The Coalition for Smart Growth
Northern Beaufort County
South Carolina
Our Vision
A beautiful and welcoming community with clean air, clear waterways, protected fish and wildlife habitat,
abundant economic opportunities, social equity, and historic and cultural preservation now and for posterity.
Our Goals
- Work with land owners, developers community organizations and government bodies to improve future land use decisions and prevent annexations and zoning changes that undermine regional planning.
- Monitor regional planning: a) participate in creating and sustaining the Northern Beaufort County regional planning process. b) monitor land use policy decisions by municipalities and the county to ensure that they are consistent with our mission statement.
- Disseminate consistent, timely and accurate information to promote maximum citizen participation. a) conduct regular public meetings and work with local media. b) build our membership and maintain an e-mail contact network. c) continue to develop and maintain the www.supportsmartgrowth.org website.
The Coalition for Smart Growth
The Coalition for Smart Growth is a South Carolina nonprofit corporation begun in 2006 and incorporated in early 2008. Our charitable and educational goals and the purpose of our organization are to encourage public support and participation in Northern Beaufort County land use planning and to provide and share information to the public. We provide information to the general public, work with elected and appointed officials and their staff, speak at governmental meetings and hearings and hold informational public gatherings. We are supported by membership dues and other contributions. Contributions to the Coalition are tax deductible. We operate through a Steering Committee of six with three Co-Chairs. Click here for Steering Committee members' profiles
Background
In January 2006, the Beaufort City Council began to consider annexation and development agreements for McLeod and Clarendon Farms, two parcels of land in the communities of Seabrook and Gray’s Hill. These parcels included some 5,000 acres, and the initial proposals would have permitted up to 16,000 residences. In December of 2006, the City Council voted to annex and permit high-density development on the 4,000 acres of Clarendon Farms on the banks of the Whale Branch River. These developments served as a wake-up and call to action for the citizens of Beaufort about the importance of regional planning, preserving the quality of life and; promoting conservation. In order to provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas about preservation, growth and development in Northern Beaufort County and to influence the future of our communities we, as concerned citizens, organized and came together as the Coalition for Smart Growth.