An Opportunity for Land Planning That's a Win for Everyone
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Friday, May 4, 2007
By John A. Luke, Jr.
The Post and CourierThis week, MeadWestvaco announced its new land management strategy that will include a conservation-driven master plan for East Edisto, the company's contiguous acreage along the eastern edge of the Edisto River in Charleston and Dorchester counties.
Our decision is driven by changes requiring less land for fiber production — a reality facing the industry as a whole — and one that presents a unique opportunity to the community and to our company.
East Edisto is distinctive because it is one large contiguous piece of property, and it is in the natural path of progress for both Charleston and Dorchester counties. Were we to sell it off piece by piece over time, there could be multiple owners with different purposes, different degrees of stewardship and no clear commitment to conservation, regional planning or growth management, particularly where it applies to roads and other infrastructure needs.
On the other hand, if we create a conservation-driven master plan for the property, engaging the community in the process and committing to the highest standards of quality, we could benefit this region in which we have lived and worked for so many years, while at the same time fulfilling our fiduciary responsibilities to our shareholders.
And that is precisely what we want to do. We want to be part of the solution.
We know this land well. We have inventoried it carefully over the past decades. We know its wetlands, wildlife corridors, species of flora and fauna, historic sites and rich cultural heritage. All that we know will inform our process.
The land will drive our plan and the intent is to preserve areas of the land as "public" greenspaces with walking trails, parks, and open spaces.
In addition to encouraging extensive public involvement, we have engaged the professionals at EDAW, recognized worldwide as a leader in environmentally responsible planning.
At the recent Governor's Conference on Growth, there was clear agreement on two points: 1) growth is inevitable in the Lowcountry; and 2) our challenge is not growth itself but proper planning.
The words and deeds of leaders and other citizens throughout this region are sending a message loud and clear. It is time to manage the Lowcountry's inevitable growth.
I want to thank The Post and Courier for letting me share our ideas for how we can be part of this area's growth solution and for the feedback its leadership has shared about important issues facing the Lowcountry.
Coastal Conservation League Executive Director Dana Beach and other environmental and land planning community leaders agree with the need to thoughtfully manage growth, which is why several have already publicly endorsed our conservation-driven approach and community-centric planning process. Specifically, they have indicated that the benefit of having a single owner and an open, public process is a "rare opportunity." We echo these sentiments.
Growth can be more than inevitable. It can be good. Properly managed with regional infrastructure planning, growth can strengthen an area's economic vitality, while retaining its quality of life, which is why we are reaching out to conservation, historic preservation and transportation leaders, among others.
We have all seen how communities can be strangled by sprawl - unbridled growth with inadequate infrastructure — forcing more cars on the roads as people drive longer and longer distances to reach jobs, schools, health care and recreational facilities.
With this land under single ownership, we have the opportunity to do it right.
We can put the land first, with major commitments to conservation and recreation. As an alternative to sprawl, we can create sustainable villages and towns, places that provide their own infrastructure, their own employment opportunities, shopping, schools and health care.
Then existing roads and infrastructure are not negatively affected. In fact, properly designed, new roads might actually alleviate existing roads and also provide additional evacuation routes.
The opportunity to do it right means that we could be part of the solution, and that is our strong intention. We believe that our conservation-driven planning process can contribute to the region's need for growth management, balancing economic vitality with the preservation of what's best about the Lowcountry. And we look forward to working closely with this great community to achieve that goal.
John A. Luke Jr., is chairman and CEO of MeadWestvaco.
