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During its Monday, Aug. 26, regular meeting, the Berkeley County Council approved the county’s first Greenbelt Preservation Plan. The plan outlines the county’s strategy for preserving and creating greenspaces, open spaces, conservation areas and parks.
The Greenbelt Preservation Plan includes the following primary elements: This master plan prioritizes waterways and watersheds, buffers on existing greenspace, preservation of historic sites and working lands, water access, greenways, trails and linear greenspace. It also includes recommendations for six to eight community parks with natural elements and a variety of amenities and two to three regional parks—each at least 85 acres—for a broader population to enjoy. “The Greenbelt Program arrived right on time,” said Nick Yoder, Berkeley County Greenbelt Program Manager.
“The impacts of growth have encouraged appreciation of what we have and prompted our citizens to fight to preserve what is important to them before it’s lost. This is our most effective tool for protecting the landscape character and history of this County.” Today's Top Headlines Story continues below They're big, and they can be mean.
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They are big. Facebook owner Meta selects Aiken County for first South Carolina data center Former Columbia mayoral candidate in jail on child sexual assault charges has history of abuse Oceanside football coach on resignation: 'Had to be done' 'Completely naked' Clemson student arrested after attacking roommate on bus, deputies say This theater is closing the curtain on its downtown Charleston space Popular brewery to close its Charleston taproom, but it's not going away completely Cypress Gardens is currently Berkeley County’s only park. Earlier this year, the county closed on a $4 million deal with the South Carolina Ports Authority for a 115-acre parcel on Daniel Island.
Half of the parcel’s funding ($2 million) stemmed from the South Carolina Conservation Bank and State Resiliency Funds. Negotiations are being worked on for other potential park properties throughout the county. In November 2022, Berkeley County residents voted, through a referendum, to continue the county’s One-Cent Sales Tax Program for another seven years.
For the first time since the program’s inception in 2008, funding of up to $58.7 million will be used for Greenbelt Preservation projects. As noted in the ballot language, funding can be used for financing greenbelt initiatives (including but not limited to purchasing property for conservation, purchasing conservation easements, creating passive greenspace, creating active greenspace, protecting natural resources, protecting agricultural or heritage landscapes and protecting scenic corridors).
In February 2024, the county established the Berkeley County Conservation and Greenbelt Advisory Commission to help guide the use of Greenbelt funds from the 2022 One-Cent Sales Tax referendum and provide advice and recommendations to the county council about Greenbelt Preservation projects. “This is a critical step in living up to the commitments made in the 2022 One-Cent Sales Tax referendum,” said Johnny Cribb, Berkeley County Supervisor. “In a growing county, we aim to protect greenspace and provide the community with passive and active recreational opportunities.
Presently, 45% of the area of Berkeley County is protected. With 74% support for the referendum, the public spoke loudly that we need to do more to protect land and natural resources.”.
