As growth continues to soar in Lexington County, elected officials are considering new control measures.

In response to questions submitted by the Chronicle, Lexington County Council Chair Beth Carrigg confirmed that the council is considering limiting new apartment complexes to 200 units each.

“The 200 number is a topic of discussion and is certainly included in an overall plan for responsible development,” Carrigg said.

According to published reports on Lexington County’s planning committee deliberations, the county is also considering spacing new apartment complexes two to three miles away from each other.

Council Member Larry Brigham said multiple apartment complexes make it hard to manage all the traffic that goes with it and adds to the tax burden on school systems and public safety.

Carrigg also advised the Chronicle that the council recently approved on first reading two ordinances that relate to concurrency requirements for various residential-type developments and residential subdivisions in the unincorporated areas of the county.

All new development projects proposed for the county will undergo a review by county staff to determine that the plan coordinates with rules and regulations of law enforcement, fire service, EMS and solid waste management.

The potential tightening of concurrency requirements comes as some residents in the Chapin area are expressing concerns about ambulance response times. The county has acknowledged that the increasing call volume, spiked by what it has characterized as non-emergency calls, is exacerbating challenges with recruiting and retention. Officials emphasize the county is pushing pay raises to counter this issue and that the challenges its EMS faces are part of a national problem.

One of the newest developments now underway in the county will be located in the Red Bank area, according to officials.

The county confirmed receiving submittals in September for the following projects within the mixed-used development at Platt Springs Crossing: Big Blue Marble Academy, Mavis Discount Tire and Panda Express, a fast food restaurant that specializes in Chinese dishes.

That development, located near the intersection of Old Orangeburg and Platt Springs Road, across from the Publix at Lake Crossing and the Red Bank Chick-fil-A was announced in January by NAI Columbia and is slated to cover more than 57 acres.

“Platt Springs Crossing will be a mixed-used development bringing multiple national and regional users, along with a residential component, to a growing Lexington market,” NAI Columbia stated in a January release.

At present, county officials say no plans for housing at Platt Springs Crossing are underway.