South Carolina Chapter
Soil and Water Conservation Society

Land Use Planning Policy Statement


Introduction

The mission of the South Carolina Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation 
Society is to promote harmony between the citizens of South Carolina and our 
natural resources by providing education and leadership.  The Chapter has 
developed the following policy statement for land use planning and wise use 
of our natural resources.

Issue

Loss of prime agricultural lands, important lands and sensitive areas of our 
state to other uses.

Situation

Economics is a major driving force in land use decisions.
One hundred eighty thousand (180,000) acres of prime farmland were lost to 
urban uses between 1987-1997.

Approximately 758,000 acres of land in South Carolina were converted from 
rural to other uses between 1987-1997.

South Carolina's population increases annually by approximately 50,000.
Uncontrolled growth into rural areas threatens the integrity of farms and 
increases the financial burden on local governments to provide the necessary 
infrastructure to support developments.

Farmland adjacent to urban areas becomes devalued for farming because of increased 
operational costs and increased value of land.

Excessive, polluted runoff degrades and/or destroys the quality and quantity of 
our natural resources.

Planning Initiatives

Encourage the State of South Carolina to establish a vision statement to guide the 
use of our natural resources.

Support South Carolina in developing and maintaining a statewide inventory of prime 
agricultural lands, important lands and sensitive areas.

Encourage wise use of floodplains and sensitive areas.

Encourage state and regional governments to enhance the capacity and effectiveness 
of local government land use planning through informational services, training 
opportunities, technical assistance and financial incentives.

Implement the existing Stormwater, Sediment and Erosion Control Act of 1994.

Encourage public/private partnerships to establish contiguous networks of greenways 
and other permanent open space within urban, suburban and rural areas, for active and 
passive recreation, flood control and stormwater management, non-point source pollution 
removal, groundwater recharge, erosion control, wildlife habitat, wildlife corridors and 
other benefits.

Encourage state investments in local infrastructure to promote "smart growth" which 
targets development and redevelopment in existing communities, avoids the inefficiencies 
of urban sprawl, conserves the working landscape of farms and forests, and protects the 
integrity of our natural resources.

Support adopting the Farm and Forest Lands Protection Act.

Emphasize consideration of private property rights in all land use decisions.

Approved by the South Carolina Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society Executive 
Board 10-17-99