Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: 843.958.4012

Email: jdavis@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 2805

Date: June 20, 2007

For maps, photos, and more details of proposed projects, go to: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/pages/pdfs/FC_presentation.pdf

County Council Awards $2.4 Million for Urban Greenbelt Projects

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

At their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 19, Charleston County Council unanimously approved a total of $2,402,471 for six Urban Grant Program projects in the first round of Transportation "Half-Cent" Sales Tax funds dedicated for greenbelts.

Charleston County's Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan provides guidance for spending the greenbelt portion of the Transportation Sales Tax. The plan assigns the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (PRC) the responsibility of reviewing the Greenbelt Project's Urban Grants Program applications and making recommendations to County Council for final approval.

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.

The urban municipal projects that were awarded funding are as follows:

City of Charleston: $430,000 for 1.25 acres

-        1.25 acres located at the intersection of Folly Road and Ellis Oaks Drive on James Island

-        Proposed use is for a passive park that will link to a future waterfront park.

-        Additional improvements will be a small parking area and benches.

Town of James Island: $657,114 for 5.4 acres

-        5.4 acres located at the corner of Medway Road and Capers Street on James Island

-        Proposed use is active recreation.

-        Existing recreation features will be replaced with ball fields, soccer fields, a walking trail and an interpretive center.

Town of Mount Pleasant: $270,000 for 9 acres

-        9 acres on Grey Marsh Road, bounded by Park West and Carolina Park subdivisions

-        1,200 feet of frontage along Darrell Creek, and a 75-foot buffer will be maintained

-        Proposed use is to link with two other parcels for a 70-acre active recreation park.

The urban projects in the unincorporated areas of the County that were awarded funding are as follows:

Snowden Community Civic Association: $540,140 for 4.29 acres

-        4.29 acres located between Greer Street and Forsythe Lane

-        Proposed use is for a passive park for walking, jogging, bird watching and community gatherings

St. Andrews Parks and Playground Commission: $276,000 for 120 acres

-        120 acres located on Bees Ferry Road between the Hunt Club subdivision and the landfill

-        Proposed use of the "Hunt Club Trail" is the creation of a passive park and trail system.

Ten Mile Neighborhood Association: $229,217 for 1.08 acres

-        1.08 acres located on Seafood Road adjacent to a small park owned by the neighborhood association

-        Proposed use is to create a recreation area for children, senior citizens and adults.

-        Improvements will include a small parking area, walking paths and benches.

Greenbelt funds can be used for the acquisition of land and/or purchase of development rights. Funds may also be used to support the following minor improvements that provide public access and use of conservation lands purchased with greenbelt funds:

-        Boardwalks

-        Unpaved roadways

-        Foot bridges

-        Unpaved small parking areas

-        Unpaved trails

Now that funds have been awarded for the first round of the Urban Grant Program projects, approximately $25 million is still available for upcoming projects in this category.

Approximately $55 million is available for Rural Grant Program projects. County Council will consider the first round of Rural Grant Program projects at their July 12 Finance Committee meeting.

An eligible greenbelt fund recipient is 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 South Carolina 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 U.S. Government; and any other entities as may be approved at the discretion of County Council on a case-by-case basis.

Projects funded with Urban Grant 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. 

Projects funded with Rural Grant 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.

The second application period for Greenbelt Grant Program projects is now open as follows:

-        June 15 - Aug. 1, 2007 for Rural Grant Program

-        June 15 - Sept. 28, 2007 for Urban Grant Program

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 Grant Program projects or after the deadline of 5 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2007, for Urban Grant Program 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.

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

-        For maps, photos, and more details of the Urban Grants Program projects, go to  http://www.charlestoncounty.org/pages/pdfs/FC_presentation.pdf.

-        For information and news on all Transportation Sales Tax projects, visit the Charleston County site, www.smallchangeforbigchange.org.

-        An urban or rural grant 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.

- Written by Jennie Davis -