Green-space effort advances
Committee has outlined five areas to help meet preservation needs
The Columbia County Greenspace Committee furthered its efforts Thursday by creating five new subcommittees to deal with specific concerns.
The subcommittees, each of which will have two committee members, will focus on growth management and anti-sprawl; funds allocation; funding development; land-acquisition research; and ordinance review and compliance.
''We're really anxious to get working,'' said Gwen Wood, the committee's chairwoman, at the group's most recent meeting. ''We're really on the verge.''
The subcommittees will report back to the full committee concerning areas that are in need of preservation in Columbia County. The groups also must determine how to go about obtaining those areas.
The committee is considered an advisory group and will make recommendations to county commissioners. It was formed as part of a statewide Greenspace Act, an initiative of Gov. Roy Barnes last year.
Among the issues being studied by the subcommittees are the county's plan for growth management and how it will dovetail with the green-space act's aim to reduce urban sprawl. The funding development subcommittee will seek grants and gifts for green-space preservation beyond that of allotted state funding - set at $518,537 for 2001.
Commission members have said they also plan to make sure the county's zoning ordinances will contribute to open space preservation.
Currently, few regulations in Columbia County permanently protect green space, according to commission members.