On the eve of their sesquicentennial, the City of Seneca hired Benchmark Planning to guide the development of its new Comprehensive Plan. Seneca is located in the heart of the Lake Keowee region next door to Clemson University, bordering the mountains of North Carolina and Northeast Georgia. Seneca is the largest municipality in Oconee County, SC, serving as the county’s cultural and economic centerpiece. The city of just over 9,000 population, attracts visitors to its charming downtown for events and entertainment in the popular Ram Cat Alley historic district. Benchmark worked closely with the City Staff and Planning Commission to engage the community in preparing a vision and action plan as it moves forward into the next 150 years.
One of the highlights of the Plan is the growth management and annexation strategy for the areas around Seneca that extend toward the City of Clemson and the areas around Lake Keowee where Seneca provides water and sewer services. The Plan presents a phased approach to annexation of these potential growth areas. The Plan was adopted on January 10, 2023.