Welcome to Conch Point, Beaufort, South Carolina, located just fifteen minutes north of Beaufort. As it stands, it is in 9 separate parcels totaling 28.23 acres. We have succeeded in having it re-zoned, so now there can automatically be 16 units built "by right" spread over the acreage - with all lots being waterfront! However, the most advantageous plan is a PUD. With over 28 acres, perhaps as many as 56 units could be planned. If there were clustered town homes on three major parts of the property with the best views, the infrastructure would be lessened. The County, if given such a plan - with a great deal of green space - might look favorably on such density. And too, our property crosses Trotter's Loop for twenty yards or so on the north side. Adjoining undeveloped property might be acquired to allow additional green space there. Currently, there are no conservation easements on any of these.
Those lots at the southwest end have an elevation of about 14' above mean high tide. The bluff height decreases to the east, but those lots are closest to deep water. There's an existing seawall by the Cottage. According to Mr. Madlinger of OCRM, almost every lot can have some type of dock, whether it's a simple crabbing dock, or a major one. All that's required is 75' frontage. The one criteria is that the creek must be a minimum of 20' wide from marsh to marsh. We have tentatively set aside Cabin Point as community property. It can have a landing and dock, since there's always deep water there. Broomfield Creek, however, has a sandbar further south that prevents it from being a 24-hour creek, so it's termed a "quarter-tide creek". On the south end, it opens onto the Intracoastal Waterway, and the north end into Coosaw Sound. There's a small bridge halfway up at Walling Grove, north of us, that is only navigable by kayak or canoe, but otherwise that creek divides Lady's Island in two. Many boaters use it for round-the-island runs.
We have two 4' wells on the place, as well as a big generator. City water is just outside our gate, and of course, electricity is connected to both houses, the two workshops, and the cabin. In other words, power is here. The soil on most lots perks for septic tanks. ATU's have been approved by the State. There are existing roads criss-crossing the property.
Other than 16 exclusive waterfront lots with minimum water frontage from 125' to 880' (on Yucca Point), or a one-owner estate, there have been several other suggestions as to usage. One is a miniature "Palmetto Bluff" type development - an inn and spa, perhaps a restaurant, and then guesthouses scattered around the waterfront. Since Conch Point is a peninsula that could be gated, privacy can be assured. There's also a great area shortage of quality, high-end furnished houses for both short and long term rental. The advantage here is that the County is looking for employment opportunities for the local population, which an inn and cottages would generate.
Some of the plusses for our location are that it's only 6 minutes from two excellent schools (K-12, one public and one private), 10 minutes from Publix and Walgreen's, etc., on US 21, 12 minutes from the Frogmore Airport, and 15 minutes from Beaufort. Savannah is an hour away, and Charleston almost two hours. The County has just allocated $6M for a study into building the Northern Beaufort Connector, a bypass near us that will then cross through the island westward and bridge the Intracoastal by the Air Station, emerging at US 21 in Gray's Hill. This will be enormously advantageous and will cut nearly 30 minutes off the trip to Charleston! It will also mean another, shorter route to the beaches. At that point, property values over here will skyrocket!
Our home was built in 1981 and has a 20' setback from the creek. The Cottage was built circa 1870, moved to its current location, restored to code, and featured in "Country Living" magazine. It sits only 6' from the marsh! Other than magnificent, long views from everywhere you stand, dense woods filled with Live Oaks and pines, and 4,800' of shoreline, there's not much more I can tell you. But if you think of a question, call me!
For more technical information on development, please contact Steve Andrews at Andrew & Burgess Inc., (843) 466-0369. He'll be glad to discuss this with you.
