LANCASTER, S.C. — The Indian Land area of Lancaster County is one of the fastest growing communities in the Charlotte area.
Over the last decade, highway 521 has exploded with restaurants, businesses, retail stores and thousands of new homes.
County leaders have struggled to find a way to control the rapid growth. Now they're getting pressure from homeowners on a related issue. Many want to see new gas stations restricted in the area.
Janice Tacy moved into a brand new subdivision five years ago. She has spoken to county leaders about the rapid spread of convenience stores.
"I don't want to see any more gas stations down here," Tacy said. "You blink and now we have one at Wal-Mart. You blink again and we have the quick trip."
It is going up near Marvin road, north of where Tacy lives. When it opens, it will be the ninth gas station in the Indian Land area.
County council member Larry McCullough supports a proposal to restrict gas stations and convenience stores. County planners call it "conditional use" as part of an ordinance that was given to elected leaders on Monday night.
"I think it's a good first step looking toward the future," McCullough said.
The proposal requires that all new gas stations be built at intersections. They should be no closer than a half mile apart from each other, (unless they are at the same intersection at opposite corners). They must close from midnight to 5 a.m., if they border a residential area.
They must provide a buffer between neighboring homes, and restrict the locations of outside vacuums, air pumps, and car washes to protect neighbors from noise.
"I'm concerned with so many gas stations moving in, can they all be successful? And what if one or two of them are not? Then what?" McCullough said.
Jeff and Kimberly Galindo have issues with those restrictions if it deters new business from locating in the Indian land area.
They run Carolina country store on Highway 521. It was there before the building boom started.
They want to keep the door open to responsible growth.
"If it restricts business, I would have to say I'm against it, because with the traffic and the growth we've seen in this area, it's been a good thing for us," Jeff Galindo said.
Tacy however, is concerned that the traffic is getting so heavy, and the new construction so dense, lives are being put at risk.
She said some intersections are already nearly impassable during rush hour.
"I'm afraid someone is going to get killed there," she said. "We have to start somewhere, and this is a beginning."
The proposal would only impact highway 521 in Indian land, from highway 75 to the state line, and Highway 160 to the county line.
Councilman McCullough told Channel 9 he's hearing from residents.
"A lot of additional gas stations are going in, and they're raising concerns about how many? How close?" he said
Council was expected to hold a first reading on the issue Monday night. A final vote is likely several weeks away.
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
