On May 8th, 2023, the Beaufort County Council approved updates to the Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO), clarifying and reaffirming the original intent of the ordinance in accordance with the 2040 Envision Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan.
You can view the full CPO language in the Beaufort County Community Development Code here.
What is the CPO?
The Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) was created in the late 1990s to protect the Gullah/Geechee cultural resources of St. Helena Island. The St. Helena community did not want the same development pattern as other Sea Islands, like nearby Hilton Head, Fripp, and Dataw Islands.
The CPO zoning district bans golf courses, gated communities, resorts, and restrictions to waterways and culturally significant locations on St. Helena Island. The Beaufort County 2040 Comprehensive Plan highlights how the overlay prevents gentrification and the loss of Gullah Geechee culture and land.
The CPO district boundaries include the entirety of St. Helena Island, including Pine Island and St. Helenaville as depicted on the zoning map below. It serves as additional protection over the T2Rural zoning and was developed by and for the St. Helena community in the 1990s. The overlay has stood for over 20 years and it continues to guide development on St. Helena today.
Groups supportive of a strong CPO include:
- Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
- Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition
- Historic Penn Center
- Historic Beaufort Foundation
- Preservation South Carolina
- National Parks Conservation Association
- Coastal Conservation League
- Beaufort County Open Land Trust
- South Carolina Environmental Law Project
- Coastal Expeditions Beaufort
- Sea Island Corridor Coalition
- Friends of Hunting Island
- Savannah Archaeological Alliance
- Atlanta Preservation Center
- Hilton Head Island Audubon Society
- South Carolina Wildlife Federation
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Beaufort Soil & Water Conservation District
- South Carolina Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
- 20,000+ concerned citizens who signed the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition and Penn Center petitions
Original Photos by Miles Sanders