Approves rural grants totaling $2.6 million

Another 1600 acres protected

In its meeting today to consider the first round of applications for calendar 2008, the County Greenbelt Bank approved rural grants totaling $2.6 million covering nearly 1600 acres. The major portion of the grants went to finance the purchases of conservation easements. Of the five properties considered, three were on Edisto Island, one adjacent to the town of Awendaw and the other close to the town of Meggett.

Continue reading "County Greenbelt Bank, May 1"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 02:10 PM

A summary of last year’s Greenbelt financings

Considerable funds remain

The meetings this week of the Greenbelt Bank and the Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) had a common feature - a summary presentation of the greenbelt program by Cathy Ruff, Director of Greenbelts Programs.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Bank, April 3"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)

Summary of Greenbelt grants for 2007

Substantial funds still available

Staff presented a summary of the Greenbelt grants made in 2007. These grants are related to the half-cent sales tax introduced in 2005. Since the Grants program was introduced early this year, the Greenbelt Bank has approved 21 projects and made grants totaling $16.2 million. The Urban Grants Review Committee has approved 15 projects and made grants of $9.9 million.

Continue reading "Greenbelts Advisory Board, December 4"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 10:40 AM | Comments (0)

Grants totaling $8.4 million approved

Political decision on controversial Bear Swamp Road tract left to County

The Urban Grants Review Committee (UGRC) met yesterday to review the second round of applications for urban grants from greenbelt funds. In total, it approved $8.4 million, all for fee simple purchases. Grants to only two applicants received less than the amounts applied for - St Andrews Parish Parks and Playground and the City of North Charleston. In both cases, the appraised values of the land were less than the amounts requested.

Continue reading "Greenbelts – Urban Grants Review Committee"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 01:15 PM | Comments (0)

Some legal issues sorted out

$24 million still available for distribution

Yesterday’s meeting of the County Greenbelt Bank was essentially one for review. The second round of applications for rural grants was approved at the last meeting and were to go to County Council on Thursday night for final approval (They all were approved ) Staff also apprised the board of the status of previously approved applications. All seemed likely to move to completion shortly. The State Conservation Bank had also made grants to applicants in the Greenbelt Bank’s first round. The grants made by the County Greenbelt Bank would be reduced accordingly. The major grants by the State bank were $100,000 to both Salt Landing and Sand Creek projects.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Bank, November 1"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 01:23 PM | Comments (0)

City of Charleston request approved but with conditions

The Greenbelt Bank approved 6 applications for rural grants at its meeting today. The grants totaled $5.4 million. Most of the grants related to conservation easements on properties on Edisto, Johns, Yonge and Wadmalaw Islands. The application by the City of Charleston was also approved for a park adjacent to the proposed Long Savannah development in West Ashley. But the approval came with conditions.

Continue reading "Grants totaling $5.4 million approved by Greenbelt Bank"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)

Work on new Comprehensive Plan for County begins

Final plan could take more than a year to complete

State law obliges counties to prepare a full update of their Comprehensive Plans every 10 years. The first Comprehensive Plan (CP) prepared by Charleston County was completed in 1999. A new plan is required by 2009. To meet State requirements, the County earlier this year retained consultants, at a cost of $250,000 to prepare the new plan. Mr. Dan Pennick, head of Planning for the County said it would take 12 to 14 months to complete and should be ready before the 2009 deadline.

Continue reading "County Planning Commission, September 17"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:36 PM | Comments (0)

Second round of applications draws 8 submissions for rural grants

A total of $4.6 million is sought

There are eight applications in the second round of applications for rural grants, members of the Greenbelt Bank board were told by staff today. The requests total $4.6 million and cover 1666 acres, equal to about $2770 an acre. The latter figure compares with about $5500 an acre from applications in the first round.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Bank, September 6"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 11:52 AM | Comments (0)

Providing guidance on “heritage” landscapes

Land that is purchased needs unique qualities

There was only one matter of importance before the Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) today. It related to guidance for the Greenbelt Bank in deciding on applications for grants relating to “heritage” landscapes. The Bank had requested guidance after hearing the first round of applications for greenbelt funds derived from the half-cent sales tax. Some of the applications related to heritage landscapes, and one in particular, caused some unease on the Board. To ease future decision making, it requested better guidance from the GAB.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board, September 4"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)

How to rank “heritage and cultural” sites for funding?

Any evaluation will be subjective

Deliberation over “heritage and cultural sites” took up most of the time at the August meeting of the Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB). The County Greenbelt Bank had asked the GAB to more fully define the term and to give it more guidance in setting criteria for allocation of funds. From the discussion yesterday, it is possible the Bank will not get what it hoped for. It is not that the GAB was reluctant to provide guidance; it is just difficult to provide firm guidelines when values are very subjective.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board, August 7"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 11:11 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Three more rural applications approved

Concern about proposed PRC purchase of Harmony Hall property

Warwick Jones

The Greenbelt Bank approved three more financings at its meeting today. The applications were presented and discussed at an earlier meeting but decisions deferred. In two cases, the deferral was to allow the applicant to seek a lower purchase price and thereby lower funding, and the other, to gather more information. The Board was happy with the new information and unanimously approved all the applications.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Bank, July 18"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 02:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Fine tuning the Greenbelt grant process

Warwick Jones

The Greenbelt Advisory Board met yesterday, its first meeting in the wake of the approval of grants for Greenbelt acquisitions using half-cent sales funding. The grants were approved by the Greenbelt Bank and the Urban Grants Review Committee (UGRC) last month. In accordance with the Greenbelt Comprehensive Plan, the Parks and Recreation (PRC) has also signed off on the urban grants. Both the urban and rural grants now will go before Council for final approval.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board, June 5"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 10:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Bank kicks off with over $11 million in grants

But refuses to make a decision on Long Savannah parcel

The distribution of sales tax funds for greenbelt purchases is now fully underway. The Urban Grants Committee met earlier this month and approved a number of applications for urban grants. Yesterday, the Charleston County Greenbelt Bank approved 11 applications for rural grants. Before being distributed, the urban grants must be approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) - which by coincidence, approved them yesterday- and then by the County Council. In the case of rural grants, approval is needed only by County Council.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Bank Meeting, May 21"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 01:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Really Go Green –Build Urban Parks!

Lee Walton

Last week, after a downtown business meeting and with a few minutes to spare, I drove to White Point Gardens and parked to watch one of the larger Tall Ships enter the Harbor for this past weekend’s Maritime Festival. As I gazed about the park that I remembered playing in as a young boy, something seemed missing from the majestic canopy of old Live Oaks that shaded this still beautiful, albeit now shop-worn creation of Olmstead’s genius. It took a few minutes until realizing that there wasn’t a hand-full of moss (Spanish Moss – neither Spanish nor moss, but an epiphyte) to be seen anywhere. Later while driving around the Lower Peninsula, I began consciously searching for any sign of this commonplace vegetation that still graces and accentuates most mature oak canopies throughout the more rural settings of the Lowcountry. One can’t help but be impressed by the beautiful old gray beard oaks that still line most heavily wooded roadways throughout the Sea Islands and surrounding rural landscapes south of Charleston. Ever the curious, I called an acquaintance who was in the landscape business and asked why there was no longer any Spanish Moss in the Peninsula. His answer was short and to the point – air pollution.

Continue reading "Shrimp 'n Grits"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 08:26 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Some dissention over application from Town of James Island

Committee approves grants of $1.85 million

The determination of grants of greenbelt funds took a first step yesterday. The Urban Grants Review Committee had the first 17 applications before it. It approved 5. The remainder were rejected because they were incomplete and not because of insufficient merit. The applicants can reapply for consideration at the next round of approvals later this year. In total, the Committee approved grants totaling $1.85 million. The applications will now move to the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) for endorsement and further scrutiny. They will then move to County Council for final approval.

Continue reading "Greenbelts – Urban Grants Review Committee, May 8"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

New members and a review

Some discussion on Long Savannah development

It is some months since the last Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) meeting. As most members are appointed by Council members, there were a number of new members following the County election last November. There are 14 members of the Board of which 5 are new. Another member should be appointed shortly by the Town of Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant and the cities of North Charleston and Charleston each have the right to appoint a member as well.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board, May 1"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Seeks funds for Greenbelts

Hopes to move the UGB and to annex Long Savannah Plantation development

There were a lot of items on yesterday’s City Council Agenda which we thought were worthy of some discussion. And as happens too frequently, there was little or no discussion. In particular there was the $1.96 million distribution of CDBG and Home grants from HUD, an ordinance relating to the Neck Development and the applications to the County for Greenbelt Funds.

Continue reading "City Council, March 27"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Speakers point to solutions to accelerating sprawl

But can they be implemented?

Warwick Jones

Governor Sanford called the conference. But probably as the Governor expected, Andres Duany, the well known architect and planner, dominated it. He and other speakers expressed their concern as to what was happening to South Carolina and other eastern states as they reeled under high population growth. The strong growth seemed certain to continue and unless some action were taken, the quality of life of those in the coastal areas in particular was threatened.

Continue reading "South Carolina Land Use Conference, March 26"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 01:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Some “amazing” applications for rural grants

Preservation groups introduce themselves

So far 25 applications for rural grants have been received by the Greenbelt Bank, Project Manager Cathy Ruff told the board members today. The total is likely to be higher by the March 30 deadline. “Pre-application meetings” have been scheduled with 9 other potential applicants. A board member asked as to the acreage involved in all the applications. Ms. Ruff could not answer the question but opined that some of the projects were “amazing”

Continue reading "Greenbelt Bank Board Meeting – March 1"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Approves Urban Grant Application Form

Many new faces on Board next year

The Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) met yesterday for the first time in about 6 months. The purpose essentially was to consider a draft of the Application Form and accompanying documents relating to Urban Grants. The draft document was prepared by staff with the guidance of the Urban Grant Review Committee, a body that consists of 6 members - 2 drawn from the GAB, 2 from the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC), and 2 from County Staff. The Committee was formed by the Council following a recommendation by the GAB contained in the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board December 12"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 12:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

A presentation on environmental liability

Approving the Application form for Grants

Covering today's meeting of the Greenbelt Bank (GB) board is a challenge. The first part of the meeting was a presentation on Environmental Liability by a legal expert, and was largely over our head. The remainder of the meeting was a discussion of the Application Form for rural grants. And although scrutiny and comments were appropriate and necessary, they don't make thrilling copy.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Bank Meeting, December 7"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 02:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Begins the learning process

Warwick Jones

The newly appointed board of the County Greenbelt Bank held its second meeting today. Most of the meeting was taken up by a presentation by Mr. Chuck Flink of Greenways Inc. on the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan. Greenways was the consultant retained by the County to guide the Greenbelt Advisory Board in creating the Plan. The Plan has been published and can be seen on the County's web site. Press here

Continue reading "Greenbelt Bank, November 30"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 01:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Introductions and procedures

Warwick Jones

Directors of the Charleston County Greenbelt Bank (CCGB) today met for the first time. County Council appointed the directors at its last meeting. (See County Council October 12) County Council Chairman Stavrinakis welcomed the Board and commented on the high caliber of its members. He noted the importance of its task, the strong support of the County and citizens.

Continue reading "Charleston County Greenbelt Bank- First meeting"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 08:02 PM | Comments (0)

New jail to cost over $100 million, property taxes likely to rise

Success on the Eastside, Board of Conservation Bank chosen

There wasn't as much discussion on the new jail as the waiting TV camera teams expected. A PowerPoint presentation had been prepared by staff, but it was never given. Council agreed with Council member Bostic that much of the information was already public knowledge and there was no point in re hashing it. But the handout for the presentation showed that the estimated cost of the new jail was now $101 million, more than 30% over the previous estimate of $76 million. And most likely, property taxes will need to increase to finance it.

Continue reading "County Council, October 12"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:31 PM | Comments (1)

What will be the impact of extending the Mark Clark Expressway?

Possibly not as much as we thought

The Mark Clark Community Impact Assessment Report, one way or another, has been in the public domain for a few weeks. The draft, presumably the final, was sent to members of the Greenbelt and Transportation Advisory Boards late last week. They assembled yesterday, together with about 30 members of the public, to hear a presentation by the consultant who prepared the report.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board August 17"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:35 PM | Comments (0)

Still no closure on Outside Agencies

Oversight role of TAB endorsed

The issue of contributions to Outside Agencies refuses to die. The Finance Committee at its meeting last Thursday agreed to defer the allocations to Outside Agencies until policy was better defined within the next few months. Last night, Council's vote was equally split as to accepting the Finance Committee's recommendation. Consequently, the recommendation to defer was not adopted. Council will meet again on Thursday to take up the issue once more. The only agreement that presently exists is that $312,000 will be distributed to Outside Agencies in fiscal 2007.

Continue reading "County Council June 6"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:45 PM | Comments (0)

Issues with Outside Agencies and the Post & Courier

Greenbelts, bonding and the RMC

Discussion of Outside Agencies dominated last night's session of the Finance Committee. Before the discussion got underway, Council member Bostic moved that a vote should be deferred for some months, and that in the meantime Council should define a policy for contributions to Outside Agencies. This it agreed to do. But there was considerable debate before the vote was taken and it spilled into wider issues such as "single member districts", and the reporting of the Post & Courier.

Continue reading "County Council, June 1"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:43 PM | Comments (1)

Approves final of Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan

We summarize the important features

The Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) had its first meeting almost a year ago. Yesterday's felt like a final meeting, and in a sense, it was. The major purpose of the GAB was to help shape a Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan for the County. This job has been completed and the Plan will now go to the Park and Recreation Commission (PRC) and Council. The actual report was written by Greenway's Inc., the consultant retained by the County to assist the GAB and the development of the Plan.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board May 2"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 01:02 AM | Comments (0)

Wraps up deliberations on Green Belt Plan

Urban Grant Review Committee to be formed

So it's done. At yesterday's meeting, the Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) jumped the last hurdle to complete the Comprehensive Green Belt Plan. The GAB wrapped up details of its recommendation on Urban Grants and finalized its comments on the draft of the Plan submitted two weeks ago. Although another draft will be submitted to the GAB for review at its next meeting, the scope for further changes will be very limited. The report has been written by the consultant Greenways Inc. and in essence summarizes the discussion and decisions of the GAB since it inception as it shapes a Greenbelt Plan for the County.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board April 11"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 04:50 PM | Comments (0)

Funding for urban greenspace still being debated

GAB needs to have more oversight?

Most of us thought that the contentious issues had been dealt with at the special meeting of the previous day. A discussion of the draft Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan indicated that they weren't. Back before the Greenbelt Advisory Board, (GAB) is the issue of distributing funds to the municipalities and unincorporated areas of the County within the County- defined urban growth boundries.

Continue reading "Greenbelts Advisory Board, March 28"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 09:24 PM | Comments (0)

Board sticks with 70% rural allocation

And with "per capita" allocation for urban greenbelt funding

In a sense, nothing much happened at the special meeting of the Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) yesterday. But the meeting still took the best part of two hours. It had been called to discuss the adverse comment made at one of the public hearings earlier this month on the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan. Some citizens sought a higher allocation of funds for urban greenspace, The meeting was also to discuss the distribution of funds to municipalities for urban greenspace on a per capita basis, agreed to at the previous meeting. The Consultant thought that the distribution on a per capita basis would not be agreeable to the County. After considerable discussion, the Board left its previous decisions unchanged.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board, Special Meeting, March 27"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 04:40 AM | Comments (0)

Votes for Urban allocation on the basis of population

Suggests PRC run Urban program, and Greenbelt Bank the rural program

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board March 7"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 07:08 PM | Comments (0)

Recommends a bond issue as soon as possible

To discuss Greenbelt process and GAB's future role at next meeting

The Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) will ask County Council to consider a referendum to approve bond issues to assist funding of greenbelt projects. The interest and amortization of the bonds would be met from the proceeds of the half-cent sales tax. The decision follows presentations at the last two meetings by staff, attorneys and the consultant.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board February 21"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 04:22 PM | Comments (0)

Settles on Prioritization Criteria

Considers Bond issue options

There were two matters decided yesterday of importance. First was the prioritization criteria and point allocation for greenbelt projects. The other was to defer to the next meeting some important decision relating to the future role of the Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB), bond issues secured over future sales tax flows, and the scope for municipalities to rank projects. In anticipation of lengthy debate, the starting time for the meeting on February 21 is 2pm, not 3pm as is usual.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board February 8"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:16 PM | Comments (0)

Weighting of criteria for allocating funds

Yesterday's meeting of the Greenbelt Advisory Board was taken up largely with the discussion of prioritization criteria for assessing greenbelt projects. No hard decisions were made but most likely will be made at the next meeting. An important decision as to whether the GAB or municipalites assess projects in Urban areas also has to be made. This too will be discussed at the next meeting.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board January 24"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:56 PM | Comments (0)

Board opts to emphasize rural funding

Defines "minor improvements" that it will consider

In a sense, yesterday's meeting was a win for rural as opposed to urban greenspace. But this is to suggest that there are opposing factions developing in the Greenbelt Advisory Board. The matter is really one of degree and not of absolutes. I am sure every member of the GAB wishes there were enough funding to enable all parties to acquire greenspace as needed. But there isn't, so some hard decisions have to be made about the split of funding received from the half-cent sales tax.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board Meeting January 10"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:39 PM | Comments (0)

Council member Bostic agrees to new clause in Conservation Bank ordinance

Privately, a member of the Greenbelts Advisory Board (GAB) told me that I took it all too seriously. "It was all part of the process of getting things done". He was responding to my question as to why others on the GAB were not annoyed about the recent comments and attitude of Council member Bostic. I was, and indicated it.

Continue reading "Greenbelts Advisory Board - December 6"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:28 PM | Comments (0)

Righting an injustice

Public hearing on proposed Conservation Bank

There were not many spectators left at the close of yesterday's Finance Committee Meeting. Because of an executive session, the meeting began more than an hour late and time took a toll after a lengthy discussion about the proposed Conservation Bank. But the meeting had an electrifying ending. Council Member Darby, in a passionate speech, spoke of an injustice that had been dealt the County Attorney, Mr. Joe Dawson. He also requested that Mr Dawson's rate of remuneration be set at $160 an hour. Council member Darby had only recently learned on the injustice and judging from his manner, he was clearly incensed.

Continue reading "County Council Meeting December 1"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:07 PM | Comments (0)

Drawing the line!

Given the nature of the Board, there was always the potential for a split. And very possibly, it will occur at the next meeting. The issue is where the Greenbelts Advisory Board (GAB) should draw the line on usage of funds allocated to the cities in the County? Actually the GAB still has to draw lines between or around many goals and objectives. Yesterday's issue related specifically to developments such as playgrounds or swimming pools. If the Cities could draw on funds to purchase the land, why not funds to add these sorts of facilities? With three members of the GAB appointed by each of the Cities of Charleston and North Charleston, and by the Town of Mount Pleasant, it seems certain that this question would be asked. It was, but a decision was deferred until the next meeting, allowing members to contemplate their action.

Continue reading "Greenbelts Advisory Board Meeting - November 29"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:08 PM | Comments (0)

Seeking a vision for the County

One cannot minimize the role that the consultant is playing in the greenbelt process. One of its tasks is educating the Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB). Some of us came to the table with little or no experience in greenbelts, or land preservation. And indeed, the learning process has some way to go, at least for one of us. But the consultant now has the task of drawing our opinions, to be used to help shape the Comprehensive Green Plan. I don't think that we are making it easy for him, but that does not stem from any ill intent on the part of Board members. In the view of this writer the problem is largely a mixture of uncertainly, and difference of opinions amongst board members. But whatever, the GAB has to start coming to conclusions. And the next meeting may see some.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board November 8"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 11:51 PM | Comments (0)

Committee approves formation of Conservation Bank

Mitigation efforts proposed for Mark Clark and Port Road

The Finance Committee approved the formation of the Conservation Bank proposed by Council member Bostic. However, the Committee voted to hold back funding for the bank until the Comprehensive Green Belt Plan was completed. The approval, despite the caveat of funding, was a slap in the face of the recently formed Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB). The GAB had asked Council to defer the issue because of a number of reasons. Essentially, its stated that a decision on its formation was premature. It should wait for the Greenbelt Plan and until the mechanism for the choice of greenbelt acquisitions and the disposal of sales tax funds had been worked out.

Continue reading "County Council October 27"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)

Preparing for the hard decisions

Somebody should have warned us. Serve on the Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) and you will have no friends. Hopefully an exaggeration, but patently possible. Consider the results of the public hearing on greenspace and the spectrum of desires expressed by the public. Consider also what the public did not want. Now consider the views of some of the cities of the County which look more to active parks rather than passive greenspace, a view generally contrary to that coming from the public hearings. Now consider the $221 million funding for greenbelts, a sum that is sizable for most of us but in the context of present and probably future land prices, not large, especially as its receipt will be spread over 25 years.

Continue reading "Greenbelts Advisory Board Meeting - October 25"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:55 PM | Comments (0)

A polite "thumbs down" on Conservation Bank

Observations on public hearings, and Good news for bikers

The Greenbelt Advisory Board will ask the County to defer a decision on the proposed Conservation Bank proposed by Council member Bostic until the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan has been tabled. This could be more than 6 months away. As well, the Chairman of the GAB will send a letter to the County Council detailing the Board's concerns.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board October 4"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:17 PM | Comments (0)

Some serious issues

Within the next few weeks, County Council will consider the creation of a Conservation Bank to serve Charleston County. While the name and its implied purpose may resonate pleasingly with citizens, it should be rejected by Council, at least in its present form. Its creation will fly in the face of the oversight that voters were led to believe would be put in place for spending of the half-cent sales-tax proceeds. The entity that will be considered is not a bank. It will simply be another non-profit group but with a board that arguably could be controlled by the County Council, and with easy access to the sales-tax proceeds. There may well be good reason to form a conservation group to focus on Charleston County, but it should not have some of the offending powers proposed for the new Conservation Bank

Continue reading "A Conservation Bank for Charleston County?"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 04:20 PM | Comments (0)

PRC's $36 million bond issue approved

GAB to exercise no oversight on spending

The Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) voted today to approve an Ordinance that would allow the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) to move ahead with it $36 million bond issue. The Ordinance would allow a number of other things as well. It was the other things that caused this member of GAB to cast the only dissenting vote for the measure.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board September 20."

Posted by Warwick Jones at 08:08 PM | Comments (0)

Preparing for the public meetings

PRC may receive first funds

Yesterday's meeting focused largely on issues relating to the pubic meetings scheduled for September. The Board refined further its definition of "greenbelts" and began working on the wording of questions that the Consultant, Greenways Inc., planned to ask those attending the meetings.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board August 25"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 07:48 PM | Comments (0)

The economic benefits of greenspace

Consultant makes an impressive case

We suspect that every member of the Greeenbelt Advisory Board was impressed. Probably no member needed assurance of the benefits that flow from greenspace. But the presentation by the newly hired consultant, Greenways Inc, highlighting the economic benefits derived by a community from the acquisition and creation of greenspace, must have expelled any doubts.

Continue reading "Greenbelts Advisory Board Meeting, August 9"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 02:58 PM | Comments (0)

Getting closer

Action on "greenbelt" acquisitions or easements may still be some time away, but what is to be defined as suitable for financing by the half-cent sales tax is moving closer. Center stage of this week's meeting was the newly hired consultant Greenways Inc. Mr. Charles Flink, a principal of the firm spoke of the many terms used in describing greenspace. More importantly, he asked members of the Greenbelts Advisory Board (GAB) to broadly describe their hopes and expectations in their capacity of board members. These thoughts will be melded by the consultant into some coherent form for discussion at the next meeting. Sometime thereafter, though not necessarily immediately, the public will be engaged, preparatory to the final definition of "greenbelts" and the direction of spending.

Continue reading "Greenbelts Advisory Board Meeting July 19"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 04:47 PM | Comments (0)

First meeting with consultant Extensive public input to be sought for Greenbelt plan

The Greenbelts Advisory Board (GAB) had its first formal meeting with the consultant retained by the County to formulate the Comprehensive Greenbelts Plan. Mr. Charles Flink, a principal of the consultant, Greenways Inc., made a presentation that was essentially an introduction to the firm, its history and some of the concepts it devised. In broad terms, he spoke of his approach to the plan for Charleston County.

Continue reading "Greenbelts Advisory Board Meeting July 5"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:04 PM | Comments (0)

Heated meeting on procurement and hiring policy of the County

Simmering issue with Town of Mount Pleasant

It started with the discussion of a $3.6 million contact for road resurfacing. It ended with a call for executive session to discuss the County's policies on hiring and procurement. In between there were a series of very heated exchanges between Council members on the tardiness of the administration in formulating a policy and the lack of communication between Staff and members of the Council.

Continue reading "County Council Meeting June 16"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 02:41 PM | Comments (0)

Finance Committee asked to defer decision on Conservation Bank

Public beginning to present views

The Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB) had its third meeting yesterday and clearly is still feeling its way. On the agenda was a presentation by Council Chairman Stavrinakis on the role of the GAB, a presentation by the Department of Natural Resources, consideration of the role of the Greenbelt Consultant, and consideration of the Conservation Bank proposed by Council member Bostic.

Continue reading "Greenbelts Advisory Board June 15"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:32 PM | Comments (1)

Board searches to define "Greenbelt"

Seeks to discuss its role and that of the proposed Conservation Bank

As a member of the public said, there was not much action at yesterday's meeting. Most of the time was taken up with presentations by conservation groups and the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC). In varying degree, they described their activities and gave their views as to how the sales tax fund should be dispersed in relation to "greenbelts". But in deference to the member of the public, too much action should not be expected at this early stage. The Board is feeling its way and there are many voids to be filled in defining its role. And the biggest void may well be the definition of "greenbelt". It was to help the GAB define the word that the conservation groups were invited to make presentations. There will be more presentations at the next meeting scheduled for June 15, at 3pm at County Council Offices in North Charleston.

Continue reading "Greenbelt Advisory Board - June 1 meeting"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:16 PM | Comments (0)

What a difference a few days make

CARTA to receive an extra $1 million. Conservation Bank to go back to Finance Committee for consideration

As is usual, much of the agenda on last night's meeting received rubber stamp approval. After all, most of it had been considered and approved by the Finance Committee. What was surprising was the decision to raise the allocation of sales tax proceeds for Fiscal 2006 to CARTA. The Finance Committee at its meeting last week stated that it would keep the allocation to 18% of the sales tax proceeds, a ratio that it fixed in the 2002 referendum paper. Committee members last week expressed fear that many voters would be incensed if CARTA were to receive more than this allocation particularly as the inclusion of CARTA as a recipient of sales tax funds was contentious.

Continue reading "County Council Meeting May 17"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 03:56 PM | Comments (0)

Could the new sales tax restrain property tax increases

Plan for Conservation Bank to be sent to G AB for consideration

It really wasn't on the Finance Committee agenda but it came up in discussion on the Fiscal year 2006 budget. Council member Scott suggested that consideration be given to shifting funding on some public works to the soon-to-be-collected half cent sales tax. He suggested that perhaps $4 million could be shifted but subsequent discussion suggested that even more might be possible. Property taxes amount to about $55 million for the County so the notional reduction on shifting $4 million would be about 8%.

Continue reading "County Council Meeting April 28"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)