Protecting Land & Water | Advocacy | Balanced Growth
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Exciting news to share!
Since the start of the year I have been actively engaged in Greenville County’s comp plan process as key stakeholder, along with several other Upstate Forever staff. We have been advocating for a stop to the "business-as-usual" approach to land development and urging a more balanced approach to accommodating future growth.
The comprehensive plan – if enacted with policy – will provide a better alternative to the
unfettered sprawl Greenville County is currently experiencing. The drafted plan has been unveiled to the public, and now it is time for plan adoption!
View the draft
Upstate Forever staff will be at the public hearing tomorrow, Monday, November 18th,
wearing GREEN
to show county council we support adopting the plan as proposed.
Greenville County is a big place with wide-ranging citizen and stakeholder interests. The comp plan aims to bear all of those interests in mind and set out a shared vision for how to accommodate the 222,000 new citizens projected by 2040 while growing more responsibly. Balancing those interests is a tall order, but we believe the plan does just that.
Greenville residents, I hope to see you TOMORROW, Monday, November 18th,
wearing GREEN
! Details below:
- Date: Monday, November 18th
- Time: 6 pm
- Location: Greenville County Square (301 University Ridge – Council Chambers)
- Attire: Wear GREEN to show your support for the plan!
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— Lisa Hallo,
Land Policy Director
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"There's a child in all of us, and that sense of wonder is in everybody, regardless of your age. That's where I like to get people's attention."
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Tim Lee, Interpretive Ranger Naturalist at Mountain Bridge Wilderness, provided
a fantastic narrative about his relationship with nature for the latest issue of the
Upstate Advocate, our twice-yearly newsletter sponsored by Pacolet Milliken Enterprises. Ranger Tim was one of ten Upstate residents who provided their thoughts about nature for this issue. To read the rest of these stories,
visit our blog.
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Congratulations, Glenn!
At the September 2019 meeting, the Upstate Forever board voted to rename the land conservation director position "The Glenn Hilliard Director of Land Conservation." This naming is in recognition of Glenn's longtime support of Upstate Forever, and for the time and energy he has spent promoting land protection in the Upstate.
Read more
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An easy way to support UF
If you are 70 ½ or older, you can use your individual retirement account (IRA) to support Upstate Forever. Making an IRA charitable rollover gift to us will lower the income and taxes from your IRA required minimum distributions. Contact Aldon Knight at
aknight@upstateforever.org or (864) 250-0500 to learn more.
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Say hello to the graduates of our inaugural Citizens Planning Academy!
This program is an interactive 4-week course designed to help Greenville residents, business owners, and neighborhood leaders become more effective and influential participants in City of Greenville planning and land use policy efforts. We plan to hold two more 4-week sessions in 2020, so stay tuned for more details!
Read more
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New board & staff members
Please help us give a warm welcome to the newest UF board and staff members! On the board, we have
Chris Richardson of BDV Solutions LLC and
Allen Jacoby of Milliken. Our newest staff members are
Christina Sprecher, Land Stewardship Manager, and
Kerry Newberry, Office Manager / Executive Assistant. Click each name to view their bios!
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Learn from our Land Trust
UF's Land Conservation team is working on its first newsletter! It will feature stories from local landowners, conservation groups, and other interesting tidbits, all centered around how we can be better stewards of special places in the Upstate. To be added to the list, send your name and address to Caitlyn Smith at
csmith@upstateforever.org
.
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Jeff Speck's tips for a more walkable Spartanburg
We had a great turnout last week for "Towards A More Walkable Spartanburg with Jeff Speck!" A huge thank you to Mr. Speck, whose presentation was thought provoking and inspirational. If you weren't able to make the event, you can catch the highlights
in this Spartanburg Herald Journal article.
Create a lasting legacy
When you make a planned gift to Upstate Forever, you help us achieve our goals for current and future generations while enjoying a wide variety of tax benefits. Visit our planned giving site to learn about bequests, IRA rollovers, charitable lead trusts, and other ways to give.
Read more
Grab a Bag SC
Help us keep our state clean, beautiful, and litter-free! Join Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and
PalmettoPride
as we pick up litter in our communities. Grab a bag, rally some friends, put on a pair of gloves, and clean up your neighborhood. One bag can make a difference! After you’ve picked up your bag, challenge three friends to do the same. Just tag them on your favorite social platform and use #GrabABagSC.
Learn more
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ForeverGreen Annual Awards Luncheon
: Monday, February 24, 2020 at the Embassy Suites on Verdae Blvd in Greenville.
Read more
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Do you know about our
other
mailing lists?
Greenville County Comprehensive Plan Updates
Greenville County is in the final stages of developing an updated Comprehensive Plan — a process that takes place once every 10 years. Upstate Forever wants to help demystify and empower citizens to influence the Comprehensive Plan update process. Join this dedicated mailing list to receive updates and alerts for all Greenville-based comp plans.
Planning & Growth Updates for Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County is growing rapidly, with more than 60,000 new residents projected by 2040. Whether you live or work in Spartanburg County or just care deeply about its future, our Land Planning & Policy team will keep you informed and actively engaged in shaping Spartanburg's future growth.
SC Legislative Updates
While the State Legislature is in session from January through May of each year, we dispatch a weekly Legislative Update recapping each week's important energy and conservation news. We also issue Action Alerts on critical, time-sensitive issues and provide the tools you need to contact your elected officials.
The Water Log
(NEW)
Water is our planet's most precious natural resource, and Upstate Forever is working to safeguard both the quantity and quality of water in our region. Our Clean Water team sends out a periodic newsletter dedicated to clean water issues and advocacy.
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Follow us on social media:
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Your tax-deductible gift to Upstate Forever will go directly toward protecting critical lands and saving special places in the Upstate.
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Click the icons below to learn more about our work
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Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters, and the unique character of Upstate South Carolina.
Over the past two decades, we have worked to protect the natural assets that make the Upstate so special — our farmlands, forests, natural areas, rivers, and clean air. We are committed to ensuring that our communities are vibrant and retain their green spaces, outdoor heritage, and unique identities in the face of rapid development and significant sprawl. Our vision is an environmentally healthy, economically prosperous Upstate that offers a high quality of life now and for future generations.
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