In the spirit of Pat Conroy, we’re still fighting book bans
By Lolita Huckaby
BEAUFORT
CBS’s 60 Minutes segment Sunday night provided a lovely view of our historic city, a nice tribute to the late Pat Conroy, who was honored last weekend at the annual March Forth event, and a 13- minute reminder of last year’s banned books fight.
The segment featured an interview with Board of Education Vice Chairman Dick Geier, who outlined the local issue which occupied much of the news last year. Others spoke of what it took to go through the administrative process of reviewing 97 books and returning all but a handful to the school shelves.
The 60 Minutes film crew was here in June, when the local controversy was at something of a peak, prompting standing-room-only crowds of parents and concerned citizens to flood the school board’s meetings. Remember the chickenfeed throwing incident? That wasn’t mentioned.
But even though Beaufort County’s review may be complete, for now, the battle for the freedom to read continues in other parts of the country.
Here in South Carolina, the S.C. Department of Education, led by State Superintendent Ellen Weaver, passed a resolution last month asking the state Legislature to establish a statewide policy which would leave the decision on banning individual books, to the state.
The legislation to take that decision away from the local school boards, which Gov. Henry McMaster supports, has yet to be debated in Columbia. But with other states moving in that direction, it’s another attack on freedoms to be aware of.
Thanks for the reminder, Scott Pelley.
Concerned about demolitions? Tell your City Council
BEAUFORT – The release last week of a long-awaited report from the National Park Service on the health of the city’s historic district came with no big surprises – the 304-acre district is in good health, but facing preservation perils.
The study, which was begun in Dec. 2021, was largely the result of the ongoing battle between preservationists and those concerned certain proposed projects within the district – i.e., a three-story hotel and a four-story parking garage – would jeopardize the National Landmark District.
The permitted projects are “of greater scale and mass than the surrounding built environment and would affect integrity of design, feeling and association with the (landmark district),” according to the study findings.
The Department of Interior granted the NLD designation in 1973, recognizing particularly the town’s 18th- and early 19th-century architecture and influence, including the Civil War and Reconstruction period. The designation added the district to the list of 2,600 recognized by the federal government for its historic contributions.
The study, according to the park service, was designed to help local leaders develop policies that will help preserve that landmark designation.
Preservation of the past came up again two weeks ago before the city’s Historic Review Board. Actually, it comes up at every HRB meeting where property owners within the NLD must get approval to make any exterior changes.
The review board approved demolition of two circa-1900 freedmen cottages on Duke Street. Historic Beaufort Foundation, which opposed the demolition, contended the buildings, although in bad shape, could have been restored. Representatives of the Freedman Art District, who were working with the property owner, contended restoration would be too expensive.
The city planning staff, for the record, did not support demolition and suggested all necessary options to preserve the building had not been explored. The board members ignored staff advice and agreed the buildings could be razed.
And to his credit, the city’s new mayor, Phil Cromer, called a meeting of concerned parties the week after the HRB demolition vote to discuss the issue and to look for ways to protect other questionable properties which contribute to the district’s character.
For those who worry about the changes taking place in the community, the Mayor can’t increase development protections by himself. It’s gonna take money which means it’s gonna take citizens, aka voters, to motivate his council to follow his lead.
Town tree ordinance under scrutiny again
PORT ROYAL – The Town Council drew considerable attention, and praise, last Spring when they passed a revised tree ordinance which imposed some of the most expensive mitigation fees for tree removal in the state.
At the urging of citizens upset about the continuing destruction of significant trees within the community, the council, after considerable discussion imposed the new ordinance. And Mayor-Joe DeVito, who had expressed concern about the high fees, lost his re-election bid.
At the time of passage, the council promised to revisit the ordinance to see what kind of impact it’s had on development in the town. And according to the town planners, not a whole lot was the answer given to the council during their recent annual planning retreat.
But apparently, some proposed changes are in the works, although those changes haven’t been made public yet. The planning staff made that announcement after hearing from one property owner in Pinckney Retreat subdivision who’s facing a $72,000 fee for removing two trees from a very small lot.
Mayor Kevin Phillips, who ran on a platform supporting the tree ordinance, promised the potential homeowners the council would be “looking into it.”
When they do, the tree-huggers who pushed to get the ordinance passed in the first place … as well as other local elected officials who’ve been hearing concerns about excessive tree removal … will be paying attention.
Safe Harbor? We’re still waiting
PORT ROYAL – For the record, no updates on negotiations between the town and Safe Harbor Marinas LLC.
At last reports, the town council’s plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the reading of an ordinance formalizing the latest changes in the multi-million-dollar development plan for the Safe Harbor property were dashed by new requests from the development team.
Included in those issues were right-of-way access for the proposed Spanish Moss Trail extension across Ribaut Road and through Safe Harbor’s waterfront project. There, at the proverbial last minute, the company lawyers, along with other details, said they didn’t like the proposed 24-foot-wide bike path and wanted that reduced to 8-feet, a difference that very well might jeopardize the grant funding for the Ribaut Road crossing.
The issue came up at the town council’s retreat last month. The two parties are “working on it.” More to follow. …
Oh yes, the community is also waiting for the new Harris Teeter on Lady’s Island to open. Almost all the trees are gone, looks like they’re working on the interior and on-line folks are saying May 2024.
Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. Her goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.
