Citywide Land Use Strategy

Clemson, South Carolina is a small city with a major university presence, and its growth pressures were beginning to reshape land use decisions across the community. Increasing demand for student housing, infill development, and redevelopment created both challenges and opportunities: how could the city accommodate growth while protecting neighborhood character, improving affordability, and strengthening quality of life? To proactively address these pressures, the City enacted a temporary development moratorium and engaged Development Strategies to help lead ClemsonNEXT, a comprehensive strategic plan for citywide redevelopment. The process began with a rigorous market scan and demographic analysis, which informed an adapted public engagement strategy using online tools, surveys, and educational videos to maximize community participation.

The final strategy emphasized key infill sites and established clear development typologies across the city, including traditional neighborhood design approaches for peripheral greenfield areas. A central recommendation was to concentrate high-density student housing close to campus and downtown. This strategic shift enhanced walkability, reduced vehicle trips, protected established neighborhoods, and freed up urban land for attainable housing and essential community services. The success of this development roadmap led the city to retain Development Strategies for the subsequent Uptown District Framework Plan.