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Beaufort County green-space penny hits $100M; committee opens due diligence on multiple parcels
Summary
Beaufort County's green-space fund reached $100,000,000 as staff reported Jan. 12, and the Natural Resources Committee voted to authorize due diligence on several land-acquisition applications while discussing vendor notification and program rules for returning later grant receipts.
The Natural Resources Committee heard on Jan. 12 that the county's dedicated green-space penny has collected $100,000,000, a milestone staff said was expected this month.
"As of January 12 ... we have hit our $100,000,000 mark," Mark told the committee during a financial update on the green-space program.
The report prompted procedural questions from committee members about when merchants should stop collecting the 1% green-space levy. Staff said the Department of Revenue (DOR) is the agency responsible for collecting the tax and for notifying merchants when to stop; until DOR issues official notice vendors may be required to keep their point-of-sale machines configured to collect the levy. Committee members flagged a prior problem after the 2018 referendum when some merchants continued collections longer than intended and asked the county to coordinate notice to vendors.
The committee then moved into its green-space applications and approved due diligence for multiple parcels, authorizing staff to spend limited amounts on surveys, appraisals and title searches before returning a recommendation. Applications the committee opened or advanced included Buckfield, North Widgeon, Beach City Road, the Buckwalter tract in Bluffton, a corridor-protection parcel (Old Wild Horse Road), and a small fee-simple parcel on Lady's Island. A separate recommendation by the green-space advisory committee declined to recommend funding for the Bridal Creek Marina application, citing easement and access issues.
Public commenters who spoke before the vote urged conservation-minded approaches. "I live in Rose Hill, and am very concerned about the Willow Run tract," Gloria Owens said, urging a gravel road or bike path instead of roadways that would enable more development. Mike Hagen, a volunteer chairman on the Green Space Committee, told the committee an 80-foot road easement would "not be compatible with any conservation purpose" and could enable future development.
Committee members emphasized that approving due diligence is not an obligation to buy. Green-space staff said some applications will also pursue outside funding — including State Conservation Bank grants — and any larger purchase recommendation will come back to the full council for final approval.
Next steps: staff will complete the limited due diligence authorized tonight and return with full recommendations, appraisals and proposed funding shares before any acquisition is finalized.
