Beaufort County Council backs two conservation purchases, including 1.89‑acre Hilton Head tract

Beaufort County Council approved two Green Space measures on unanimous votes: a $250,000 county contribution to the Town of Hilton Head for a 1.89‑acre parcel on Beach City Road and county funding not to exceed $560,000 for a farmland‑preservation conservation easement on Essex Farms.

Mike McShane, chair of the Green Space Committee, told council the Beach City Road purchase is a collaborative effort with the town; he said the project’s total cost was “around $1,100,000” and the county’s grant request to the town is $250,000. When asked for acreage, staff confirmed the tract is 1.89 acres. Council members endorsed preserving the property as part of broader efforts to protect sensitive coastal green space.

On the farmland easement, McShane said the Navy is contributing approximately $1,800,000 toward the project and the state will match; the landowner has donated roughly 20% of the easement value as a bargain sale. The county’s requested contribution to Green Space for this easement was listed as not to exceed $560,000. McShane noted this is the program’s first farmland easement and emphasized the county’s strategy of leveraging local referendum seed money with external grants and partners.

Council members praised the committee’s work. The resolutions passed by show of hands and were recorded as unanimous.

Both items proceed with the conditional funding and documents authorized by the resolutions; the town will administer the Beach City Road fee‑simple purchase and the Open Land Trust and partner organizations will assist with the easement transaction for the farmland project.