Open Space Planning

Welcome to the Central Midlands Council of Governments’ Open Space Survey

Introduction

The Central Midlands Council of Governments (CMCOG) is currently working on developing a regional plan for preserving open space.  Open space can be defined as follows:

An undeveloped piece of land adding ecological, scenic or recreational value to an area. Examples include forests, marshes and wildlife sanctuaries. Open spaces can also include: agriculture, retention/detention areas and floodways and floodplains. Open space may be publicly or privately owned and maintained.

The goal of such a plan is to create a network of protected lands within the region that will be a legacy for future generations.  Given the rapid pace of development within the region, particularly in Lexington and Richland Counties, the time is now to identify places needing protection.  The reasons for this include rare plant/wildlife species (Shealy’s Pond and Peachtree Rock), scenic/historic landscapes, or any other natural features that a community would deem worthy of preservation.             

Green Infrastructure

The CMCOG is taking the “green infrastructure” approach to creating an open space preservation plan.  Green infrastructure is defined as an interconnected network of open spaces that conserves natural ecosystems and functions, and provides associated benefits to human populations.  The keys to green infrastructure preservation are twofold: 1) identifying areas worthy of preservation in advance of development; and 2) linking these areas together, since a network of open spaces functions better as an ecological whole, rather than as separate open space “islands.”  When linked together, these open spaces are able to function as an ecological whole, rather than as separate and unrelated parts.  This enables them to better: 1) remove pollutants from the air; 2) carry and filter stormwater runoff; and 3) support diverse plant and wildlife species.  A green infrastructure network normally consists of these three elements: hubs, linkages and sites.  An example of a green infrastructure network and definitions of these terms are shown below:

Green Infrastructure Terminology:

• Hubs:  Hubs anchor green infrastructure networks and provide an origin or destination for wildlife and ecological processes moving to or through it. 

• Linkages:  Links are the connections that tie the system together and enable green infrastructure networks to work.  Their importance is reflected in both the preservation of plants and species, and in the maintenance of ecological processes

• Sites:  Sites are smaller open space areas within a region that may or may not be linked to green infrastructure network, but nonetheless should be identified as part of it.   

A Central Midlands Network:

1. Public and protected lands within the Central Midlands would serve as the building blocks for any green infrastructure network and are identified here. 

2. Working lands and floodplains – farms and managed forests are an important part of any green infrastructure network, serving as large open space hubs, while being a key economic resource.  River and stream corridors, and the floodplains they lie within, serve as the main source of linear linkages between open space hubs.  Within the Central Midlands, there are numerous working lands and floodplains, as shown here.

3. A conceptual green infrastructure network within the Central Midlands, based on linking together certain public and protected lands, could look like this.

Green Infrastructure Planning:

• DOES NOT restrict future land uses

• DOES NOT condemn private lands for public acquisition

• DOES rely on voluntary conservation easements

• DOES complement rather than limit development

Survey Results as of 3/30/07:

1.  Who is taking the survey?  Number of responses by zip code. 

2.  What are their thoughts on open space preservation?  Survey results as of March 30^th.

3.  Where to they want to see open space preserved?    This map displays and lists public and protected lands within Lexington and Richland Counties, as well as areas the public would like to see preserved.  Survey results as of March 30^th.

Click here to take the Central Midlands Open Space Planning Survey

Click here to take the Central Midlands Open Space Survey