{"id":3833,"date":"2018-02-28T13:59:36","date_gmt":"2018-02-28T18:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/?p=3833"},"modified":"2018-03-09T15:33:20","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T20:33:20","slug":"fight-over-future-of-indian-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/fight-over-future-of-indian-land\/","title":{"rendered":"Fight over future of Indian Land"},"content":{"rendered":"

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With booming revenue and population, the community of Indian Land will on incorporation.<\/p>\n

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Those opposing incorporation have dotted the side of roads with signs like this one.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 2″ show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.105″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/LawsonIndianLandW3-1.jpg” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 2″ _builder_version=”3.0.105″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Redstone shopping center is one of many new commercial developments in Indian land under construction.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 4″ show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.105″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/LawsonIndianLandW5.jpg” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 4″ _builder_version=”3.0.105″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Construction for Promenade shopping center begins along U.S. Highway 521 in Indian Land.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.105″ src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/LawsonIndianLandGraphic-1.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”News Story” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Over the past decade, a small community in the panhandle of Lancaster County, just opposite Charlotte on the Carolina border, became one of the fastest growing communities in the nation.<\/p>\n

Now the community of Indian Land, once home to members of the Catawba tribe, is trying to decide if it should become a town.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only have two of the seven representatives on the county council representing Indian Land,\u201d said Matt McCusker, the vice president of public affairs for Voters for a Town of Indian Land<\/a>. \u201cWe do not elect five of the seven people that represents us. That has allowed them to approve any developments in the area because it helps their community and they don\u2019t have to deal with it in Indian Land.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of those developments include multiple shopping centers across U.S. Highway 521, subdivisions and the Del Webb retirement community, Sun City at Carolina Lakes.<\/p>\n

Revenue and growth that came with development are big factors in why the process of incorporation began a few years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cIncorporations in South Carolina do not frequently occur,\u201d said Jeff Shacker, the region\u2019s field services manager for the Municipal Association of South Carolina. \u201cIt\u2019s a local decision that is most often considered when a community needs more public services to cater to an urban area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Incorporation would solve the problem of representation, according to the municipal association.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe benefits of incorporation are pretty clear. There would be a closer form of representation with an elected mayor and city council,\u201d Shacker said. \u201cMunicipal government is better for things like planning, zoning and public services.\u201d<\/p>\n

Construction for shopping centers and housing developments has become normal in the area over the past few years. This is why planning and zoning is a critical push for those who want to incorporate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever someone wants to come in a develop, the county gives it to them,\u201d McCusker said. \u201cWe just want to have a bigger say in the planning and zoning. The growth is here and will continue to come, we just want to control it.\u201d<\/p>\n

While representation and managing of the growth of the area are critical to those who favor incorporation, an important issue for those who oppose is the financial downside. The current proposal for the town of Indian Land includes a $7.7 million budget, a figure that seems too low for the other side.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe budget for the Sun City home owners’\u00a0association alone is $8.1 million,\u201d said Mike Neese of No Town of Indian Land<\/a>. \u201cThe budget for Fort Mill is $15 million, which Indian Land will pass in size. Analysis shows Indian Land\u2019s budget would need to be well over $20 million.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proposed boundary for the town is also something that has come under scrutiny. The new town would stretch down to S.C. state Highway 5, past Andrew Jackson State Park and the now newly incorporated town of Van Wyck.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was clear that Van Wyck did not want to be a part of Indian Land,” Neese said. \u201cThey incorporated as a defensive move that never would have happened without the Indian Land idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proposed line of Indian Land would take the area to approximately 58 square miles, making it one of the five largest cities in South Carolina in terms of land area. Much of that is farmland and woods towards the town of Van Wyck that people in Indian Land do not want to give up.<\/p>\n

\u201cVan Wyck is growing in size every other week with land annexation into their town,\u201d Neese said.<\/p>\n

If the voters decide to incorporate, they will separate their governing from the Lancaster County council. A mayor and city council will be elected and be given the power to change things. What they do once in office, is up to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of what has been proposed may not be implemented, it would be all up to the council,\u201d Shacker said. \u201cIt depends on what they want to do. If they want to go all-in on full service, then taxes will probably increase. If they choose a limited route and continuing working with the county, then that would not be the case.\u201d<\/p>\n

The choice after incorporation is something that also has those opposed worried. Once people are put into office, what they say goes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey can decide on whatever budget they need with how they\u2019ll get it and that will be it,\u201d Neese said. \u201cOnce you incorporate, there\u2019s no turning back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Residents will go to the polls on March 27 to decide the future of their once-small community.<\/p>\n

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