Beaufort County council unanimously approves up to $200,000 in green‑space earnest money to hold Bluffton tract

Beaufort County Council on April 13 authorized the Green Space Committee to make up to $200,000 of county green‑space funds available as earnest money to hold an option on a roughly 5,000‑acre tract near Palmetto Bluff while the county completes due diligence.

The request came from Green Space Advisory Committee chair Mike McShane, who told the council the money would only be used “if necessary for earnest money during contract negotiations with Pioneer Land and Timber” and that the committee would return with a full recommendation after negotiations. McShane said the Nature Conservancy and other nonprofit partners would work with the county on the transaction.

Senator Tom Davis, introduced to the council as present for the discussion, told members the State Forestry Commission is “very interested in ending up being the ultimate owner of this property” and that a $20,000,000 state appropriation would likely be sought for acquisition support. He described a funding picture that includes federal, state and local partners and said state and regional cooperation would help make the protection permanent.

Council members asked staff about zoning, public access and the disposition of the $200,000 if no agreement is reached. McShane and staff said the funds would revert to the green‑space account if the county does not proceed. Council members also noted the tract’s adjacency to roughly 800 acres the county already owns, stressing the scale of the conservation outcome if the deal closes.

After discussion, the council approved the amendment to the agenda to consider the request and then approved the $200,000 authorization by a show‑of‑hands vote. The chair announced the vote was unanimous.

The council’s action is procedural authorization to provide earnest money; the Green Space Committee and county staff said they will return with the full negotiation and purchase recommendation for later action.