[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6223201,"mediaKeyId","3576834-6db756ceb280dbe5cabf1201ee02a75e","parentId",3576834,"title","Survey shows broad public response; staff to draft revised ordinance limiting single-use plastics and polystyrene","audioSeconds",652,"startMs",3862000,"endMs",4514000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3576834-6db756ceb280dbe5cabf1201ee02a75e&start=3862&end=4514","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3576834-6db756ceb280dbe5cabf1201ee02a75e/thumbnail_3862000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223201/Beaufort-County/South-Carolina/Survey-shows-broad-public-response-staff-to-draft-revised-ordinance-limiting-single-use-plastics-and-polystyrene","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223201-19beb847efb2fd8ab2913ed9f290ee22/orig.mp4?Expires=1775290936&Signature=Fpig8PHzaCUbo1l048JDWQ9W5~aYlrOEBrjUhIANQ0YTBpveWt0KkuUSXG0-dxyE6VXATBhXigwlog4fRRJ9pny4Of4QklcIcYo5Y2iH47WSx5l9q50XzUndQNUCTJfbaze9dM1xqrmLO7RaEHGUfrzmux9cvxGZO9QGxRM6p-GNchKMuRPvm2MiVY~j2Ysah08K6UCP7mm1GgFV9EgBD7crnY7jq8CWSw3hanqvmsAOOXC-cJjmBc2aoYgDRchCEi6am2u8-GRRNX8oiuAy0BS4Cfc2kojX~OACrVESK4io2cFH2Z6DHL7lQaare4uv5h09WaWWszYduXCqAgMYpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","BCTV","date","2025-05-24T02:09:02Z","article","At the May 23 meeting of the North Regional Planning Committee, staff reported preliminary results from countywide surveys on single-use plastics and polystyrene food-service items and said they will prepare a draft ordinance for council and municipal consideration.

Rob, who presented the survey findings, said surveys run between February and early April drew more than 6,000 consumer responses and 38 business responses. “What we learned from Charleston is it's not simply a question of banning an item. There are different levels of how an item is controlled or restricted,” Rob said, explaining the staff approach of pairing restrictions with outreach and a grace period for businesses.

Survey questions addressed plastic bags, polystyrene (“clamshell”) containers, polystyrene cups, straws and single-use plastic utensils. Staff reported early trends: strong public interest in restricting plastic bags and polystyrene clamshells and cups, and more support for “by request” approaches for straws and utensils. Rob said Charleston’s experience showed businesses often support “by request” or phased approaches because they reduce inventory burdens and costs, and that Charleston used grants and trial periods to help businesses transition to alternative packaging.

Staff told the committee they plan to finalize the survey analysis, draft an ordinance that reflects the survey trends (including phased or targeted restrictions), and coordinate the draft with municipalities. The presentation noted practical measures Charleston used that Beaufort-area staff are considering: a trial/grace period to allow businesses to exhaust inventory and obtain alternative supplies, grants to offset higher costs for compostable or paper replacements, and targeted outreach to food-service businesses.

No formal ordinance was introduced at this meeting. Committee members asked operational questions and made observed points about consumer behavior; one member noted that requiring straws be provided only on request would likely reduce waste because many customers are handed straws they do not use. Staff said the draft ordinance will return to council and to municipalities for consideration and that additional stakeholder consultation with businesses is planned.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Beaufort County Norther Regional Plan Implementation Committee 9AM May 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff reported results of February–April surveys — more than 6,000 consumer responses and 38 business responses — showing strong public support to restrict plastic bags and foam clamshells and more-divided views on straws and utensils; staff plans to draft an ordinance for council and municipal review.","taxTitle","Beaufort County, South Carolina","taxId",5067,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223206,"Planners propose regional symposium to shape shared growth boundaries in Beaufort County region",1640,1179000,2819000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3576834-6db756ceb280dbe5cabf1201ee02a75e&start=1179&end=2819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3576834-6db756ceb280dbe5cabf1201ee02a75e/thumbnail_1179000.jpg","/articles/6223206/Beaufort-County/South-Carolina/Planners-propose-regional-symposium-to-shape-shared-growth-boundaries-in-Beaufort-County-region","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223206-be6584594af5d0d5f112882ec897e88e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775290936&Signature=mEHPaoheqB57Va9ERlmN70BLVIVVfcbebm1oIaAEdggF0VmD5IQR3dWJJNV9SkSi7uVx5WN7tc18pKPZcVzAi0C~xj43VHM319Xqk6rmDHTODD0AFS5MjrI-VUoWX~O~SEPALk8GLLSu8n~X0gezCMP8lIbLtju3HY~rzlZpLGtl37O387uy7FpmdbZ2CCrieAIxa188gcxGs7hFsJw3NXC9xQp-Qaff68fZWa-w2rpUm2r3H~5B9IAC64AvgYTDxK-h0q73ENmdsyvGmDokRawDxZchP6ihj7DAsIdiSuMuqc9OI6eTmTzkkKYI07H5pnOUtp40zEUtBQDcbtlgGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the May 23 meeting of the North Regional Planning Committee, staff described a proposal for a facilitator-led symposium and follow-up workshops to develop a shared land-use vision for Beaufort County, Jasper County and nearby municipalities, saying the effort could cost about $75,000 and be scheduled for the fall.

Committee staffer Rob, who presented the plan, said the region already has tens of thousands of approved but unbuilt housing units and that coordinating growth is urgent. “Planning jointly and having a shared land use vision is something that is vital for this region,” Rob said.

The recommendation grew out of a growth subcommittee charged with reviewing comprehensive plans across the region. Staff told the committee the region currently has roughly 53,000 potential future dwelling units in approved developments in southern Beaufort County, Bluffton, Hardeeville and parts of Jasper County — units that could be built without any further rezonings or annexations. Staff and some committee members said that level of entitlement, coupled with rising housing costs and workforce shortages, creates pressure on roads, water and sewer systems.

Rob said the staff proposal favors a concentrated public process rather than a full rewrite of each jurisdiction’s comprehensive plan: either a one-day symposium or two half-day events with an independent facilitator, elected officials and key stakeholders. He told the committee the estimated cost to hire a facilitator and do background work is about $75,000 and that the recommended cost-sharing formula would allocate contributions by population; preliminary staff figures showed Beaufort County bearing the largest share under an earlier $100,000 scenario.

Staff also described practical steps and timing: jurisdictions would first decide whether to participate, staff would prepare an RFP/RFQ to procure a facilitator (a process Rob estimated would take roughly a month and a half), and the earliest realistic schedule was the coming fall so participants could seek funds in upcoming budgets. Rob said staff would present refined funding numbers to the regional coordinating group at a Tuesday meeting of Soloco (as referenced in the presentation).

Committee discussion ranged from logistics to policy tools. Members asked whether the workshops could lead to firm commitments such as mapped growth boundaries or voluntary agreements on annexation and upzoning; Rob said the symposium could produce a vision and recommendations and might lead to further formal steps at each jurisdiction’s discretion. Members raised infrastructure and timing concerns, including references to pending state legislation on adequate public facilities that would give local jurisdictions more authority to tie development to infrastructure availability.

No vote or formal commitment was taken at the meeting. Staff will present the refined cost-sharing formula and next steps to the regional body referenced as Soloco, after which participating jurisdictions would decide whether to fund and proceed with procurement.

Background: presenters emphasized prior regional work — including the Northern Beaufort County Regional Plan adopted about 15–20 years ago, joint land-use studies tied to military installations, and coordinated stormwater guidance — as a foundation for the proposed workshops. Beaufort Jasper Water Sewer Authority staff were identified as active participants in coordinated planning and infrastructure analysis.","Staff recommended a facilitated workshop series this fall to build a shared land-use vision across Beaufort and Jasper counties, citing tens of thousands of approved dwelling units and strained roads and utilities; no formal action was taken.","actionData","errors"]

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Survey shows broad public response; staff to draft revised ordinance limiting single-use plastics and polystyrene

Planners propose regional symposium to shape shared growth boundaries in Beaufort County region