Tanger Outlets asked to pay $82K in school fees

Beaufort County Council members said Wednesday that Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. should donate $82,000 in school construction fees in exchange for the right to expand Tanger Outlet Center 1.

While a council subcommittee made no final decision on Tanger 1 during initial negotiations of a development agreement, Tanger officials said the $82,000 wasn't a deal-breaker.

"Anything to get this going," said Kevin Dillon, Tanger's senior vice president for construction and development, who emphasized the need to revamp the outlet center quickly in light of the down economy hammering retailers.

County planning director Tony Criscitiello said that under redevelopment plans for Tanger 1, the drainage system on the property would be improved significantly. Currently, water flows through a wetland into the Colleton River. Under Tanger's new plans, a filtration system would be in place.

The new buildings also would adhere to strict environmental building standards as outlined by the U.S. Green Building Council.

In addition to those improvements, the county has asked the developer to donate 2.3 acres of land it needs to lengthen the Bluffton Parkway to connect to U.S. 278 via a fly-over.

Still, disagreements between county planning staff and the developer persist over the outlet center's layout, basically four retail buildings surrounding a parking lot.

"We've not achieved a point where we're happy with it," Criscitiello said.

Tanger officials said they are at an impasse with county planners over many of the disagreements about the site plan, but said they would do what they could to work out a solution. The redevelopment plans, which County Council passed on first reading, need two more votes before they can move forward.