Expand Historic Review Board
It concerns me that Beaufort’s Historic Review Board is increasingly losing its focus on protecting the authenticity of our 300-acre National Historic District. It’s a small piece of the incorporated city, yet it has become the brand that our increasing national eminence rests upon.
New development ought to connect the city’s character and quality into a future for Beaufort holding a conversation, so to speak, with our habit of being – our ethos. Perennially the city’s administrators propose abrogating Historic Beaufort Foundation’s recommending appointments to the HRB. It is not a privilege, but a necessity. Who better knows the histories of our old buildings – not only the planters’ mansions, but the freedmen’s cottages and the commercial buildings, too?
For many years we have not had a knowledgeable local person appointed to advise the HRB who would elucidate both the architectural details and community context.
After practicing for upwards of 50 years, it is plain to see that the HRB needs more than five members. As it is, the absence or recusal of a single member can create dysfunction. Seven voting members could provide more ideas to coalesce around, broadening the discussion. Alternatively, a designated observer might step in, say to break a tie vote.
It is imperative that whatever particular issues bring an applicant for HRB membership forward, appointees must demonstrate a dedication to the board’s mission statement. Our downtown business and residential district must not be frazzled and laid low, bit by inappropriate bit. Let us emphasize the HISTORIC in our historic district as we promote a dynamic vitality of progress.
– Jay Weidner, 38 years a Beaufortonian and former HRB member
In agreement with Harvey-Palmer
We found Pat Harvey-Palmer’s letter to the editor on target about Pine Island and St. Helena Island. The local community should be considered rather than the opinion of a few that don’t live here. The people of the island do not have the money to put up all these signs and place ads in the paper. The petition website does not require a name or address; clearly it’s not focused toward the local community.
We live on Eddings Creek, just up-creek from Dulamo. We know the area and have owned a house here for nearly 25 years. We pick up trash on the side of the road, and we support those that do good things for St. Helena Island. There is a lot that could be done here. Pat is right about no large tracts of land to support something like Hilton Head. Pine Island has been a private hunting tract for a very long time.
We think we need to vote on the future planning for St. Helena Island. We question the legality of the whole zoning category. Saving the historic structures, views, and byways is very important. So is enforcing the county environmental codes; that require cleaning up the trash/debris that is piled up here.
We know Pine Island will be developed. We would rather see fewer houses, septic systems, docks, and vehicles. We want better planning, about the future, not looking backward. The locals I talk to don’t have much interest in Pine Island; clearly nothing to do with golf or gates. They are more interested in better roads, infrastructure, and opportunity for young people.
– Gerald C. Blount and Dr. Mary K. Harris, St. Helena Island
Regular visitor chimes in
I write as a longtime, regular visitor to Beaufort, St. Helena, and Fripp Island for the past 30 years, drawn by the area’s history and natural beauty. In that time, I have seen the approaches to Beaufort like Hwy. 170 look more and more like generic roads and shopping centers that one could find almost anywhere along the East Coast.
St. Helena has been a wonderful exception. It is one of the most unique, historic, and beautiful landscapes I have seen anywhere in the world, and it is home to a unique, historic, and distinctive culture. You have an internationally known treasure that cannot be replicated. Once lost, it will be gone forever.
I applaud the decades of work by your local community to protect it as a uniquely important and beautiful place, including through T2 Rural Zoning, the Beaufort County Land Trust and especially the Cultural Protection Overlay. I urge you not to undermine that work by allowing exceptions to the CPO or removing properties from it.
How many more look-alike, environmentally destructive golf courses does the Southeastern coast need, especially since my generation and younger ones have less and less interest in living by one or even playing golf? And the construction of generic houses that most local people could not afford is no compensation for the permanent loss of this remarkable Southern landscape and heritage.
I am encouraged by the steps the Council took to strengthen the CPO as recommended by the CPO Committee this year, and the denial of permission to build the proposed golf courses on Pine Island. Pine Island should remain in the CPO and not be rezoned out from CPO protections. Please keep voting and taking action to protect St. Helena, including Pine Island.
– K. Brokaw, Atlanta, Ga.
Support ‘death with dignity’
There has been a recent surge in the number of states considering, and passing, aid-in-dying laws. Variously called “death with dignity,” “assisted suicide,” or “right to die” initiatives, these laws allow terminally ill patients access to prescribed medication to end their lives on their own terms, rather than suffering a painful and protracted death.
But South Carolina has never officially even considered legislation for aid-in-dying; our health care professionals are prohibited from providing this care.
This issue is too complex and way too personal for blanket legal prohibition. I urge citizens to contact your representatives to at least begin the discussion about medical aid in dying in South Carolina.
Compassion and Choices is a nonprofit that is dedicated to making medical aid in dying accessible no matter what state we live in. Their website offers free tools and resources for end of life planning, as well as information about death with dignity initiatives that are currently underway … elsewhere. If this matters to you, or to a loved one, please get involved.
– Carol Brown, Beaufort
Absurd to say someone’s ‘culture in jeopardy’
Did you take note of the recent article about the men convicted of the St. Helena murders a few years ago? While there are those who want to paint St. Helena as the land of milk and honey in fact, it has the most crime, drugs of any of the Sea Isles. In fact, the only safe place to live on St Helena is in a gated community. Need drugs? Just go to the Frogmore Park on MLK Blvd.
There were two murders at that Exxon station a few years back. I’m against development for logistics reasons. That swing bridge is a disaster waiting to happen, but to say someone’s culture is in jeopardy is absurd.
– Jim Beck, Dataw Island
