It's encouraging to see Charleston County take 
such a proactive stance toward acquiring public green space, helping to ensure that the Lowcountry will be just as beautiful for my grandchildren! Careful planning to preserve areas of natural beauty throughout the area maintains the integrity of our whole community, rather than allowing strip mall corridors leading into perfectly preserved historic pockets.
such a proactive stance toward acquiring public green space, helping to ensure that the Lowcountry will be just as beautiful for my grandchildren! Careful planning to preserve areas of natural beauty throughout the area maintains the integrity of our whole community, rather than allowing strip mall corridors leading into perfectly preserved historic pockets."The goal of the greenbelt is to protect 40,000 acres from suburban sprawl as area population continues to grow. Projections by the S.C. State Budget and Control Board and the U.S. Census Bureau show that the region will have an estimated 200,000 more residents by the year 2030. In the past, those estimates have been conservative.
In the first year and a half that funds have been available, the county has preserved more than 7,400 acres of undeveloped land by providing $30.37 million in grants to nonprofit agencies and municipalities. Rather than becoming high-rises, gas stations or residential subdivisions, the land will be parks, playgrounds and nature preserves.
The other was a small, yet expensive, piece of land, and the applicant was unable to generate matching funds. Matching funds are not required but are preferred, Ruff said. To date, projects have generated matching funds of $50.5 million, or 166% of what the county has spent.
Approved projects include $1.41 million for a 232-acre Charleston park that will abut Long Savannah, a 1,300-acre mixed-use development in West Ashley and $4 million for the 900-acre Tibwin Project in the Francis Marion National Forest.
Greenbelt funds are split into two pots of money: one for rural projects outside of the county’s Urban Suburban Growth Boundary and one for urban projects within it.
Rural project areas include the West St. Andrews area in West Ashley, Wadmalaw Island, Edisto Island, the St. Paul’s area, Hollywood, Meggett, Ravenel, Rockville, Awendaw,
McClellanville and portions of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper.
Urban project areas include the cities of Charleston, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and North Charleston; the towns of Mount Pleasant, James Island, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Sullivan’s Island and Lincolnville; and other unincorporated parts of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper."
In the first year and a half that funds have been available, the county has preserved more than 7,400 acres of undeveloped land by providing $30.37 million in grants to nonprofit agencies and municipalities. Rather than becoming high-rises, gas stations or residential subdivisions, the land will be parks, playgrounds and nature preserves.
The other was a small, yet expensive, piece of land, and the applicant was unable to generate matching funds. Matching funds are not required but are preferred, Ruff said. To date, projects have generated matching funds of $50.5 million, or 166% of what the county has spent.
Approved projects include $1.41 million for a 232-acre Charleston park that will abut Long Savannah, a 1,300-acre mixed-use development in West Ashley and $4 million for the 900-acre Tibwin Project in the Francis Marion National Forest.
Greenbelt funds are split into two pots of money: one for rural projects outside of the county’s Urban Suburban Growth Boundary and one for urban projects within it.
Rural project areas include the West St. Andrews area in West Ashley, Wadmalaw Island, Edisto Island, the St. Paul’s area, Hollywood, Meggett, Ravenel, Rockville, Awendaw,
McClellanville and portions of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper.
Urban project areas include the cities of Charleston, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and North Charleston; the towns of Mount Pleasant, James Island, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Sullivan’s Island and Lincolnville; and other unincorporated parts of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper."
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/14_16/news/12518-1.html
For a pdf list of existing Greenbelt purchases: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/issues/pdfs/Greenbelt_Proejcts.pdf
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