Regional growth briefing: staff urges workshop to coordinate infrastructure, water and development across Southern Lowcountry

Beaufort County staff told the Natural Resources Committee that population and permit trends across the Southern Lowcountry point to substantial future growth and that the county should pursue a facilitated regional workshop to build a shared approach to infrastructure and land-use.

The SoLoCo Growth Committee presentation summarized permit and entitled-development capacity across the region and argued that local jurisdictions, water/sewer authorities and military partners need to coordinate decisions on growth boundaries, infrastructure investments and development approvals. The presenter said the county and neighboring Jasper County hold significant entitled capacity: roughly 2,500 additional residential units within certain Beaufort County subdivisions, tens of thousands of units in Bluffton-area entitlements, and an estimated 35,000 entitled units in Jasper County.

Staff said available capacity for new homes is outpacing current infrastructure planning, and they flagged transportation bottlenecks, water and sewer capacity needs and military encroachment concerns. Staff identified regional partners already participating in the initiative, including the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA), the school district, the Coastal Conservation League, Lowcountry Council of Governments, the military’s air station, and the Sentinel Landscape program.

“To put it simply, we are experiencing rapid population growth,” the presenter told the committee, summarizing permit activity and noting that growth is moving westward into Jasper County as well as continuing inside Beaufort County. Staff recommended a regional growth workshop — a focused, facilitated event involving elected officials and stakeholders — that would produce a road map or framework for future joint decisions. The presenter said the workshop would be a targeted, practical event rather than a full regional plan, and staff asked the committee to support planning for the workshop and for staff to return with cost estimates and options.

Committee members asked for the presentation materials and asked staff to provide more precise timing and projection numbers at a future meeting. Staff said they would bring back more detailed numbers, including possible census projections and timelines tied to infrastructure improvements such as interstate exit upgrades.

No formal committee action was taken; the presentation was informational and staff will return with proposals for a facilitated workshop and cost-sharing options.