Fairfield County advances strategic plan: surplus-property sales, Bailey bill and land-management work on agenda

Fairfield County is moving from planning into action on property management and land‑use policy, County Administrator Vic Carpenter told residents at a town hall.

Carpenter said the county identified roughly 27 surplus parcels — many small residential lots or tax‑sale properties — and is in a second stage of determining which parcels to auction and which to solicit developer proposals for aligned redevelopment. "We presented that to council...Now we're in the second phase of going ahead and picking those parcels out that we can just put up for auction and get that done quickly," Carpenter said.

He framed surplus‑property disposition as a tool to implement the county's strategic and housing plans, telling developers to align proposals with adopted goals rather than simply bidding the highest price. Carpenter also reported the council approved participation in the state 'Bailey bill,' a tax‑freeze incentive intended to encourage investment in qualifying historic buildings; he said the county will coordinate with Winnsboro's historic‑preservation process.

Carpenter said the county is updating its land‑management ordinance to steer growth to corridors with infrastructure and to protect rural character, and that the strategic plan includes targeted studies for interchanges, water and sewer extensions, and housing. Residents asked for equitable attention to the western part of the county and for protections for farmland; Carpenter said those areas are included in planning discussions with developers and state partners.

Next steps: the county will solicit proposals for redevelopment parcels, complete land‑management updates and use the strategic plan and CIP studies to prioritize investments and zoning changes. No sales or binding developer agreements were announced at the town hall.