LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — Lancaster County leaders voted Monday to impose a nine-month moratorium on new residential projects in rapidly growing areas of the county.

The moratorium will prohibit processing permits and applications for new residential subdivisions and developments in specified areas, including the panhandle and rural areas between the Catawba River and the Riverside community.

County officials cited explosive growth as the primary reason for the pause. Lancaster County experienced approximately 60% growth between 2000 and 2020, gaining almost 20,000 new residents, according to the county's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The panhandle area saw a 476% growth rate during that period, making it one of the fastest-growing areas in the region.

But some residents have concerns about t

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