Local Conservation News!

For the past four years, Drayton Hall has represented the Ashley River Historic District in a regional planning effort administered by the Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester Council of Governments (COG). The plan would guide our elected officials to the best means of keeping our rural and natural areas protected while fostering intelligent growth in our urban and suburban centers. Planners generated models that were used in rounds of public feedback—culminating in the final draft of “Our Region Our Plan.” The Plan, complete with futuristic visualizations of corridors and growth centers, is being presented to all of the different jurisdictions throughout the lowcountry this April.

This Vision Plan shows a sustainable path for growth over the next 30 years.
Click to enlarge.

While Our Region Our Plan is not a mandate, it offers a working guide for decisions about roads and development that will inevitably be made in order to accommodate the estimated 200,000 people moving to the tri-county area by 2040. Towns, cities, and counties now will have a more integrated picture of their role in the quality of life and economic vitality of the entire region. Decisions about roads and developments in Hollywood affect the residents of West Ashley, and decisions made in the downtown corridor affect residents living all around the peninsula.  Most importantly, this Plan prompts the different municipalities and regions to cooperate with each other. A total of five jurisdictions have the power to determine how the land and water around Drayton Hall are managed, so we especially value cross-jurisdictional cooperation when it comes to addressing issues that impact our historic resources.

ABOVE:  Drayton Hall Executive Director George McDaniel, (far left), and Director of Preservation and Education Carter Hudgins (third from left) attend a regional planning workshop.

Thankfully, Our Region Our Plan also draws from other successful models in the country to demonstrate that we can keep our rural areas rural while growing dense urban centers. By using forward thinking zoning policies that preserve the characteristics that we all cherish in our rural lowcountry areas, we can preserve our irreplaceable landscapes. Up-and-coming sustainable developments, like nearby East Edisto, exemplify the kind of settlement patterns that will keep our beloved historic district what it is, so future generations can enjoy it.

So what will keep this Plan from just collecting dust on the shelf? The chair of Our Region Our Plan, Councilman Larry Hargett, kept the answer simple. “You and I and our elected leaders will determine this. COG is just here as a reminder.”  The political will of citizens has to be a driving force behind the way that our streets, communities and highways are constructed. We have a powerful voice and we have to use it.  For this reason, Drayton Hall has continued to stay involved in grassroots planning efforts over the years in order to voice support for opportunities to enhance the rural character of the district, such as establishing public parks at Ashley River Road’s northern gateway in Dorchester County.

As is evident in many areas throughout the country, badly planned development destroys the quality of the places where people live, work, and play. The decisions that control this type of growth happen in planning commission and council meetings. We know from this plan that it is possible to preserve our local resources and accommodate for the increases in jobs, housing, and other infrastructure that the area will require.  Our Region Our Plan can now be used by citizens to advise our officials in taking advantage of this varied set of solutions for guiding development and investment.

 Want to help Drayton Hall in our efforts to preserve this beautiful place? Become a Friend of Drayton Hall, or contact our Conservation Coordinator Eugenia Payne at eugenia_payne@draytonhall.org. Your voice matters! 

Rosebrock Park: Your Park By George W. McDaniel and Norm Brunswig

An integral part of Drayton Hall’s mission is to protect the context of the iconic main house and grounds. We’ve worked for over 20 years to conserve and protect the beautiful land surrounding the Ashley River. We are happy to report that our efforts led to this Friday’s opening of a new c.90 acre forested park that serves as the northern gateway to the Ashley River Historic District. Read more about the collaboration that created the park here:

http://www.journalscene.com/column/Rosebrock-Park–Your-Park-

Rosebrock Park: Your Park
Published Wednesday, September 14, 2011 12:15 PM
By George McDaniel and Norman Brunswig
Summerville Journal Scene ®

The opening of Rosebrock Park Friday, September 16th, marks a significant day for the future of Dorchester County’s citizens. Located on Bacon’s Bridge Road, the park provides picnic shelters, scenic nature trails, and rare public access to the upper Ashley River for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. 

Left to right, George W. McDaniel, Dick Byrd, Richard Rosebrock and Norm Brunswig

The development of this c. 90-acre park (25-acres of which CPW leases to the county) is the hard-won result of community persistence. For decades, it served as a swimming hole created by a dam built near the current location of the bridge and was enjoyed by scores of people. After the dam gave way, people continued to come there and fish by the bridge. In the 1990s a “people’s park” was proposed for the location but failed to find sufficient public and political support. When the Ashley was designated a State Scenic River, a management plan published by the Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council (ASRAC) in 2003 built on these efforts. After two years of careful study and the input of approximately 500 members from the community, the plan called for the tract to become a public passive park. In addition to possessing key natural and historical characteristics, the area serves as a northern gateway to the celebrated Ashley River Historic District, entered by thousands of locals and tourists every year to experience the historic plantations and gardens. 

Longtime Ashley River supporters Sue Wehman and George Neil

Despite the prescience of the passive park concept plan, the Dorchester County Council had voted not to purchase the property when offered to them for sale by Charleston Southern University (CSU). After chancing upon a small article in the newspaper announcing the council’s decision, Summerville residents Lucy Anne Cathcart and Heyward Hutson and ASRAC members George McDaniel, George Neil, and Howard Bridgman drove to council’s meeting in St. George to voice their concern and to urge the council to reconsider. They were told it was too late, the council had rejected the offer, but as a result of their persuasion, councilmen like Richard Rosebrock, Larry Hargett, and others moved for reconsideration to purchase the area as a park, and at the next council meeting in January of 2005 over 150 people, young and old, gathered to press the council to purchase the property for public use. Working behind the scenes, Richard Rosebrock provided critical leadership and deftly used his persuasive abilities.

Also providing leadership was Summerville conservationist Coy Johnston who, working with the Lowcountry Open Land Trust, was able to step up at the outset of the council meeting and announce that the Land Trust was going to buy the land from CSU, using SC Conservation Bank funds. The Land Trust would hold the land and see that it was developed as a passive park, in keeping with the proposed 2003 plan from ASRAC. After winning a costly lawsuit with CSU, the Land Trust did secure title and soon transferred the property to the newly formed Dorchester Trust Foundation. Its trustees consist of Coy Johnston and the two of us. We have now leased the land to the county as a passive park and are pleased with the county’s work and commitment, along with the team of volunteers they assembled to contribute to what you see today.

We are also pleased because this park stands as a symbol of citizen commitment. Time after time, this golden opportunity would have been lost, had it not been for the leadership and cooperation of councilmen like Richard Rosebrock and individual citizens who took the time and effort to step up, to act upon their beliefs and to make a difference. Thanks to those efforts, you will not see housing or commercial developments the next time you drive along this tract on Bacon’s Bridge Road. You’ll see green space. It may well appear as if “nothing happened.”

Dorchester County Councilman Larry Hargett, Dick Byrd, Councilman Richard Rosebrock, and Norm Brunswig

As many people know, we enjoy places like Rosebrock Park because they offer something wholly apart from the city and ubiquitous subdivisions. They give us a chance to breathe. They give our children a chance to learn. An integrated and accessible rural experience like that provided by the park is essential to understanding not only our American heritage but also our fundamental connection to the lowcountry’s forests and waterways. Rosebrock Park will enable students from nearby Windsor Hill Elementary School and Ashley Ridge High School, as well as families from across the county, to appreciate these relationships first hand.

The culmination of Rosebrock Park also resonates with the widely publicized Watson Hill story, as it is another case in point of the positive impact public and private partnerships can have in protecting our irreplaceable rural areas. This park, along with thoughtfully designed developments, like Mead Westvaco’s East Edisto Project which encompasses Watson Hill, will help sustain cohesive and long-term efforts for the entire region that support tourism, recreation and quality of life.

In light of Rosebrock Park’s opening ceremony for the public this Friday, we are reminded, as a community, of how much of a role we actually have in preserving our region’s priceless history and natural resources. Now is the time to continue planning just as wisely for other areas throughout the Ashley River Historic District and Dorchester County. Building upon the longstanding leadership of Richard Rosebrock, we can continue to come together and press the needs for securing green space, local parks and conservation-minded developments in order to enhance outdoor family recreational opportunities, to nourish and educate our children and to secure a brighter future for posterity

Managing Growth without Unfair Exceptions: “Watch Status” for Charleston

Dr. George W. McDaniel, Executive Director of Drayton Hall

Today, June 15, 2011, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced its 2011 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, which spotlights places across the country that are threatened by neglect, insufficient funds, inappropriate development, or insensitive public policy. For the first time in its history, the list has been supplemented with a site placed on “Watch Status”: the city of Charleston. The Watch Status means that a specific threat to a historic site appears to be growing, but can be avoided or controlled through collaboration and innovation. In the case of Charleston, the Trust believes that expanding cruise ship tourism,  without adequate enforceable controls, could jeopardize the historic character of the city, historic downtown Charleston and its surrounding neighborhoods. Accompanying this announcement, the Trust has offered to assist with finding a balanced solution that benefits the community and its rich cultural heritage.

The series of events leading up to this point have been well documented except, perhaps, for one. On May 16^th, John Hildreth, executive director of the Trust’s Southern Regional Office based in Charleston, and I met with Mayor Riley to express our concerns related to the issue; Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the State Ports Authority, joined the discussion via phone.

L-R, partners in preservation: me and John Hildreth, Executive Director of the Trust’s Southern Regional Office, arrive at the Mayor’s office.

During the meeting, John and I articulated both the deep, Trust-wide concern forthe future of historic Charleston and the concerns of numerous residents and business people who love Charleston. Specifically, I spoke from the perspective of Drayton Hall, which, thanks to its board and staff, is not a staid house museum but is rather one of Charleston’s valued historic sites fully engaged in the vitality of its community. Together, John and I emphasized the irony in Charleston’s having established itself as a model for other cities in the way it balances tourism, preservation, and urban life, only to now forgo the opportunity to build on that tradition and to devise as Mayor Riley likes to say, “world-class solutions” to the current issue. While the meeting was positive in many ways, John and I were unsuccessful in achieving any meaningful agreements or compromises as we’d sought to accomplish that day.

Of course, that wasn’t the only example of actions being taken behind the scenes. At its April 29^th meeting, Drayton Hall’s Site Advisory Council joined other organizations and residents and voiced its deep concern for a range of issues related to cruise ships, including the lack of enforceable management of the industry, by writing a letter to Stephanie Meeks, National Trust president. At that time, the “Watch Status” designation had not yet been created, so our Council endorsed designation of the city to the Trust’s 11 Most Endangered list with the goal of focusing attention on the threats to city’s unique historical character.

It should be noted that the designation of this Watch Status by the Trust is not about being anti-port, anti-jobs, or anti-cruise ship as some have characterized it, but instead is prompted by a general concern for the future of the accomplishments in preservation, tourism management, and urban life made by Charleston’s leaders and residents over the years. The concern is that while there is a voluntary agreement between the city of Charleston and State Ports Authority (SPA) about cruise ship growth, it is voluntary only, and the final decision rests solely with the SPA. Who else gets to do this? Everyone in downtown Charleston, whether they are hoteliers, restaurateurs, carriage drivers, tour bus operators, or property owners, has agreed to live and work with legally enforceable regulations. Why should the cruise ship industry be the exception? The purpose of this watch by the Trust is, therefore, to help find solutions to such questions.

Your voice counts, so please let others know of your concerns about the future of Charleston.  Add your comments here or email to kristine_morris@draytonhall.org.

Members of the public are invited to learn more about what they can do to support this and hundreds of other endangered sites, experience first-hand accounts of these places, and share stories and photos of their own at www.PreservationNation.org/Places

Read more about Charleston’s “Watch Status” and post your comments at:  http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/sites/southern-region/watch-status-charleston-1.html

You can also show your support for saving the endangered places by texting “PLACES” to 25383 to donate $10, which will go towards saving historic places through National Trust outreach programs.

Read the complete National Trust press release here:   http://www.draytonhall.org/news/press_room/press_release.html?id=73

Growth Is Good, Balance Is Better

Summerville Journal Scene ® Published Thursday, October 21, 2010

Dear Editor, 

Although I am proud to call Summerville my current home, I grew up in Atlanta. It was a great place to be as a youngster, with woods and creeks providing access to open space and places to play with my friends and family and to enjoy the outdoors. Anyone who has been to Atlanta in the last 20 years, though, can testify to the fact that it has changed dramatically for the worse. Much of the city is filled with strip malls, parking lots, and generic housing developments, and traffic is infamous.  Such changes did not come all at once, but bit by bit, which, when I was young, we’d thought was okay since growth was good.

Like Atlanta, Dorchester County is growing fast, but we are still in a position to shape that growth in a way that makes sense for us all. Growth is good, but balance is even better. That’s why I’d like all of my neighbors and friends in Dorchester County to join me in supporting the open space bond referendum that is going to appear on the ballot on November 2nd . It will provide a $5 million dollar general obligation bond to protect water quality and secure open and green spaces in Dorchester County. If we pass this referendum and if approved by county council, the bond will cost the average household in the county less than $7 dollars in taxes a year, less than the price of going to a movie.

There are those who say that in this economy we can’t afford to raise taxes even by that amount, but land prices are at historic lows right now. If we wait even 5 years, our money won’t go as far, and we’ll have to spend more money to protect the same amount of land. To those who think that land protection seems frivolous when our schools are facing cutbacks and have grave needs, I would point out that there are myriad reasons for why Dorchester County has become such an attractive place to live. Strong schools, a thriving business community, and reasonable housing prices are some of the many reasons that people want to come and live here. Our beautiful forests, wetlands, waterways, and open space constitute another. All of these things come together to create a place where people want to live, so we can’t promote one at the expense of another. Study after study has shown that proximity to green space and parks actually drives up real estate values, and now more than ever, people are seeking these things in their community. Just a walk along the Saw Mill Branch trail and seeing so many people of all ages enjoying it provides a telling example.

Let’s keep balance in mind on November 2nd, and I hope you’ll join me in voting “yes” on this referendum next month. For more information on this issue, please visit www.dorchesteropenspace.org

George McDaniel

Dorchester Greenbelt: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/oct/30/vote-for-dorchester-greenbelt/

George McDaniel awarded the West Of paper’s “Westie” award!

This past Wednesday I had the pleasure of visiting one of my favorite restaurants in Charleston, Hometeam Barbeque, to attend the 1st annual Westie’s Awards presented by the West Of newspaper. The Westie’s Awards were given to a group of local movers and shakers who make West Ashley a great place to live and work. The awards were given to politicians, doctors, local activists, writers, and to our very own George McDaniel, the executive director of Drayton Hall. George was awarded “The Preservationist” award for his lifetime dedication to conserving and preserving the Ashley River Region, a historic gem located at the edge of West Ashley. The area encompasses historic plantations, churches, and the scenic Ashley River, and is one of the largest swathes of rural protected land in close proximity to the Charleston peninsula. I was happy to accept the award for George, and loved the comedy show that the West Of staff put on for the event. They had some good laughs at everyone’s expense and made up for all the jokes by providing a free barbeque buffet put out by the Hometeam kitchen. It was a great night to recognize some real West Ashley leaders, get the community together, and share some laughs and a meal.

Emily Pack

Ashley River Region Coordinator