Beaufort County Council Rejects Mixed-Use Development for Veterans

News Summary

The Beaufort County Council’s Natural Resource Committee has declined a rezoning request for a 50-acre tract intended for the Mews Village development, which would have provided 200 residential units for disabled veterans and first responders. The decision came amidst traffic congestion concerns raised by local residents. Committee members stressed that the denial focused on location suitability rather than the pressing need for veteran housing. This decision, along with another rejection of a 121-acre development near Okatie Elementary, will be reviewed by the full council for further consideration.

Beaufort, SC – The Beaufort County Council’s Natural Resource Committee has rejected a rezoning request for a 50-acre tract along S.C. 170, which was intended for a mixed-use development aimed at providing housing for disabled veterans and first responders.

The proposed development, known as Mews Village, sought to construct 200 residential units. However, the planning staff and the County Planning Commission recommended disapproval, prompting the committee’s vote against the rezoning.

• Traffic Concerns: Neighbors raised alarms about potential traffic congestion, with one resident likening the cumulative impact to “Beaufort County being destroyed by a million small paper cuts.”
• Committee Insight: Chairwoman Alice Howard and Vice-Chair Anna Maria Tabernick emphasized that their denial was based on location suitability rather than the need for veteran housing.
• Moratorium Suggestion: A resident proposed implementing a moratorium on new developments to evaluate already permitted projects.

In addition to this decision, the committee also declined a concurrent rezoning request for 121 acres near Okatie Elementary School due to similar traffic concerns related to proposed residential and commercial developments. Both rejections will be forwarded to the full Beaufort County Council for further consideration.

In a separate development, Mayor Kevin Phillips of Port Royal addressed citizens regarding the sale of Safe Harbor Marinas for $5.65 billion, assuring minimal impact on ongoing local development plans. Safe Harbor is expected to provide updates on its master plan within the next six months.

Green Space Tax: A green space tax introduced by State Senator Tom Davis allows for investments in land conservation projects that enhance the county’s water quality. A recent vote supported funding for the conservation easement on 4,409 acres in Jasper County, with total costs around $13.5 million, of which Beaufort County will contribute $1 million. The green space tax has generated $39 million so far and will conclude once it reaches $100 million or by May of next year.

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Additional Resources

• WSAV: Beaufort County Natural Resources Committee Votes Unanimously Against Affordable Veteran Housing Project
• Your Island News: Jasper County Council Looks to Make Drastic Rezoning Move
• Washington Daily News: Rezoning Request for 386-Unit Housing Development Unanimously Approved by City Council
• Island Packet: Politics and Government News
• Post and Courier: Heated Debate on Cherry Point Rezoning Splits Beaufort County Council
• Wikipedia: Rezoning