Beaufort County School District presents River Ridge annexation and rezoning workshop; no action taken

Beaufort County School District representatives presented a planning workshop to the Bluffton Planning Commission on the proposed annexation of two parcels totaling about 24.12 acres into the town and a concurrent rezoning request to the town’s preserved (PR) district.

Town staff explained the annexation packet, which included two parcels proposed to be rezoned to PR and two additional town parcels on the existing River Ridge campus proposed for rezoning to PR as part of the consolidated campus zoning. The district said it is considering an early‑childhood center either on the annexed parcel or on adjacent athletic fields; if the school uses the athletic field, the playing field would be relocated onto the annexed parcel.

Council previously reviewed an intent to annex and directed staff to proceed; the planning commission workshop is informational under UDO Section 3.22(f). The commission received the presentation with no vote at the workshop stage; a public hearing and recommendation to council are scheduled for the next planning commission meeting, and council first/second readings were tentatively scheduled for May and June under the timeline staff presented.

Staff explained that schools were not previously a permitted use in the PR district and that the UDO administrator has initiated a text amendment to allow schools by right in PR concurrent with the rezoning. The change would remove the risk that the school parcels could be rezoned or redeveloped for residential units if sold in the future.