York County rejects water and sewer extension for 250-home scheme outside growth boundary
County of York, South Carolina · Meeting date: October 19, 2026 · Published: October 20, 2026
York County Council has refused Dream Finders Homes permission to extend county water and sewer service beyond the Urban Services Boundary for the proposed York Farms development near South Paraham and Harper roads. The decision puts the county’s growth-control policy and road-capacity concerns ahead of staff’s finding that existing water and sewer infrastructure could serve the project.
Key points
- Council denied the utility-extension request for approximately 250 single-family homes on about 265 acres at South Paraham Road and Harper Road.
- The site is adjacent to the Urban Services Boundary and already has water available nearby, but would require a sewer extension crossing South Paraham Road.
- Utilities staff said both the water system and sewer collection system have sufficient capacity, with the developer responsible for constructing the extension.
- Council members cited the purpose of the Urban Services Boundary, mounting traffic pressures on the SC 274 corridor and an impending comprehensive-plan review.
Full report
York County Council has denied Dream Finders Homes’ request to take county water and sewer beyond the county’s Urban Services Boundary (USB), rejecting a utility-led route to service a proposed 250-home subdivision near the intersection of South Paraham and Harper roads.
The application covered two RMX-20-zoned parcels proposed as the York Farms development. The concept calls for approximately 250 lots on roughly 265 acres, or less than one unit per acre. Council’s action does not determine whether the land can be developed under its existing zoning, but it prevents a future development application from incorporating the requested extension of county utilities outside the USB.
The boundary is intended as a growth-management tool, concentrating water, sewer and other public services within an area designated for more compact development while discouraging sprawl. County code prohibits extensions outside the boundary unless council approves them.
Staff had recommended approval. The USB is immediately adjacent to a substantial portion of the site, while its southern edge is about 400ft from the property. The Interim Utilities Director said an existing water line along Harper Road could serve the project and that there were no water-capacity constraints.
On sewer, the proposed connection would follow Allison Creek to the Little Allison Pump Station. Staff said the station and associated force main had capacity for the development, based on the Western Sewer Study. The developer would construct the required infrastructure, including the sewer extension; staff said the likely connection timeline could be six months to a year.
However, council members argued that the USB should remain meaningful as the county faces rapid growth and transport constraints. One member said the road in the area could not accommodate further capacity, while another pointed to existing growth and traffic pressure around SC 274 and SC 161, urging the county to fund traffic studies across affected areas.
A council member supporting the extension argued that public sewer would be preferable to septic systems near streams and Lake Wylie, and said the proposed layout would preserve more open space than larger-lot development. Staff confirmed that, subject to making water and sewer work, the existing RMX-20 zoning could permit up to 660 units through a cluster subdivision, although the current proposal was for 250 lots.
But the council majority backed denial, with the chair citing the forthcoming comprehensive-plan process and USB review as the appropriate forum for a broader public discussion of the boundary and future service area.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: York County Council Meeting, County of York