Beaufort County approves large Victoria Bluff conservation easement request
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Summary
The council approved a county contribution to a conservation easement on the privately held Victoria Bluff tract in Bluffton, citing long‑term public benefits and partnership with the Open Land Trust and landowner gift terms.
Beaufort County Council voted April 13 to authorize county staff to execute documents and provide funds toward a conservation easement on the Victoria Bluff tract in unincorporated Beaufort County.
Green Space Advisory Committee chair Mike McShane described the property as a privately held, 400‑plus acre parcel near Highway 278 and adjacent to other conserved lands; he said the family landowner had worked with a land trust to craft a restrictive easement and that keeping it privately owned under easement helps avoid ongoing public operational costs.
Council members asked clarifying questions about how forestry revenue would be handled if the Forestry Commission manages the tract and whether school boards would receive a share of timber‑generated revenue; McShane said the Forestry Commission has a policy to distribute 25 percent of any forestry revenue to the local school board and that timber revenues are variable and may not appear annually.
After discussion the council approved the resolution; staff indicated the action would be reflected in updated green‑space allocations and supporting backup materials for council records.
