[00:00:07]
I'M GONNA CALL THE, UH, NATURAL
[1. CALL TO ORDER ]
RESOURCE, UH, COMMITTEE, SPECIAL CALL, MEETING TO ORDER.UH, WOULD YOU RISE WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG NATION, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, ONE NATION UNDER INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UM, THIS IS A SPECIAL CALL MEETING BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME, UH, COMMUNITY CONCERNS, UH, ON, ON, ON MAJOR ONE MAJOR PROJECT, UH, WHICH IS THE PALMETTO BLUFF.
AND, UM, THERE WAS ALSO COUNSEL, UH, ASK, UM, IT, THE, THE SECOND ONE THAT DEALS WITH, UM, HILTON HEAD ON HILTON HEAD, UH, TO COME BACK, UM, WITH MORE DUE DILIGENCE.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE HANDLED, IS BEING HANDLED BY COUNCIL AT, I MEAN, BY STAFF AT THIS TIME.
BUT IT'S ON THE AGENDA, UM, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL.
THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY ACTION ON THIS PARTY AT THIS TIME, SIMPLY BECAUSE, UM, UH, THE ACTION IS ALREADY MAN, UH, MANDATED TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL ON THE 22ND, UH, MEETING TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
UM, THIS RIGHT HERE, THE DAY WAS JUST TO HEAR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PALMETTO BLUFF PROPERTY.
AND IF ANYBODY HAS, UH, OTHER CONCERNS, UM, FOR THE, UM, THE, THE PROPERTY ON HILTON HEAD, UM, WE CAN ENTERTAIN OR CAN, UH, HEAR FROM THEM AS WELL.
UM, WHAT I GOING TO, OH, ME, LET ME DO THIS.
UM, THE, UH, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ALL NOTIFICATION WAS SENT OUT.
I'M GONNA READ THE AGENDA AND THEN, UH, I
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]
NEED THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.SO, UM, AT THIS TIME, UH, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
I'LL UPON MOTION THAT MS. TABERNAC IS MOTION A SECOND.
UM, DOC, I MEAN, WHO'S MR. PASSMAN? OH, OKAY.
MR. PASSMAN IS SECONDED, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
IS THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA THEN, MRS. HOWARD, DO YOU HAVE A, UH, AMENDMENT? I DO.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, UH, TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADD AN ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, SO THAT ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BY STAFF OR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE CAN BE DONE AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? SECOND.
IS THE PROPERTY MOTION TO SEND AND SECOND IT THAT WE ADD AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT FROM THE STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE, UM, THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE.
UH, ANY QUESTION, THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING THE HAND.
MR. MR. PASSMAN, ARE YOU? YES.
AND MR. DAWSON HAS VOTED YES IN THE CONFIRMATION, IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
SO IT'S UNANIMOUS AT THIS TIME? YES, SIR.
NOW, THE MOTION AS AMENDED, UH, IS ON THE FLOOR, UH, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING THE HAND.
UM, THIS TIME, UH, THE CHAIR WILL
[5.a. 2026/22: A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds to contribute to the procurement by the applicant, the Town of Hilton Head Island, for the acquisition of fee simple real property located on Hilton Head Island, known as the Broad Creek Marina Tract (PIN# R510 011 000 0006 0000), not to exceed the requested amount ($7,700,000). (FISCAL IMPACT: $7,700,000 from the Green Space Program Fund Account #4706. Fund balance as of May 2026 ($97,280,603). This is a grant and match is not required.) - Mr. Mike McShane, Chair of Green Space Advisory Committee & Mr. Mark Davis, Green Space Program Manager (10 minutes) ]
HEAR, UM, THE ITEM EIGHT A A, UM, UM, WHICH RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT BY THE APPLICANT, WHICH IS THE TONG OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR THE ACQUISITION OF FEE.SIMPLE, REAL, REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, KNOWN AS THE BROAD CREEK MARINA TRACK.
AND IT HAS, UM, THE PIN NUMBER R 5 10, 0 1 1 0 0 0 0, 0 0 6, 0 0 0, NOT TO EXCEED THE REQUESTED AMOUNT OF $7.7 MILLION.
UM, AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL ASK STAFF TO COME FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT THAT PROPERTY.
I'LL ASK THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE, MIKE SHANE, TO COME FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT THAT PROPERTY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, LATELY, I FEEL LIKE I'M YOUR UNPAID STAFF,
[00:05:01]
THAT ARE ON THE, ON THE AGENDA.GREEN SPACE MET ON FRIDAY AT COUNCIL LAST MONDAY, COUNCIL ASKED GREEN SPACE TO GIVE ONE ADDITIONAL REVIEW OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, THEN WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, THE APPLICANT BEING THE TOWN ON THAT INFORMATION.
FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I WAS NOT IN ATTENDANCE ON FRIDAY.
I APOLOGIZE, I WAS OUT OF TOWN.
BUT THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE RETAINS THE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL THAT'LL TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK.
SO WE'LL BRING, SO COUNCIL WILL REVIEW THIS AS AN ACTION FOR NEXT MONDAY NIGHT TO RETAIN THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SEVEN POINT UP TO $7.7 MILLION TO THE TOWN OF HILTON FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE BROAD CREEK MARINA.
UM, ANY QUESTION OF MR. SHANE? I THINK MR. UM,
SO, UH, YOU, UH, HAS IT BEEN SATISFIED? YEAH, I'M, I'M GOOD ON THAT FRONT RIGHT NOW.
A COMMENT, UH, AT THE, UH, CHAT WITH COUNSEL, UM, LAST THURSDAY, I THINK, WASN'T IT? YOU HAVE THE, UH, THERE WERE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE HILTON HEAD TOWN COUNCIL THERE, AND THEY EXPRESSED THEIR GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND A HIGH DESIRE TO HAVE THIS MATTER GO FORWARD BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE, UH, MATTER OF GROWTH ON MARSHLAND ROAD BECAUSE THE, UM, THE, UM, ZONING THERE WOULD ALLOW FOR ABOUT 200 ROOFTOPS ON THE NINE ACRES WITH THE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION THAT THE BUILDINGS COULD BE 70 FEET HIGH, WHICH WOULD MAKE THEM MALL ABOUT, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE OUT OF CHARACTER FOR THAT AREA ON WESTLAND ROAD AS IT CONNECTS OVER TO THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY.
SO, UM, I JUST WILL, I WILL JUST MENTION THAT THE, UH, THE FOUR MEMBERS OF, UM, OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, EACH ONE OF THEM TOOK A TURN TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS FOR THEM AND THE FUTURE OVER THERE AS THEY SEE IT DEVELOPING.
UH, ANYTHING ELSE? MR. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, NOW WILL GO AHEAD.
SO I'LL REITERATE WHAT MR. MCALLEN SAID.
THE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM HILTON HEAD WERE THERE THURSDAY NIGHT AND EXPRESS THEIR, UH, INTEREST THAT WE DO PUT THIS FORWARD.
THEY PURCHASE THE LAND, THEY'RE PAYING HALF, THIS WOULD BE HALF FROM GREEN SPACE, WHICH AS MR. MCSHANE HAS NOTED, IS KIND OF A STEP FORWARD, BECAUSE IN THE PAST, THEY, WE HAVE GREEN SPACE, HAS PAID ALL OF IT.
THEY'RE VERY, UM, CONCERNED THAT WE DO PRESERVE THIS LAND.
WE HEARD IT FROM ALL FOUR OF THEM.
AND SO THAT IS ON THE TABLE FOR EVERYONE TO CONSIDER.
AND VICE CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY ADD, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO ACQUIRE WATERFRONT LAND TODAY, THAT THEN ALLOWS PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT, IN THIS CASE, TO THE, TO THE RIVER.
UH, AND CREEKS IS ANOTHER BENEFIT THAT EXPLICITLY IS WHAT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN LOOKING TO TRY TO DO, BECAUSE THAT, IF YOU THINK, IF YOU, AS A NATIVE SOUTH CAROLINIAN, I OFFER FOR CONSIDERATION 50 YEARS AGO, IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON THAT EVEN ON PRIVATE LANDS, PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO THE WATER.
THAT HAS DEMONSTRABLY CHANGED AND EVOLVED CULTURALLY WITH THE TRANSITION AND OWNERSHIP, THAT HAS BECOME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR MANY OF THE PUBLIC TO GET ACCESS, PARTICULARLY ON THE PRIVATE LANDS.
AND I'M, AND I'M NOT HERE TO, UH, SUGGEST PRIVATE LANDS THAT ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.
IT'S BECAUSE A LOT OF IT COMES WITH A LIABILITY ASPECT.
UM, FROM THAT, THAT BEING SAID, THAT ANYTIME THAT A PUBLIC ENTITY CAN, UH, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCESS, I THINK IS A BENEFIT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'LL BE FOR GENERATIONS NOT YET HERE THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM IN THAT AREA PARTICULAR, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE ANY ACTION ON NO, THERE'S NO ACTION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS RE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNSEL TO TAKE AN ACTION WILL BE ON MONDAY NIGHT YES.
BUT THE PURPOSE TODAY WAS GREEN SPACE, DID FOLLOW THROUGH, HAD A REVIEW, THANK YOU TO THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THIS COMMITTEE.
SERVING IN MY STEED ON FRIDAY FOR RUNNING THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE AND THE, AS THE RECOMMENDATION STANDS.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA, UM, ENTERTAIN THE SECOND, UM,
[5.b. 2026/23: A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds for the procurement by the applicant, The Nature Conservancy, for the acquisition of fee simple real property located in the Town of Bluffton, known as the New River Forest (Portion of PIN#’s R614 045 000 0019 0000, R610 044 000 0126 0000), not to exceed the requested amount ($42,000,000). (FISCAL IMPACT: $42,000,000 from the Green Space Program Fund Account #4706. Fund balance as of May 2026 ($97,280,603). This is a grant and match is not required.) - Mr. Mike McShane, Chair of Green Space Advisory Committee & Mr. Mark Davis, Green Space Program Manager (15 minutes) ]
DISCUSSION ITEM HERE, WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE PROCUREMENT BY THE APPLICANT, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY,[00:10:01]
FOR THE ACQUISITION OF FREE SIMPLE REAL ESTATE PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, KNOWN AS THE NEW RIVER FOREST.UH, AND THE PIN NUMBER IS R 6 14 0 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 19, 0, 0, 0 0 AND R, UM, THREE, I MEAN 6 10 0 44 0, 0 0 1 2 6, 0 0 0 0, NOT TO EXCEED THE REQUESTED AMOUNT OF 42,000.
I'M, I'M, I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT, YEAH, JUST A LITTLE BIT.
UM, MR. HAN, UM, THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM THE GREEN SPACE.
AND AS, AND AS UH, DESCRIBED, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, COUNCIL ASKED GREEN SPACE TO GO BACK AND, AND PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, UH, IN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION FOR COUNCIL, WHICH I BELIEVE I'M ASKING MR. CHAIRMAN JUST AN, UH, AFFIRMATION THAT, THAT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED BOTH TO THE NATIONAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THAT INCLUDED SOME DETAIL THAT WAS ASKED.
AND I'M JUST GONNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE POINTS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF COUNCIL.
THERE WAS A NUMBER OF, UH, DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS TRACK TO CONFIRM IT'S NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH PENNETT BLUFF, THAT THERE WILL BE RECORDED COVENANTS INTENDED TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC ACCESS THROUGH PENNETT BLUFF.
THAT THE FORESTRY COMMISSION, WHICH I HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE, A SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMISSION IN HERE AGAIN THIS EVENING, AND WILL BE AGAIN HERE NEXT WEEK.
UH, IT WILL CONTINUE TO MANAGE THE WILDLIFE POPULATION ON THIS PROPERTY, INCLUDING MANAGING THE HUNTING ACTIVITIES THAT ARE ALREADY OCCURRING ON THIS PROPERTY, THAT THE COM, THAT THE PLAN WOULD BE FOR THE COMMISSION TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AFTER, UH, APPROPRIATE APPROVALS BY THE STATE JOINT BOND REVIEW COMMISSION AND THE FORESTRY COMMISSION, AND WILL MAINTAIN IT AS A SELF-SUSTAINING STATE FOREST, WHICH IS THEIR MISSION ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS THEN WOULD ENT ENTAIL THE NEW RIVER TRACK? WE REMAIN UNDEVELOPED, PRESERVED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH HIS CURRENT USE.
AS MANY YOU RECALL BEING ON SITE, YOU SAW THE CURRENT USE, YOU SAW THE ROAD STRUCTURE THROUGH THAT, YOU SAW THE MANAGED FOREST THROUGH THAT PROPERTY.
AND THEN THE FORESTRY COMMISSION, I BELIEVE, WILL BE, UH, GENUINE IN THEIR SUSTAINABILITY OF THAT BY THEN DEVELOPING A MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE.
SO WHAT'S BEEN MADE TODAY WILL BE PART OF THEIR RECORD TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS WHAT HAS MOVED FORWARD.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WANNA BE CLEAR, IT DOESN'T EVEN END NEXT MONDAY WHEN COUNSEL TAKES AN ACTION, YOU ARE TAKEN IN ACTION TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING THAT ALLOWS THE STATE TO CATCH UP OF AT LEAST 20 MILLION OF THE 42 MILLION, AND CERTAINLY DOESN'T PROHIBIT THAT, UM, UH, THE STATE PURSUE SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT MAY EVEN SHRINK THAT DIFFERENCE BEYOND THAT.
SO THE, THE DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE ON FRIDAY AT GREEN SPACE IS GOING TO ADD A FEW, WOR A FEW VERBIAGE TO THE RESOLUTION.
AND MR. CHAIRMAN, YOUR PERMISSION, I'M GONNA READ THE RESOLUTION, PLEASE.
GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVE A GRANT NOT TO EXCEED THE REQUESTED AMOUNT OF 42 MILLION TO THE APPLICANT, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, WHO HAS A REPRESENTATIVE HERE TO ASSIST THE APPLICANT IN THE ACQUISITION OF THE NEW RIVER FOREST PROPERTIES, SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT BY THE APPLICANT APPLICANT AGREEING TO PURSUE ALL AVAILABLE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS, WHICH WILL BE USED TO REIMBURSE THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM IN THE ANTICIPATED AMOUNT OF AT LEAST $20 MILLION.
AT LEAST $20 MILLION APPLICANT WILL PLAY, WILL PLACE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS OR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROTECTING THE PROPERTY IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COUNTY.
WITHIN THREE YEARS, YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE THAT THAT DOCUMENT, I BELIEVE WILL BE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT, WILL BE IN PERPETUITY.
THAT'S WHAT GIVES THE, THE STRENGTH THAT TO THE CITIZENS, THAT THAT PROPERTY IS GOING TO STAY IN THE, IN THE ACCEPTABLE REASONABLE CONDITION IT'S IN TODAY.
AND THE APPLICANT WILL CONVEY THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION WITHIN THREE YEARS OR SOONER, SHALL AND SHALL OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED, IF NOT, WILL BE REQUIRED TO CONVEY THE PROPERTY TO THE COUNTY, SUBJECT TO THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
THE SUBJECT TO THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE END OF THAT RESOLUTION IS WHAT IS THE GREEN SPACE IS RECOMMENDING TO BE ADDED TO THE RESOLUTION, WORKING WITH YOUR COUNCIL TO DO SO, TO GIVE THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE THAT WHETHER
[00:15:01]
IT ENDS UP AT THE FORESTRY COMMISSION, MOST LIKELY, OR IN THE, I WOULD SAY THE LEAST CHANCE, BUT TO THE COUNTY, THERE'LL BE AN EASEMENT ON THAT PROPERTY, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THE DEBATE ABOUT THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT RUNS THROUGH.AND ITS DEBATE ON WHETHER IT'S 33 48 OR 57.
I'M SORT OF AGNOSTIC TO THE DATE BECAUSE THERE'S AN END DATE.
WE KNOW THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ALREADY SEEN AT LEAST SIX REVISIONS, CERTAINLY SUBJECT TO IT AGAIN.
AND WHAT I HOPE AND WHAT GREEN SPACE HAS DONE IS NOT THINK ABOUT JUST THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
THINK ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, MANY IN THIS ROOM MAY NOT EVEN BEEN HERE 30 YEARS AGO, MUCH LESS, EVEN SHORTER TIME THAN THAT.
YOU'RE DOING THIS TO PROVIDE THIS FOR CITIZENS WHO ARE NOT EVEN HERE TODAY.
MOST OF US ISN'T ROOM IN, IN 2057, MAY LIKELY NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN GOING ON A TRAIL ON NEW RIVER
THIS IS WHAT GREEN SPACE HAS DONE.
THIS IS WHY I COMMEND THIS COUNTY AND ITS VOTERS TO CREATE THIS.
HAD YOU NOT DONE THIS PROGRAM, WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE THE STATE'S NOT IN A POSITION TODAY TO DO ALL THIS AT ONE TIME.
THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A WILLING ENTITY, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, TO GO NEGOTIATE A BARGAIN SALE ON A TRACK, BECAUSE YOU CAN PROVIDE THE FINANCING AND TAKE THE TIME TO RECEIVE AT LEAST 20 MILLION OF IT BACK IS, ENABLES THIS REALLY TO BE SOMETHING THAT CAN OCCUR HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GREEN SPACE IN THIS COUNTY.
AND THE WISDOM OF YOUR VOTERS TO PUT THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE.
AND I LIVE IN A COUNTY THAT I WISH DESPERATELY HAD THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM,
AND AT SOME POINT, WHETHER WE'RE HERE OR NOT, THAT PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO BEING, SO PLEASE ACCEPT MY PREMISE.
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS DO NOT PROTECT PROPERTY.
THE O ZONING DOES NOT PROTECT PROPERTY PLAN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, ET CETERA.
NONE OF THAT PROTECTS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN PERPETUITY ASSURES THE COMMUNITY OF THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE, OF THE CONDITION OF THAT PROPERTY GOING FORWARD.
AND THE FACT THAT IT'LL HAVE STATE OWNERSHIP MEANS YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT PORTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT GOING FORWARD.
ANY, ANYTHING ELSE MR. HIN? BELIEVE I WANNA OPEN UP TO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ASK A QUESTION.
AND I BELIEVE COUNCIL GOT, THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE APPRAISAL, THAT APP, THE APPRAISAL WAS PRODUCED AND I BELIEVE IT HAD AND HAS BEEN, UH, UH, ALLOWED.
IT HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC, UH, RIGHT.
SO, UH, I DON'T THINK THERE'S, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO HIDDEN FACTS HERE, UM, TO THIS.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, EXCUSE ME.
I'M, I'M GOING TO PASS ALONG SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM SOME OF THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ONLINE.
IF WE COULD SHOW THEM AGAIN, UM, THEIR QUESTION THAT, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR INGRESS ROADS TO GO INTO THERE? BECAUSE THERE IS NO ROAD RIGHT NOW.
SO ALL STATE PROPERTIES, THEY WILL HAVE TO, THAT CAPITAL WILL COME THROUGH THE STATE AGENCY.
SO WHETHER IT BE THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM, OR FORESTRY, WHICH ARE THE THREE PRINCIPLE RESOURCE AGENCIES, THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THEIR PLAN AND THEY WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE THE CAPITAL TO DO SO.
WHAT'S FORTUNATE HERE IS OUTSIDE THE IMMEDIATE ACCESS, YOU'VE GOT TREMENDOUS ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY ON THIS PROPERTY.
SO THE CAPITAL TO GET ACCESS IS GONNA BE, I THINK, GONNA BE FAIRLY MINIMAL FOR THE COMMISSION TO DO THAT AND TO ADD THE 800 ACRES THAT THE COUNTY CURRENTLY OWNS INTO THAT, BECAUSE ACCESS FOR THAT RIGHT NOW, FRANKLY, MOST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU HAVE THE 800 ACRES.
I WOULD NOT BEING SNARKY HERE, I DON'T THINK MOST OF THE COUNCIL KNEW YOU HAD 800 ACRES RIGHT THERE THAT WILL THEN PERMIT EVEN GREATER ACCESS FOR THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE IT WAS TIED UP.
AND REALLY THE, REALLY, THE ACCESS PROBLEM WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM HAVING THE OWNERSHIP.
SO THEIR OTHER QUESTION, IS IT, WILL IT PROVIDE A FINANCIAL BURDEN TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT EMT AND FIRE SERVICES? I'M JUST PASSING ALONG THE QUESTION.
I UNDERSTAND MADAM VICE CHAIRMAN, THAT YOU'RE JUST THE MESSENGER ON THAT.
NO MORE SO THAN IT DOES TODAY.
IN FACT, I WOULD ARGUE THAT PUTTING THIS PROPERTY UNDER EASEMENT MEANS YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU'D EVER HAVE TO INVEST IN THAT VERSUS
[00:20:01]
WHAT SUBJECT TO A CHANGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.AND HAVING RESIDENTIAL EVEN NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, IS ONLY PROVEN FACTUALLY THAT THAT ADDS TO YOUR OPERATING EXPENSES.
THE APPRAISAL HAD BEEN RELEASED.
THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WITH REGARD TO, UH, A NUMBER OF $8 MILLION, UH, VERSUS THE PURCHASE PRICE THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED HERE, $42 MILLION.
AND THAT APPRAISAL WAS SENT OUT, UH, UH, ON THE AGENDA LINK SO THAT EVERYBODY WHO READ THAT WAS ABLE TO HIT THAT LINK AND PULL UP THE ENTIRE AGENDA, WHICH CONSISTED OF HOW MANY PAGES? 46, 50 PAGES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO ALL OF THAT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO, UH, REVIEW IT.
AND SECONDLY, I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT, I THINK IN THE HISTORY, UH, OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, WHICH IS RATHER, UH, LENGTHY, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN A LEGACY PROJECT LIKE THIS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTY WHERE THIS MUCH LAND HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND SET ASIDE FOR FUTURE PUBLIC USE.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT MAY BE THE LARGEST ONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF THE FOUR OUTSIDE THE, UM, LAND THAT'S ALREADY IN, UM, IN THE, UH, FORESTRY COMMISSION THAT'S BEING MAINTAINED BY THEM.
THIS IS A REMARKABLE UNDERTAKING AND ONE THAT I THINK WILL STAND TO MR. VICE CHAIRMAN.
JUST TO BE FAIR TO SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER LARGER PROJECTS IN THE STATE HISTORY, BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY IN RECENT HISTORY, ONE OF THE LARGEST PROJECTS THAT'LL BE UNDERTAKEN.
IN OUR PACKET ON PAGE, UH, 1 1 1, THERE'S, UH, INFORMATION THAT, UH, WAS PREPARED RECENTLY AND IT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE GREEN SPACE MEETING LAST FRIDAY.
THAT GOES INTO WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO, UH, NOT ONLY BEAUFORT COUNTY, BUT THE STATE, AND I WOULD ARGUE THE WHOLE REGION IN THE SOUTHEAST.
UM, AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION.
UH, THEY, THEY, THEY CAN DO THIS, THIS PROJECT WILL BE A LEGACY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND, UM, I HAVE A 10-YEAR-OLD AND A 12-YEAR-OLD GRANDCHILDREN, AND I HOPE THAT THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SO THAT THEY CAN, THERE'S NO OTHER PROPERTY THAT THEY CAN GO ON.
UM, WHEN THEY GET TO THE AGE AND THEY, AND THEY LIKE TO DO IT NOW, ROAM THE WOODS, THEY, THEY CAN DO THAT ON THIS PROPERTY AND IT WILL BE A LEGACY FOR GENERATIONS.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? YES, MR.
SO GOING THROUGH THIS, UM, THE APPRAISAL, WHERE DID THE VALUE FOR THE TIMBER GENERATE? WAS THAT SOLELY FROM THE BROKER? FROM THE LISTING BROKER, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'M GONNA ASK A RESOURCE HERE.
DO YOU MIND, JUST SO WE CAN GET THE RECORD, INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
UH, AND HELLO DAVID BISHOP IN NATURE CONSERVANCY.
IT, THE TIMBER WAS PROVIDED BY THEIR LONG-TERM FORESTER STRO MORRISON AT ESTEL.
I BELIEVE THE ES I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ON Y'ALL'S APPRAISAL, BUT THE ONE WE HAVE HERE SAYS IT FROM THE LISTING BROKER PROVIDED FROM THE FORESTER THROUGH THE BROKER TO US, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON, MS. BAROLO IS, YOU KNOW THAT ANY, ANY TIME YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LARGE TIMBER TRACK, THAT, THAT A BROKER WOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT IT WOULD COME FROM A CERTIFIED FORESTER, WHICH MR. MORRISON IS, AND HE SERVED ON THE FORESTRY COMMISSION IN AN APPOINTED ROLE IN PASS.
SO I, I'D HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIS NUMBERS.
AND, UH, LAST THING, IF I MAY, UH, THE NATURE CON, UH, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, I BELIEVE THEY WERE ALL INVOLVED IN THE, IN THE THREE COMPS THAT ARE LISTED.
IS THAT CORRECT? IN SOME CAPACITY, YES, SIR.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE SOME OF THE COMPS ARE SOME OF THE JASPER COUNTY SITES THAT ARE IN WITH PROXIMITY.
SO CHELSEA, UH, GREGORY NECK, ET CETERA.
AND DID ANYBODY JUSTIFY THE, THE LOCATION PREMIUM THAT WAS PUT ON IT FOR PROXIMITY AND THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THE LAND IN THE APPRAISAL? IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS SOME, SOME LITTLE BIT OF GUESSWORK DONE IN THE APPRAISAL, AND I KNOW, I KNOW IT'S A KIND OF A CALCULATED, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN ART IN THE SCIENCE TO THAT, AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE APPRAISAL PROCESS.
THE APPRAISER HAS GOT A GOOD REPUTATION IN, IN ON THAT, AND THE STATE HAS USED THAT APPRAISER BEFORE ON OTHER TRACKS OUTSIDE THIS AREA.
SO I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL I HAD RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WITH THE, THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THE LAND, THE WAY THAT WAS CALCULATED WITH IT BEING 31, 32 YEARS OUT FROM NO DEVELOPMENT, ARE WE LOOKING AT SPECULATIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE BASED THAT WE'RE BASING THIS PRICE ON VERSUS WHAT IT IS NOW? AND, AND I, I THINK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE THERE.
AND ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIMBER VALUE, I THINK THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFERENT FOR THE OVERALL PRICE AND PRICE PER ACRE.
I THINK MS. BAROLO, YOU HAVE A POINT, BUT I, I,
[00:25:01]
I'LL POINT OUT AGAIN, THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO AT THE WHIM OF A TOWN COUNCIL.THAT COULD CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY.
AND I GUESS MY, I'LL ASK IF I MAY LAST QUESTION.
UM, HAVE WE, HAVE, WE, AND I THINK BUYING IT FOR PUBLIC USE IS, IS THE BEST THING TO DO, BUT DID WE APPROACH, UM, BUYING THE CONTRACT, THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FROM THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON OR, OR INSERTING OURSELF IN SOME CAPACITY ON THAT FRONT? WE DID NOT.
WE, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS A PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS OR JUST A, JUST A LANDOWNER HOLD, TAKING AN EASEMENT AND THE LANDOWNER RETAINING, OR A PRIVATE LANDOWNER RETAINING IT.
BUT THE, THE CURRENT OWNER HAS DECIDED THEY WANNA SELL.
AND I THINK THAT DROVE, THAT REALLY DRIVES THE EQUATION FROM THAT POINT FORWARD.
I, AGAIN, I REPRESENT THAT AREA TO PRESERVE THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE BEEN ASKED SOME PRETTY TOUGH QUESTIONS.
AND AGAIN, THESE AREN'T DEF DIRECTLY TO YOU, MR. MCSHANE, BUT, UM, I'VE HAD PEOPLE QUESTION ON THE APPRAISAL THAT'S THERE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S DONE BY A, A, A CERTIFIED PERSON THAT DOES APPRAISALS IS A FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, 1,575 ACRES OF THIS IS ACTUALLY KING'S GRANT MARSHLAND, WHICH COULD, NOTHING COULD BE DONE WITH THAT IN THE FUTURE ANYHOW.
SO IF YOU PULL THAT OUT, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE'RE PAYING ABOUT 9,000 AN ACRE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE TOTAL ACREAGE, YES, SIR, TOTAL ACREAGE.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHAT, TO YOUR POINT, WHAT ONE COULD DO IS WHA OUT ON THAT KING'S GRANT, THAT'S WHAT YOU, THAT'S THE VALUE OF AS, AS SOMEONE OWNS KING GRANT LAND.
THE VALUE I HAVE IN THAT IS I CAN PREVENT ANY WARPAGE OCCURRING ON IT.
SOMEONE CANNOT PUT A DOCK AS AN EXAMPLE ON, I COULD OBJECT TO THAT, BUT, BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA FILL THAT IN.
THE RISK IS THAT YOU'VE GOT OTHER FRESHWATER WETLANDS ON THE UPLAND PORTION OF THAT, THAT ARE ALL SUBJECT TO POTENTIAL FILL, BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD, AS A COUNCIL, HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT IN OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
SO, HEY, AND THAT WAS, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND THAT WAS THE, THE KIND OF THE QUESTIONING OF THE APPRAISAL THAT CAME IN WAS IF YOU BACK THAT OUT, WELL THEN WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING ONE AND A HALF TIMES MORE PER ACRE THAN WHAT THE, THE APPRAISAL IS, IS SAYING, IF, IF, AGAIN, YOU OWN IT, BUT YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT, EXCEPT STOP OTHER PEOPLE FROM DOING THINGS WITH IT.
SO THAT'S THE ONE, THE ONE THING THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN PUSHED AT ME BY MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE BLUFFTON AREA.
UM, THE SECOND THING IS, UM, IS OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW THE ONLY ACCESS TO THIS IS OFF OF A PRIVATE ROAD, WHICH IS THE NEW RIVERSIDE DRIVE, WHICH, WHICH IS OWNED BY SOUTH STREET PARTNERS.
AND DOES THAT LIMIT US? AND AGAIN, AGAIN, THIS MIGHT NOT BE YOUR QUESTION.
'CAUSE AGAIN, UM, IT LIMIT US OR THE STATE FROM MAKING IT A PARK COMING OFF OF A PRIVATE ROAD LIKE THAT.
MR. LAWSON, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME HERE A MOMENT YOU WANT TO, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS, I SIT CLOSER TO YEAH.
UM, IT'S HARD TO SIT BACK THERE AND WANT TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS YOU'RE DOING, DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT THERE'S SOME DETAILS.
SO, UH, WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT THE ROAD ISSUE, UH, THROUGH NEW RIVERSIDE.
THAT IS PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD.
SO THAT IS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT THAT IS ON THE SELLER'S RESPONSIBILITY, UM, TO FIGURE THAT OUT ONCE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE STATE NEEDS.
UH, A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THE APPRAISAL, IF I COULD ADDRESS THAT.
THE MARSH ON THE COUNTY'S APPRAISAL, UH, HAD NO BEARING ON THE VALUE.
THEY EXCLUDED IT, THEY DIDN'T PUT A VALUE MARK ON IT.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT THERE IS VALUE IN KING'S GRANT MARSH THAT'S INCREASING EVERY YEAR WITH CHANGING AND MITIGATION.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY PUT $0 ON IT.
AND SO WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH WAS THE NON-TITLE AREAS, AND THEY CAME UP WITH THE VALUE PLUS THE TIMBER.
THE FINAL THING IS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT, THAT, THAT KEEPS ME, KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, SENATOR DAVIS HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF PROVIDING FOR US AND SAYING, DOING WHAT HE SAYS HE'S GONNA DO.
HOWEVER, UM, THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE THAT THE MONEY'S GONNA BE COMING FROM THE STATE WE WE'RE TOLD.
IT IS, AND AGAIN, AND I I MENTIONED THIS, I THINK BEFORE THAT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE, UM, UH, MS. YVETTE WHO'S OUR, OUR GOVERNOR OR POSSIBLE FUTURE GOVERNOR SAYING SHE WANTS TO ELIMINATE, UM, SOUTH CAROLINA INCOME TAX.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS, WELL THAT THEN CHANGES THE GAMUT OF EVERYTHING AND MONEY BEING SPENT ON ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY MY BIGGEST THING IS, IS THREE YEARS FROM NOW, THINGS COULD CHANGE, THE CLIMATE COULD CHANGE, ANOTHER COVID HAPPENS, WHATEVER IT IS, AND WE'RE STILL THERE.
WE, WE'VE PUT THE WHOLE 42 MILLION FORWARD THINKING THAT WE WERE ONLY GONNA SPEND 20 MILLION.
THIS IS JUST US TRUSTING THE SYSTEM.
I THINK IT'S A FAIR POINT, MR. LAWSON.
I THINK THE RISKS ARE VERY MINIMAL.
RISKS ARE MINIMAL BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD.
THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO BE A PRIORITY BY THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS SUPPORTING THAT BY ALLOWING THE BUDGET TO GIVE CONSIDERATION OF THAT TO DO SO.
SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT WHETHER A CANDIDATE CLAIMS THAT SHE'S GONNA, SHE OR SHE'S GONNA GET IT TO ZERO INCOME TAX HAS TO
[00:30:01]
GET A HUNDRED AND HOW MANY? 145 PLUS FOUR, BUT 190 MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, OR THE MAJORITY OF THAT TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.SO I I, IN 23 YEARS AS AN APPOINTMENT, AND I REALIZE I OFFER, NO, I, I HOPE WHAT I OFFER IS SOME CREDIBILITY HERE IN 23 YEARS AS AN APPOINTEE ON STATE RESOURCE AGENCIES, THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND VERY TOUGH TIMES, I'VE ALWAYS SEEN THESE COME THROUGH.
THAT'S THE BEST I CAN OFFER YOU RIGHT NOW, THAT, THAT I HAVE MADE THIS CLEAR THAT THIS IS CLEAR.
SENATOR WHO CHAIRS THE SENATE FINANCE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE HAVE SUPPORT OF HIS COUNTERPART IN THE HOUSE.
YOU HAVE DELEGATION MEMBERS SITTING ON JOINT BOND REVIEW COMMITTEE.
YOU'VE GOT MEMBERS, DELEGATION MEMBERS WHO ARE SITTING ON SENATE FINANCE MEMBERS ON HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS THIS I THINK, IS A VERY STRONG COMPELLING CASE.
THERE'S RISK THAT I'M GONNA, WHEN I DRIVE BACK TO CHARLESTON TODAY, THAT WHEN I GET INTO CHARLESTON COUNTY, I'M GONNA GET SCREWED UP.
IT'S ALL I COULD, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE ON THIS.
AND I, I, YEAH, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THAT'S, I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT'S, YOU POINTED OUT, LET'S GO INTO THIS WITH EYES WIDE OPEN.
HAD YOU NOT HAD THIS ABILITY, IF YOU NOT HAD THIS PROGRAM, WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
THIS LAND WOULD NOT BE EVEN FOR SOMETHING WE COULD CONSIDER.
BUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS YOU'VE SET IT UP TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT WILL NEVER BE ANY LESS EXPENSIVE THAN IT IS TODAY.
UM, MR. DAWSON, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, COMMENTS YOU WANNA MAKE AT THIS TIME? NO, I, I WOULD ONLY SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I WAS, UH, PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF THE TOUR GROUP THAT ACTUALLY VISITED THIS SITE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, THIS IS A PRISTINE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND, UH, WORTHY OF US, UH, PRESERVING IT.
SO, UH, THE DEAL THAT IS BEFORE US, I THINK IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET.
UM, BUT I, I, BUT I WOULD SAY, UH, BASED UPON COUNCILMAN LAWSON'S, UH, COMMENT, UH, THE ISSUE THAT IS BEFORE US AND THAT THE, UH, PUBLIC IS GOING TO HOLD US, UH, TO, IS THAT WE'RE SPENDING, UH, WE'RE SPENDING $42 MILLION OF PUBLIC MONEY, UH, AND THE STATE IS ONLY GOING TO, UH, GET US AT LEAST 20 MILLION BACK.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF 22 MILLION THAT, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY INVESTING IN THIS PART, AND THE STATE IS ACTUALLY INVESTING THE OTHER 22.
SO, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I'M, I'M, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF IT.
HEY, UM, 22, UH, MILLION, UM, 20 MILLION I THINK I HEARD AT LEAST PLUS, AT LEAST 20 MILLION AT LEAST.
SO I'M A, I'M A I I LIKE THAT.
MAY I GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT JUST OCCURRED THIS WEEK ON A PROGRAM? MM-HMM
THIS INFORMATION IS QUITE FRESH.
THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE DISTRIBUTION OF 327 MILLION IN FORMULA GRANTS ON HUNDRED 34 IN COMPETITIVE GRANTS FROM THE LAND WATER CONSERVATION FUNDS.
THAT'S THE REVENUE THAT COMES OFF THE OIL AND GAS LEASES OFFSHORE.
ALL 50 STATES HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THAT.
IT'S FOR PARKS, PLAYGROUND TRAILS, AND OPEN SPACES.
IT HAS TO BE A ONE-TO-ONE MATCH SO FAR.
THIS LITERALLY WAS INTRODUCED ON FRIDAY, IS AN, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE GONNA GO AFTER TO HELP EVEN TAKE THAT, THAT AT LEAST 20 MILLION TO MAKE IT A GREATER NUMBER THAN THAT.
AND THIS DIDN'T EVEN, THIS PROGRAM DIDN'T EXIST UNTIL THIS PAST WEEK.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE VALUE OF WORKING WITH SOMEBODY LIKE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE THEY IMMINENTLY QUALIFY TO GO HELP, UH, SEARCH OUT THOSE KIND OF PROGRAMS. I'M AS INTERESTED AS ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO BRING AS MUCH BACK, MORE THAN 20 MILLION, BECAUSE THEN THIS EXTENDS THE, THE ABILITY TO DO IT ON OTHER PROJECTS RIGHT NOW.
BUT AS POINTED OUT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER BIGGER PROJECT AVAILABLE SOUTH OF THE BROAD IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED, UM, IS THAT, UM, IF YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE PARTICULAR FEDERAL FUNDS, UM, A LOT OF, LOT OF OTHER AREAS ARE NOT.
AND BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE
[00:35:01]
FEDERAL FUNDS.SO, AND ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDS, THEY'RE NOT GONNA TURN IT BACK IN.
AND SO IF YOU'RE IN A POSITION THAT YOU REALLY RIDING HIGH, SO I'M GONNA RIDE WITH YOU, MAN,
UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL, NO.
UM, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC
[6. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ]
AT THIS TIME.AND SO, UM, I'M GOING, UM, BECAUSE YOU CAME HERE, I ONLY HAVE ONE AT THIS TIME HERE.
AND THEN THERE ARE OTHERS ON ONLINE THAT WANTED TO, UM, ALSO MAYBE, UH, ASKING OR MAKING COMMENTS.
SO I'M GOING TO, UM, UM, MR. HUFF, JOHN HUFF, UM, HE'S WITH NEW RIVER, NEW RIVERSIDE PARK.
COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I WANT TO SAY I LIKE THIS PROJECT AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS THING PRESERVED.
AND, UM, I EMAILED ALL OF YOU LAST WEEK A BUNCH OF DOCUMENTS, AND I THINK YOU GUYS RECEIVED THEM, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'VE REVIEWED THEM.
YOU GUYS HAVE COMMENTED ON A BUNCH OF THINGS ALREADY AND JUST WANTED TO, UH, REITERATE A COUPLE THINGS.
UM, BIGGEST CONCERN HERE IS THE PURCHASE PRICE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS $42 MILLION.
UM, I'VE SENT EVERY ONE OF YOU A MASTER DEED FROM THE WALL CAM FAMILY FROM WHEN THIS PROPERTY WAS TRANSFERRED OVER TO PIONEER LAND BACK IN MARCH 27TH, 2025.
UM, THE WAL CAM FAMILY SIGNED AN AFFIDAVIT FOR THIS PROPERTY.
IT HAS ALL THE TMS NUMBERS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE REFERENCED IN THAT AFFIDAVIT.
THEY SAID THE FAIR MAIL VALUE OF THIS PROPERTY WAS $8.715 MILLION.
I MENTIONED THAT NUMBER LAST WEEK TO YOU GUYS.
I'VE HEARD IT REFERENCED AGAIN TODAY.
UM, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM.
IS THAT THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY? AND NOW, WHY IS THE STATE WILLING TO PAY $42 MILLION FOR THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY? WHEN THE OWNER SIGNED AN AFFIDAVIT RECORDED THIS AT BEAUFORT COUNTY ROD, THAT THEY THOUGHT THE FAIR MARKET VALUE WAS $8.7 MILLION.
UM, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY IT WAS BROUGHT UP TODAY THAT NEW RIVERSIDE IS A PRIVATE ROAD THAT I HAPPEN TO LIVE OFF OF.
I LIVE IN THE LANDINGS, MY HOA FUNDS FUND TO RE MAINTAIN THIS ROAD.
UM, SOMEBODY FROM THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION SAID THERE'S A PARK JUST LIKE THIS IN COLUMBIA, AND THEY SEE UPWARDS OF 200,000 VISITORS A YEAR THERE.
UM, NEW RIVERSIDE IS KIND OF LOCATED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, SO THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DRIVE THERE, COME TO THIS PARK VIA CAR.
UM, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC WE SEE IN AN AREA THAT ALREADY SEES A LOT OF TRAFFIC UP AT THE ROUNDABOUT.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF MR. LAWSON'S UP THERE OFTEN, BUT THAT TRAFFIC CIRCLE SEES A LOT OF TRAFFIC.
I LIVE THERE, I DRIVE THROUGH IT EVERY DAY.
UM, IS THERE A PLAN TO DO A TRAFFIC STUDY ON NEW RIVERSIDE ROAD? UM, IS THAT ROAD DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE A YEAR? UM, WHAT, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE STATE TO FUND AND HELP MAINTAIN A ROAD THAT IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY HOMEOWNERS? AND IS THIS GONNA BECOME ANOTHER BURDEN OF MINE THAT I HAVE TO PAY MORE MONEY BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A PARK THERE AND WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO MAINTAIN THE ROAD? UM, AGAIN, I LOVE THIS PROJECT.
WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT PRESERVED FOR MY, MY KIDS AND MY FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WE JUST HOPE YOU, UH, TAKE SOME CONSIDERATION IN OUR TAXPAYER FUNDS.
UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER NO, SIR.
NO, NO ONE IN THE PALM MEADOW BLUFF ROOM IS INTERESTED IN COMMENTING.
UM, WOULD THEY INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
NO ONE ONLINE WAS INTERESTED IN COMMENTING? OH, UM, UH, YES MA'AM.
'CAUSE I'M GONNA CALL BACK UP.
I WANNA REITERATE WHAT MR. HOF JUST SAID.
THAT IS A VERY CONGESTED AREA.
I I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW MUCH AT THE CIRCLE.
AND ALSO THERE'S A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GOING IN THERE.
IF YOU'VE EVER GONE TO MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SITTING IN TRAFFIC FROM NOW UNTIL FOREVER.
BUT I'M GUESSING MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT ACCESS THIS PARK AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE GET UP EARLY, BUT I UNDERSTAND HIS CONCERN.
THAT IS A HIGHLY CONGESTED AREA, AND THEY DO PAY TAXES TO PALMETTO BLUFF FOR THEIR ROADS.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN I MAKE A COMMENT? UM, AS PART OF THE PROCESS, THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION WILL DO A MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND THERE WILL BE, AND THERE I'M SURE WE'LL DO SOME ESTIMATES OF VISITORS, UH, BASED ON WHAT IS THE PUBLIC WANTS TO SEE ON THIS PROPERTY.
AND I THINK FROM THAT YOU CAN EX UH, COME UP WITH TYPES OF TRAFFIC GENERATION
[00:40:01]
AND TIMES OF DAY.BUT THAT WOULD BE ALL PART OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN PROCESS WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
AND, UM, IF THEY'RE PLANNING TO BUILD PAVILIONS, ARE THEY PLANNING TO BUILD, UM, ANYTHING PERMANENT? I, I, I'M JUST TALKING OUT LOUD, BUT UM, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF VISITORS IS GREAT, BUT YOU GOTTA BE ABLE TO HAVE THE STAFF TO MANAGE THE VISITORS TOO.
SO I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE FORESTRY COMMISSION'S, UH, PLANS IN THE FUTURE TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO THERE.
AND THAT MIGHT ALLEVIATE MR. HUFF'S CONCERNS.
JUST TO COMMENT, CAMERON, MAY I, UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE RESOURCES THAT I THINK CAN ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN BROUGHT UP.
OH, PLEASE DO WITH YOUR PERMISSION.
UH, FIRST, UH, I HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FORESTRY COMMISSION.
I THINK HE CAN NOT ONLY ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC ISSUE, BUT TALK A LITTLE MORE BROADLY ABOUT THEIR PROCESS.
YEAH, THEY KNOW JAMES DOUGLAS.
I'M OUR STATE LANDS COORDINATOR, SO I OVERSEE ALL OF OUR STATE PROPERTY.
UM, I SPENT 14 YEARS ON MANCHESTER STATE FOREST, WHICH IS IN SUMTER COUNTY, 28,000 ACRES, UM, MANAGING THAT PROPERTY.
SO WELL AWARE OF PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT.
UM, YEAH, WE WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE ALL THE CONSIDERATION OF THE NEIGHBORS INTO CONSIDERATION OF WHAT TYPE OF RECREATION THEY WOULD WANT TO HAVE THERE.
UM, THE COUNT, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ON OTHER PROPERTIES WE JUST BOUGHT ARE AGAINST EQUESTRIAN RECREATION.
SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT ON THE PROPERTY UNLESS THE LOCAL RESIDENTS WANNA HAVE IT.
WE HAVE EQUESTRIAN, WE HAVE OHV, WE HAVE DIRT BIKES, BICYCLES, WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
AND WE, WE WOULD WORK WITH THE LOCALS TO PROVIDE WHATEVER TYPE OF RECREATION THEY WANT.
UM, THIS AREA IS VERY HEAVILY POPULATED AND MOST OF THE USE, I'LL TELL YOU WILL COME FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY.
UM, I KNOW THE TRAFFIC, THERE'S A HIGH SCHOOL THERE AND TALKING ABOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THERE.
SO YOU'RE ALREADY BRINGING IN PEOPLE THAT DON'T PAY FOR THAT ROAD THAT ARE USING IT.
AND I KNOW THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS A SIGNED A, UM, A USE AGREEMENT TO USE THAT ROAD.
SO WE'RE LOOKING INTO SOMETHING SIMILAR.
HEY, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD NOTE THAT, UM, THE PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY WOULD GIVE US 13 MILES OF RIVERFRONT, UH, FRONTAGE.
AND WITH THE PREVIOUS PROPERTY, I THINK THAT'S FIVE MILES OF RIVERFRONT.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALMOST 18 MILES OF RIVERFRONT.
I MEAN, IF NOTHING ELSE, KAYAKING, CANOEING, I MEAN YES, SIR.
AND THE QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO THE FAR STREET COMMISSION, WE DO HAVE OUR OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
AND WE WERE WORK WITH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THAT PROPERTY AS WELL.
I'M SORRY, MR. I'LL GET YOU NEXT.
ONE IS, UM, WHEN YOU ARE, UH, WHEN YOU'RE ENGAGING IN THE PARTNERSHIP, OPERAT A PARTNERSHIP OPERATION, UH, IN THE EVENTUALITY, THIS ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED.
YOU'LL BE DOING A, UH, TIMBER CENSUS AND YOU'LL ALSO BE DOING A PLANNED PUBLIC, UH, UH, A PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS.
HOW LONG DOES THAT PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS TAKE? AND WHO WILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT BESIDE THE PEOPLE FROM THE FORESTRY COMMISSION? SO WE, WE BRING IN ALL PARTNERS, AND IT'S NOT JUST A LIMITED, WE'RE GONNA DO IT FOR 12 MONTHS AND IT'S OVER.
IT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS YEAR AFTER YEAR IF THE RESIDENTS CHANGE THEIR MIND AND WANNA SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE'RE, WE'RE OPEN TO CHANGING WITH THE TIMES, BUT THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESIDENTS THERE TO HAVE INPUT INTO THE PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS THAT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN AS YOU DEVELOP THE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.
AND ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES ALSO CERTIFIED TO SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE, WE CAN'T CUT MORE TIMBER THAN WE'RE GROWING.
SO THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE PROGRAM IS SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY.
UM, HARON STATE FOREST WAS MENTIONED EARLIER IN COLUMBIA IS A BIG RECREATIONAL EDUCATIONAL FOREST.
WE HAVE A GROUP CALLED FRIENDS OF HARON STATE FOREST.
IT IS A LOCAL GROUP THAT HAVE CREATED A, UM, 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT, AND THEY WORK WITH US TO PUT IN TRAILS, MAINTAIN TRAILS.
WE WORK WITH THEM ON ANY KIND OF MANAGEMENT WE GOT GOING ON.
WE LET THEM KNOW AHEAD OF TIME, HEY, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THIS.
AND THEY CAN HAVE INPUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS.
JUST TO GO BACK AND, AND TRY TO ANSWER ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP HERE, THE $8,715,000, UH, LAND TRANSACTION, THAT WAS ACTUALLY AN INTERNAL TRANSFER BETWEEN THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS, UH, THAT, THAT HELD THE LAND.
ALSO ANOTHER, UH, TRANSFER OF 3,270,000 FOR ANOTHER PARCEL.
SO IT WASN'T JUST ONE TRANSFER, IT WAS TWO TRANSFERS INSIDE OF THIS.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY FOR ANYBODY INTERESTED, IT'S ON PAGE THREE OF THE APPRAISAL AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP.
[00:45:01]
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE 'CAUSE I HAD THAT SAME QUESTION WHEN I HEARD THE, THE 8 MILLION TRANSFER AS WELL.WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU ADDRESSING 'CAUSE UH, UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, I THINK THAT A NUMBER GOT OUT AND, AND WAS MAYBE MISUNDERSTOOD THAT THAT WAS AN APPRAISED VALUE.
THAT WAS, AS YOU SAID, AN INTERNAL ASSET REALLOCATION, WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON, UH, AT TIMES WHEN, UH, FAMILIES MOVE ASSETS AROUND.
I MEAN IT'S, IT'S A, IT IS A METHOD OF, OF, UH, FRANKLY, WEALTH MANAGEMENT.
UM, AND THAT IS NOT UNCOMMON IN THIS COUNTY TO DO THAT.
I GOT ONE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE TOUGH QUESTION FOR YOU.
UM, THE 340 ACRES THAT'S IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF, OF THE 3000 ABOVE AND 340 ON THE SOUTHERN PARK, DO WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT? IS THERE, IS THERE A WAY TO GET TO THAT OR HOW, HOW IS, 'CAUSE YOU LOOK AT IT RIGHT NOW AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE, IT'S GONNA NOT CONTIGUOUS.
UM, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ACCESS TO THAT, THE SOUTHERN 340 ACRES.
SO JUST FOR THE RECORDS, DAVID BISHOP NATURE CONSERVANCY, GO AHEAD DAVID.
UM, YEAH, SO YOU'RE REFERRING TO SOUTH OF THE SQUARE ON THAT? YEAH, IT'S BACK A COUPLE.
I'M, I'VE LOOKED AT MORE OF A, I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE A PIG TO GET THROUGH THERE.
IT'S JUST THICK SWAMPY, IT'S RIVER BUFFER AND ON THE EAST SIDE OF THAT IS A NEW GOLF COURSE.
UM, AND SO, NO, I DON'T SEE THAT BEING A PUBLIC ACCESS.
UH, I SEE THE RIVER BUFFER AND THE AESTHETICS FROM THE RIVER BEING IMPORTANT, THE WATER QUALITY BENEFITS.
I THINK THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT AS THE FORESTRY COMMISSION AND THE LAND TRUST, WHICH WILL HOLD AN EASEMENT BECOME MORE FAMILIAR, THEY CODIFY THAT IN THE TERMS OF THE EASEMENT AND THE FOREST USES.
SO, UM, IS THERE ANY ACCESS AT ALL THOUGH, EVEN BEFORE I'M LOOKING AT IT? I THINK THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED.
WE HAVE NOT DETERMINED WHAT THE USE IS OR THE ACCESS IS.
THE BUFFERS SQUARE GOES OUT INTO THE, THE SALTWATER MARSH.
SO THERE, OTHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE MARSH ITSELF, WHICH WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO PUT AN ACCESS THROUGH THERE, WE DON'T, UNLESS YOU'VE GOT AN EASEMENT SOMEPLACE ELSE THROUGH THEIR, THEIR PROPERTY, WE DON'T, THERE'S NO ACCESS OR IT'S GONNA BE LANDLOCKED.
WELL, I THINK YOU CAN ACCESS A LITTLE BIT, I THINK FROM A MANAGEMENT SAFETY STANDPOINT, IF NEEDED, YOU HAVE ONE ROAD ACCESS THERE THAT YOU SEE THAT YELLOW LINE, YOU COULD HIT THE CORNER OF IT, BUT IT'S REALLY, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD WANT TO ACCESS IT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE LAND.
I JU I JUST WANTED TO ADD TOO, WE HAVE A LOT OF USERS ACCESS PROPERTIES STRAIGHT FROM RIVER.
SO YOU CAN COME UP THE RIVER AND ACCESS THAT PROPERTY FOR WHATEVER YOUR RECREATIONAL PLEASURE IS, WHETHER YOU JUST WANNA GET IN THE PLUFF MUD OR YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR OYSTERS OR YOU WANT TO BIRD WATCH.
UM, SO YOU CAN COME UP THE RIVER AND ACCESS THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THE BEST, UM, EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU PUT IN HERE IS THE, THE, THE MAP RIGHT BEFORE THE PICTURE, SARAH.
SO THE PIC, THE PIC, THE PICTURES START GOING DOWN.
SO IF YOU LOOK, THE TWO ONES ARE WHAT WE'RE PURCHASING, AND IN BETWEEN THERE'S THE SQUARE YOU MENTIONED, UM, AND THE, THE GRAY AREA IS ACTUALLY SALT WATER MARSH, WHICH YOU WOULD YEAH.
THAT WE COULDN'T PUT A ROAD THROUGH THERE.
SO WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A A, AN ACCESS OR, OR A ROAD TO, TO GET THERE.
IT'S PRETTY FAR OFF THE MARSH THERE TO HAVE RIVER ACCESS.
JUST AGAIN, I, I I'M ALL FOR THIS, BUT I'M TRYING TO BE THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATES.
I WANNA HIT EVERYTHING AND PROVE WHY WE'RE DOING THIS AND MAKING SURE IT MAKES SENSE.
MR. WATSON ALWAYS THOUGHT OF YOU AS AN ANGEL, NOT A DEVIL.
I THINK THE OVERALL, WHAT I THINK COUNCIL, I ASK COUNCIL TO GIVE THIS CONSIDERATION.
WE GOT A ONCE IN A TIME OPPORTUNITY HERE.
PERFECTION SOMETIMES CAN BE THE ENEMY OF SOME GOOD WORK.
THE GOOD WORK RIGHT THERE IS THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE AT ANY TIME THE THREAT OF HAVING ANYTHING CHANGE ON THAT.
AND AT THIS POINT, FROM A WILDLIFE STANDPOINT, THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST USE OF THAT AS IT REALLY BECOMES A WILDLIFE SANCTUARY BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING ELSE BEING, UH, DEVELOPED AND TURNED INTO MORE OF AN URBAN LANDSCAPE.
[00:50:02]
THAT THAT IS WHAT WILDLIFE IS LOOKING FOR.AND YOU MIGHT BE PROVIDING SOME OF THAT JUST BY THAT 340 ACRES.
NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM FACT, BUT IF 10% OF THIS TRACK OF THE UPLAND SIDE IS, IS NOT NECESSARILY A PARK ACCESS, YOU'RE STILL DOING A BENEFIT THROUGH THE ECOSYSTEM.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? UM, THERE IS NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, NOTHING AT PALMETTO BLUFF AGAIN.
OH, HE'S, SOMEBODY'S COMING UP.
WE, WE ARE NOT HEARING ANYTHING.
WHERE'S OUR YES MR. CHAIRMAN, WHILE THEY'RE, JUST, WHILE THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT FOR THAT GENTLEMAN, UH, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY MONDAY EVENING.
THIS WILL BE ON YOUR COUNCIL AGENDA, BOTH PROJECTS.
YOU HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION AGAIN ON MONDAY EVENING, I BELIEVE THAT STARTS AT 6:00 PM MM-HMM
AND THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE RESOLUTION ON NEW RIVER WAS SIMPLY TO, AS SUBJECT TO THE, TO THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, NO MATTER WHETHER IT'S FORESTRY COMMISSION OR COUNTY OWNED ON THAT.
BRIAN AM I, I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM WITH YOUR COUNSEL THAT IT IS ACCURATE.
MR. ROTHENBERG, CAN YOU, NO, WE STILL CANNOT HEAR YOU.
ARE THEY TEXTING YOU, SARAH BROADCAST OR ALEX TEXTING?
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BRING DOWN THE ROOM.
SARAH, WE COULD SEND THEM OUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND IF THEY HAVE A PHONE IN THE ROOM, MAYBE THEY COULD CALL AND WE COULD PUT IT ON SPEAKER FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION THAT'S BEEN PASSED AROUND PALMETTO BLUFF OVER THE LAST WEEK.
AS I'VE SPOKEN TO MY FRIENDS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WHILE WE APPRECIATE WHAT THE HONORABLE SENATOR HAS PROMISED AND REPRESENTED, I'M WONDERING HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROMISES ARE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD AT THE TIME THAT THE DEED IS TRANSFERRED OR WHATEVER THE MECHANISMS OF THE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION ARE, SO THAT WE CAN BE ASSURED THAT THOSE PROMISES ARE, ARE, ARE KEPT.
AND, AND ALSO A SPECIFIC QUESTION WITH RECENT COMPS THAT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY WAS INVOLVED IN.
AND I KNOW THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT AND SEPARATE TRANSACTIONS, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THE CONSERVANCY HAS SOLD OFF PARTS OR PARCELS OF THE LAND THAT THEY HAVE BOUGHT FOR, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND CAN WE BE SURE NO LAND WILL BE SOLD OFF TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER, UM, FOR, FOR ANY REASON? AND CAN THIS BE MEMORIALIZED INTO THE, INTO THE TRANSACTION FROM THE GET GO, WHICH
[00:55:01]
WILL EASE THE ANXIETY OF PEOPLE HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE THREE YEARS OR WHATEVER THE TIMEFRAME IS BEFORE IT'S IN QUOTES OFFICIAL.UM, MR. MCCAIN IS GOING TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, COULD I JUST HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT THEY CAN HEAR ME IN THE PALMETTO BLUFF? YOU HEAR US THERE? YES.
SO, SO THIS SHOULD GIVE ULTIMATE CONSIDERATION TO THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL OCCUR.
THAT, THAT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY WILL NOT SELL THIS TO ANOTHER PRIVATE LANDOWNER BECAUSE YOUR RESOLUTION THAT YOU PASS TO FUND THIS STIPULATES THE APPLICANT WILL NOT ONLY PLACE THE COVENANTS RESTRICTIONS, BUT IS AGREEING TO PURCHASE TO, UH, UH, CONVEY THE PROPERTY TO THE FORESTRY COMMISSION WITHIN THAT THREE YEARS, OR IT COMES TO THE COUNTY.
WE ASK FOR THE THREE YEARS SIMPLY TO ALLOW TO GET THROUGH THE DUE DILIGENCE OF LEGISLATION TO GET THE REIMBURSEMENT AND, UH, ANY OTHER POTENTIAL GRANTS THAT WE HAVE WE'RE GONNA PURSUE.
SO THE FACT THAT YOU ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION, I THINK LES COUNSEL SAYS OTHERWISE THAT THE, THAT THAT LOCKS 'CAUSE THE COVENANT AGREEMENT ON THE GRANT WILL LOCK THE NATURE CONSERVANCY INTO ONLY TRANSFERRING THIS TO THE FORESTRY COMMISSION OR TO THE COUNTY.
IT WOULD PROHIBIT THEM FROM SELLING IT TO ANY OTHER PARTY.
I'M GONNA ASK YOUR, YOUR COUNSEL TO JUST AFFIRM MY STATEMENT.
AND SO I HOPE THE GENTLEMAN HEARD THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE THERE? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
UM, I, WE HAVE RESOLVED THIS AND, UM, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.