Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you to the more than 1550 people who signed this petition to eliminate the Eastern Transition Zone as a growth priority in Aiken County's new Comprehensive Plan. Your voices were heard! The plan was revised, the transition zone was eliminated, and this area was re-designated as a "Rural Preservation" priority.

The Comprehensive Plan is now with Aiken County Council for three readings on April 21st, May 5th, and May 19th. (Each meeting will begin at 7pm in County Council chambers, 3rd floor of the County Government Center at 1930 University Parkway.)

Your presence at these meetings -- especially the April 21st meeting -- is vital in demonstrating our commitment to protecting rural, agricultural, and equestrian land use in eastern Aiken County. If you cannot attend these meetings, please consider emailing your County Council representative in support of the Comprehensive Plan. [https://sc-aikencounty.civicplus.com/529/Council-Members

We will keep this petition open until the Council approves the revised plan, which we anticipate will occur on May 19. Once approved, we will officially close this petition and celebrate our success. However, threats to our rural way of life remain. Power companies are currently seeking land for a gas-fired power plant in the New Holland-Couchton-Montmorenci area, which sits directly within the "Rural Preservation" zone.

You can help oppose this industrial development by visiting https://paceaiken.org/services/gas-fired-power-plant/ (https://paceaiken.org/services/gas-fired-power-plant/ to learn more and sign the new petition.

Thank you for helping protect and preserve our rural areas!