Ten at the Top’s March 2026 Upstate Connect was hosted by the Pickens County Museum of Art & History.
Attendees came from across the Upstate – from Spartanburg, Greenville, Pickens, and Anderson Counties. Introductions revealed that 14 of the group of 38 were born and raised in the Upstate and the average time that “newcomers” in the group have lived in the Upstate is 13 years.
The group heard from Chris Sullivan – Anderson County Council, Ken Roper – Pickens County Administrator, Jon Batson – Stormwater Manager at Anderson County, and Kyle Bennett – Pickens County Stormwater Department Head.
Pickens and Anderson Counties are enacting regulations to preserve the integrity of water systems in their areas to maintain long-term sustainability in their communities.
Anderson County Councilman Chris Sullivan and Pickens Administer Ken Roper started the discussion with the impetus of their counties’ work on the development of a set of standards to be used to maintain the stabilization of water systems in both counties. As there are many entities working toward the common good, the cities, municipalities, and counties involved must work together to ensure the best outcome for all involved.
As record numbers of people have moved to the area, Pickens County has seen more public interest in regulations to protect land and water systems. The county has enacted regulations such as slope standards for new developments, property line offsets, riparian buffers, and permanent stabilization requirements during the process of building developments. There are also tree density requirements and incentives for more open areas being incorporated, and maximum disturbance requirements based on grading and acreage.
Discussion followed about state annexation laws, the possible result of increased regulation increasing housing price points, and the importance of education and working together on these critical and complex issues.