On October 18, Doug Polen, Assistant Town Administrator for the Town of Irmo, shared insights on Irmo’s future development with the St. Andrews Optimists. Drawing from his previous experience with Moncks Corner, Polen emphasized Irmo’s goal to become a distinct and desirable community, separate from larger cities’ influence.
In recent years, Irmo has conducted extensive community workshops and surveys to create a comprehensive vision for its future. A survey of 650 residents helped shape the town’s vision statement:
“Irmo is a safe, distinctive and attractive community that offers a blend of small-town and suburban lifestyles. The town is poised to grow with the Midlands by maintaining a diverse economic base and employing a balanced approach to growth. With the area’s scenic beauty, access to recreational opportunities, cultural resources, and economic opportunity, Irmo is a welcoming place for people and businesses to call home.”
Key areas of focus for the town’s growth plan include:
- Creating an inclusive playground for children of all abilities
- Launching an outdoor concert series
- Establishing a pollinator habitat
- Building paved trails for accessibility
- Developing greenway connections to Lake Murray
- Revitalizing aging shopping centers
Currently, most Irmo housing consists of single-family homes. However, with an aging population, Polen suggests a shift toward more varied residential options, balancing “low to medium density” housing with “mixed residential” developments.
In shaping Irmo’s future, the town is prioritizing safety, crime prevention, and traffic management to enhance residents’ quality of life. For Polen, the ultimate goal is simple: to make Irmo a community that people proudly call home.
Pictured are Doug Polen, speaker sponsor Kerry Powers, and new Optimist Club President Gary Boyd, who presented the speaker with a copy of the Optimist Creed.
