WEST BERKELEY COUNTY COMMUNITY SURVEY SNAPSHOT

Respondents

WHY WE’RE HERE

Who Responded

North Berkeley County Community Survey Results

Residents of the North Berkeley County planning area share similar sentiments about the importance of a quiet, country community with large, open expanses of land, including farms, forests, wild areas and waterways, and a enjoying a clean, well-protected natural environment. Generally, people would prefer that the recent increase in growth and development be drastically reduced, if not stopped all together, in order to protect their preferred way of life. Other residents are more amenable to some continued growth, but only if it occurs slowly and carefully, with considerable attention given to protecting and preserving the small-town atmosphere of communities. Of note in this area is the desire to preserve African American heritage and culture, and to ensure that current and future development does not continue to gentrify historically black neighborhoods and communities.

Some residents feel as though their wants, needs and preferences have been overlooked or forgotten by the county. They hope to have access to the public services and facilities that they see in more populated areas, namely, access to parks and recreation and improved internet access throughout the area.

When asked, “What changes do you hope to see in the County’s future,” North Berkeley County respondents said:

"The north area seems to be forgotten, which is good and bad. We have areas that were booming with business and now almost a ghost town. The area needs to be rebuilt. There's wasted land not being utilized."

"The county has done an excellent job attracting industry and jobs; however, it is time to focus on quality of life issues. Better roads, leisure services, and open space preservation should be higher priorities than economic development in the future."

“This is a place that African Americans have lived and formed a beautiful culture. We don't want to be pushed out by gentrification that only serves others."