Greenbelt Master Plan

Weston & Sampson, in partnership with Audubon South Carolina, developed Dorchester County’s first Greenbelt Master Plan to protect and enhance green spaces and recreational sites and help guide land conservation for the next 20 years.

Funded by the One-Cent Sales and Use Tax Referendum, the plan aligns with the County Comprehensive Plan and incorporates guidelines from the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

The seven-month planning process involved reviewing various plans, conducting GIS analysis, collaborating with the Dorchester County Conservation and Greenbelt Commission, and engaging the public. Our team conducted two community engagement sessions and two community surveys to gather input from hundreds of community members on greenspace needs. Using GIS analysis, we created a prioritization matrix for land conservation decisions, utilizing local, state, and federal data on factors like habitat priority, historical value, floodplain management, water quality benefits, recreational access, and equity.

The plan includes a Conservation Toolbox with information on potential funding sources, zoning and code ordinance recommendations, a selection criteria matrix, the conservation application process, suggestions for stakeholder involvement, and opportunities for conservation in the residential landscape. The plan provides a standardized pathway and analysis to guide future land acquisition and conservation decisions.