CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Charleston County is moving forward with 10 new Greenbelt projects using millions of dollars from the county’s half-cent sales tax to preserve land for public use.
The Greenbelt Program pays landowners to ensure their property is used for specific purposes like conservation or recreation.
County officials said these projects will protect more than 1,700 acres across Charleston County.
“The funding from this program protects vital and, you know, historic and iconic landscapes throughout the Lowcountry,” Deputy Director Chris Dubuque said. “And not only that, it’s creating public green spaces in these free green spaces where the public can go out and recreate, you know, at a low cost plan, they’re visiting these properties. So, it provides a lot of aspects as far as public access to the property, but also vital protection of wildlife habitat, natural resources and natural infrastructure.”
The second round of the half-cent sales tax is set to expire in 2041, which could leave the preserved land vulnerable to development after that date.
