2 weeks Ago
As a lifelong resident of Charleston and 20-year Charleston County Greenbelt Advisory Board member, I understand the responsibility we have to preserve the natural beauty of our community. Voting in favor of extending the half-cent sales tax is a commitment that protects our home for generations to come. A "yes" vote in the referendum ensures a record $432 million for future Charleston County Greenbelt Program projects.
That total, notably, is $1 million more than the greenspace allocation in referendums from 2004 and 2016 combined. The simple fact is, voting "yes" means nearly a half-billion dollars to continue Charleston County’s tremendous work in land preservation. According to county staff, the Greenbelt Program has protected more than 25,000 acres to date, including 6,600 wetlands acres.
Twelve thousand acres are dedicated to current or future public parks and greenspaces, while the remaining land is in conservation easements that restrict development. Over the past two decades, Charleston County has further dedicated greenbelt funding to preserve the cultural history of its settlement communities. For instance, the county used transportation sales tax funding for: Greenbelt funding was also used to purchase 7.
5 acres of urban land off Grimball Road on James Island to build the Gullah Cultural Center. Thanks to the transportation sales tax, all of this land is now protected from development and will remain as space that preserves our cultural heritage and pays homage to our past. Greenbelt money has also been used to preserve some of Charleston's most iconic and historic sites.
Angel Oak was once threatened to be encircled by new homes, retail and big box stores. County greenbelt funds helped to extend Angel Oak Park and permanently protect what is one of the largest live oaks in the country. In Mount Pleasant, Boone Hall Plantation will forever be farmland and forest, eliminating pressure from development in rapidly growing East Cooper.
That was made possible in part thanks to more than $5 million in Charleston County greenbelt funding. Providing access for recreation and preservation of wildlife habitats and greenspace is vital to the health and well-being of county residents. It is an honor to serve on a board that is dedicated to improving quality of life for our community.
The investments county residents have made to date have allowed the Greenbelt Program to preserve thousands of acres and many special places in ways that otherwise would not have been possible. A “yes” vote in the referendum allows that work to continue with more resources than ever. Charles Salmonsen is a Charleston County Greenbelt Advisory Board member.
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