Newest Lancaster County development plans include hundreds of new homes, farm tourism
Hundreds more homes are heading to Lancaster County, pending approvals this week.
The county planning commission has several items on Tuesday’s agenda, from new home subdivisions to an agritourism proposal. Here’s the latest:
▪ Riverchase Estate Partners and LGI Homes applied to begin building the second phase of Riverchase. An almost 579-acre property just south of the first phase under construction now would add another 343 homes.
The new phase is along Riverside Road, south of its intersection with Cobblestone Way.
LGI Land proposed Riverchase in 2007 and the county finalized a 20-year development agreement in 2008. It set aside land and cash for a fire station, and got the county between $4,900 and $9,000 per home to offset growth impacts.
The first phase allows 375 homes. The second adds 343 homes and a third, which got preliminary approval last fall, brings another 251 homes.
A phase two plan shows large floodplain and small open space areas throughout the site, along with a small cemetery that’s already on the site. Across a rail line from the property is the 5-acre site donated for a fire station and an almost 34-acre spot beside it marked for commercial development.
▪ David Weekley Homes applied to build a new subdivision that would put 91 homes on more than 112 acres. It’s at the end of Vance Baker Road, behind Legacy Park. The new plan would transform the abandoned Providence Estates project.
In 2007, the county approved a development of 247 homes on as many acres. Providence Estates would be split between Lancaster and neighboring Union (North Carolina) counties. Some road and other infrastructure was put in prior to recession in 2008 stalled the project.
A project called Arbor Walk followed in 2021. A developer proposed 228 homes, then revised it in 2022 to 179 homes. The county planning commission recommended against that project, which was then shelved.
The new plan is allowed by-right, meaning it won’t need a rezoning decision by the county planning commission or Lancaster County Council.
▪ The owners of 47 acres at 1540 Old Pardue Road in Lancaster applied to rezone the property for several uses, including agritourism. The staff report from county planners indicates uses would include “agritourism, with farming-based attractions and activities.”
The county definition of agritourism is a farm-related enterprise for the “enjoyment and education of the public” that combine tourism and agriculture. Listed examples are agricultural centers, hay rides, corn mazes and petting zoos.
On the application for rezoning, the property owner states intentions to put two homesteads on the site and use the rest of it for “small agricultural endeavors” like agritourism, small plot organic produce, fresh eggs and hay harvesting.
▪ Commercial development is taking shape at a busy Indian Land intersection. Last fall, Barberville Developers out of Lexington bought more than 7 acres at Barberville Road and Fort Mill Highway for $2.7 million. Now the company has applied to name a new road to serve a commercial property there. It would be aligned across Barberville from Fortson Drive, but end before it gets to Fort Mill Highway or S.C. 160.
A commercial site plan has been submitted to the county for review but further details haven’t been made available.
Online listings show a similar-size piece of property on the other side of Barberville, also fronting Fort Mill Highway, for sale at more than $4 million.
