Dorchester County Council on Oct. 20 held public hearings and approved two related ordinances to expand a joint county industrial park to include property tied to Dorchester Residential LLC (formerly “Project Dorchester Housing”) and to allow a public infrastructure credit agreement for that entity.

County Attorney Michael Frampton opened the hearings before the council and asked for public comment on ordinance 25-17 and ordinance 25-18, which would enlarge the boundaries of the joint county industrial park and authorize a public infrastructure credit agreement tied to development by Dorchester Residential LLC.

During the hearing, Timothy Lewis of 613 East Main Street asked whether the project “is that alluding to, some type of attainable housing or affordable housing type project?” County Administrator Thomas Ward responded, “Yes, sir. It is. So, the county has partnered with mister Missouri and he has a piece of property off a gray back road and long story short. What our plan calls for is 60% 80100% AMI, which is area median income Yes, sir.” Ward and staff said the target income bands are intended to allow teachers, firefighters, paramedics and other local workers to afford housing in the county.

Several public speakers raised questions. Tommy Fagan, 111 Ponderosa Road, questioned state programs and whether the county’s plan duplicated existing state benefits for teachers. Arlene Wheeler of Somerville said the state Palmetto Heroes program already provides reduced-rate assistance and down-payment help for teachers and firefighters and asked why the county should duplicate that support.

After the public hearing the council took third readings and voted to approve both ordinances. For ordinance 25-17 (amending the amended and restated joint county industrial park agreement to add property owned or operated by Dorchester Residential LLC) and ordinance 25-18 (authorizing expansion and a public infrastructure credit agreement), the clerk announced the votes as six in favor, one absent for each item.

The council did not specify in the hearing the exact dollar amount, duration or the mechanics of the proposed public infrastructure credits beyond the authorization to execute a credit agreement; documents referenced by staff were said to be on file as part of the ordinances. The county attorney opened both public hearings, accepted public comment, and the council approved third readings of both ordinances by the recorded 6–0 margin with one member absent.

Why this matters: County staff framed the measures as enabling a workforce-housing project meant to keep essential workers—such as teachers and emergency responders—able to live in Dorchester County by creating housing at income bands identified during the project review. Approval of the industrial-park expansion and the infrastructure-credit authorization clears regulatory steps that staff said are needed for the developer to proceed with the planned housing project.