St. Helena Prevails, Again! Thank Beaufort County Council for their 10-1 vote to Deny the Pine Island Development Agreement.
Thank you for attending a marathon meeting on Monday, September 22nd, 2025! Beaufort County Council voted 10-1 to deny the proposed development agreement for the Pine Island gated golf resort. The applicants then swiftly pulled their zoning map amendment. We strongly encourage you to reach out to Beaufort County Council members and thank them for siding with the St. Helena Island community and for rejecting the golf resort plans! While the battle is not over yet this recent vote marks a milestone!
The 2025 development agreement was denied, but we have to stay vigilant and keep an eye out for the zoning map amendment to return. It is also likely ongoing litigation regarding the 2023 denials will resume. We’re counting on your continued support!
What Can I Do?
Write Beaufort County Council and thank them for voting down the 2025 development agreement for Pine island. Encourage them to continue standing strong with the community & uphold the CPO zoning law!
Express your support for protecting St. Helena and keeping the community-led CPO intact – no exceptions!
- Joe Passiment (jpassiment@bcgov.net)
- Larry McElynn (lawrencem@bcgov.net)
- Gerald Dawson (gdawson@bcgov.net)
- David Bartholomew (dbartholomew@bcgov.net)
- York Glover (yglover@bcgov.net)
- Alice Howard (Chair) (ahoward@bcgov.net)
- Anna Maria “Tab” Tabernik (Vice Chair) (tabernik@bcgov.net)
- Logan Cunningham (cunningham@bcgov.net)
- Paula Brown (brown@bcgov.net)
- Mark Lawson (markl@bcgov.net)
- Tom Reitz (reitz@bcgov.net)
Click here for tips to help craft your message or download and use the template form below.
Attend meetings and sign-up for public comment
- Thank you for your participation on September 22, 2025. Stay tuned for future public meetings announcements.
Sign and share petitions
Write to state and federal officials to share your thoughts and ask for their support of local zoning protections
- SC Sen. Chip Campsen
- SC Sen. Tom Davis
- SC Sen. Margie Bright Matthews
- SC Rep. Michael Rivers
- SC Rep. Shannon Erickson
- US Congressman James Clyburn
- US Congresswoman Nancy Mace
Write Letters to the Editor & Op-Eds
- The Island Packet (letters@islandpacket.com)/ Beaufort Gazette (letters@beaufortgazette.com)
- The Post & Courier (rbehre@postandcourier.com)
- The Island News (theislandnews@gmail.com)
- The Bluffton Sun (editor@blufftonsun.com)
Send a message to County Council through the National Parks Conservation Association
Stay informed with the Coastal Conservation League
- Sign up to receive updates from the Coastal Conservation League
Follow @protectsthelena on social media
Get engaged and help get the word out about historic St. Helena Island and the Gullah/Geechee culture that is so closely tied to the land.
Your voice matters and together we can make a difference!
A second public hearing and vote of Beaufort County Council is expected on Monday October 27th, 2025 only if the majority of council votes “yes” in favor of the development agreement and rezoning on September 22.
Beaufort County Council Meeting
Monday September 22nd, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Burton Wells Recreation Center- 1 Middleton Recreation Dr, Beaufort, SC 29906
Beaufort County Council Meeting
Monday October 27th, 2025 at 6:00 PM
*Note: location TBD, check back for updates*
