Beaufort: Pine Island Golf Resort Controversy Heats Up
BEAUFORT — Picturesque Pine Island has become the center of a heated debate as residents of St. Helena Island gear up for another round of discussions regarding the notorious golf resort proposal. On September 11, the County Council chamber was packed with community members eager to express their views on a plan that has faced significant backlash since its inception.
A Legal Battle Takes Shape
The ongoing saga started when a proposal was made to build three six-hole golf courses on a sprawling 502-acre piece of land along St. Helena Island’s north shore. The application was denied in 2023, igniting protesters who worried that such a development would undermine the cultural integrity of the area. To add to the drama, the property’s owners, Pine Island Property Holdings LLC and Pine Island GC LLC, filed a lawsuit in July 2023 against Beaufort County and its Planning Commission.
After a quiet period, the Pine Island controversy was thrust back into the spotlight leading up to a special meeting on September 16, where council members will hear arguments from attorneys involved in the case. The goal is to pursue a settlement, but details remain murky as discussions have taken place behind closed doors.
The Community Voice
Residents like Lisa Johnson, a local who has been closely following the issue, attended the meeting, hoping to make their feelings known about the potential development. As she listened to the various points raised during the meeting, it became clear that the community’s stance remains firmly against the golf resort.
Councilmember Logan Cunningham, who advocated for the special meeting, emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “I believe everybody on council should have the same information, as well as the public.” He noted that not all council members were present during the mediation discussions, leading to a feeling that the decision-making process should be more inclusive.
Environmental Concerns
As the discussion surrounding Pine Island evolves, environmental factors are also at play. A significant voice in the argument is Leslie Lenhardt, an attorney representing the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition. She raised concerns about whether the council’s discussions on this matter are legally sound given that they have shifted into executive sessions that might exclude some stakeholders.
Lenhardt expressed her belief that such maneuvers could potentially violate laws related to public transparency, specifically the state’s Freedom of Information Act. “The provision is pretty clear that they can go into executive session for the receipt of legal advice,” she pointed out. “We are not their lawyers and cannot provide them with legal advice.”
Regulatory Restrictions
The Pine Island property is uniquely situated within the boundaries of the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay, a regulation established in 1999 that prohibits the development of golf courses, resorts, and gated communities. This regulation was intended to protect the cultural and historical identity of the area.
Attempts to lift the overlay to allow for the golf courses have been met with staunch resistance from the local community. In previous discussions, council members, including York Glover, voiced strong opposition to development plans saying, “The community said no, and I stand with the community.” His certainty was echoed by several other council members, indicating a palpable reluctance to alter the protected status of the land.
A Community in Support
The sentiment in the room was overwhelmingly in support of maintaining the cultural protection overlay. Councilmember Alice Howard also expressed her dismay at the proposals, asserting, “I’m not open to change.” This aligns with the collective voice of many St. Helena residents who see the land as integral to their heritage.
As community voices gather strength, only time will tell what the outcome of these legal meetings will reveal. The special session is set for September 16, where arguments from involved parties could shape the future of the Pine Island property in ways that resonate beyond its borders. Many locals are hopeful that the council will uphold the community’s values and protect this cherished land.
