Trees – we never get tired of talking about the ones we love
By Lolita Huckaby
BEAUFORT
Last week we were focused on book bans. This week, let’s focus on trees.
The Port Royal Town Council came close to giving their tree-hugging citizens an early Christmas gift when they brought up for consideration a revision to the existing tree protection ordinance that would have tightened regulations. The ordinance was similar to the town of Hilton Head Island’s which is considered relatively restrictive in the world of tree protection.
Port Royal’s actions was prompted by the controversies this summer when a developer wanted to remove two significant oak trees from a tiny parcel on 12th Street to accommodate several townhouses. That activity followed on the footsteps of a permit earlier in the year when development plans threatened a 300-year-old tree that had already been designated landmark in South Carolina’s tree world.
Folks got upset and halted plans for the property off Parris Island Gateway and went to court to mediate the damage at the lot on 12th street. But the movement had started and the need for more protection was obvious when considering the pending development Port Royal faces with plans for the Battery Creek acres ripe for new home construction, not to mention other large parcels dotted with “for sale” signs.
Par for the course, a citizens committee was formed, worked quickly to craft an ordinance and get it to the Town Council as soon as possible. The first of two readings to pass the ordinance cleared council, a public hearing was held last week but … second and final reading (which means it becomes the law) was not to happen. That Christmas present was not to be delivered.
Council members were hesitant to give the ordinance a final blessing, although supporters pointed out it could be edited, over time, if “issues” were found. The Council did agree to impose a moratorium on any more tree removal permits until the proposed ordinance can be put into place.
It’s no diamond ring for those hoping for more but at least they’re still talking.
Trees were also on the Beaufort City Council’s final meeting of the year last week, the same meeting the elected officials welcomed a new member and announced a new city manager.
This time is was Dominion Energy with more plans for more tree removal, all in the name of making sure the community doesn’t lose power when those storm winds blow.
At least the power company was giving future notice, unlike past massacres, aka, tree-trimmings, when the contract killers showed up and start whacking. The company even provided a nice, color-coded map where the trimming will take place, available on the city’s web page when time for the work to begin gets closer.
The city has a project director assigned to monitor the activity – the ever-steady Neil Pugliese – with a game plan all lined out on how citizens should be warned of the coming activity. The process is still going to be painful to watch but until those in charge figure out a way to pay for putting those lines underground, well, we apparently have to grin and bear it.
Will Pine Island plans be the 2023 poster child for citizens’ angst?
BEAUFORT – Staying on the topic of trees versus development, talk last week of a proposed 500-acre residential golfing community on St. Helena Island included concerns not just about the removal of trees but the alteration of a historic rural community.
The Coastal Conservation League brought the proposed project, which has been discussed privately for quite some time, into the public arena with a community meeting to discuss the Pine Island buyers’ plans to build a resort-like golfing community with fewer than 100 homes off Eddings Point Road.
Plans for the development which might require a change in area’s conservation district zoning have not been presented to the county yet but opposition is already in the works, including petitions which have drawn hundreds of signatures.
The issue of environment and development is, of course, not unlike what’s been playing out in Beaufort County for the last several decades. There was the fight over Bay Point Island, on the other end of St. Helena Island that tied up attorneys since the county zoning board rejected those development plans two years ago.
There is some hope that the special “Green Space” sales tax voters approved in November will be used to purchase some of these special undeveloped places targeted for new homes, shopping centers, car washes and storage units.
But it’s going to take some time for those dollars and the regulations on how those dollars will be spent, to be worked out. In the meantime, TIMBER …
Some odds and ends
BEAUFORT – A few other “news” items you might have missed in the hurry-flurry of the season.
Beaufort County Council made it illegal to use storage containers as residences, even for those cute little “tiny homes” you might see on TV.
Port Royal Council made it illegal to dig holes at The Sands more than a foot deep while using a metal shovel. While you can use a plastic shovel, you still are required to fill in the hole so some innocent person won’t fall and break a hip. Unfortunately, some “bad apples” are ruining it for others who enjoy looking for sharks teeth at what used to be a “locals” spot.
P.S. There’s a $500 fine for violators.
Beaufort City Council selected a new city manager last week, hiring Beaufort County Human Resources Officer Scott Marshall instead of Deputy City Manager Reece Bertholf who many considered the odds-on favorite.
The council narrowed the list of 23 applicants down to three – Marshall, Bertholf and a man from Newberry to replace Bill Prokop, who announced in September he was ready to retire after seven years with the city and enjoy the weather.
So after conducting a nationwide search and multiple hours of closed doors discussion, the council ended up with a new administrator from right across Ribaut Road, instead of one from in-house.
There were also some official good-byes said as Beaufort City Councilman Phil Cromer said farewell, fulfilling his campaign promise to serve only two terms, or eight years which probably seemed a lifetime on some days.
Across the street, in the county government center, goodbyes were said to County Council members Paul Sommerville, Stu Rodman, Brian Flewelling and Chris Hervochon. The four provided a total of 47 years of service; Rodman and Sommerville started together in 2007, spending a lot of time brainstorming at that wooden dais.
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.
