Bluffton leaders reject plan to allow cafes on Old Town side streets

Dreaming of sipping a latte and nibbling a scone in a cafe on a quiet side street in Old Town Bluffton?

Keep dreaming.

Bluffton’s Town Council unanimously shot down a proposal Tuesday that would have allowed cafes to set up shop in the historic district on certain mostly residential streets such as Lawton and Lawrence streets.

In Old Town, Bluffton’s development code allows restaurants to operate only along S.C. 46, Bruin Road, Calhoun Street and Burnt Church Road.

The failed proposal to change that code was brought to the town by William Tapp and Chris Johnston, owners of Lawton Street retail store Mameem and Maudie.

Their hope was to expand the business to include food and non-alcoholic drink sales.

In an email Wednesday, the store’s owners said they are “very disappointed in the (council’s) decision.”

The development code change appeared to have momentum going into Tuesday’s council meeting.

Less than a month ago, the town’s Planning Commission unanimously recommended approving it with only a few minor tweaks.

But the code amendment ran into a brick wall of opposition from both the council and members of the public.

Concerns mainly involved the potential for increased traffic and changes to the neighborhood’s residential character.

Roads like Lawton Street “already experience heavy congestion and parking problems for visitors and residents,” Old Town resident Paige Camp said.

Councilman Fred Hamilton agreed, saying the council can’t support measures that “continue to add more parking problems.”

By changing the town’s development code for one establishment, the council could be “opening up the floodgates” for more businesses to follow Mameem and Maudie’s lead into food service, councilman Harry Lutz said.

Councilman Dan Wood said that could “upset the fragile harmony” that currently exists between Old Town businesses and residents.

While Mameem and Maudie’s owners said they “completely understand where the local residents are coming from ... and feel their pain,” they plan to “continue to push the envelope for our cafe and to make Old Town Bluffton the place to be.”

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Bluffton leaders reject plan to allow cafes on Old Town side streets."