Beaufort City Council looks at buying, selling millions in property
Beaufort City Council is looking to acquire roughly $3 million in land for a park on Boundary Street and also to sell potentially $1 million in land scattered throughout the city and surrounding area.
Council discussed the projects Tuesday night in a work session but took no action.
Buying
The purchases are part of a proposed plan to create a city gateway entrance with an open view of Battery Creek along Boundary Street.
Mayor Billy Keyserling said the Beaufort County Rural and Critical Land is recommending the county partner with the city and Beaufort County Open Land Trust.
The organizations are considering an agreement that would commit Rural and Critical Lands to up to $1.5 million in funding and the city and Open Land Trust a combined additional $1.5 million. City Council is expected to vote March 24 on the agreement.
The Civic Master Plan, approved a year ago, shows a park stretching from the area beyond Applebee's to the area just before the cemetery across from Beaufort Town Center.
Keyserling said property would be acquired a parcel at a time, buildings demolished and landscaping kept to a minimum short-term.
"My recommendation is that, until the whole thing is taken down, all we do is irrigate it and seed it, not create a fancy park," he said.
Keyserling said the owners of some properties -- such as Sea Eagle Market and Huddle House -- may be interested in selling.
Selling
Roughly $1 million worth of city-owned land that is not being used as a park or for city operations is on a list of properties the municipality may sell.
Each parcel is being considered on a case-by-base basis, and they range from small right-of-ways and lift-station plots worth as little as $500 to more than $200,000 for the parking lot near the Federal Courthouse on Bay Street.
The list was compiled by staff, and planning director Libby Anderson said it does not include parks, buildings being used, the Beaufort Commerce Park or property with deed restrictions. Additional research will be done on several of the properties to check for deed restrictions staff does not have on file, she said.
Anderson pointed out the city has liability concerns, pays annual stormwater fees and does not collect taxes on the properties.
Councilman George O'Kelley Jr. advocated for selling or, in the case of some of the smaller lots, giving them to adjoining owners.
"If we don't want them or need them, it seems we should be trying to get them off our books one way or another," he said.
Discussions will continue by City Council and the Park and Tree Advisory Commission.
Follow reporter Erin Moody at twitter.com/IPBG_Erin.
Related content:
- Beaufort takes step toward reorganizing Redevelopment Commission, March 10, 2015
- Beaufort City Council plans special meeting to reorganize Redevelopment Commission, March 1, 2015
- Boundary St. property eyed for creating Beaufort gateway; Wendy's renovation plans proceed, Feb. 5, 2015
This story was originally published March 17, 2015 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Beaufort City Council looks at buying, selling millions in property."