LEXINGTON, S.C. — Lexington County Council voted this week to remove a tool that allowed local school districts to provide input on residential development, a decision that has sparked debate over the balance between growth and classroom capacity.

The “school concurrency questionnaire” was part of the county’s larger concurrency process, which helps ensure public services such as emergency response, solid waste management, and schools can accommodate new residents before developments are approved.

At Monday’s meeting, the council voted 5–4 to eliminate the school questionnaire portion of that process. Some members argued that the questionnaire caused unnecessary delays and unreliable projections, while others said removing it disconnects planning for housing growth from the realities

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