Glassy Mountain Tract Protected

Glassy Mountain is an isolated mountain in Pickens County that rises abruptly from a level surrounding plain, a geologic formation known as a “monadnock.”

SCDNR acquired the mountain in 1990 and created the 65-acre Glassy Mountain Heritage Preserve to protect one of the few monadnocks in SC. This distinctive land form provides wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and is home to several rare plant species. Public access has been created on top of the monadnock and a trail is managed by DNR.

Glassy Mountain is surrounded by several large, privately-owned and mostly undeveloped tracts that contribute significantly to the protection of the sensitive ecosystem that surrounds it and contribute to the viewshed. In 2017, one of those tracts was slated to be the site of a subdivision of 245 homes on 183 acres, to be called The Summit at Glassy.

The Appeal

Working closely with local community members and the law firm Kehl Culbertson Andrighetti LLC, Upstate Forever filed an appeal to have the plan for a development near Glassy Mountain remanded back to the Pickens County Planning Commission. Upstate Forever typically doesn’t get involved at the individual development level, but in this case, staff agreed it was warranted. The opposing party filed a motion to dismiss, but a Fourth Circuit judge ruled in Upstate Forever’s favor and upheld the appeal.

A successful conservation outcome

Finally, in December, some great news: a partner land trust placed a permanent conservation easement on the property on question, stipulating that there can be no development or subdivisions built on the property.

We deeply appreciate everyone in the community who worked together to protect the rural character of the area and the treasure that is the Glassy Mountain Heritage Trust Preserve. 

"I'm very relieved that the land will not be developed, and I’m glad this is a win-win for everyone. If Upstate Forever had not worked with the community to oppose this inappropriate subdivision proposal, the Glassy Mountain area's rural character would have been permanently changed. I am grateful for their support in protecting this special place." 

- Shelly Smith, one of the neighboring landowners who filed the appeal against the proposed development in conjunction with Upstate Forever.