Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: 843.958.4012

Email:   jdavis@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 2802

Date: June 13, 2007

Greenbelt Projects: Second Application Period Opens for Rural and Urban Grants

            Funds from the Transportation "Half-Cent" Sales Tax support greenbelt projects

Charleston County's Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan provides guidance for spending the greenbelt portion of the Transportation "Half-Cent" Sales Tax. The plan assigns the Greenbelt Bank Board with the responsibility of administering the Greenbelt Project's Rural Grants Program.

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

The Charleston County Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan contains both an Urban Grants Program and a Rural Grants Program to distribute the greenbelt portion of the Transportation Sales Tax proceeds. The purpose of these grants is to distribute the funding in an equitable manner for the conservation of greenspace in Charleston County.

Approximately $55 million is available for rural greenbelt projects, and approximately $25 million is available for urban greenbelt projects.

The second application period for Greenbelt grant projects is as follows:

-        June 15 - Aug. 1, 2007 for Rural Projects

-        June 15 - Sept. 28, 2007 for Urban Projects

Completed applications with required attachments should be mailed or hand delivered to:

Charleston County Planning Department

Attn: Greenbelt Project Officer

4045 Bridge View Drive, Suite A-314

North Charleston, SC  29405 

Any applications received after the deadline of 5 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2007, for rural projects or after the deadline of 5 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2007, for urban projects will not be considered for this round of funding. Post marks will not be considered.

A workshop will be held from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 19 to review the application process and answer questions from potential applicants. The workshop will take place in County Council's chambers on the second floor of the Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building (4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston, SC, 29405).

Attendance at the workshop is not required for application submittal. However, anyone applying to either the Urban or Rural Grant Program must schedule a pre-application meeting with staff. This meeting will involve the applicant providing an overview of the proposed project followed with technical assistance by staff. Pre-application meetings may be scheduled by contacting the Greenbelt Project Officer at (843) 202-7204.

An application packet can be requested through the Transportation Sales Tax Web site at www.smallchangeforbigchange.org or by e-mailing the Greenbelt Project Officer at cruff@charlestoncounty.org.

SIDEBAR

-    An 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.

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

-    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; unpaved roadways; foot bridges; unpaved small parking areas; and unpaved trails.

-    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 Surburban Growth Boundary. These areas include the West St. Andrews area in West Ashley; Wadmalaw Island; Edisto Island; the St. Paul's 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                               Town of Mount Pleasant

            City of Folly Beach                              City of North Charleston

            City of Isle of Palms                            Town of Seabrook Island

            Town of James Island                         Town of Sullivan's Island

            Town of Kiawah Island                        Town of Lincolnville

            Unincorporated Charleston County (portions of John's Island, West Ashley and East Cooper)