Beaufort County Council approved the acquisition of an 11.92-acre tract near the Town of Port Royal, adjacent to the Shell Point neighborhood in Beaufort County, through the Rural & Critical Land Preservation Program on Monday night, July 27, 2015. This purchase again represents the County’s continuing commitment to preserving water quality.The property, known as “Shell Point”, zoned for substantial residential and commercial development, is the primary drainage point for stormwater from the Shell Point neighborhood and surrounding areas into the marshes of Battery Creek. Protecting this property prevents further degradation of the marshes and waters of Battery Creek. Additionally, development of the property because of its location between Cypress Street, Shell Point Road, and Parris Island Gateway would cause increased problems with traffic within the Shell Point neighborhood and on Parris Island Gateway, already areas with heavy traffic flow at times. “This purchase is a win-win for all the citizens of Beaufort County by continuing to keep our waterways clean and avoiding further traffic issues.” says Beaufort County Councilwoman Alice Howard. “The purchase of this geographically unique property not only mitigates the impacts of development adjacent to a waterway already experiencing degradation, but it also allows for natural habitat and functions to occur creating a positive storm water outcome for the entire watershed,”says Lisa Lord, Rural and Critical Program administrator. The property will be acquired via bargain sale for five hundred fifty thousand dollars ($550,000).
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