A proposed ordinance to restrict high-density development is gaining support.
Over 200 people filled the Lexington County Council chambers last week to support Ordinance 19-03.
Its sponsor, County Council man Darrell Hudson, aims to restrict all new development to 4 houses an acre but only in parts of the county.
 “I think the council should make Lexington County great by making 4 houses an acre countywide,” said Leonard Walker.
 “We are continuing to increase our taxes, strain our infrastructure, strain our hospitals, our schools, strain everything to accommodate everyone moving here,” said Sherie Rish, a small business owner.
Lanneau Siegling encouraged the council to “slow down the stupid growth.”
Kimberly Cockrell of the Wellesley community said, “Aside from the poorly-planned extra narrow streets, the neighborhood is at the end of a dead-end road with two schools with one way in and out.”
Lexington town council member Ron Williams said, “After the builders get approval from the county they come to us to be annexed. It would be great to have some way to require that they meet our standards.”
Lexington Town council man Steve Baker said, “We have a treasure that we have a responsibility to maintain.”
Earl Mcleod of the Building  Industry Association and Micheal Arket, a realtor, spoke against Hudson’s ordinance.
Arket said, “The only way to get affordable housing is to get more units per acre.”
“The SCDOT has made it clear they have no money for Lexington County to add more exits or interior roads,” Hudson responded. “We have to slow growth to handle the impact of traffic.”
In Sumter, Great Southern Homes and Mungo are building 9 new housing divisions restricted to 3 homes an acre.
McLeod declined to answer when he was asked:
• How high-density housing developments positively impact Lexington.
• How 4 houses an acre would negatively impact growth.