Council delays decision on $350,000 greenbelt contribution for proposed conservation easement near St. George after lengthy debate

Dorchester County Council on July 14 debated a staff request to use $350,000 in Greenbelt funds as the county's contribution toward a conservation easement on four parcels totaling about 296.74 acres near South Parler Avenue in Saint George. Lowcountry Land Trust representatives asked the county to approve the contribution to secure a conservation easement the land trust would hold.

David Ray of the Lowcountry Land Trust said the landowner agreed to include a right of first refusal along with the proposed easement, which would allow the land trust — and potentially the county in partnership with towns — an opportunity to buy portions of the property in the future if the owner later accepted another offer. Ray said the easement would remove substantial development value and that the project had received support from the state's conservation bank.

Councilmembers raised concerns about the absence of guaranteed public access and about how much of the tract is developable versus wetlands, describing uncertainty over the public benefit relative to taxpayer cost. Several councilmembers said they favored projects that provide immediate public use — parks, trails or community gardens — when spending public Greenbelt dollars.

Debate included questions about appraised values. The land trust said the appraisal showed a large drop in fee value after the easement — from roughly $8,000,000 prior to an easement to about $1.1 million afterward — indicating much of the easement value would be donated by the landowner. Ray and councilmembers also noted that where conservation easements are used statewide, they rarely (though sometimes) require affirmative public access by the landowner.

After extended discussion and questions to staff and the Lowcountry Land Trust, councilmembers moved to postpone the vote and directed staff to hold a Greenbelt workshop and return to the council at the county's first meeting in August (meeting date to be determined). The postponement motion passed by unanimous vote.

Councilmembers said the workshop should clarify scoring priorities for projects, explain differences between easements and fee purchases, and outline how the county may encourage public access or partner to secure public use in the future. Lowcountry Land Trust representatives said they would continue to work with the county and towns to preserve options for future public access if acquisition opportunities arise.

No county contribution was approved at this meeting; the matter will return to council after the scheduled workshop.