Resident urges transparency on Pine Island and asks council to delay development until zoning is resolved

A resident told the Beaufort County Council during public comment that Pine Island site choices should better accommodate citizens and urged greater transparency in local development discussions.

"Regarding Pine Island, I strongly encourage the council to choose sizes and close in locations that can accommodate more citizens," the resident said, asking the council to avoid locating facilities where people would be situated on corals or outside. The speaker also criticized what they described as "dozens of secret development meetings" and called for open deliberations: "No private meetings, full transparency, let the sunshine in."

The resident asked the council not to proceed with a development agreement until an outstanding zoning-amendment issue is resolved, saying that if the zoning changes are granted the developer would be directed to modify the development agreement accordingly; otherwise the developer should modify its agreement per counsel's decision. The comment referenced fees and terms in the agreement in imprecise terms on the record.

Council did not respond at length during the public comment period; the Chair closed public comment and later moved to executive session on unrelated legal issues. The issues raised by the speaker were not placed on the record as agenda actions during the meeting.