Charleston, SC

With a 63 percent increase in their population between 1970 and 2000, and projections for an additional 55 percent increase by 2030, the Charleston Metro Area is not grappling with the question of whether they will grow, but how they will grow. Sprawling development and the rapid consumption of resources is something that many communities in the U.S. are facing but not all have an effective action plan to help mitigate environmental damage and ensure future vitality. Guided by their mission to advance the region’s economy, improve local quality of life and enhance their members’ success, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce has developed “A Sustainable Growth Ethic: Building on Prosperity” to encourage sustainable development in the region.

The Sustainable Growth Ethic is not a binding policy piece, but a straightforward statement of visions and values that rests upon three major principles: Choice, Balance, and Stewardship.

 

Choice
The Sustainable Growth Ethic states: “Choice provides individuals with a feeling of control of their destiny, which encourages a sense of pride and ownership in the community. The Chamber promotes giving individuals access to a freer market to enhance their ability and variety of options from which to choose.” Isolating zoning policies, for example, often limit residents’ choice of transportation method, housing, and general lifestyle. The Chamber encourages a reformation of zoning policies to better afford such choices to local residents.

Balance
“Balance involves the harmonious arrangement of parts or elements. The Chamber supports a balance between nature and community in its approach to the growth of our region.” Meeting local needs such as affordable housing supplies must be balanced with the basic requirements of protecting natural resources and shared public landscapes. The Chamber encourages an economic costs/benefit analysis that takes into account the balance between nature and community when assessing existing or new regulations.

Stewardship
“Stewardship is the collaborative practice of caring for the whole. The Chamber believes stewardship involves approaching growth with a full assumption of responsibility for our historic, natural, and economic resources.” As an example of environmental and economic stewardship, the Sustainable Growth Ethic refers to a sales tax in the Dorchester and Charleston counties that will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to redesign the public realm, reducing population pressures and the need for sprawling infrastructure with high-density solutions.

The Chamber is now in the process of soliciting support for the Sustainable Growth Ethic from other organizations in the community such as the regional planning council. To date, the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors have adopted the Ethic. Through inspiring an improvement of the built environment and conservation of the natural environment, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce is striving to become an exemplary model for other regions of the State.