Marcus Norton Named 'Preservationist of the Year' in York County
March 13, 2001

Anne Springs Close, well known throughout the region for her preservation efforts in her beloved York County, was the inspiration for Marcus Norton's own commitment to preserving open spaces in York for generations to come.

"When Mrs. Close donated 2,300 acres for what's now known as the Anne Springs Close Greenway, that was an inspiration for getting involved in local preservation efforts," Norton said.

"Her action not only set in motion the donation of thousands of additional acres of land countywide, but it also inspired me to roll up my sleeves and do my part in helping preserve the rolling hills of York County," he said.

Norton was recently recognized for his preservation efforts by the York County Chamber of Commerce, which named him its "Preservationist of the Year" for 2000. Previous winners were Hugh White in 1999 and Jane Spratt McColl in 1998. Clear Springs Development Company sponsors the award.

"For me to be placed in the same category as Mr. White and Mrs. McColl is unbelievable to me," Norton said. "I was speechless when I got the call that I had been selected. This award is one of the greatest milestones of my career."

Norton was most recently County Planner for York County, where he spearheaded a number of strategic planning initiatives involving long-term land-use issues, including the Catawba River Corridor Plan, the York County Tree Ordinance and York County Open Space Planning. He has since relocated with his three children to his family farm in Scotland County, N.C., where he is director of planning and charged with overseeing a local economy based in part on eco- and heritage tourism.

During nearly 15 years as a York County resident, Norton was a member of the advisory boards of the Nations Ford Land Trust and the Anne Springs Close Greenway, as well as a member of the technical advisory team for the Rock Hill-Fort Mill Area Transportation Study.

Norton also led local efforts for York County to acquire nearly 1,700 acres of land for the Dalton Ranch and he produced the environmental component of the 1996 Fort Mill Chamber Long Range Plan.

"We're not so much land owners as we are stewards of land," Norton said. "How you leave land will speak volumes to future generations about your commitment to where you call home."

Clear Springs Development Company is building a series of mixed-use neighborhoods in Fort Mill over the next 20 years, including the 1,000-acre Baxter Village, a traditional neighborhood with single-family homes and townhomes, as well as more than 400 acres of open space.

For more information on Baxter, call (803) 802-TOWN or toll free (877) 570-HOME. The Baxter Information Center is located at the neighborhood's main entrance off Highway 160 and Interstate 77 at Exit 85.