Administrator Brown outlines Phase 3 of Richland County comprehensive plan; public forum set for Aug. 27

County Administrator Brown briefed the Richland County Council on July 15 about Phase 3 of the county’s comprehensive‑plan process, saying the next phase will translate earlier community input into policy recommendations, an action plan and priority investment areas.

Brown said Phase 3 begins with a public forum on Aug. 27, 2025, during which the county will present preferred future land‑use scenarios gathered from community engagement. Brown also told council members the governing body would receive a preview of the consultant team’s findings at the Aug. 26 council meeting.

Why this matters: The comprehensive plan guides county land use, capital investment and long‑term priorities. Phase 3 is the step that converts community visioning into actionable policy recommendations and identifies priority investments counties may later pursue or fund.

Details Brown provided included a three‑phase timeline: Phase 1 and 2 encompassed county outreach, vision boards and stakeholder meetings; Phase 3 will focus on policy direction and priority investment identification. Brown asked council members to ensure constituents who may not have participated in earlier meetings have their views captured and submitted to county planning staff so personal outreach can be reflected in the final recommendations.

No formal council action was taken on the comprehensive plan during the July 15 meeting; Brown’s briefing was an informational update and an invitation to council to confirm that citizen input has been fully represented.

Next steps: The public forum on Aug. 27 will present preferred scenarios and solicit additional feedback; staff will provide council members the compiled input in advance of the Aug. 26 meeting preview.