In 2022, Berkeley County residents voted to continue the County’s One Cent Sales Tax Program another seven years—with 10% of the tax revenue to be used for “greenbelt preservation” projects—in addition to roadway, transportation, and infrastructure-related projects.

Now, a robust team of consultants and a Council-appointed Greenbelt Advisory Commission are deciding how to spend the roughly $58.7 million designated for land protection. To kick off this process, they have been hosting public meetings throughout April to gather input.

Because the Cooper River Forum is composed of neighbors who care deeply about the Cooper River Corridor’s history, people, land, and wildlife, we have been asking that the new Berkeley County Greenbelt Program prioritize investments in the Cooper River Forum Focus Area.

This area is rich in history, culture, and conservation. The landscape is ecologically diverse and contains valuable wetlands, abundant stream systems, mature bottomland and pine forests, and native grasslands.

The Cooper River Forum Focus Area also encompasses the entire Cooper River Historic District—listed on the National Register in 2003. This nationally recognized district is the largest geographic historic region in South Carolina and contains the oldest plantation still standing in the state.

Over the past three decades, conservation organizations, public agencies, and private landowners have worked together to permanently protect more than 50,000 acres along the Cooper River. With development pressure encroaching from the North (Moncks Corner) and the South (Cainhoy and Mount Pleasant), there is an unprecedented urgency to protect remaining parcels vulnerable to patchwork suburban development. By investing public dollars in the Cooper River Forum Focus Area, Berkeley County will be ensuring that past investments are honored, protected, and expanded.

Additionally, conserving land in this region furthers the guiding principles included in the recently adopted One Berkeley Comprehensive Plan to engage in strategic growth management practices; prioritize highly valued resources; and create great places for people.

In One Berkeley’s “Preferred Growth Scenario” (below), land uses remain mostly rural in the Cooper River Forum Focus Area, while growth is forecasted near Goose Creek, Summerville, and North Charleston. To accomplish this goal, Berkeley County can deploy two strategies: one, increase densities in the priority growth areas; and two, decrease densities through land protection in rural areas. Greenbelt funds strategically deployed to protect properties in the Cooper River Forum Focus Area accomplish the latter by steering new growth away from the rural region and into the desired urban corridor.

Greenbelt Program investments in this important region will leverage Berkeley County funds through community, private, state and federal partnerships.

A task force of organizations—including Lord Berkeley Conservation Land Trust, Lowcountry Land Trust, Open Space Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, and the Cooper River Forum—have been meeting regularly and are excited to work collaboratively with the Berkeley County Greenbelt Program to help strategically and feasibly protect critical lands in this region. This group, called the Cooper River Task Force, is working with local landowners who may also wish to seize the opportunity to protect their properties with Greenbelt and matching funds.

At the state level, the South Carolina Conservation Bank has prioritized many properties within the Cooper River Forum Focus Area. Greenbelt Preservation projects in this region may rank higher accordingly, making them eligible for matching funds from the state.

There is also the opportunity to partner with the US Forest Service for Greenbelt Program planning purposes. This collaboration could help leverage investments to increase community recreation opportunities on newly acquired tracts of land that have water features. Fishing, biking, hiking and non-motorized boating are options that the community has expressed interest in expanding.

Because this region is a common priority, conservation efforts can be combined to make projects economically feasible for Berkeley County—allowing public dollars to be spread far and wide.

The urgency to protect parcels of significance in the Cooper River Forum Focus Area is rooted in the history and ecology of the region, Berkeley County’s own goals in One Berkeley Comprehensive Plan, and widespread agreement that this region is significant and worth protecting.

In the coming months, incorporating public feedback, Berkeley County and consultants will be drafting a plan for the Greenbelt Program.

The Greenbelt Advisory Commission will begin meeting this month to develop criteria and guidelines for project selection.

We look forward to bringing you the latest as we work together to help Berkeley County steward $58.7 million for the benefit of the community, wildlife, culture and quality of life in the Cooper River Corridor.