Should NE Richland become a separate city? (Columbia, Florence: real estate, credit)

[Woodlands]

Some time ago there was an effort by some of civic leaders in NE Richland to explore the incorporation of an area between 1-20 on the east and south; I-77 on the west; and a northern boundary that was on or near the Kershaw County line. By their estimations, this city would have close to 70,000 residents. That combined with the tax base from both the residential and commercial properties was supposedly enough to support some basic municipal services for the area to support their new city. Not sure what happened to the efforts since it required a petition of X% in support of and a subsequent referendum with the affected property owners. Columbia officials were asked if they were concerned with the possiblity of the third largest city in the State rising next to them.. and they appeared unconcerned (maybe because they knew how much of a daunting task it would be to get this number of residents to 'agree' to being taxed more and to provide their own services as a result of the incorporation.) There was a similiar effort in the Ballentine/ Dutch Fork area to incorporate that area north of Lake Murray (Which does anyone know if this referendum passed?) and a similar effort in the 80s by the St Andrews area represent an interesting evolution of the communities in the midlands. Most of these efforts were started primarily to either control growth of their respective geography and to a lesser degree to keep Columbia out as the city adopted its own form of Manifest Destiny and began aggressive annexation of it suburbs in the 80s, 90s and on through to today. The exception being the Ballentine-Dutch Fork effort which may be in part to the threat of Irmo as opposed to Columbia.

It is interesting how history repeats itself, in the late 80s early 90s Columbia was involved in a bitter dispute with Irmo over the tax base rich Columbiana Center and Harbinson Blvd properties. Columbia annexed a railroad line and several floodplain properties along the Broad River north of I-20, crossed the river took in the State Government/SLED complexes and several other properties to get the Mall much to the chagrin of Irmo resident/officials. Now a similiar debate emerged with the Ballentine Dutch Fork folks and Irmo over the Wal Mart and commercial area that separates those areas. This may demonstrate an interesting trend that as our area becomes more urban, residents are beginning to demand more and more attention from and control of their municipal governments, in the form of services, law enforcement, control of growth, and a more localized identity that often gets lost in large suburban sprawling communities. It should also be a sign to Richand County officials that if these areas are trying to gain a localize "control" of an unincorporated section of the County, it may be in response to some perceived lack of service or representation that they feel they are not getting or are not satified with. To the County's credit they have begun to respond by implementing more localized planning and neighborhood models similar to those that have brought the City some success...

[Brandon Hoffman]

Nope. (added because nope was too short)

[Chi2Midlands]

No, as NE Richland resident I do not want another municipal entity to deal with. I am on City of Columbia water, Palmetto Utilities (private sewer provider from Kershaw County), and covered by the Richland County sheriff. I don't need yet another layer of government and another board or council of egos that has a say in my day-to-day life.

Here is what I would like to see:

(1) Overhaul SC's ridiculous annexation laws to encourage, if not mandate, rational annexation rules. No more donut holes or shoestrings. Something that rationally matches effective, practical delivery of municipal services (water, sewer, police, fire, etc.) with rational municipal boundaries.

(2) More responsible annexation behavior of SC municipalities. No more cherry-picking of tax revenues (this may be avoided by #(1) above - so no more shoestrings to Columbiana, Wal-Mart, etc.). We need to annex more on the basis of having cohesive communities, not getting greedy over the tax bases of malls, offices, warehouses, factories, etc. I understand that residential areas are often a net revenue drain, but our communities need balance. Otherwise unincorporated county areas are going to be left holding the bag of all those new houses and subdivisions and their costs without a revenue source.

(3) Better governance and cooperation of municipalities/counties. Regardless of (1) and (2), we need better leaders, governance, and inter-jurisdictional cooperation. E.g., Columbia's city council needs to stop interfering in day-to-day city managment; Columbia and Richland County's planning departments need to cooperate and play nice with each other (being located in the same building would be a start).

(4) Start merging municipal/county functions if (1), (2), and (3) aren't getting traction, all the way up to full or near-full city-county consolidation. For example, the City of Florence and Florence County have merged their planning departments - we should start considering the same for Columbia/Richland. Having the city-county consolidation option would also short-circuit some of the annexation problems. Done responsibly and cooperatively, it can work (e.g., Charlotte-Mecklenburg in terms of partial or substantial consolidation, Athens-Clarke, GA or Lexington-Fayette, KY for full or near-full consolidation). We need fewer, not more commissions, boards, councils, etc., especially since we are not an especially populous state with large, populous metros/cities.

[waccamatt]

As always, Chi2 has a great response. I have been a proponent of full city/county consolidation for years. Columbia and Richland County would both best be suited by being combined into one gvernmental entity. So much money is saved by the consolidation of services and governments, but there are some people who look at it as intrusion. I think eventually most or all of Richland County will be consolidated with the city. I highly doubt the residents of Northeast Columbia would form a separate city.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by Chi2Midlands

No, as NE Richland resident I do not want another municipal entity to deal with. I am on City of Columbia water, Palmetto Utilities (private sewer provider from Kershaw County), and covered by the Richland County sheriff. I don't need yet another layer of government and another board or council of egos that has a say in my day-to-day life.

Here is what I would like to see:

(1) Overhaul SC's ridiculous annexation laws to encourage, if not mandate, rational annexation rules. No more donut holes or shoestrings. Something that rationally matches effective, practical delivery of municipal services (water, sewer, police, fire, etc.) with rational municipal boundaries.

(2) More responsible annexation behavior of SC municipalities. No more cherry-picking of tax revenues (this may be avoided by #(1) above - so no more shoestrings to Columbiana, Wal-Mart, etc.). We need to annex more on the basis of having cohesive communities, not getting greedy over the tax bases of malls, offices, warehouses, factories, etc. I understand that residential areas are often a net revenue drain, but our communities need balance. Otherwise unincorporated county areas are going to be left holding the bag of all those new houses and subdivisions and their costs without a revenue source.

(3) Better governance and cooperation of municipalities/counties. Regardless of (1) and (2), we need better leaders, governance, and inter-jurisdictional cooperation. E.g., Columbia's city council needs to stop interfering in day-to-day city managment; Columbia and Richland County's planning departments need to cooperate and play nice with each other (being located in the same building would be a start).

(4) Start merging municipal/county functions if (1), (2), and (3) aren't getting traction, all the way up to full or near-full city-county consolidation. For example, the City of Florence and Florence County have merged their planning departments - we should start considering the same for Columbia/Richland. Having the city-county consolidation option would also short-circuit some of the annexation problems. Done responsibly and cooperatively, it can work (e.g., Charlotte-Mecklenburg in terms of partial or substantial consolidation, Athens-Clarke, GA or Lexington-Fayette, KY for full or near-full consolidation). We need fewer, not more commissions, boards, councils, etc., especially since we are not an especially populous state with large, populous metros/cities.

These are all good points...one X factor in the Richland County- City of Columbia scenario is what happens to Forest Acres, Blythewood, Arcadia Lakes, Eastover(?) and the Richland County side of Irmo? I have no clue on what the answer is but I imagine that they would be opposed to any merger betweeen the County and City unless Columbia and Richland become more of an actual "County" as opposed both the City and County combining services and obtaining a more steamlined ability for Columbia to take in more residents/commercial areas of the County. Conflict could be avoided however; if all the towns/cities came together plotted their "future" annexation areas based on their current growth rate trends/service areas, etc. That way it would not be a 'chess game' with each municipality trying to out flank the other for residential or commercial real estate. With the exception of Eastover, Columbia may share a boundary with the other three cities in Richland County. I am not sure how that issue is handled in Charlotte, or if there are any cities and towns in Mecklenburg County other than Charlotte and the ones that are there are their boundaries fixed because the Charlotte City Limits take up the entire County. Because there is still a City of Charlotte and a Mecklenburg County though some of their services/operations are merged? Or did the City simply become the County...

The incorporation of NE Richland gets back into your points of political versus practical. Some of the past efforts to incorporate NE Richland into a City may be more political in nature in reference to "keep Columbia out" or "Here are some issues that the County Council is not addressing.. if we become a town we will have more control over land use, development,housing, etc....." but as you mention from a practical perspective most residents may prefer the current state of affairs as opposed to adding more bureaucracy.

[sonofaque86]

Charlotte and Mecklenburg aren't consolidated. A lot of their services are but there are still other towns in Mecklenburg County such as Pineville, Cornelius, Huntersville, and a few more. I forgot where you can find it but they have a map of what municipality will annex what when the density gets right or something. I wish SC's annexation laws were more like North Carolina's.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by sonofaque86

Charlotte and Mecklenburg aren't consolidated. A lot of their services are but there are still other towns in Mecklenburg County such as Pineville, Cornelius, Huntersville, and a few more. I forgot where you can find it but they have a map of what municipality will annex what when the density gets right or something. I wish SC's annexation laws were more like North Carolina's.

I agree.. I imagine it creates an adminstrative nightmare if you have a house or a neighborhood completely surrounding by the City..but in the County. In the case of Columbia and Richland County.. the County still provides garbage service to "islands" that are completely surrounded by the City. At least if the rules where relaxed the City could use major streets or other natural boundaries to clearly define its area from a service delivery perspective. Some municipalities where these boundaries bisect neighborhoods end up servicing areas outside of their area. I know of one case of one community where the city had curb side trash pick up and leaf/limb collection and the county didn't. County residents adjacent to the City simply put their debris out along the road on those days and the city crews picked it up. The guys on the ground often do not know when a boundary changes or what is in or out.. they just do their job. Though I am certain these types of activities do not bankrupt a municipality, but they do underscore the point of better annexation policies.. atleast the streets where this happens are clean both in and out of the city

[the 7 oh 4]

Originally Posted by sonofaque86

Charlotte and Mecklenburg aren't consolidated. A lot of their services are but there are still other towns in Mecklenburg County such as Pineville, Cornelius, Huntersville, and a few more. I forgot where you can find it but they have a map of what municipality will annex what when the density gets right or something. I wish SC's annexation laws were more like North Carolina's.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg IS consolidated...schools, police, fire. medic,...etc.

When you are talking about Pineville, Matthews, Huntersville, Davidson, Mint Hill & Cornelius (Other cities in Mecklenburg County)...that is NOT Charlotte....but Charlotte-Mecklenburg IS consolidated.

Next time you are in Charlotte...just look at one of our White Police cars with blue writing...it says "Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police"

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by the 7 oh 4

Charlotte-Mecklenburg IS consolidated...schools, police, fire. medic,...etc.

When you are talking about Pineville, Matthews, Huntersville, Davidson, Mint Hill & Cornelius (Other cities in Mecklenburg County)...that is NOT Charlotte....but Charlotte-Mecklenburg IS consolidated.

Next time you are in Charlotte...just look at one of our White Police cars with blue writing...it says "Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police"

I think the police departments are consolidated, but the governments are not. Is there both a city council and a county council? If so, then the governments aren't consolidated, only certain services.

[Akhenaton06]

Correct. Charlotte and Mecklenburg do not constitute a consolidated city/county government like Jacksonville-Duval, Indianapolis-Marion, Louisville-Jefferson, Lexington-Fayette, Augusta-Richmond, etc. It's only that certain services are consolidated.