The House approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Ben Hagood, R-Sullivan's Island, that would require broad coordination in local land-use planning to reduce potential conflicts over developments that threaten to consume farmland and forests, and promote suburban sprawl. That coordination would involve "counties, municipalities, public service districts, school districts, public and private utilities, and transportation agencies," according to the bill.

The importance of better transportation planning is underscored, with requirements for a review of what will be needed in road improvements, highway construction, public transportation, pedestrian and bicyclist access. Similar requirements must be met for the utilities necessary to serve new developments.

Better regional planning could have prevented the current conflict between Dorchester County and jurisdictions in Charleston County over Poplar Grove, a large residential development planned south of Charleston. While the project will be built in Dorchester County, its effect on transportation, for example, will likely be greater in Charleston County.

The bill should help minimize shopping by developers for friendly jurisdictions that will help expedite their projects. For instance, the developer of a large multi-use project north of Mount Pleasant got the go-ahead from County Council after negotiations with the town bogged down. As that project goes forward, Mount Pleasant will have to deal with the traffic congestion it creates, but without taxes and fees from the development to make improvements.

Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee endorsed full funding for the state Conservation Bank, which is scheduled to receive some $11 million in documentary taxes from land sales in the state to preserve particularly important natural and historic areas.

Rep. Bobby Harrell, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, tells us that the proposal still faces a battle in the full House because of the severe budget constraints faced by the state. House members should recognize that a relatively modest allocation for the bank can achieve substantial goals by leveraging greater funding from private groups and the federal government for land conservation. The Conservation Bank has the ability to further increase the effectiveness of its funding by buying development rights to maintain agricultural and forestry uses of key properties, at less expense than outright purchases.

The pending sale of hundreds of thousands of acres of timberland in South Carolina makes funding especially critical this year.

The state's budget problems, and the governor's reorganization proposal are expected to take center stage in the Legislature this year. The Legislature, however, shouldn't forget the importance of encouraging responsible planning and land conservation, to preserve what many South Carolinians value most about their state.