Charleston County Charleston County Greenbelts Plan Greenbelts Plan Presentation to Charleston County Greenbelt Advisory Board January 12, 2010 Charleston County • Greenways Inc Charleston County • Greenways Inc • White & Smith, llc
Greenbelts Advisory Board Charleston County • Greenways Inc
What is a “Greenbelt?” Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Types of Green Space Greenbelt Greenway Open Space Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Functions of Greenspace • Hazard Reduction and Public Safety • Urban Resource Protection • View Preservation • Solace and Link to Nature • Health and Fitness • Access and Linkage Dry Greenspace • Wildlife Protection • Landscape Preservation • Agricultural Lands Preservation • Economic Value • Community Identity and Character • Heritage/Cultural Landscapes Flooded Greenspace Charleston County • Greenways Inc
What types of greenspace do you value the most for conservation? • Forests (upland forests and swamp forests) • Wetlands (swamps, marshes, bogs, Carolina Bays, marsh islands) • Creeks and Floodplains • Productive Landscapes (lands used for agriculture, silviculture and mariculture) • Heritage Landscapes (cultural and historical sites unique to the region) • Scenic Corridors (canopy roadways) • Reclamation Sites (environmentally degraded sites in need of rehabilitation) • Other Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Greenspace Glossary Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Where would you most like to see greenspaces protected? • Charleston Peninsula • North Charleston • West Ashley • Johns Island • James Island • Mt. Pleasant/East Cooper • East County • West County • Edisto Island/Wadmalaw Island Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Planning Area Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Existing Greenspace Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Current LOS Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Urban vs. Rural Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Urban vs. Rural Map Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Greenbelt Vision The Future of Greenspace Conservation in Charleston County Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Working Definition For the purpose of the Charleston County Greenbelts Plan, the term greenbelts will be used to describe a variety of land types. Greenbelts may include public or private lands in rural, suburban and urban settings. Access to greenbelts may also be public or private. The various types of greenbelts are listed below. They may include, but are not limited to, their subcategories: • Passive greenspace : Trails, greenways, and interpretive parks • Active greenspace : Low-impact play fields and parks, including areas for fishing, crabbing, boating, etc. Lowcountry ecosystems : Upland forests, swamps, bogs, brackish and freshwater wetlands, Carolina • bays, marsh islands, and cypress, backwater, and saltwater marshes • Productive landscapes : Lands used for agriculture, silviculture, and mariculture • Heritage landscapes : Irreplaceable cultural and historical landscapes unique to the County • Corridors : Scenic roadways, abandoned rail lines, and utility corridors • Natural infrastructure : Floodplains, wildlife habitat, recharge zones, and lands critical to clean water • Reclaimed greenspace : Brownfields, abandoned sites, and other green infill projects These greenbelts collectively form a protected living system of landscapes that serve the residents, businesses, visitors, and future generations of Charleston County by preserving and improving the health and quality of life for all. Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Greenbelts Vision • Cities and Villages Surrounded by Green – Rural landscape preservation – Public access to water, not necessarily by boat ramps – Public access to greenspace and parkland – Balance development and greenspace – Reclaim brownfields – Set aside as much greenspace as possible – Include passive recreation greenspace – Link greenspace with trails, not necessarily along roads – Develop bike paths as part of Greenbelts Plan – Leverage funds to maximize buying power – Plan for both urban and rural areas of the County Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Hub + Spokes Concept Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Greenbelts Vision “Cities and Villages Surround by Green” Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Charleston County Greenbelts Master Plan Needs Assessment Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Current Greenspace Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Current Greenspace in Charleston County • Local Government greenspace - 6,683 acres • State and Federal greenspace - 128,916 acres • Private greenspace - 25,785 acres Totals 161,384 acres Data Source: Greenways Incorporated 2005 Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Needs Assessment • Determining a “Level of Service” - LOS • Why? Provide adequate supply of greenspace, resources to serve the public health, safety and welfare needs of County residents. • Proper balance of greenspace and developed land. • Proximity and accessibility are key elements of satisfying needs of residents. • Barriers to access and use must be considered. Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Needs Assessment Determining a LOS for Charleston County NRPA Standards Opinion Surveys Adopted Policies Public Input Demographic Trends Market Reckoning Leisure Activity Trends Benefits of Greenspace Prior Planning Efforts Community Comparison Statistical Surveys Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Needs Assessment • Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission conducted an Open Space Analysis for the period between 2002 and 2015 Charleston County • Greenways Inc
PRC Open Space Needs • Regional Park Needs – East Cooper - 1, 380 acres – West Ashley - 1, 240 acres – North Charleston - 1,104 acres – Charleston Peninsula - 630 acres – James Island - 428 acres – West County - 270 acres – East County - 110 acres Totals 5,162 acres Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Community Comparison • Wake County, NC - Target 165,000 acres of greenspace, population 750,000, land area 860 square miles. • Gwinnett County, GA - Target 50,000 acres of greenspace, population 700,000, land area 477 square miles. • Jefferson County, CO - Target 100,000 acres of greenspace, population 527,000, land area 774 square miles. Charleston County • Greenways Inc
What if We Define a Specific Numeric Goal? • What if the numeric goal is a 20%, 30% or 40% target for conservation and protection -- that is, a percentage of the total land, water and salt marsh landscape to be conserved in the future. • Why would we choose 20%, 30% or 40% as a target? Charleston County • Greenways Inc
What is the Most What is the Most Appropriate Goal? Appropriate Goal? Land Category to Percentage Goals be protected 20 Percent 30 Percent 40 Percent Flood Prone Land Yes Yes Yes Protected Water Quality, No Yes Yes recreation, wildlife Conservation No Yes Yes through development State and federal No No Yes forest and game lands Narrative Protects all flood Protects all flood Does the same as Description prone land and prone lands, the 30% goal, but does little else targets ecologically also adds state or sensitive land, federal lands, greenway including game connectors, lands, state and acquire land for federal forests or parks, protects parks. prime farmland Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Conservation Goals Conservation Goals • 1,046 square miles (includes land, water and salt marsh) • 669,311 acres of county land • 20% as protected greenspace = 134,000 acres • 30% as protected greenspace = 200,000 acres • 40% as protected greenspace = 267,724 Charleston County • Greenways Inc acres
Defining a Goal for Greenspace Conservation • Current greenspace - 162,000 acres • Assess Need for the next 25 years • Define minimum goal to meet this need • 30% Goal - minimum amount needed to satisfy demand (200,000 acres) • Need an additional 40,000 acres of protected greenspace to meet the goal Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Public Open House Meetings • Charleston County Public Services Building - 98 • Mt. Pleasant Library - 102 • Johns’ Island Library - 123 • Total - 323 Charleston County • Greenways Inc • White & Smith, llc
Public Comment Form • Question 2 : Which of these do you feel is important to be part of the Greenbelt program? 2 ) W hich of these do you feel is im portan to be part of the greenbelts program ? Passive Greenspace Low Country Natural Resources Heritage Landscapes Weighted Natural Infrastructure Corridors point total Active Greenspace Productive Landscapes Reclaimed Greenspace Other 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 Points Awarded Charleston County • Greenways Inc • White & Smith, llc
FINAL Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan June 2006 Charleston County • Greenways Inc
Key Elements of the Plan Policies: GAB: Allocation of Sales Working Tax Proceeds Definition Vision: Final Policies: “Cities and Greenbelt Villages Prioritization Surrounded by Criteria Plan Green” Public Input & Policies: Needs Conservation Assessment Toolbox Charleston County • Greenways Inc
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