Regional Forum

The following presentations were given during the Regional Forum and are available for download:

Approximately 300 people filled the room from 9 am to 3:30 pm last Saturday at the Charleston Area Convention Center. The planning event marked the beginning of a planning process designed to develop a regional vision for Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties.

Upon entering participants were randomly assigned to tables of ten allowing them to meet new people and better understand different perspectives.  One attendee commented, “I was pleasantly surprised at how many people are keenly interested in the planned progress and development of the tri-county area,” while attendee another simply stated, “we learn from each other.” 

Keypad polling technology was used so that participants could share information about themselves and their opinions on the issues discussed during the day.  With the support of professional, volunteer facilitators, participants took part in a series of table discussions about the opportunities and challenges facing the region and their desired vision for the future of the region.

With the keypad polling technology, several demographic questions were asked to identify how well the people attending the event represented the demographics of the region.  A very diverse group of people were at the meeting, with people from all adult age groups, all income levels, and all three counties.  Of the participants, 42% identified themselves as private citizens, while others associated themselves with private business, government, non-profits, and civic groups. It was also a nearly even split of people who had been involved in county or regional planning meetings in the past (49%) and people who had never been involved in such a meeting (41%).

Keynote speaker, Parris Glendening - the former governor of Maryland and current president of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, presented national trends and demographics with their impacts on how we live, work, and get from place to place.  Our Region, Our Plan consultants to the BCDCOG offered a state of the region report and considerations for defining great places in the area.  Local political leaders expressed their commitment to work regionally.

The regional visioning forum was the first time in the tri-county area in which so many citizens and leaders had the chance to truly consider and discuss a vision for the 21^st Century.  Comments sheets completed by those present identified the event as a success. One attendee noted on the comment form: “This is a discussion which is very badly needed; thanks for the opportunity to be a part of this,” and another wrote “I felt my Saturday here was time well spent.” 

 A full summary of the day long forum will be presented at BCDCOG’s regional land use committee’s August meeting and posted on the project website. Compiling all the notes from the thirty discussion tables and reading over the individual visions submitted by those present, the following hopes, concerns, opportunities, and threats were developed:

Hopes

• Create compatibility between land use and infrastructure

• Strike a balance and give a variety of options in many different areas (preservation and property rights, growth and livability, etc.)

• Create diverse communities that provide affordable housing, business opportunities, natural resources, transportation options, etc.

• Build an environment of trust and political will for implementation of the plan

Concerns

• Rapid loss of Lowcountry strong sense of place and high quality of life

• Insufficient transportation infrastructure and services (roads, bridges, public transit)

• Lack of leadership & multi-jurisdictional cooperation (local, state, federal)

• Inadequate housing choices that are affordable, decent, and safe for people of all income levels

• Lack of jobs, human services, and workforce training

• Lack of quality education and the infrastructure to support it

• Uncontrolled growth, urban sprawl, degradation of natural & cultural resources, and reduced quality of life hurt economic prosperity

• Difficulty of getting this plan done and implemented in a timely manner

• Insufficient resources for implementing initiatives from this regional plan (funding, leadership)

Regional Opportunities

• Maintain and restore a sense of place distinctively Lowcountry (environment, architecture, culture)

• Link new development, existing development in ways that create a walkable, interconnected and transit friendly communities

• Balance new development with protection of natural resources (green space, air quality, water quality) and create strategies to preserve the region’s rich natural environment (water quality, green space, habitat)

• Build diverse communities (aging, school children, young professionals)

• Improve education system to better create the needed workforce for today and tomorrow’s jobs (e.g., high technology)

• Move forward with port expansion and commerce in environmentally friendly ways

• Provide rail transit

Regional Challenges

• Accept and embrace new ways of thinking and learn from others regarding regional planning

• Change zoning regulations to produce better development

• Develop local and state incentives to bring together appropriate people and governmental agencies to solve key regional issues

• Protect and enhance the natural and cultural resources of the region

• Enhance transportation infrastructure and accessibility and wean ourselves away from automobile dependency

• Improve education and training across the spectrum (K-12, workforce training, higher-ed)

• Affordable housing for all income levels close to jobs, and vice-versa

• Address balance between private property rights and public interest

• Maintaining and improving quality of life

• Addressing regional solid waste disposal and recycling (critical because of our sensitive waterways and wetlands that cross jurisdictions)

Our Region, Our Plan is a two year regional visioning process which started early in 2008.  A series of community cluster meetings to be conducted throughout the region in the winter of 2009 will offer more citizen input and refine points discussed on Saturday.