ST. STEPHEN, S.C. (WCSC) – Over the next seven years, Berkeley County will dedicate 10% of its transportation sales tax revenue to protecting green space.
Berkeley County Supervisor, Johnny Cribb, says this plan will create balance in the face of development.
“If we’re not proactive and we don’t have intent in what we’re doing. We’re gonna wake up 7, 10 or 15 years from now and it’s gonna be too late,” Cribb said.
Wednesday’s Greenbelt engagement session gave residents the opportunity to interact with county officials, and volunteer for the Greenbelt committee to provide feedback on potential green spaces, and respond to questions.
Residents like Joseph Shirah and Neil Goodrich are excited about preserving as much land as possible.
“I’m happy about it and hopefully the small community that I live in will benefit from it,” Shirah said.
” I’m just concerned that we’re kind of paving over the countryside, but we need to do it in a controlled disciplined way of getting it accomplished,” Goodrich said.
According to officials Berkeley is the 10th fastest-growing county in the US and the largest county in South Carolina.
With the 10% sales tax officials estimate a total of $58.7 million in Greenbelt funds.
The county will also seek private and federal funds to purchase property for conservation, create active green spaces, protect natural resources, and more.
The county has already acquired its first project which was purchased before the program began.
“North Island on Daniel Island. It’s a piece of property that we did not anticipate we would get. The port owned the property, and they frankly had an offer for twice the value of that property,” Cribb said.
There are four more engagement sessions left:
Thursday: Philip Simmons High School Media Room, 3080 River Village Dr., Charleston
April 9: Goose Creek High School Auditorium, 1137 Red Bank Rd., Goose Creek
April 10: Cane Bay High School Media Room, 1624 State Rd., Summerville
April 18: Assembly Room of the Berkeley County Administration Building, located at 1003 Hwy. 52, Moncks Corner
County officials encourage residents to attend a session and take part in forming the plan.
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