Town Land Acquisition Program

The Town of Hilton Head Island was incorporated in the 1980s in large measure because of concerns of overdevelopment and a perceived lack of aesthetic quality in the projects being built outside of the architectural review processes of the major PUDs.  There then ensued several years of discussion over how best to manage growth, and treat those who owned smaller tracts, and generally had fewer resources to develop, fairly.    The strategy that rose to the forefront was a public land acquisition program that would fairly compensate the landowner, reduce future traffic and development levels, provide green space and highway buffers, and provide land for future parks  and public facilities.

When Steve came to work for the Town, an ordinance to implement a Real Estate Transfer Fee (RETF) had recently been adopted, but an immediate legal challenge meant the proceeds were being escrowed. Steve and his team began working with a citizens advisory committee to develop criteria for identifying and prioritizing properties for future acquisition.  That effort, with few changes, still guides the acquisition program today.

Community support led Town Council to include a property tax increase in the budget dedicated to land acquisition, and Steve assisted the the-then-Town Manager in the negotiations for the first of the properties to be acquired.

The State Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling for Home Rule in South Carolina, ultimately sided with the Town.  But it quickly became apparent that with the economy coming out of recession and with development activity heating up, that a pay-as-you-go approach would result in too many lost opportunities for land preservation.  A revenue bond, tied to future RETF collections, was put forth.  Steve and the Mayor made many community presentations and the referendum readily passed.

Over the years, Steve directly negotiated contracts on over 150 distinct parcels on behalf of Town Council, acquiring nearly 1,600 acres.  The Town returned to the voters four more times; and each was approved by the voters.   Today, those land holdings are the Town’s crown jewel.  

Countywide Land Acquisition Program

Building on the early successes of the Town’s land acquisition program, the Beaufort County Council developed a land protection program of its own.  Steve served as a resource to the citizens’ committee drafting the original ordinances and guidelines.  The  Rural and Critical Lands Preservation Program began operating in 1999, with a mission focused on land preservation, scenic vistas, buffers, passive parks.  Steve soon joined the advisory board as a citizen-member representing his County Council District.  He served as Chairman for 12 years and helped to guide the program by: refining the criteria for targeting and evaluating properties; encouraging partnerships with other units of government; and strengthening cooperation with other conservation organizations.  When the County was between referenda and low on money, Steve brought the Town in as a partner to protect a key piece of land where development would have significantly impacted the traffic coming  onto, and off of, the Island.  During his time as Chairman, there was significant progress on the cooperative acquisition of easements to protect the approaches to the Marine Corps Air Station-Beaufort from the encroachment of development.