Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: 843.958.4012

Email:   jdavis@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 2985

Date: March 6, 2009

See Report Online: http://www.smallchangeforbigchange.org/pdfs/2008-Annual-Report-Final.pdf

Greenbelt Bank Board Submits 2008 Annual Report to County Council

            Citizens can go online to see the report and see new pictures of land that has been preserved using Transportation Half-Cent Sales Tax funds

In accordance with the Charleston County Greenbelt Bank Board ordinance, the board has provided an annual report to Charleston County Council on the activities of the Rural Greenbelt Program. The report is also available online so the public can see how Transportation Half-Cent Sales Tax funds were used to protect green space in 2008.

During 2008, the Greenbelt Bank Board conducted three funding cycles for the Rural Greenbelt Program and made recommendations to Charleston County Council to fund 14 projects.

The Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan set a goal of protecting 40,000 acres throughout Charleston County. The plan provides guidance for spending the greenbelt portion of the Transportation Sales Tax, and assigns the Greenbelt Bank Board with the responsibility of administering the Greenbelt Project’s Rural Grants Program.

Rural land protected since the inception of the program in 2007 through 2008 has contributed 7,980 acres toward meeting the plan’s goal as follows:

• 3,961 acres of rural greenbelt lands (24 percent of goal of 16,240 acres)
• 2,061 acres in the Francis Marion National Forest (20 percent of goal of 10,275 acres)
• 1,958 acres of rural wetlands (34 percent of goal of 5,610 acres)

The public can now see pictures of the rural greenbelt projects online at www.smallchangeforbigchange.org.

The Greenbelt Bank was established by Charleston County Council to protect land and promote balanced growth in the county.

SIDEBAR

• Greenbelt funds can be used for the acquisition of land and/or purchase of development rights.

• Projects funded through the Rural Grants Program must occur in the rural area of Charleston County as defined by the County’s Comprehensive Plan as the municipalities and unincorporated areas that are located outside the Charleston County Urban Suburban Growth Boundary. These areas include:

  • Edisto Island

  • Portions of Johns Island, West of the Ashley and the East Cooper area

  • St. Paul’s area

  • Town of Awendaw

  • Town of Hollywood

  • Town of Meggett

  • Town of Ravenel

  • Town of Rockville

  • Town of McClellanville

  • Wadmalaw Island

  • West St. Andrews area West of the Ashley