Despite continuing rampant development, Sumter County plans to preserve an additional 15,000 acres as rural.
Commissioners voted Tuesday night to transmit a plan for state review that would remove 14,846 acres from the area designated for urban development, mostly in the northwestern portion of the county.
After state review, commissioners will take a final vote on the plan.
The county’s urban development area would be reduced to 134,097 acres from 148,893, a 10 percent decrease.
Urban development areas are land where future development is planned. Joint planning areas are land designated for development by shared jurisdictions such as a city and the county.
“This change aligns with the area to be served by centralized sewer service,” said County Administrator Bradley Arnold.
The acreage would become rural with zoning for five- or 10-acre lots.