Greenville County is working on a new comprehensive plan that will help shape growth and development for the next decade.

The county is near the end of the first round of nine community meetings to get ideas from its citizens on where they want growth to occur and what it should look like. It’s the first phase of a three-phase process that ultimately determines where Greenville County’s new housing, jobs, and other amenities will go.

“This is the public’s plan,” said Greenville County Planning Director Sarah Holt. “They are the experts on their own communities and neighborhoods.”

The last time the county updated its comprehensive plan was in 2009, a time when the recession put the brakes on growth and development. The economy has heated back up and Greenville County has become a hotbed for growth.

“It’s a totally different time,” Holt said. “There’s been a 180-degree shift.”

And that shift has caused conflict as residents in some areas of the county have fought developments they say undermine quality of life by clogging roads and overtaxing infrastructure.

Holt said the 2009 plan was more “one-size-fits-all” and she hopes the new plan will be more character-based because the 785-square-mile county differs greatly from one end to the other in terms of topography, density, culture, and beliefs. For instance, residents in some areas of the county support zoning as a way to prevent development they consider undesirable, while residents in the northern part of Greenville County have traditionally eschewed zoning because it restricts what owners can do with their property.

Here’s a quick guide to what you need to know about Plan Greenville County.

What is it?

The comprehensive plan will serve as the county’s roadmap for where and how future growth and development should occur. The plan will look at existing conditions, identify the county’s issues and needs, and provide a guide for citizens and decision-makers on how the community should change over time.

Why is the county doing it?

South Carolina law requires municipalities and counties to prepare new comprehensive plans every 10 years. The comprehensive plan must address nine elements: population, economic development, natural resources, cultural resources, community facilities, housing, land use, transportation, and priority investments in public infrastructure and facilities. State law mandates that comprehensive plans be reviewed every five years.

Why is it important?

While the plan is not regulatory, it forms the foundation for all regulatory documents that come after it, Holt said. The comprehensive plan will contain a future land use map that shows the desired locations of different land uses in Greenville County. The planning department, the planning commission, and County Council use the map when making decisions on rezoning requests. Holt said the council has indicated it will revamp the county’s zoning and land development ordinances following the adoption of the plan. She said she envisions zoning that is tailored for different areas of the county.

How has Greenville changed since the last plan?

Greenville County’s population has increased 14 percent since 2010, putting it over half a million people, and the growth is expected to continue. ESRI Business Analyst expects the county to grow by 8 percent more by 2023. Some of the areas experiencing the most growth are eastern Greenville County in the Five Forks area, the area between Greenville and Mauldin, downtown Greenville, and near Travelers Rest.

What are residents most concerned about?

It’s no surprise to anybody who lives or works in Greenville County: traffic congestion, housing affordability, and balancing land use.

What’s next?

Based on input received — from the community meetings, and from citizen feedback provided via the Plan Greenville County website and a scientifically valid telephone survey of county residents — Greenville County staff and MKSK, the consultant hired to facilitate the plan, will come up with land use concepts and alternatives. Once they do, a second round of community meetings will be held, likely in May or June. Residents will get a final chance to comment after a draft plan is developed. The Greenville County Planning Commission and the Greenville County Council must approve the final plan. Final approval is expected in October.

Where can I get more information?

Go to www.plangreenvillecounty.org.

Plan Greenville County community meetings

Three community drop-ins are scheduled for this week to allow Greenville County residents to tell planners how they want the county to grow in the future.

Monday, Feb. 25

5-8 p.m.

Blue Ridge High School commons

Tuesday, Feb. 26

5-8 p.m.

Ralph Chandler Middle School cafeteria

Thursday, Feb. 28

5-8 p.m.

Mount Pleasant Community Center