Upstate group asks residents’ suggestions for their communities

Please read the article below and take the following survey. It is important that we need send a clear message that any such regional growth plan needs to be market-driven and protect private property rights. The deadline for the survey is the end of the day tomorrow. Click here to take the survey.

By John Staed of IndependentMail.com

ANDERSON — A new regional economic development and cultural support group wants to know what area residents think about growth.

The survey seeks ideas from development of new subdivisions to retaining farmland to transportation issues.

Ten at the Top is launching its Regional Vision Survey from Monday to May 31 to seek answers on what residents want for growth, land use, natural and cultural resources and education, according to a statement.

Results of the survey will be reported during a regional summit Sept. 28, followed by community forums in each of the 10 counties represented by Ten at the Top. A “vision” strategy will be completed in the first quarter of 2011, then presented to communities across the Upstate.

The survey is available online at www.sharedupstatevision.org, in printed form at municipal buildings, hospitals and libraries in the 10 Upstate counties, or by calling 864-283-2315. Counties represented include Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union.

The survey was developed through the Appalachian Council of Governments and the Metropolitan Studies Institute at USC-Upstate.

“Input from Upstate residents is vital to creating a regional growth vision,” said Irv Welling, chairman of Ten at the Top.