(Q & A - Click each question to view the corresponding answers)
Q. Who is eligible to apply for Greenbelt Funding?
A. In accordance with the Charleston County Greenbelt Ordinance #1424 as amended, Eligible Greenbelt Fund Recipient means: Charleston County or a municipality in Charleston County; any agency, commission, or instrumentality of the County or municipality within Charleston County; a not-for-profit charitable corporation or trust authorized to do business in this State and organized and operated for natural resource conservation, land conservation, or historic preservation purposes, and having tax-exempt status as a public charity under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and having the power to acquire, hold, and maintain interests in land for these purposes; an agency or instrumentality of the United States Government; and any other entities as may be approved at the discretion of County Council on a case-by-case basis.
Q. What can the funds be used for?
A. Greenbelt funds can be used to acquire interest in land for conservation, wetlands protection, historic and cultural preservation, parks, greenways and trails, and waterway access.
Greenbelt funds may also be used to support the following minor improvements that provide public access and use of conservation lands purchased with Greenbelt monies.
- Boardwalks
- Foot bridges
- Unpaved Trails
- Unpaved roadways
- Unpaved small parking areas
Other improvements may be included in a particular project but cannot be funded with Greenbelt proceeds.
Beach municipalities (Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Sullivan's Island) may submit applications to use their urban greenbelt funds for allowable minor improvements on land the towns currently own. The improvements would be restricted to those allowed in the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan (see above). Also, the beach towns would have to agree to place the land under the same covenants and restrictions as all other lands protected with greenbelt funds.
Q. How do you determine what is a Rural Project versus an Urban Project?
A. Projects funded with Rural Program monies must occur in the Rural Area of Charleston County 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 the West St. Andrews area in West Ashley, Wadmalaw Island, Edisto Island, the St. Pauls area, Hollywood, Meggett, Ravenel, Rockville, Awendaw, McClellanville and portions of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper.
Projects funded with Urban Program monies must occur in the Urban Area of Charleston County defined by the County's Comprehensive Plan as the municipalities and unincorporated areas that are located within the Charleston County Urban Suburban Growth boundary. The municipalities and unincorporated lands within this boundary include:
- City of Charleston
- City of Folly Beach
- City of Isle of Palms
- Town of James Island
- Town of Kiawah Island
- Town of Mount Pleasant
- City of North Charleston
- Town of Seabrook Island
- Town of Sullivans Island
- Town of Lincolnville
- Unincorporated (portions of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper)
Q. How much money is available?
A. Currently $13.8 million is available for rural projects.
The following table outlines the funds available for urban projects:
| Municipality | Amount Available |
| Town of James Island | $1,102,130 |
| Town of Lincolnville | $93,557 |
| City of North Charleston | $2,535,889 |
| Town of Seabrook Island | $129,365 |
| Total | $3,860,949 |
Q. How will the applications be reviewed and funds awarded?
A. The Charleston County Greenbelt Bank Board will review the Rural Program applications and score them based on the Rural Criteria. Each rural project competes for funding from the Rural Grants Program.
The Urban Grants Review Committee and the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission will review the Urban Program applications to ensure they address all items of the Urban Criteria. Each urban municipality has an allocation of urban greenbelt funds based on the population of each.
County Council has final approval on all Greenbelt projects. Reimbursement in the specified grant amount will be provided to the applicant at the time of closing, when the property is acquired and the deed is recorded.
Q. What are the application submission requirements?
A. Applications for the Charleston County Greenbelt Programs will be accepted through Wednesday, July 31, 2013. Any applications received after the deadline will not be considered in this round of funding. Postmarks will not be considered.
Signed, completed applications and all required attachments must be submitted via mail or in person to the following address:
Charleston County Government
Attn: Greenbelt Programs
4045 Bridge View Drive, Suite C204
North Charleston, SC 29405
One original and 10 copies of the application with all attachments must be provided. The copies may be black and white. However, if any maps or documents are illegible in black and white, color copies must be provided.
Q. What is a pre-application meeting and is it required for application submission?
A. A pre-application meeting is a time for potential applicants to meet with staff to discuss their greenbelt project and receive technical assistance on completion of their applications. Pre-application meetings are required and may be scheduled by contacting Cathy L. Ruff at 843-202-7204.
Q. How do I get an application packet or view the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan?
A. To request an application packet, please visit the Transportation Sales Tax Website www.smallchangeforbigchange.org or contact Cathy Ruff at cruff@charlestoncounty.org or 843-202-7204.