April 2003
Contents

Message From the Executive Director:
* The Upstate as the next regional city

Conservation:
* Couple preserves land along highway 11
* Northern Greenville county tract preserved
* UF members donate land adjoining
Jocassee Gorges to State
* Conservation Bank Act signed into law!

Articles:
* The Upstate is being developed at the rate of a new Haywood Mall every three days!!
* Downtown Schools: a key step toward sensible growth
* Downtown schools in the Upstate
good news and bad news
* Can Stories Save a River?
Bringing Lawson's Fork back to life
* Main Street: Heart and soul of the Upstate
* Victory for streams in the Upstate!

Upstate Forever News:
* Events
* Awards
* Volunteers
* Staff

COUPLE PRESERVES LAND ALONG HIGHWAY 11

Kent and Lynn Davis have granted a conservation easement to Upstate Forever that will ensure the permanent protection of approximately 28 acres along Highway 11 in northern Greenville County. The heavily wooded property has over 1,800 feet of frontage along the highway. Highway 11 is a federal and state scenic highway that affords spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north and the rolling hills of the Piedmont to the south.
     “The scenic highway designation is a valuable asset to the area, but actually it provides little real protection of the beautiful vistas along the highway,” said Paul Ramsey, president of the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Byway Association, a nonprofit group working to enhance and preserve the Highway 11 corridor.“Billboards are not allowed, but otherwise land along the highway can be developed in any way that is permitted under local land use ordinances.There are no such ordinances in this area, which means that protection of the highway corridor depends on the adjoining property owners. We deeply appreciate what the Davises have done.”
     “Unless something is done, this beautiful highway could end up looking like Woodruff Road,” said Lynn Davis. “We don’t own much land, but we wanted to do what we could to prevent that from happening.”
     Located at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Davis’ property contains a wide variety of plant and animal life. Their residence is located on an adjoining tract and is not visible from the highway. The couple will probably add that tract to the easement in the future, Kent Davis said.
     We hope what Kent and Lynn have done will inspire other landowners along Highway 11 to do the same thing. This is a win-win for everyone - they continue to own and enjoy the land, and the property along the highway is protected for the public.