City Council Meeting: August 28, 2018

Whitehall Park: Still an Uncertainty but Grows a Step Closer

Last Tuesday, August 27, Beaufort’s City Council returned from a regular hiatus during the months of July and August. They addressed a full docket of important issues including First Friday, Shrimp Festival, and the rapid movement that has arisen to demand a large public park in Whitehall’s master plan.

First a proposal was brought forward for a waterfront park recycling program. The move would make for a greener downtown, especially coupled with the looming November 1 plastic ban. Recycling would not be limited to bottles but include all recyclables. The council was curious about logistics which included pick up and sorting; it was determined Waste Pro could pick up recyclables with the regular trash. The women spearheading the initiative added that they are hoping to work out recycling plastic bottles through Sunoco’s “Bottles Mean Jobs” program while the cans would go to the fire department for donation. The proposal was approved.

Next the Downtown Beaufort Merchants Association (DBMA) came forward seeking funding from the city in order to continue events such as ‘First Friday.’ Eric Thibault, president of the DBMA, headed a comprehensive presentation that highlighted the DBMA’s impressive growth and contributions to Beaufort within a year’s time. In just over a year since its formation the DBMA has reached 35 stakeholders, exceeding its goal of 20 paid members for the year. First Friday has become their flagship event but they host a biannual sidewalk sale and partner with the Beaufort Chamber for a biannual artwalk. The association also works with downtown parking to provide customers tokens that work in lieu of meter payment and a shuttle that will traverse downtown. Thibault also mentioned that the DBMA were proud new partners in the Beaufort Shrimp Festival. Not to rest on their laurels Thibault said that goals include 50 members by 2019 and encompassing Port Republic Street during First Friday, something they’ve already begun to do. Councilman Murray lauded the group for “having their own skin in the game,” and almost spending $70,000 a year of their own money. Murray did encourage them to try again with later business hours to match those of restaurants. Approval for $22,100 needed for DBMA projects was given unanimously.

Following this the council reviewed the City of Beaufort Redevelopment Commision, which was essentially a list of accomplishments and goals. The city saw growth with the addition of 102 new businesses, including the flourishing Digital Corridor. Hargray was awarded a 300,000 utility tax credit and will install a fiber loop in partnership with the city. A marina future event is underway as the current operators are retiring next year. The affordable housing initiative has introduced 15 new family opportunities. Currently there are 75 students occupying the new dorm housing on Boundary Street. The list was quite extensive and unable to be fully covered here.

After all this it was adjournment to the upstairs chambers. During the proceedings the City affirmed hosting this years Shrimp Festival. The item on the agenda that most people came for was dead last: negotiating for a park at Whitehall. In November of 2017 and February of 2018 hundreds of concerned citizens showed up to voice their general opposition to a development at the historic Whitehall property. Concerns included traffic, infrastructure, environmental stress, population, and general quality of life, which is already being stressed by a population boom. Despite these very real concerns the Beaufort Metropolitan Commision decided to approve the project. After these developments rapid coalition of concerned groups and citizens convened to push for a 10 acre park on the historic property. On Tuesday, August 28, the City Council voted to allow the City Manager to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Beaufort County for Management, Maintenance, and Operation of Whitehall Park. The first two years of maintenance have already been promised by the developer, after which it would be handed to a partnership of the City of Beaufort and Beaufort County. The City Manager, Bill Prokop, voiced concerns over not knowing what the city was getting with this park, insistent that 10 acres was more than was needed. Prokop then cited that the original plans approved for the developer included a park. The original park approved is one to two acres, a far cry from the one currently being negotiated. Prokop also went on to state that the city already maintains all rural and critical lands maintained by the city except for one point.

Uncertainty of scope and cost seemed to trouble most of the council as well. Council Murray reaffirmed his responsibility to City tax payers and the fact that he would not write a blank check. Murray then went on to list projects and expenses that loomed in the near future including 500,000 for the Arsenal, 5 million for Mossy Oaks drainage problems, roads, critical infrastructure, and the 14 million just spent on pilings for the waterfront park. Murray also mentioned that spending this money will nearly exhaust the critical lands fund. Murray alluded to the Lady’s Island study that is about to come out, saying that 8900 residential units are likely to be approved which would represent larger needs for growth management on Lady's Island.

Murray also followed his enumerated fears by stating that he represents his constituents in delaying some of these things but he doesn’t know if they are right. He ended with a plea to slow things down, so that residents might not be strapped with a future bill.

Mayor Keyserling followed with affirming that Murray summed up all their apprehensions nicely. Keyserling pondered if the public could not be persuaded to accept a 5 acre park instead of 10. Keyserling then confirmed that he would support the desire for a 10 acre park but wanted to know the cost. Could it just be limited to bush hogging occasionally or will the scope of this park require more? The mayor then went on to remind everyone that Beaufort is a city of 13,000 moderate to low income people and that he does not want to leave these people and successive governments with a financial noose. All of the council members affirmed that they needed a clear idea from the county of what their role and costs would be.

When given the opportunity to speak representatives from both the Beaufort Land Trust and the County Council tried to assuage fears by claiming that intent is not to build up but to preserve and protect. The representative from Beaufort Land Trust pointed out that the park would eliminate 60 units of the 8,400 that councilman Murray predicted for Ladys Island. Council members asked questions and for assurances with Keyserling stating,

“Not a person here would write a blank check that binds the future without some sort of control mechanisms.”

This was a notion that was seconded by most of the council. They wanted clear parameters and stipulations going forward so that they might not have to eat cost in the future. Afterwards the floor was opened to anyone who wanted to speak on the matter. As to be expected opinions varied to either side of the spectrum on the issue. In the end the Beaufort City Council voted to approve the MOU for negotiations with Beaufort County. The future of the park is now being pinned on the city, county, and developer can come to an agreement.