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Commission recommends annexation of Grandy Oaks parcels with conditions including 20% affordable housing recommendation
Summary
The commission forwarded recommendations to Town Council on six concurrent University Investments applications to annex about 65.59 acres (Grandy Oaks), amend Buckwalter PUD text and development agreement, and add 32 acres of general commercial rights; commissioners pressed the applicant on road connectivity, Bluffton Parkway right‑of‑way donations and proposed a 20% set‑aside for affordable housing for any future residential units.
The Planning Commission unanimously moved to forward recommendations to Town Council on six concurrent applications from University Investments LLC to annex roughly 65.6 acres known as Grandy Oaks into the Town of Bluffton, amend the comprehensive plan, rezone properties into the Buckwalter PUD as a new Grandy Oaks Commons land‑use tract, amend the PUD concept plan and the Buckwalter development agreement (13th amendment) to add 32 acres of general commercial development rights.
Staff outlined multiple commitments the commission could request in a recommendation: building a frontage road and interconnectivity to adjacent parcels, a Lake Pointe Drive connection, incorporation of access management plan commitments, and clarification of language in the 13th amendment requiring donation of right‑of‑way for Bluffton Parkway Phase 5B. Staff noted the applicant agreed in principle to many items but that the recorded amendment language should obligate these commitments. Legal counsel explained why placing obligations in a recorded amendment binds future owners.
Commissioners focused heavily on transportation connectivity, noting a historical expectation that Lake Pointe Drive would connect through to Bluffton Parkway and the limited room for three connector roads given subsequent county approvals. Applicant representatives (including Jacob Reed and Nathan Long) said they are willing to commit to connectivity and to construct certain access points; they noted wetlands and existing private roads complicate exact alignments. A commissioner proposed and the body adopted a motion to add a subsection requiring that any residential units built on the annexed property include no less than 20% dedicated affordable housing (20% of the transferred RDUs, approximately 18 units if 92 RDUs are used as a baseline was discussed). The commission recommended approval with conditions and the inclusion of the 20% affordable housing language; the items will move to Town Council for ordinance readings and to negotiate recorded amendment text.
Public commenters expressed concern over traffic and emergency service impacts if higher‑density residential uses occur; staff emphasized the annexation package does not request new RDUs beyond the existing Buckwalter allocations and that no additional residential units are proposed at this time. The motions were adopted by voice vote and will be transmitted to Town Council for further action and for incorporation of specific, recorded amendment language.
