Fair Play Strategic Plan

An Example of a Student and Faculty Team Assisting a Community in the

Planning Process

Project Members

• Team leaders:– Devin Swindall

Research Associate, Clemson University Institute for Economic and Community Development (CIECD)

– Dr. David W. HughesAssistant Director (CIECD) and Professor-Course Instructor, Department of Applied Economics & Statistics (APEC)

• Class members, APEC 352, Public Finance Economics:– Nathan Bailey, Ashleigh Duncan, Rachel Elliot, Michelle Gottfried,

William Hopkins, Lin Li, Sarah Meyers, Gary Nihart, Lu Qiao, Rob Ratliff, and Austin Rizer

• Project method developed by:– Harry Crissy, Regional Economic and Community Development agent

for Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester Counties, SC, CIECD.

Topics to Discuss

• Project Background• Process of conducting the strategic plan• Major results

– Social capital– Social capital and growth– Local agriculture

• Conclusions and recommendations.

Project Background

• Fair Play is a small (population approximately 2,500) unincorporated South Carolina community

• On the edge of the Georgia Border (first SC exit on I-85 from Atlanta, GA to Greenville, SC).

• Community starting to experience growth because of proximity to I-85 and Lake Hartwell

• Lack of well defined community planning process• Local leaders approached CIECD for help (no

funding support)• Decision made to use student driven model to

generate a direction for Fair Play.

Process

• Preliminary data analysis of Fair Play• Key informant interviews• Students developed and conducted surveys (49

questions, many Likert Scale 1-5)• Students conducted data analysis of the surveys,

SWOT type analysis • Students presented findings and preliminary

recommendations to community leaders.• Summary community meeting in January• Student driven follow-up projects.

Survey Results Example: Satisfaction with Fair Play Services (5 strongly agree (like!)).

Ambulance

Recreati

onal Asse

tsPark

s

Health Care

Streets

Downtown

Entertainment

Sidewalk

s

Trash Pick

-up0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.00 3.65 3.58 3.43 3.41 3.39

3.172.80 2.70

2.44

Data Trends or Tendencies

• Basic correlations were developed to see trends in the data– Individuals who were not employed and older

individuals are more likely to support drawing in outside traffic as a market opportunity.

– Older individuals and those without children favored using the school, and those with children wanted the school removed. Also, those who think local jobs is an issue in Fair Play want the school removed.

– Younger individuals are more likely to think the lack of jobs is an important issue.

– Individuals not employed support population growth.– People who work further away, have not lived in Fair

Play as long, and younger individuals oppose changes in or growth of Fair Play.

Student Analysis of Fair Play Survey Results

Social Capital

• Social capital refers to those stocks of social trust, norms, and networks that people can draw upon to solve common problems (Civic Renewal Movement)

• Through the trust, norms, and networks, social capital also tends to improve the efficiency of society facilitating coordinating actions (Putnam).

Benefits of Social Capital

• Greater cooperation among diverse groups of people

• Increased efficiency• Shapes regional development patterns• Lower levels of crime• Improves effectiveness of institutions of

government• Direct relationship between poverty and lack of

social capital.

Clash of Preferences as a Threat

• One of the major strengths of Fair Play is its strong sense of social capital

• However, our study has shown that there are many different preferences among residents of the Fair play area

• The strongest differences are found between longtime residents and newcomers/recreational residents

• It impedes growth in social capital as well as economic development.

Clash of Preferences

• The best way to overcome diverse preferences is through increased interaction between groups and individuals in Fair Play

• It is very important that new and old residents interact so that differences can be reconciled

• Social gatherings centered around a project that everyone can relate to could provide a solution.

Fire Department

• Residents value Fair Play’s fire department– Our surveys strongest trend was strong approval of the

fire department

• The fire department possesses a leadership role in the community– Christmas Parade– Bluegrass festival in March– Safety Day in May

• There are other potentially strong community organizations that should interact more with each other.

Social Gatherings

• It’s important that longtime residents and new residents are both involved

• Summer is an Ideal time– Many new residents are seasonal

• The fire department and other community groups should collaborate and sponsor the programs together.

Social Gathering Possibilities

• Community Cookouts– 4th of July

• Community clean ups• Parades• Beautification of the school building• These will help to create bonds among

community groups and individuals.

Unmanaged Growth as a Threat

• Fair play will be more subjected to urban sprawl from Atlanta and Greenville

• Fair play lies on an important transport corridor (I-85)

• The industrial park will likely lead to growth• Although some residents don’t want any growth,

no growth is not a realistic option.

Using Social Capital to Overcome Unmanaged Growth

• Without strong social capital and collaboration among community groups, management falls on small group of people who may or may not reflect the majority’s preferences

• Incorporation would give Fair Play more control over development through taxation and zoning

• However, the residents are not interested in the thought of incorporation because of perceptions about government.

• Question 20- Incorporation of Fair Play is critical to manage growth.– Likert scale: 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree)

• Average response of 3.38, fourth lowest of 17 topics• Results imply lack of support for incorporation

• Data trends from the survey show that those who do not support incorporation tend to be younger individuals who work outside of Fair Play. However, the longer the individual has lived in Fair Play, the more likely they are to oppose incorporation.

I-85 Overlay Zoning

Fair Play Zoning

• No new residential subdivision development consisting of more than ten (10) residential housing units proposed for any sub-district of the I-85 Overlay District shall have a gross density greater than one (1) dwelling unit per five (5) acres.

• All new residential and non-residential buildings, accessory buildings, and other permanent structures proposed to be located within the boundaries of the Fair Play Village Sub-district shall be subject to the following standards: – Maximum Density: Two (2) Dwelling Units per acre – Minimum Lot Width on Road Frontage: One Hundred (100) feet – Minimum Yard Setbacks:

• Front – Twenty Five (25) Feet • Side – Five (5) Feet • Rear – Ten (10) Feet

Guiding Growth

• Develop a “Growth Steering Committee” by involving all community groups and members

• To guide growth, must first determine what Fair Play wants:– Fair Play Mission Statement– General wants, needs, ideas, solutions, concerns.

Guiding Growth, Continued

• Establish Interview Process for potential businesses– determine intent and needs– expand infrastructure? – Potential benefits to bring to Fair Play

• Guide Growth– Selective construction– Jobs

• Promote wholesale market, resources for recreation activities (fishing, boating, agritourism, golf, etc.)

– Industrial park development?

Sanctuary Pointe: I-85 Development

• Potential “game changer”• Recreational development near SC Welcome

Center– Golf course– Hotels and cabins– Restaurant

• Growth Steering Committee could lead new planning process (if project oked).– Full blown, well-funded effort utilizing Clemson & other

resources.

Targeting Industries: a Form of Guiding Growth

• Attract “Creative Economies,” businesses/services that are innovative and can be supported locally

• Explore/ Expand Information Technology Industry that does not bring traffic/congestion and can run without over use of resources

• Feasibility studies for different industries– Determines what industries could succeed in Fair Play

– Determine what industries are desired.

Development of Downtown: Another Way to Use and Develop Social Capital

• Downtown Consensus– Capitalize on current agreements/settle differences– Which businesses to promote?– Determine style for building facades– Add Sidewalks (easy access)

• City Beautification (see Woods Cross City, UT)– Require community clean-up– Raise funding for town signs and promenade– Contests for gardens (advertisement in magazines),

nicest lake house, yard of the month, etc.– Community activities (Christmas Light Show)

• Organization comprised of business owners• Old school building (next slide).

Utilizing The Old School Building

• Using the old school building for recreational activities and a community center, whereby the community can meet and interact with each other

• Retired and young mentor program• Have the garden club and community members fix

up the school grounds and create a community garden

• Sponsor different adult meet and greet nights, club• Entrepreneur Center- arts and crafts or produce• Community book share• Art exhibits/local crafts• Fair Play Welcome Building.

Other Policy Opportunities

• Development of community tourism group• Green tourism • Natural resources for tourism: – Lake, state park, agriculture

• Recycling program • Farmers market.

Farmer’s Market

• Local agriculture sold at the local farmers market–Market brings traffic off I-85– Foot-traffic around town (increased local

spending)

• However, requires a manager for organizational purposes and emphasis on advertisement.

Creating a Farmers Market

• Implementation of market– Board of Directors

• Support of Local farmers• Setting rules and regulations

– Utilizing Clemson University Extension as a resource– Securing location – Advertisement.

Agriculture Driving Jobs

• Agri-tourism– U-Pick operations– Host events: receptions, parties

(weddings?), instructional classes (canning, making fruit preserves).

Sustaining Direction

• Continue to have regular, scheduled town meeting/committee and stay organized

• Take advantage of current resources already at hand to minimize costs

• Promote/advertise Fair Play to attract desired businesses and population

• Prevent decay of infrastructure, appearance.

General Conclusions

• Social Capital requires cooperation between individuals, government, and the private sector

• Fair Play appears to have a high level of social capital, with even greater potential

• Efforts must be made to increase bonds between longtime residents and new residents

• Fair Play has existing resources that can lead to community opportunities

• If Fair Play wants to avoid incorporation and unmanaged growth, a cooperative approach must be used.

Next Steps for Project Team

• Utilize students in Applied Economics 412/612 (Regional Economic Development Theory and Policy)

• Conduct an industry targeting study for the industrial park in Fair Play

• Provide support and resources for planning and implementation of a farmers market

• Present resources for applicable grants for revitalizing the old elementary school.