Lexington County Council heard from residents for 2.5 hours last week on growth issues.

Many don’t want to see woodlands and Lake Murray replaced with subdivisions and pavement.

Lexington resident Laura Caldwell said that 40% of all building permits in the Midlands were in Lexington County last year.

Residents filled the coun cil chambers to express their support of 3 new ordinances that would require more green space, trophy tree protection and limit clearcutting.

The ordinances would also introduce larger buffers and create a Lake Murray overlay and agricultural districts.

The Lake Murray Overlay District would require developers to save 50% of green space and trees.

The ordinances must go through a 2nd and 3rd reading and votes before they become law.

“I see green in our trees, builders may see green in the bank, but the builders can make a buck somewhere else,” said resident Debbie Heim.

Resident Phil Harte, a professional geologist for more than 35 years, expressed concern about how development, future and past, affects lake water.

“The replacement of natural soils with impermeable surfaces like pavement introduces a variety of con taminants that can contaminate the ecosystem of the lake. Once an area is urbanized, and green space is greatly reduced, options are limited to reduce the concentrations of these contaminants in the environment.”

The Homebuilders Association of South Carolina opposes the new restrictions.

Allan Hutto, CEO of the Building Industry Association of Central SC, said the new restrictions would drastically raise the cost of owning a home and overly bur densome protections of trees will make it harder to develop the land. He also disagreed with requiring tree surveys before planning for new subdivisions.

“While I understand the concerns about growth, some of the provisions in these ordinances overshoot the mark and will have a significant impact on working and middle-class families,” Hutto said.

Concerned citizens formed Develop Lexington County Responsibly, a grassroots ac tivist organization to mobilize citizens to help promote sensible growth.

The group’s website states, “Our goal is to bring the Lexington County community together to become active participants in future development while maintaining the integrity, appearance and family-friendly culture we cherish. We need to grow responsibly. Our future depends on it!”