Grand trees are a defining cultural feature of much of our coast, having characterized our communities for centuries, while providing countless benefits.
Trees build resilience in the face of climate change, increased urban development, and flooding. Mature ones provide shade with their extensive canopies that cool us and our homes on hot summer days. Their root systems stretch underground and soak up excess water from heavy rains and flooding events. Their strong root systems also hold soil together and curb erosion. Trees offset carbon emissions, breathe in carbon dioxide, and breathe out oxygen, providing humans and animals with clean air.
Conservation League staff work continuously with multiple communities across the coast to protect these precious resources.
PORT ROYAL
Last spring, the Port Royal Town Council passed a new tree ordinance designed to protect a healthy and sustainable tree canopy. Port Royal’s new tree standards incentivize the preservation of trees rather than allowing for folks to pay the removal fee. When siting new development, priority must be given to retaining and replanting trees. Paying into the town’s tree fund is a last resort and carries a meaningful increase in fees. This fall, the Beaufort County Rural and Critical Lands program acquired the Cherry Hill Oak property in Port Royal, home to the oldest and largest tree in Beaufort County. Plans for a dense development near its roots could have compromised its integrity. Thanks to determined community members, this monumental tree will be protected.
CHARLESTON COUNTY
Over the past few months, our beloved grand trees along the roadways of Charleston County have been under threat. In October, Charleston County Public Works requested a full exemption from the tree protection and preservation ordinance for tree removals in county-led road and drainage projects. This exemption would eliminate independent oversight, public input, and mitigation from the tree removal process for Public Works. The Conservation League raised these concerns, and thousands of Charlestonians leant their voices to the trees, expressing opposition to these amendments. On third and final reading, Charleston County voted to include a dedicated public hearing for tree removal requests and require new trees to be planted as close to the site as possible for mitigation when tree removals are granted. This compromise shows the power of the public voice. During this lengthy process, it has become clear that these amendments are being made to clear the way for major new road projects, including the widening of Bohicket Road (Main Road Segment C) and construction of the I-526/Mark Clark Extension, which would impact trees along River Road and Riverland Drive. We must remain vigilant and scrutinize all county road project proposals to ensure impacts to trees (along with wetlands and communities) are avoided whenever possible.
GEORGETOWN COUNTY AND PAWLEYS ISLAND
This fall, Georgetown County Council passed amendments to their existing tree ordinance, increasing fees for the unlawful removal of protected trees, holding building permits when the ordinance is violated, and added longleaf pines to the list of protected trees on the Waccamaw Neck. Previously, the fee for violating the ordinance was only $500 per tree, even for a 42-inch live oak. The new amendment raised the fee to $500 per inch. And, building permits on that parcel will be held for up to two years. The Town of Pawleys Island also recently took steps to strengthen remedies for the unauthorized removal of protected trees, making established trees very costly to cut down.
HORRY COUNTY
In May, Horry County passed an update to the tree preservation ordinance that specifically added protections for specimen live oaks. Putting a hold on building permits for removing live oaks without a permit will serve as a deterrent to those who illegally clear lots in preparation for sale or development.