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Zoning board approves short-term rental permit for 129 Sea Pines Drive after repeated hearings
Summary
Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special-use permit allowing short-term lodging at 129 Sea Pines Drive on St. Helena Island, voting 4-3 after extensive public comment and previous remands.
The Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 4-3 to approve a special-use permit allowing short-term lodging at 129 Sea Pines Drive on St. Helena Island.
The vote came after the application by Mr. Pruetzmann was remanded to the board for reconsideration. Tom Taylor, attorney for the applicant, told the board the property meets criteria in the Community Development Code and that the owners would work with renters to comply with turtle-protection lighting rules and to minimize neighborhood disturbances. "We feel that it meets the criteria under the CDC of 7 2 1 30 d," Taylor said.
Neighbors strongly opposed the permit during public comment, citing repeated hearings and local impacts. "Permitting by exhaustion. We have been here now 4 times," said Craig Crosson, a Sea Pines Drive resident. Crosson and other speakers raised concerns about environmental sensitivity, dune damage and emergency response times at the end of the road. Marty Linder and Richard Neal echoed opposition, saying the community lacks infrastructure and that absentee ownership increases risk of nuisance behavior.
Board discussion emphasized the code criteria for special uses and specific conditions in Division 5.11 relating to lighting near barrier-island beaches. A member moved to approve the special-use permit "with the conditions listed in article 5.11 0.5 point c point 1.2 of the community development code," citing consistency with the comprehensive plan and parking provided on site. Before voting the chairman stated he would not recuse himself from the decision.
The motion carried 4 in favor, 3 opposed. Staff and the applicant were directed to complete final paperwork with the county.
The board record shows the property is currently on the market; an on-the-record question confirmed the applicant’s representative that the home is listed. The approval requires adherence to the county’s short-term lodging standards in the Community Development Code, including turtle-protection lighting between May and October.
Public commenters asked the board to revisit procedures for repeated remands and to consider additional community mediation; the board did not adopt any additional mediation steps in its motion.
The board closed the item after the vote; staff said the applicant should follow up with county permitting staff to complete required conditions and compliance checks.
