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Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: (843) 958-4012

Email:   jdavis@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 3005

Date: April 30, 2009

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

Greenbelt Advisory Board Submits 2008 Annual Report to County Council on Urban Grant Projects

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

In accordance with the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan, the Greenbelt Advisory Board provided an annual report to Charleston County Council on the activities of the Urban Greenbelt Program. The report is also available online so the public can see how Transportation Sales Tax funds were used to protect green space in 2008.

During 2008, two funding cycles were conducted for the Urban Greenbelt Program.  The Urban Grant Review Committee and the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission reviewed the applications that were submitted and recommended 15 projects to Charleston County Council for funding.

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 Urban Grants Review Committee and the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission with the responsibility of reviewing projects submitted to the Urban Grants Program.

Urban land protected since the inception of the program in 2007 through 2008 has contributed 437 acres toward meeting the plan’s goal as follows:

• 179 acres of urban greenbelt lands (nine percent of the goal of 2,000 acres)

• 258 acres of wetlands (combined with wetlands in the rural program, 39 percent of the goal of 5,610 acres)

Citizens can see pictures of the urban greenbelt projects online at www.smallchangeforbigchange.org.

SIDEBAR

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

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

  • Charleston

  • Folly Beach

  • Isle of Palms

  • James Island

  • Kiawah Island

  • Lincolnville

  • Mount Pleasant

  • North Charleston

  • Seabrook Island

  • Sullivan’s Island

And portions of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper areas