Beaufort board declines to investigate Pearl West annexation petition

The Beaufort Board of Commissioners on April 13 voted to deny a first-step investigation of an annexation petition for the Pearl West property, Iand thereby paused any immediate movement on a petition to add roughly 15.67 acres to the town.

Elizabeth Lewis, speaking as staff, told the board the Colorifer Group submitted the petition on behalf of the owner and that the action being considered that night was only whether to instruct the clerk to investigate the petition's sufficiency. Commissioner Cooper moved that the board not proceed with the investigation, citing concerns about Gibbs Creek, the North River watershed and a lack of clarity about the developer's plans.

The motion initially produced a tie among commissioners; Mayor Sharon Harker exercised her tie-breaking authority and voted with the motion to deny the investigation. Mayor Harker said the town needed to focus limited resources on in-town economic development priorities and commercial projects that would expand the tax base. "We have committed to doing an economic development program within the town of Beaufort and want to save the resources that we do have to attract those businesses," she said.

Other commissioners said the annexation application would normally be an initial step in a longer process that can include concurrent rezoning and development applications; staff noted that more detailed development proposals and a potential development agreement would be required before any final approvals.

Outcome: The board's vote carried 3-2 to deny the instruction to investigate the annexation petition. Staff said this vote pauses the annexation process and that future applicants could refile or bring a development agreement at a later date.

Next steps: No immediate investigation will proceed. If the petitioner pursues annexation later, the board or staff would present any new information, proposed conditions or development agreements for board consideration.