CCU partners with Clemson to create master plan for growth in Horry County
According to the announcement today at Coastal’s Brooks Stadium, Clemson and CCU will combine their resources and deliver the completed plan in two years. The plan will include input from a broad base of organizations in the county and beyond, including municipalities, utilities, and tourism and transportation agencies.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Coastal Provost Pete Barr and John Kelley, vice president for Public Service at Clemson. The document was witnessed by Liz Gilland, chairperson of the Horry County Council. The master plan’s scientifically-derived data will serve as a blueprint to assist local governments throughout the county in planning for infrastructure and avoiding sprawl, according to Gilland.
Combining Clemson’s expertise in strategic long-range planning and Coastal’s long experience in local research, the plan will be more comprehensive in scope than the region has seen, although its inclusive approach is similar to that of the Grass Roots Initiative for Planning and Progress (GRIPP), the area-wide taskforce created in the 1990s.