Section
17-101 Establishment of the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust
17-102 Definitions
17-103 Board
17-104 Duties and responsibilities
17-105 Trust account
17-106 Conservation criteria
17-107 Financial criteria
17-108 Programs and procedures
17-109 Recipients
17-110 Eminent domain or condemnation proceedings
17-111 Recreational and economic use
17-112 Historic resources
17-113 Conservation easements
There is hereby established the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust in order to protect lands with significant natural, cultural and/or historic resources in Greenville County that meet the criteria set forth in §§ 17-106 and 17-107 by providing a financial incentive to willing landowners to convey either a conservation easement or fee simple title to eligible recipients.
(Ord. 5247 § 1, passed 12-15-2020)
a. "Trust" means the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust.
b. "Board" means the governing board of the Trust.
c. "Eligible Trust Recipient" means any of the following:
i. Greenville County;
ii. A municipality in Greenville County;
iii. An agency or commission of Greenville County whose mission directly relates to the conservation of lands with significant natural, cultural and/or historic resources;
iv. A not-for-profit charitable corporation or trust authorized to do business in South Carolina and organized and operated for natural resource conservation, land conservation, or historical preservation purposes, and having tax-exempt status as a public charity under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and having the power to acquire, hold, and maintain interests in land for these purposes;
v. Federal, state, and local agencies organized and operated for natural resource protection, land conservation, or historical preservation purposes.
d. "Land" means real property, including, but not limited to, buildings, improvements, historic structures and features, watercourses, and wetlands of any description.
e. "Conservation Easement" means an interest in real property as defined by the South Carolina Conservation Easement Act of 1991, S.C. Code Title 27, Ch. 8.
f. "Interests in lands" means fee simple title to lands or conservation easements on land and historic structures.
(Ord. 5247 § 2, passed 12-15-2020)
a. The Trust is governed by a twelve-member Board appointed by Greenville County Council in accordance with the following requirements:
i. One Board member shall be appointed from each County Council District. The primary residence of such Board member shall be in his or her County Council District. Board members shall elect by majority vote the chair of the Board.
ii. At least one of the appointed Board members shall be a board member or executive officer of a charitable corporation or trust authorized to do business in this State that is one of the following: (i) actively engaged in the acquisition of interests in land from voluntary sellers for the purposes of natural resource or land conservation in Greenville County; or (ii) represents hunting, fishing or outdoor recreation interests; and
iii. At least one of the appointed Board members shall be an owner of rural real property who is actively engaged in the management and operation of forestlands, farmlands, or wildlife habitat; and
iv. At least one of the appointed Board members shall be actively engaged in one of the following: (i) the real estate business; or (ii) the business of appraising forestland, farmland, or conservation easements; or (iii) the business of banking, finance or accounting; or (iv) the practice of law with a concentration in the field of real estate or land use law.
v. At least one of the appointed Board members shall be actively engaged in historic or cultural preservation.
vi. All appointed Board members shall have a serious interest in the conservation of lands with significant natural, cultural and/or historical resources.
b. The initial term of the Board members from Council Districts 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 shall be for two years and thereafter for two-year terms.
The initial term of the Board members from Council Districts 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 shall be for three years and thereafter for two-year terms.
Board members may not serve more than two consecutive terms, but are eligible for appointment after being off the Board for one term.
Vacancies shall be filled by Council for the unexpired portion of any term.
c. The members of the Board shall serve without compensation but may receive the mileage and per diem as may be authorized and appropriated by Greenville County Council. The Board shall adopt rules and procedures for conducting its meetings and carrying out its responsibilities.
d. The Board is a public body and its members are therefore subject to, among other applicable laws and regulations, the South Carolina Ethics Act, the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, and Greenville County Code of Ordinances § 2-83 and shall perform their duties in accordance with the provisions thereof.
e. The Board shall meet at least four times per year in regularly scheduled meetings open to the public and in special meetings as the chair may call. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.
(Ord. 5247 § 3, passed 12-15-2020)
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