Growth Management Strategies
Transfer of
Development
Rights
Purchase of
Development
Rights
Agricultural
Zoning
Growth
Management
Strategies
Conservation
Easements
Urban Growth
Boundaries
Riparian
Buffers
 Conservation Easements
Conservation easements have been proven to be a valuable tool to preserve and protect South
Carolina while maintaining the tradition of local control and private ownership. An easement
is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a certified non-profit that allows the
landowner to protect his or her property from inappropriate development or alteration. A
conservation easement is a legal agreement restricting the development of a piece of property,
such that the landowner is donating the right to develop or subdivide their property. The
agreement is flexible, can cover all or part of the property, and can be tailored to meet the
personal and financial interests of the individual. Conservation agreements provide many
benefits to a community, including the protection of water quality and natural habitat,
preservation of open space, outdoor recreation and educational opportunities, increased
property values on adjacent land, and decreased costs of drinking water treatment. The benefits
to the landowner include the assurance that land will be protected for future generations while
remaining in private hands, possible federal and state income tax deductions, and possible
decreased property and estate taxes.
 Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)
South Carolina communities have utilized federal, state, local, and private PDR programs to
protect important natural resources such as farmland and wetlands. Under a PDR program, a
landowner voluntarily sells the rights of development on his/her property to a government
agency or community organization. The land owner retains ownership, while permanently
protecting the land from certain types of development. The price of the development rights is
determined by the difference between the value of the land if developed and the value of the
land held as open space. A PDR program benefits local communities by discouraging
sprawling development, preserving open space, and creating affordable farmland.
 Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)
Transfer of development rights (TDR) programs, a mechanism for directing growth and
development in community; have been used successfully in protecting agricultural and
ecologically sensitive lands in South Carolina. A TDR program directs land development
toward a desired growth area in a community by providing a market whereby rural landowners
can sell their right to convert their properties to high-density developments. A TDR program
can benefit a community by reducing infrastructure cost, creating permanently protected
farmland, increasing recreational opportunities, protecting natural habitats, and preserve
historic and scenic resources.
 Agricultural Zoning Districts
Agricultural zoning generally establishes districts with very large minimum lot size
requirements in order to strictly limit development in areas where preservation of farmland and
rural character is desired. Agricultural districts are particularly useful in targeting agricultural
land use to prime farm lands and away from urban and residential developments. Agricultural
zoning districts can benefit a community by preventing farmland from being converted to nonfarm uses, minimizing the fragmentation of farms, preventing land-use conflicts, and reducing
farmland costs.
 Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB)
Urban growth boundaries (UGB), legal boundaries separating urban land from rural land, have
been adopted by many coastal cities and counties in their efforts to curb sprawl and protect
open space. The UGB defines the extent of future growth within a community by establishing
a boundary within which urban types of development will be permitted, and restricting
development outside the boundary to preserve farmland and the rural character of the areas
lying outside the boundary. By specifying areas where local governments will provide future
urban services, such as water supply or sewage treatment, UGB’s can promoting more efficient
use of land. An UGB can further benefit a community by protecting farmland and forested
lands, preserving natural areas and habitats, and retaining rural character and quality of life.
 Riparian Buffer
Riparian buffer ordinances with various types and size requirements have been implemented in
South Carolina to prevent development in environmentally sensitive areas. Riparian buffers are
areas of land along rivers and streams that help maintain clean water and healthy aquatic life,
when left undisturbed. They create corridors of vegetation along rivers, streams, and tidal
wetlands that provide protective transitional zones between upland development and adjoining
surface waters. Buffers are beneficial to a community by providing important natural habitats;
reducing impacts of flood, drought, and erosion; creating recreation and education
opportunities, and improving water.
Growth Management Informational Sources
I. Sources for General Information
SC Sea Grant Nemo: www.scseagrant.org/scnemo.htm
Urban Land Institute: www.uli.org
Low Impact Developmen Centert: www.lowimpactdevelopment.org
Center for Watershed Protection: www.cwp.org
Trust for Public Land: www.tpl.org
Lowcountry Open Land Trust: www.lolt.org
Palmetto Conservation Foundation: www.palmettoconservation.org
Ducks Unlimited: http://southern.ducks.org/Southcarolinaconservation.php
The Nature Conservancy: http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/southcarolina/
Beaufort County Open Land Trust: www.openlandtrust.com
SCDHEC: www.scdhec.gov
SCHEC-OCRM: www.scdhec.net/ocrm/
Clemson Extension: http://www.clemson.edu
II. Sources for Funding Opportunities
American Farmland Trust: www.farmland.org
Clean Water Action: www.cleanwateraction.org
Coalition for Smart Growth: www.samrtgrowth.net
Land Trust Alliance: www.lta.org
National Environmental Trust: www.environet.policy.net/cleanair
SC Environmental Excellence Program: www.iopa.sc.edu/sceep/
US Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov
SC Conservation Bank: www.palmettoconservation.org
Coastal Services Center Cooperative Agreements (NOAA): http://www.csc.noaa.gov/
Empowerment Zones Program (USDA/Office of Community Development):
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/ezec/index.cfm
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants to States (DOI): http://www.ncrc.nps.gov/lwcf/
The Conservation Fund: www.conservationfund.org
Bring Back the Natives Grant Program (NFWF): http://www.nfwf.org/_
Farmland Protection Program (USDA): http://www.nrcs.usda.gov
Coastal Program (DOI/USFWS): http://www.fws.gov/cep/cepcode.html
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Program (DOI/USFWS):
http://www.fws.gov/cep/coastweb.html
Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants-Section 319 (EPA/OWOW):
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/
Water Quality Cooperative Agreements (EPA Region 4): http://www.epa.gov/owm/wm042000.htm
Wetlands Reserve Program (USDA): http://www.wl.fb-net.org
Rural Development, Forestry, and Communities (USDA/Forest Service):
http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/eap.htm