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So LoCo committee proposes regional growth workshop as county faces rapid development
Summary
Staff told the Natural Resources Committee that the So LoCo Growth Committee recommends a facilitated regional workshop to build a shared land‑use vision amid rapid growth; staff cited permit capacity estimates (roughly 2,500 additional units in parts of the county and roughly 35,000 in nearby Jasper County) and emphasized infrastructure and military‑compatibility concerns.
Staff presented an overview of the So LoCo Growth Committee's regional planning work and proposed a regional growth workshop or charrette to engage elected officials and regional stakeholders in a facilitated visioning exercise. The presentation emphasized heavy permit activity across municipalities and the need to coordinate infrastructure, water/sewer capacity and military compatibility to manage growth.
Staff provided capacity figures and examples from county analysis: "We may have ... about 2,500 additional residential units" in certain parts of the county, higher totals in Bluffton and roughly 35,000 in Jasper County, staff said, and noted that infrastructure (roads, water and sewer) and workforce issues complicate how quickly those units would actually be built. Staff said partners in the effort include the Beaufort‑Jasper Water Sewer Authority, the school district, the Coastal Conservation League, Lowcountry Council of Governments and military partners. Committee members asked for presentation slides and urged breakout sessions that mix jurisdictional representation at the proposed workshop.
