3487 Santee River Rd, Saint Stephen, SC 29479

Agricultural District

A significant portion of the county's land area is used for agricultural, forestry, and agricultural/residential purposes. These areas represent the county's rural landscape and historic character of Berkeley County. The viability of agricultural operations and production is contingent upon their protection from incompatible land uses and development. Additionally, premature conversion of these lands to accommodate urban and suburban development increases the demand for costly public infrastructure. The Flex1 agricultural district is intended to implement the land use goals of the agriculture and resource conservation areas within rural areas in the unincorporated portions of Berkeley County.; This district is intended to: Preserve agricultural activities as a primary use, but to allow residential development as a secondary use.; Manage growth to protect agricultural land and land uses from development pressures to avoid increasing demands for road improvements and public infrastructure; Provide standards to control the intensity of development in rural areas of sensitive natural and historical resources.; Preserve wetlands, watercourses and other significant natural resource areas, and to preserve the scenic quality of the landscape; Preserve and protect the rural residential character of specific areas within the county.; Ensure that the cultural integrity of the county's historical resources is protected.; Protect these areas from infiltration of incompatible land uses.