Joint Land Use Study (JLUS)

Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) Program  
In 1999 the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) approached LCOG about undertaking a new type of project called a JLUS. 

  • A Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) is a community-driven, cooperative, strategic planning process among Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; Beaufort County, the City of Beaufort and the Town of Port Royal; the Lowcountry Council of Governments; the State of South Carolina.  The purpose is to:
1)      promote community development that is compatible with the military training, testing, and operational missions; and
2)     seek ways to reduce operational impacts on adjacent lands. 
 
  • The JLUS planning process is intended to increase public awareness of the military missions and the contribution of the military to the Regional economy.
  • The JLUS planning process is intended to protect and preserve military readiness and defense capabilities while supporting continued Regional economic development. 
The first JLUS was completed by the LCOG planning department in 2004 and was unanimously approved by the three partner jurisdictions shortly thereafter.  Implementation of the recommendations also got underway quickly, including the development of a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program.  To the present, the Lowcountry JLUS program and its implementation have received national recognition, that has ranged from invitations to present at defense community conferences and an American Planning Association “Outstanding Planning Project” award.  A second JLUS was completed in 2015, and funding has been provided by OEA to begin work on implementation.

Final JLUS Reports: