Beaufort fills several city ‘doughnut holes’ via annexation

Beaufort is adding property after a slew of recent annexation requests, moves city leaders say make good economic sense and aren’t expanding boundaries.

Among the properties that joined the city Tuesday by City Council vote are a site that would become part of the proposed Lady’s Island Harris Teeter development, three Lady’s Island businesses — Sherwin-Williams, Citgo, and Steamer Oyster and Steakhouse — and three parcels at 2811 Boundary St. that could become a hotel.

Earlier this month, the city added a site on Sea Island Parkway expected to become a Taco Bell. City Council passed the annexation over concerns from area residents about traffic issues when combined with the Walmart being built across the road.

The property owners are asking to join the city for its services, city leaders say, and note the moves fit within the city’s growth boundaries. Filling in areas of unincorporated Beaufort County between city property — so-called doughnut holes — is cost-effective, they said.

City services now reach more property with the same fixed cost to the city. Commercial properties in turn add to the city’s tax base, pay business license fees and can be more lucrative than residential neighborhoods, Councilman Mike McFee said.

“It makes it more economic for us,” he said. “It’s not sprawl.”

A warehouse on Robert Smalls Parkway that could become a cafe and bike rental business on the Spanish Moss Trail could also join the city with another vote by council.

The Walmart site, new Publix and site off the former Publix where Harris Teeter is proposed —all along Sea Island Parkway on Lady’s Island — are city property. Adding property between, as the city did Tuesday in annexing the three businesses adjacent to Publix on Tuesday, continues the recent trend of the city pulling in commercial property along the corridor.

Annexing the property can also help clear up any confusion about public safety services, city manager Bill Prokop said, though Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department already have service agreements with Burton and Lady’s Island fire districts to cover the city property in other jurisdictions.

“Our goal when looking at annexation is to fill in doughnut holes, not to expand the distance of the city,” Prokop said. “The last thing we really want to do is say ‘We want to grow the city.’ We do want to fill in.”

In other action Tuesday, Beaufort City Council also:

▪  Passed first votes to change the city’s business license rules to require businesses and charitable organizations to register and to charge business license fees to nonprofits competing with private businesses. The measures require one more vote.

▪  Sold city property at Barnwell Street Extension, changed rules related to car washes in the general commercial district, and approved zoning requests on Washington Street and Congress Street.

▪  Passed first votes to annex and rezone 46 Robert Smalls Parkway, where owner Richard Martin wants to open a business on the Spanish Moss Trail.

▪  Passed a resolution supporting an arts overlay district downtown and fair housing.

▪  Approved requests to use Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park for a Pat Conroy memorial event on May 14 and to waive the noise ordinance for the Gullah Festival.

▪  Allowed the city to negotiate with a parking garage contractor to identify possible sites and design of a possible parking garage.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 9:53 AM with the headline "Beaufort fills several city ‘doughnut holes’ via annexation."