A large marketplace and amphitheater is planned in Bluffton. Here’s what’s coming
A large marketplace with a restaurant, shops and outdoor amphitheater with almost 300 parking spaces could be coming to Bluffton.
As crews tear up land for the Washington Square development along Buckwalter Parkway, developers with the Loftin-Moore real estate company are proposing the 12.9-acre plan.
Advertised as Old Town Marketplace — though it would be more than five miles away from the heart of Old Town Bluffton — the development could rise in a part of Bluffton bustling with new growth near the condos at The Reserve at Woodbridge.
It’s less than a mile from Buckwalter Place and planned right across the street from the ongoing 35-acre Washington Square project and Lowcountry Fresh Market & Cafe.
The project’s website says it could be ready by “early 2022.”
Marketing plans describe it was “a vibrant gathering place where foodies and artisans come together to share, collaborate and show off their talents and passions.”
It’s expected to include “boutique shops and services, mouth-watering restaurants and breweries, delicious produce stands, dynamic office spaces as well as an inspiring line-up of festivals, productions and other events.”
The development would include a two story, 45,000 square foot building with an outdoor event lawn and amphitheater, according to development plans. The indoor facility would allow for a restaurant and retail and office spaces.
It would have 298 parking spots.
Kelly Little of Loftin-Moore, LLC did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.
The plans, however, are still in the approval process.
Wednesday night, Bluffton’s Planning Commission voted to move forward with the development, though it had some conditions for the developers: provide parking spaces for bikes, create a wall to reduce noise emanating from the amphitheater, and a request to change the project’s name.
Facebook comments during Wednesday’s meeting showed that several residents were opposed to the project.
“Have any consideration been given to the noise levels from the Amphitheater that will impact MANY Woodbridge residents? I strongly disagree with that venue,” one comment said.
“We should have had more than one day’s notice that something like this was being proposed,” another said. “Very upsetting. NO AMPHITHEATER!!”
Development of the property will require “some minor tree removal.,” The development would impact up to 0.66 acres of wetlands, according to the plans.
After Wednesday night’s initial approval, Kevin Icard, Bluffton’s planning and community development manager, said the plans will be reviewed by the town’s stormwater team.
If approved there, the developer will submit its final plan. Staff will then have 20 days to review and comment on the plans at the development review committee.
It would then go to the planning commission one more time for review before the unified development ordinance administrator gets final approval, he said.
He said did not know when the plans would go to the development review committee or planning commission.
“It is dependent on when they submit their plans,” he said.
Development in Bluffton
Development along Buckwalter Parkway has been booming in recent years.
Just down the street, at Island West Golf Club, neighbors are fighting against the potential rezoning of their golf course that could be developed into apartments, shops and a hotel.
Although those residents acknowledge they don’t own the land, they argue that the course is part of their community.
They worry that impervious surfaces will only increase the high amount of flooding they’ve already witnessed from nearby developments such as the Mystic Bluff apartments and the planned Washington Square development.
