 8 STA R E Shops site – gain the attention they do. INT
Symphony, Chorale make a heavenly marriage PAGE 35
Artisphere: Meet the locals on Artist Row
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ANNEXATION CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Growing a city
Profit and passion in the drive to make Greenville an arts destination
WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS AT GSP.
Cities like Greer and Mauldin have seen significant gains through annexation – and other communities in theTAKING UpstateSHAPE are paying attention SEE WHAT’S AT GSP.
FOR HOME DELIVERY CALL 864.679.1200 READ ONLINE AT GREENVILLE JOURNAL.COM
WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS AT GSP. $1.00
SEE WHAT’S TAKING SHAPE AT GSP.
WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS AT GSP. WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS AT GSP. SEE WHAT’S TAKING SHAPE AT GSP.
SEE WHAT’S TAKING SHAPE AT GSP. To learn more about the Terminal Improvement Program, visit elevatingtheupstate.com. To learn more about the Terminal Improvement Program, visit elevatingtheupstate.com. To learn more about the Terminal Improvement Program, visit elevatingtheupstate.com.