The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan July 2009

Town Council Planning Commission Samuel E. Murray, Mayor Joe DeVito, Chair Mary Beth Gray‐Heyward, Mayor Pro Tempore Jim Crower Joe Lee Harley Laing Henry Robinson Wayne Reynolds Vernon DeLoach David Lott

Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Evan Abrams Brian D. Herrmann Darryl A. Owens Jack Baggette Joslynn Jones Jeff Pinckney Michael Bostwick Carl Joye Richard T. Poore Jr. Jim Crower Joe Lee Nick Russell Jr. Joe DeVito Carol Lindsay John Smunk John W. Ellerbe Thomas Michaels Jr. Mark Sutton Eric J. Erickson Thomas E. Wilson III

Town Manager Van Willis

Planning Administrator Linda Bridges

Plan Prepared by

With Assistance from Applied Technology & Management, Inc. (ATM)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

INTRODUCTION 23

WALKABILITY 33

TRANSPORTATION 41

LAND USE 55

NATURAL RESOURCES 77

CULTURAL RESOURCES 93

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 105

COMMUNITY FACILITIES 115

HOUSING 125

PRIORITY INVESTMENT 133

POPULATION 137

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CONTEXT

Port Royal has a long and rich history. Established in 1562, the Town has evolved from its roots as a major port into a quaint village which retains its strong maritime connection. In its commitment to maintaining the characteristics that define the community, Port Royal recognizes the importance of planning and seeking a common vision. This plan does not begin from scratch, but instead serves to build upon many of the existing plans and documents already developed for Port Royal and the region. The vision for the village core was memorialized in the 1995 Master Plan. Since this time, other planning initiatives have occurred for other areas in the town, including Shell Point, Robert Smalls Parkway, and the Casablanca neighborhood. The Northern Beaufort Regional Plan provides a context for how Port Royal fits into the greater region.

The community seems to now be at a bit of a crossroads. Public input receivedg durin this process confirms the love of the Old Village – people want to visit the mom and pop stores, stroll along the sidewalks, enjoy vibrant street life, and regain the connection to the waterfront through the redevelopment of the Port property. The community sees the potential to strengthen the Village as a regional destination and the heart of Port Royal. The public has also expressed a desire to see the pedestrian‐ oriented characteristics of the Village extend outside of this area to all of Port Royal…that a welcoming, walkable community would be a trademark of the whole Town. Yet there is a bit of a dichotomy as well. We may want these things, but not always the development or commitment needed to support it. Successful retail and businesses, life on the streets, a sense of community… these things rely on a common element – people; and more specifically, a consistent base of people who can conveniently and safely walk to their destination. This also means they have a destination to walk to and that the journey to get there is enjoyable. So how do we get there?

THE PLAN

The comprehensive plan serves as the go to resource for day‐to‐day decision making as well as long‐range planning in how to achieve the community’s vision and goals. This document was prepared according to the requirements set forth in the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994. These requirements outline nine basic elements that must be addressed in the comprehensive plan: population, economic development, natural resources, cultural resources,

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

community facilities, housing, land use, transportation, and priority investment. Each element is addressed as a chapter in this plan. While this approach allows the reader to understand the existing conditions, needs and goals, and implementation strategies for each major topic, it can be more difficult to appreciate the significant overlap that exists between these community elements.

In thinking about the vision for the community, most people will tend to think about the community as a whole, rather than individually by topics as outlined in the plan. Therefore, the establishment of community principles serves as an umbrella for the community goals and strategies, recognizing the interrelationship between the various elements of the comprehensive plan and providing general guidance and continuity. Goals and strategies for each element are presented for each element in the plan. In the following section, these goals and strategies are organized according to the primary community principle they support. The icons to the left relate to the comprehensive plan element from which the goal or strategy originally appears.

Transportation Cultural Resources Economic Development

Land Use Community Facilities Priority Investment Natural Resources Housing Population

The strategies identified to achieve the stated goals include various approaches, including plans, policies, programs, action items, regulatory approaches, or other types of strategies. Within the following summary, each strategy is identified according to one or more of these approaches, as appropriate.

From Planning to Action: The Implementation Committee The Joint Municipal Planning Commission will serve as the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee, keeping the recommendations of the plan at the forefront of day‐to‐day and long‐term decision‐making for community leaders. In order to track progress and maintain the integrity of the plan, the Joint Municipal Planning Commission will prepare an Annual Report of Accomplishments to monitor implementation of the plan. This report will be forwarded to the Port Royal Town Council and made available to the public to keep the community informed and engaged in the planning process.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Community Principle: The Public Realm

Our sense of community is largely defined through the quality of the public realm. The streets, the water, and our natural resources are owned by the community and should be respected as such. The public realm and the adjacent development is an outward reflection of our community character, pride, and sense of place.

Goals

Our streets will reflect our community character through a complete street design which considers the adjacent land uses and scale.

Strategies

Other Plan Policy Program Action Regulatory

Develop a master plan and corresponding regulations to improve the aesthetics and functionality X of Ribaut Road, including provisions for increased pedestrian safety. This master plan should also continue to promote the spatial rejoining of Port Royal created by Ribaut Road.

Ensure that any roadways that are accepted by the Town for ownership or maintenance meet X certain criteria in addition to the minimum engineering standards already required. Any streets or roadways accepted by the Town should meet at least the following standards; increase street connectivity for both vehicles and pedestrians, be beneficial to the entire community and meet a greater public purpose.

Create a gateway into the Old Village at Ribaut Road and Paris West as expressed through X landscape, hardscape (signs, etc), and surrounding development.

Encourage local homeowner participation the maintenance and preservation of existing housing X stock.  Use the Historical Port Royal Foundation as a facilitator in encouraging restoration/ preservation of properties.  Establish incentives and guidelines for potential renovation of older structures.

Establish a Main Street type program to foster economic development in the Old Village, X especially along Paris Avenue.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Community Principle: A Place for People

Streets are for people, not just cars, and should be designed appropriate to their context. Dominance of the automobile should be reduced. Our transportation network will be highly interconnected to maximize mobility and choice.

Goals

Our transportation system will provide safe and efficient facilities for all users, including cars, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Cars will be accommodated without driving the design of our community or dominating the landscape.

Strategies

Other Plan Policy Program Action Regulatory

Establish parking maximums as well as minimums. Parking maximums limit the number of parking X spaces which can be provided in order to avoid large, oversized parking lots which typically remain unused.

Establish a complete streets design manual for Port Royal. X

Work collaboratively with Beaufort County and SCDOT on roadway improvements to ensure that x X roadway improvements respect and minimize negative impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. All state and county projects should complement the goals and objectives articulated in the Port Royal Comprehensive Plan. In order to ensure consistency, all transportation improvement projects should be reviewed by the Planning Commission. This review should begin early in the process, prior to the commencement of preliminary engineering.

Continue with streetscape improvements throughout the Town, especially along major roadways X such as Paris Avenue, Ribaut Road and Robert Smalls Parkway.

Encourage the use and ownership of golf carts. X

Develop a comprehensive bike and pedestrian plan to inventory existing facilities and identify new X facilities needed.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Community Principle: Commitment to Quality Development

Quality and character are inextricably linked. Our buildings and development will strive for quality, for permanence over short‐ lived. Quality design, materials, and construction will not be sacrificed in the name of affordability, as durability and efficiency produce affordability.

Goals

Port Royal will continue to build upon its strong planning tradition in placing a high priority on the quality of the built environment.

Port Royal will promote compatible infill and redevelopment.

Strategies

Other Plan Policy Program Action Regulatory

Identify infill and redevelopment priority areas. Conduct an infill parcel inventory in the identified XX priority areas.  Establish GIS “screening” criteria to identify possible infill areas or parcels. Consider such factors as zoning, size of parcels, infrastructure, land use, and constraints to development such as wetlands.  For redevelopment, look at such factors as ratio of assessed value of improvements to land value, age of structure, etc.  Conduct field surveys to supplement GIS screening – condition of structures, surrounding land use patterns.

Identify impediments to infill development and develop strategies to overcome the impediments. XX

Work with established neighborhoods to develop neighborhood plans and/or guidelines for X renovations, redevelopment, and new construction. Carefully weigh goals to avoid the unintended consequence of displacing poorer residents.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Where feasible, streamline the permitting process. In order to attract more business X development, consider “pre‐permit” non‐retail commercially zoned properties, similar to the process established in the Beaufort Commerce Park. This involves the local jurisdiction proactively analyzing the properties, assessing site conditions, determining the location of natural resources, determining appropriate locations for buffers, etc. for the purpose of completing portions of the development permitting process for the applicants.

Community Principle: The Importance of Urban Form

Land development regulations should respect a flexible mix of land uses, allowing the market to operate naturally over time. Regulations should focus on fundamental design issues, such as the proper placement of buildings on their sites. The position and proportion of the building in relation to the public space is fare mor important than the uses inside it or the style of its architecture.

Goals

We will strive to maintain our unique, quaint coastal character while also accommodating new growth and development to sustain our community.

Affordable housing will be attractive, well‐maintained, and integrated into the community.

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulatory Other

Update Port Royal’s zoning regulations to a form‐based code in order to properly consider the X importance of community design and character, building placement and proportions, and the impact of private development on the public realm. (A form‐based code is a method of regulating development to achieve a specific urban form. Form‐based codes create a predictable public realm primarily by controlling physical form, with a lesser focus on land use.) - 6 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Continue implementation of the Shell Point master plan in coordination with Beaufort County. X

Foster compatible uses. Varying land uses should be primarily accommodated through XX appropriate design. Buffers should be strategically used where needed, but not serve as an impediment to walkability.

Promote the development of commercial “nodes” in areas outside of the Traditional Town X X Overlay District to prevent sprawling development patterns and to minimize driving.

Site all civic projects in appropriate urban locations and ensure compatibility with the principles of X the Master Plan.

Maximize the retention of existing native vegetation over the practice of clearing and replanting. XX The types and arrangement of vegetation should correspond with the character. Urban areas should feature more regular spaces of trees and vegetation, whereas rural areas should maintain a more natural and organic look.

Work to move existing utilities underground; require new utilities to be placed underground. XX

Provide more flexibility in commercial zoning districts to permit smaller non‐retail commercial X uses such as contractor’s offices, small assembly facilities, and small light industrial operations that do not adversely impact surrounding retail uses.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Community Principle: A Town of the Water

Connection to the surrounding natural environment should be maximized, with public access to the waterfronts and clear vistas to the marshes. We will minimize impacts to these important resources through proper stormwater management and land development practices.

Goals

Port Royal will re‐establish and strengthen its physical, social, and psychological connection with the water. The water’s edge will be clearly defined as an important component of the public realm.

Port Royal will be protected by baseline standards for natural resources including salt marshes, marsh islands, coastal waters, and marine resources; trees, forests, and wildlife habitats; beaches and dunes; and open space preservation through the adoption of planning policies and regulations.

Port Royal will embrace and showcase its rich history and maritime roots.

Port Royal will seek to increase the economic development activities related to the water, waterfront activities, and our maritime history.

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulatory Other

Strengthen Port Royal’s connection to the Intracoastal Waterway. Ensure public slips are provided X in the port redevelopment marina to encourage ICW travel to stop in Port Royal.

Redevelopment of the port property is a keystone in the future success of the Old Village. As XX such, this redevelopment should reflect the unique character of Port Royal while serving as an anchor to draw people into the Old Village.

Improve the quality and attractiveness of The Sands, including rehabilitation of the beach. X

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Establish the vistas at the terminus of numbered streets in the Old Village as pocket parks. X

Coordinate with Beaufort County to upgrade existing boat facilities as outlined in the X SCDHEC/OCRM South Carolina Five Coastal County Boat Ramp Study.

Require development adjacent to the marsh and/or water to respect the public realm through the X establishment of a public right‐of‐way adjacent to the resource. The intent of this strategy is to allow the public visual access and enjoyment to these public natural resources. This is especially important in major redevelopments, such as the port property and potential redevelopment of the naval hospital.

Develop and implement a public education campaign to help prevent and mitigate nonpoint X source pollution, as much of this type of pollution comes from private homes. Develop and adopt subdivision regulations and design standards minimizing the amount of X impervious surfaces and modifying current right of way requirements.

Utilize zoning to regulate recreational and occupational uses of the rivers that protects natural X resources from pollution and inappropriate use.

Address the CIP projects identified in the 2005 Drainage Study: X  South Paris Avenue, 9th and 10th Street Drainage System Improvements  Casablanca Area Drainage System Improvements  Columbia Avenue, Madrid Avenue, and 14th Street Drainage System Improvements  12th Street Culvert Rehabilitation  Indigo Woods Court Culvert Rehabilitation

Continue to support the Low Country Estuarium through promotion and financial support. Assist X in the promotion of the capital campaign to construct the new facility.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Encourage the development of an interactive historical museum, which would include highlighting X the shrimping industry and Port Royal’s maritime history. This could potentially be developed in conjunction with the new Lowcountry Estuarium.

Reduce the impacts of septic tanks. Implement a septic tank maintenance program to encourage XX and/or require homeowners to have septic tanks inspected and maintained on a period basis.

Coordinate with the Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority to expand wastewater services X into areas which cannot adequately support septic tank use.

Improve stormwater management along streets/intersections which commonly flood. X

Maintain continuing use of the existing shrimping docks. X

Community Principle: An Authentic Community

Our authentic community embraces diversity in many ways, including socioeconomic, ethnic, housing, and cultures. We do not seek to be an exclusive enclave, but instead a welcoming community of people who share a common love for Port Royal.

Goals

Port Royal includes many diverse neighborhoods with their own character, but we recognize that we are all part of a larger community.

We will strive to efficiently provide community facilities and services to meet the needs of all Port Royal residents.

We will support private initiatives which serve community needs and improve the quality of life in Port Royal.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Port Royal will foster and encourage the continued development of the arts community.

Port Royal will have a mix of diverse housing options available to provide quality housing for a diverse socio‐economic spectrum.

Infill development with housing types appropriate for the neighborhood will help stabilize older neighborhoods and strengthen community.

Port Royal will participate in addressing affordable and workforce housing needs on a regional basis through a multi‐ jurisdictional approach.

Port Royal will be attractive for a diverse population of retirees, young families, and professionals in order to have a stable

population mix and increase prosperity.

Strategies

Other Plan Policy Program Action Regulatory

Educate the public about the annexation process and how to evaluate when annexation is X appropriate. Land located inside the Port Royal Growth Boundary is anticipated to ultimately annex into the Town with a demonstration that adequate public facilities are available or will be available at the time of development and that negative impacts of development will be mitigated. However, annexation is currently a largely misunderstood issue which needs to be better understood by the public.

Continue to present and support town concert series, cultural events, and festivals. X

Support the Historic Port Royal Foundation (HPRF) with projects and capital improvements. X

Encourage citizens to restore and preserve historic sites and properties by coordinating with local X historic foundations.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Assess the cultural resources, such as oral history and the physical, built environment, and x develop a plan to protect them.

Should the Naval Hospital site be redeveloped, the existing hospital building should remain and be XX redeveloped to retain its landmark significance.

Improve public access to the Emancipation Proclamation site. X

Expand and upgrade the Shell Point county park, including increasing connectivity to surrounding X areas. Add the adjacent church property to expand the park.

Establish a performance arts venue. X

Establish a dog park with facilities and supplies for waste disposal. X

Work to prevent the negative impacts of gentrification from disproportionately affecting the low XX to moderate income residents of Port Royal.  Explore property tax controls which would ensure that residents who wish to remain in their homes are able to do so.  Encourage the renovation and reuse of abandoned and dilapidated properties within the Town.  Encourage lease‐options to increase affordability.

Pass a mandatory inclusionary zoning ordinance which would require new residential X development to address the provision of affordable dwelling units. The inclusionary zoning policy should include provisions for, on a case by case basis, a housing fee in lieu of, off‐site inclusionary units, land donation, and incentives such as density bonuses that are greater than the Inclusionary Zoning set aside so that the builder can reap the benefit of some bonus market‐rate units.

Hold long‐range meetings of the Planning Commission to advance the goals of the comprehensive X plan and monitor progress. - 12 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory While we cannot control the population of those who chose to live in Port Royal, we can enact X

strategies which provide the characteristics desirable to this mix, including high quality schools, attractive jobs, and a good quality of life.

Community Principle: The Three E’s: Environment, Economy, Equity

As a community which has stood the test of time, we will continue to sustain our community and resources:  Environment – The built environment will be designed, built, and maintained to minimize impacts on the natural environment.  Economy – Our government services will be fiscally responsible and maximize return on investment. We will support entrepreneurial ventures which strengthen our local economy.  Equity – A diverse range of household incomes should be encouraged with dignified forms of both affordable and market‐rate housing.

Goals

We recognize that sustainable development must consider environmental stewardship, social equity, and fiscal responsibility.

Through appropriate stewardship of the land, the Town of Port Royal will preserve and enhance its natural beauty, environmental quality, and natural resources, ensuring harmony between the natural and manmade environment.

An integrated ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the region will be promoted regionally, and in particular the ability of

indigenous population groups to remain a contributing part of the region and benefit from the opportunities that come from growth will be protected.

Port Royal will support the growth and development of quality jobs and businesses in the community.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Implement a property maintenance campaign to encourage/require property owners to maintain X their property.

Create incentives to encourage higher density development in those areas where it is desired, as X well as protecting naturally sensitive areas.

Adopt a comprehensive lighting ordinance to require cutoff fixtures and similar strategies to X minimize light pollution.

Make the protection of water quality a priority by implementing the recommendations of the X Beaufort County Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). In particular:  BMP’s: Require all developments to adhere to the Beaufort County Best Management Practices (BMP’s) Manual.  Adopt baseline standards for critical line setbacks and natural vegetative buffers: Establish buffer requirements along the marsh and state waters to mitigate the impacts of nonpoint source pollution. Recognize that the development of boardwalks, riverwalks, etc. along the water’s edge may be appropriate within the village core in order to maximize connectivity to the water and create a vibrant waterfront community. Additional guidelines should be met to relieve the buffer requirements. Stormwater management must be designed to compensate for the reduction or elimination of the natural vegetative buffer and increase in the amount of impervious surfaces.  Develop and adopt baseline standards for the protection of freshwater wetlands.

Recognize and protect wetlands for their capacity to filter pollutants and control flooding and XX erosion. Wetland protection requirements for planned communities in the Shell Point Overlay District currently apply and should be established uniformly throughout the Town. This should include policies for the management of wetlands smaller than one acre. These wetlands are not adequately protected under current state and federal policies and many rare species use only these small wetlands as habitats.

Continue working with Beaufort County to utilize the “Greenprint” process for targeting the X acquisition of future preserved lands. Actively participate in Beaufort County’s Rural and Critical - 14 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory Lands Acquisition Program by nominating appropriate land within the Town limits for purchase and preservation through the program.

Encourage conservation and protection of native birds, wildlife and habitats. x  Establish contact and network with conservation organizations at the local, state and federal level to assist in identifying, preserving, and managing the Town’s natural resources.  Work with Beaufort County Open Land Trust and other conservation organizations to acquire, managed an preserve open space and scenic vistas.  Evaluate the Town’s open space development standards to more accurately reflect its urban context.  Require future land development practices to be compatible with the existing topography, vegetation, and scenic vistas.

Foster responsible environmental stewardship in both public and private enterprise and XX endeavors.  Review existing land and water uses for pollution and habitat degradation. Revise regulations as necessary.  Encourage and develop incentives for conservation efforts and sound environmental management by both residents and businesses.  Promote economic development compatible with adjacent land uses and the natural environment.  Encourage energy consciousness and conservation among the Port Royal residents, businesses, property owners and developers.  Encourage all new construction to incorporate “green” building techniques and to pursue certification such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.  Strengthen and expand the Town’s recycling program.  Explore the possibility of instituting a composting program throughout the Town.

Consider an open space land bank where fees are collected in lieu of open space to apply to the X purchase and preservation of larger or more critical lands. - 15 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Evaluate incentives to encourage infill development and/or redevelopment on lots or properties X already served by water and sewer.

Encourage the adaptive reuse of abandoned buildings as an alternative to new construction. X

Inventory the existing supply of appropriately zoned land and vacant non‐residential structures X available for non‐retail commercial development within the Town of Port Royal and assess the present opportunities they provide for competitive economic development. Make this inventory and assessment available to local and regional agencies involved in promoting economic development.

Encourage industries that support sustainable practices by promoting renewable energy and X attracting or growing value‐added industries that support using locally available resources such as agricultural or seafood products.

Consider utilizing high performance green building standards through the Leadership in X Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) through the US Green Building Council in all future civic projects to conserve energy and set a precedent of conservation in the Lowcountry.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Regional Cooperation

Although regional cooperation is a high priority for the Town of Port Royal, it is not articulated as a community principle due to the multi‐jurisdictional agreement needed for true regional cooperation to occur.

Goals

The Town of Port Royal will coordinate growth with the City of Beaufort and Beaufort County, especially around the current and future edges of the communities.

Port Royal will support the vision for Northern Beaufort County to maintain a distinct regional form of compact urban and suburban development surrounded by rural development for the purpose of reinforcing the valuable sense of unique and high quality places within the region.

Port Royal will participate with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County in developing methods of creating and permanently preserving a regional open space system.

Adequate and timely regional infrastructure and public facilities will be provided in a fair and equitable manner through a cooperative process in which all units of local government participate and act in the spirit of partnership.

A strong, vibrant, and healthy economy will be achieved through a successful economic development program in order to ensuree th long term success and viability of the Northern Beaufort County region.

Port Royal will work collaboratively with Beaufort County and other neighboring jurisdictions.

Port Royal will coordinate with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County to maintain a fiscally sustainable system of funding regional capital infrastructure, operating, and maintenance needs.

Port Royal will continue to participate in the Northern Beaufort County regional planning effort to implement the regional plan.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Support regional transportation planning efforts, including mass transit and water‐borne ferry X service between the islands.

Work with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County to explore and evaluate a range of X transportation improvements, including road capacity improvements, transit, pedestrian and bicycle connections, enhanced access management, and operational improvements. It is important to recognize that these approaches should be explored and evaluated, and that flexibility is needed to determine the best specific solutions based upon analysis of changing conditions.  Transit and Travel Demand Management –A transit route could reduce the trips made across the key Woods Memorial Bridge and SC 802 river crossings. A circulator between these areas would need to operate with frequent service/short headways to be effective in attracting riders to switch modes from automobile use. A program to provide an organized approach to teleworking, flexible work hours, carpool matching, and vanpool services is recommended for the Downtown Beaufort and Port Royal areas. A second program to focus on U.S. Marine Air Station carpooling is also recommended. The transit and travel demand management strategies will require more detailed study to determine the anticipated level of benefits and feasibility.  Pedestrian and Bicycle Connections – Providing local pedestrian and bicycle connections where commercial areas are present near residential communities could reduce trip making along adjacent arterials.  Access Management – Access management along major corridors is recommended to maximize the capacity available to move through traffic. Implementation of the Robert Smalls Parkway plan and associated ordinance is key for this corridor.  Work collaboratively with Beaufort County and the jurisdictions within Beaufort County to seek X X integrated solutions to complex transportation issues. More specifically, work to implement the regional transportation plan integrating road improvements, bicycle facilities, pedestrian facilities, and transit improvements as developed for the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. 

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

The Northern Beaufort Regional Plan provides recommendations for the following transportation XX improvements, at least a portion of which are located within Port Royal.  Port Royal to Yemassee Trail ‐ Implementation of a bike corridor along the abandoned railroad corridor west of US 21 is recommended to provide access to an alternative transportation mode for those along the US 21 corridor. This corridor would provide a trail that is separated from automobile traffic, enhancing safety for all users over on‐ street bike lanes or “share the road” designations.  US 21 to SC 170 – Western Bypass (Planning, feasibility analysis, and right‐of‐ way for a 2 lane road with turn lanes and bicycle lanes) – This connection will provide a link from the US 21 corridor to the SC 170 and SC 802 corridors. This connection has the potential to relieve US 21 for traffic traveling to/from SC 170, as well as serving some traffic along US 21 north of Beaufort that is destined for Port Royal, Lady’s Island, or St. Helena Island. This project will provide the planning and analysis needed for consideration of this alternative for application beyond year 2025.

Work together with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County to create and maintain an X improved regional growth tracking system, including a land demand and land use forecasting model integrated with other regional models (such as the transportation model) that can be used by all entities for planning purposes.

Work with other local governments in Northern Beaufort County to establish a common definition X and baseline standards for open space. This would address such concerns as whether wetlands can count towards required open space, whether stormwater detention ponds could be placed within open space, and to what degree does open space serve recreation needs vs. preservation needs.

Participate in the Beaufort County Affordable Housing Consortium and/or other partners to work X collaboratively with the Beaufort Housing Authority to address affordable housing needs in the region. Investigate innovative approaches in mixed‐use, mixed‐finance developments to meet affordable housing needs without segregating those in need of assistance.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Work jointly with other local governments to: XX  Identify federal and state funding streams to address the housing needs throughout the county. In addition to applying for such funds directly, work with nonprofit organizations such as the Economic Opportunity Commission, Habitat for Humanity, the Lowcountry Community Development Corporation of Hilton Head dan other agencies to maximize the utilization of funds to increase housing opportunities.  Make home repair and replacement of substandard housing a housing priority to further the recommendations outlined in the 2004 Workforce Needs Assessment. In order to maximize the amount of grant funds available for housing rehabilitation, continue to provide local matching funds to the Lowcountry Regional Home Consortium (comprised of Beaufort, Colleton, Jasper and Hampton Counties), which is eligible to receive Home Investment Partnership Funds (HOME) and American Dream Down Payment Assistance Funds from HUD. The funds can be used to increase the affordable housing stock by providingn dow payment assistance to eligible first time homebuyers; sustaining homes through home repair; assisting with the development of new homeowner and rental units; providing assistance for infrastructure; and encouraging involvement of community based non‐profit homeownership initiatives.

Work with other neighboring jurisdictions to facilitate a higher level of coordination with the X Technical College of the Lowcountry and the University of South Carolina Beaufort to establish research and development facilities to provide workforce development and stimulate high‐tech entrepreneurial activities in the region.

Work with neighboring jurisdictions in Beaufort County to adopt Regional Level of Service (LOS) X X Standards: In order to establish a foundation for coordinating transportation and parks planning across the region, each of the Participating Local Governments will adopt the same level of service standard for these facilities, that is consistent and coordinated with the LOS adopted by the other Participating Local Governments.

Identify Existing Deficiencies and Future Capital Improvements Needs: Using the agreed upon LOS XX standards, the Participating Local Governments will then work cooperatively to identify needed capital projects, determine their costs and identify revenue sources to fund the projects.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Other Action Regulatory

Work Cooperatively with the School District: While the School District has the responsibility to X plan and provide funding for its capital needs, a framework needs to be established where the Participating Local Governments can work cooperatively with the School District and support its efforts to plan for the future deficiencies and future capital improvement needs for public schools.

Develop an Overall Funding Strategy: The following factors should guide the selection of revenue XX sources to address the capital and operating funding gap: • Revenue Potential: Whether the tool can generate substantial sums of monies to fund capital infrastructure; • Geographic Application: Whether the tool can be applied across the region; • Legislative Authorization: Whether the tool requires legislative authorization; • Technical/Administrative Ease: The ease of administering the tool; and • Public Acceptability: How citizens will accept the tool.

Focus First on Available Funding Tools: In order to take immediate action on addressing capital X funding needs, it is important to concentrate first on revenue sources that the State of South Carolina enables local governments to use to fund capital improvements. These include property taxes, local sales, impact fees, and taxes.

Consider Funding Tools that Require Changes in State Legislation: If the available funding tools are X not adequate to address the funding gap, particularly the operating cost gap, it may be necessary to lobby the state to initiate legislation that would enable new funding sources.

Explore New Institutional Arrangements: Where appropriate, new institutional arrangements to X facilitate multi‐jurisdictional cooperation on funding issues should be explored.

Continue to maintain a good relationship and foster coordination and planning with Parris Island. X

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan

INTRODUCTION

THE PROCESS

This plan was developed through the hard work and dedication of the citizens and staff of the Town of Port Royal. The process was guided by a twenty‐member steering committee and their input and feedback was invaluable to the process. This group met on a regular basis for approximately eight months. In addition, countless members of the community provided additional input through community surveys, feedback and a public workshop. The comprehensive plan is owned by the people of Port Royal and the guidance of all who participated is greatly appreciated.

THE PLAN

The comprehensive plan serves as the go to resource for day‐to‐day decision making as well as long‐range planning in how to achieve the community’s vision and goals. This document was prepared according to the requirements set forth in the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994. These requirements outline nine basic elements that must be addressed in the comprehensive plan: population, economic development, natural resources, cultural resources, community facilities, housing, land use, transportation, and priority investment. Each element is addressed as a chapter in this plan. While this approach allows the reader to understand the existing conditions, needs and goals, and implementation strategies for each major topic, it can be more difficult to appreciate the significant overlap that exists between these community elements.

In thinking about the vision for the community, most people will tend to think about the community as a whole, rather than individually by topics as outlined in the plan. Therefore, the establishment of community principles serves as an umbrella for the community goals and strategies, recognizing the interrelationship between the various elements of the comprehensive plan and providing general guidance and continuity.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Introduction

Community Principles

The Public Realm Our sense of community is largely defined through the quality of the public realm. The streets, the water, and our natural resources are owned by the community and should be respected as such. The public realm and the adjacent development is an outward reflection of our community character, pride, and sense of place. A Place for People Streets are for people, not just cars, and should be designed appropriate to their context. Dominance of the automobile should be reduced. Our transportation network will be highly interconnected to maximize mobility and choice. Commitment to Quality Development Quality and character are inextricably linked. Our buildings and development will strive for quality, for permanence over short‐lived. Quality design, materials, and construction will not be sacrificed in the name of affordability, as durability and efficiency produce affordability. The Importance of Urban Form Land development regulations should respect a flexible mix of land uses, allowing the market to operate naturally over time. Regulations should focus on fundamental design issues, such as the proper placement of buildings on their sites. The position and proportion of the building in relation to the public space is fare mor important than the uses inside it or the style of its architecture. A Town of the Water Connection to the surrounding natural environment should be maximized, with public access to the waterfronts and clear vistas to the marshes. We will minimize impacts to these important resources through proper stormwater management and land development practices. An Authentic Community Our authentic community embraces diversity in many ways, including socioeconomic, ethnic, housing, and cultures. We do not seek to be an exclusive enclave, but instead a welcoming community of people who share a common love for Port Royal. The Three E’s: Environment, Economy, Equity As a community which has stood the test of time, we will continue to sustain our community and resources:  Environment – The built environment will be designed, built, and maintained to minimize impacts on the natural environment.  Economy – Our government services will be fiscally responsible and maximize return on investment. We will support entrepreneurial ventures which strengthen our local economy.  Equity – A diverse range of household incomes should be encouraged with dignified forms of both affordable and market‐rate housing.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Introduction

EXISTING PLANS: AN OVERVIEW

This plan partially serves as a culmination of past planning efforts, bringing those efforts together in one document. But it does more than that too. This plan seeks to unify the Town in a common vision while recognizing the diversity that exists. The Comprehensive Plan serves as the foundation for implementing the vision of Port Royal. Dispersed throughout this plan, the reader will find reference to many other important planning documents, including:  Port Royal Master Plan (1995)  Shell Point Regional Plan (2000)  Port Royal Comprehensive Plan (2004)  Northern Beaufort County Regional Plan (2007) A brief summary of each of these plans is provided below. In evaluating all of these plans, coupled with the public input received, there are clearly more elements of commonality than points of disparity. The comprehensive plan therefore builds upon these common themes and establishes a set of community principles, articulated below. More specific goalsd an strategies located in the detail of the plan reflect how these principles may manifest differently, yet provide a common language for the future of Port Royal as a whole.

MASTER PLAN FOR PORT ROYAL (1995)

The Master Plan for Port Royal is a visualization of what the Town should physically become as it grows and changes.

Basic Ideas

 The traditional neighborhood structure of the public realm should be reinforced with each new building and each preservation effort;  The mix of land uses should be primarily market‐driven, and convenient distribution of daily needs within walking distance should be fostered;  Streets are for people, not just cars, and dependence on and dominance of the automobile should be reduced;  A diverse range of household incomes should be encouraged with dignified forms of both affordable and market‐rate housing;  The two sides of the Town, divided by Ribaut Road, should be spatially and psychologically rejoined; and  Connection to the surrounding natural environment should be maximized, with public access to the waterfronts and clear vistas to the marshes.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Introduction

Street & Neighborhood Design Principles  Streets are public spaces. Pedestrians' needs shall have priority over those of motorists. Cars should be optional here, not a prerequisite to survival.  Streets must be safe: Buildings should create public spaces that are clearly watched over. Traffic behavior should be "calmed" through design.  Streets must be shaded and beautiful: The tree canopy over the streets should be restored where absent, using native trees with regular spacing.  Streets are multipurpose: a place to drive, yes, but also perhaps a place to shop or sell, park, stroll or jog, greet friends, and hold a parade.  Streets should form an interconnected, rational network providing several convenient routes to each destination. Blocks should be small.  Buildings should be placed along their streets consistently to create harmony.  There should be a clear edge between the public and private spaces. Clearly defined private outdoor spaces should be associated with each dwelling.  Lots should have clear fronts and backs. Service areas should be screened. Driveways and garages should be placed to the side or rear, not in front.  Special sites should be reserved for civic buildings, as symbols of community permanence and pride. The best sites are geometrically formal, such as the end of a street vista or anchoring a public square.  Parking is a normal part of public infrastructure.

Policy Principles

 Physical reconditioning of these neighborhoods is not a luxury, it is a necessary investment. A sustained financial commitment to realizing the plan must be made.  Land development regulations should respect a flexible mix of land uses, allowing the market to operate naturally over time. Regulations shall focus instead on fundamental design issues, such as the proper placement of buildings on their sites.  There should be a range of dwellings of various sizes and types to own or rent.

Architectural Design Principles

 Buildings should be designed for the Low Country climate, incorporating time‐tested elements that conserve energy and extend durability. Examples: metal roofs, porches, & raised foundations.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Introduction

 Houses should have porches to encourage contact with the neighbors.  Shopfront buildings should provide awnings, canopies, or arcades and colonnades to protect pedestrians from sudden storms and the hot sun.  The position and proportion of the building in relation to the public space is far more important than the uses inside it or the style of its architecture.

Shell Point Regional Plan (2000)

The purpose of the Shell Point Plan is to serve as a policy document for the development of the Shell Point Community. As a policy document appended to the Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan and the Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan, the Shell Point Regional Plan is to be used to guide zoning, subdivision, facilities funding, design and community development decisions for both governing bodies.

Future Land Use

Goal: To guide future growth in the Shell Point Community to be consistent with the goals of the Port Royal and Beaufort County Comprehensive Plans while protecting the existing residential areas from the adverse impacts of incompatible land uses.

Parks, Natural Resources, and Wetlands

Goal: To provide for recreational, aesthetic and fitness opportunities for Shell Point Area residents by enhancing the current park facilities and improving connections between residential neighborhoods and existing parks.

Goal: To encourage the preservation of sensitive ecological areas and marsh access through careful site plan review and selective public purchases.

Transportation

Goal: To promote safe and convenient vehicular travel on neighborhood roads and along state highways while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of their connection with the community.

Economic Development and Community Enhancement

Goal: To provide for the economic development of marginalized commercial properties by offering the greatest amount of site plan flexibility, providing for shared parking, and making public sector investments that optimize private sector opportunities.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Introduction

Port Royal Comprehensive Plan (2004)

The previous comprehensive plan, adopted in 2004, was developed under the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Action of 1994, just as this current plan is. Although this plan serves as a complete rewrite of the 2004 comprehensive plan, ideas presented in the 2004 plan and relevant goals and strategies not yet completed are again reflected in this plan. Bringing forward relevant information from the previous comprehensive plan provides continuity for the community and also recognizes and builds upon previous planning efforts.

A New Vision for the Port (2004)

A master plan for the redevelopment of the Port of Port Royal was commissioned in 2004 as a result of the closure of this state port facility. The master plan includes approximately 40 acre of prime waterfront property and built upon the principles articulated in the 1995 Master Plan for Port Royal, including:

 Extend Town Character to Water’s Edge  Circulation Patterns & View Corridors  Waterfront Boardwalk & Promenade  Public Amenities & Open Space  Land Use Distribution by Zone

The port redevelopment plan identifies three primary areas – a town center at the southern end of Paris Avenue; a marina village to the northwest; and a bluff neighborhood connecting up to Ribaut Road. The plan also includes an open space plan with a waterfront promenade, town square, neighborhood greens, and a boardwalk/bike trail. Parking is to be accommodated through a combination of on‐street parallel, on‐street angled, dan surface parking.

Town Center

Urban Design Principles:

 Moderate Density Mixed‐Use  Pedestrian‐Friendly Street Network Extends Existing Streets to Waterfront  Town Square & Plazas for Outdoor Public Activity - 28 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Introduction

 Lanes & Alleys Allow Parking and Service to Take Place at Rear of Lots  Streetscape Enhanced by Street Trees and Storefront Activity  On‐Street Parallel and Diagonal Parking  Pedestrian Promenade Provides Public Access to the Waterfront

Marina Village

 2‐3 story height limit  Mixed use with office, apartments/condos above ‐ Retail, Restaurant, Cafe, Bookstore, Coffee Shop, Artist Gallery/Showroom  Marina‐oriented use ‐ Ships Chandlery, Marina Store, Laundromat  Condo/rental  Live/work  Townhome  Single‐family cottages and estates  Inn/Bed & Breakfast  Shrimping/Seafood Operations ‐ Office, Market, Warehouse/Storage/Shipping, etc.  Church

Bluff Neighborhood

 2‐story height limit (3 story including dormers)  Townhome  Single‐family cottages, villas and estates  Neighborhood service/retail, office – Corner store, etc.

Northern Beaufort Regional Plan (2007)

The Northern Beaufort County Regional Plan represents agreement reached by Beaufort County, the City of Beaufort, the Town of Port Royal, and the Town of Yemassee as to how the region will grow and develop. The plan begins with a series of common regional goals that serve as the foundation onh whic the plan is built. The plan delineates a future growth boundary that focuses new growth in well‐defined areas, preserving over 60% of the land area for rural related uses. The plan includes a future land use

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Introduction

plan that creates a framework within which each community will continue to plan their own futures within a regional vision. It includes a transportation planning strategy that will enable effective regional transportation planning in a changing and unpredictable environment. It addresses the fiscal aspects of planning so that allocating regional costs of growth can be prepared for. It includes improved baseline environmental standards and other planning initiatives. Finally, it sets the stage for continued oversight of the implementation of the plan through intergovernmental action.

Coordinated Growth

Common Goal 1: The City of Beaufort, the Town of Port Royal, the Town of Yemassee, and Beaufort County will coordinate growth in Northern Beaufort County, especially around the current and future edges of the communities.

Timing and Adequacy of Infrastructure and Public Facilities

Common Goal 2: Adequate and timely regional infrastructure and public facilities will be provided in a fair and equitable manner through a cooperative process in which all units of local government participate and act in the spirit of partnership.

Economic Health and Diversity

Common Goal 3: A strong, vibrant, and healthy economy will be achieved through a successful economic development program in order to ensure the long term success and viability of the Northern Beaufort County region.

Fiscal Sustainability

Common Goal 4: Northern Beaufort County will maintain a fiscally sustainable system of funding regional capital infrastructure, operating, and maintenance needs.

Consistency of Environmental Standards

Common Goal 5: Northern Beaufort County will be protected by baseline standards for natural resources including salt marshes, marsh islands, coastal waters, and marine resources; trees, forests, and wildlife habitats; beaches and dunes; and open space preservation that each jurisdiction adopts as part of their planning policies and regulations.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Introduction

Quality and Form of Development

Common Goal 6: Northern Beaufort County will maintain a distinct regional form of compact urban and suburban development surrounded by rural development for the purpose of reinforcing the valuable sense of unique and high quality places within the region.

Open Space Preservation

Common Goal 7: Methods of creating and permanently preserving a regional open space system will be developed.

Diversity

Common Goal 8: An integrated ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the region will be promoted regionally, and in particular the ability of indigenous population groups to remain a contributing part of the region and benefit from the opportunities that come from growth will be protected.

Affordable and Workforce Housing

Common Goal 9: Affordable and workforce housing will be addressed on a regional basis through a multi‐jurisdictional approach.

Infill and Redevelopment

Common Goal 10: Compatible local infill and redevelopment by the local governments will be supported on a regional basis.

Balancing of the Broad Public Interests with Fairness to Individual Property Owners

Common Goal 11: The Northern Beaufort Regional Plan will promote the broad public interest, but it will be mindful of the impacts that planning policies have on private property interests.

Relationship of Growth to the Military Facilities in Northern Beaufort County

Common Goal 12: The Northern Beaufort Regional Plan will result in continued collaboration with military facility planners, and in particular will respect the AICUZ contours.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Introduction

Preparation of Comprehensive Plans

Common Goal 13: Preparation of individual Comprehensive Plans for each of the county’s jurisdictions in 2007 and 2008 will use this Northern Regional Plan as a common policy base for growth patterns and issues of regional scale.

Intergovernmental Coordination

Common Goal 14: The regional planning effort will require future intergovernmental coordination to implement this plan.

PLANNING AREA

As part of the Northern Beaufort Regional Plan, the jurisdictions involved all came to agreement on growth boundaries associated with each of the municipalities. As stated in the regional plan, these growth boundaries allow for the municipalities to plan for their growth in and efficient and predictable manner. Likewise, growth boundaries allow for the county to plan for rural areas and focus its attention on county‐wide issues such as transportation and environmental resources in a cooperative manner with the municipalities. Therefore, the planning areas including in the Port Royal Comprehensive Plan extend beyond the town’s current town limits as agreed upone in th Northern Beaufort Regional Plan.

PLAN UPDATES

The South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994 requires local governments to review their plans at least every five years and to perform and update all elements of the plan every ten years. Since much of the data contained in this plan was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and the 2000 Census, the Town of Port Royal should consider updating this plan upon release of the 2010 Census data, which would precede the mandatory State requirements.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan

“WALKABILITY”

Throughout this document, one of the common goals this plan sets out to achieve is “walkability.” But what exactly does this term mean and how do we achieve it? Basically, it refers to designing our communities in a way that makes it easy, safe, and inviting for people to walk from one destination to another. It sounds very simple, yet there are many ingredients needed to truly achieve a walkalble community.

The Public Realm

The first of Port Royal’s community principles highlights the importance of the public realm. Why is this? The public realm is what ties us all together. The physical fabric of our community is built upon individual properties which are privately owned and are all tied together by our streets and public spaces. So the quality of our streets and public spaces is the tie that binds us and defines us as a whole. The quality of these public spaces is of paramount importance. Our streets should not serve as conduits to simply funnel traffic from one place to the next. Instead, dthey shoul be places which serve the humans as well as the cars. This means we have to give equal (or even more) attention to the facilities for pedestrians as we do for our cars. In order for people to walk, there needs to be a sense of invitation and comfort.

 Pedestrian facilities – Whether a sidewalk, path, or shared street, the place where people walk should be designed adequately and in context. Generous sidewalk widths allow people to walk comfortably, shoulder to shoulder. In busier areas, this means sidewalks should be wide enough to allow groups of people to easily pass one another. On quiet residential streets with little traffic, a separate pedestrian facility may not even be needed. The way we accommodate people needs to be considered deliberately and appropriately.  Safety – No one wants to be in a place where they do not feel safe. For the pedestrian, they must feel safe from cars through physical and psychological barriers that separate them from traffic, such as parallel parking and landscaped areas between the street and sidewalk, or through design techniques that raise awareness, such as clearly defined crosswalks and use of materials. The space must also feel safe and part of the community. Buildings lining the sidewalk with generous storefront windows create a sense of enclosure while keeping eyes on the street.  Comfort – With our warm climate, shade trees, awnings, and similar shading devices are important elements of creating a comfortable environment for walking. The pedestrian experience should also be visually comfortable and stimulating. Visual interests create a pleasant experience that encourages pedestrian activity.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Walkability

 Human scale – Large, blank building facades and undefined expanses can magnify the distance beyond what it truly is. Without human‐scaled elements, we have a difficult time discerning what an actual distance may be. Elements which we can easily relate to, like doors, windows, park benches, street lights, etc. provide visual cues and draw us forward in a way that is stimulating and creates a pleasant experience.

In much of our long‐range planning, transportation and land use planning have become further and further isolated from one another and the results frequently benefit neither. Our developments occur independently from one another, with little relationship to their surroundings or the community in which they are located. Roads which were initially intended for safe and efficient travel become clogged with multiple curb cuts, cluttered signage, and haphazard turning movements. In the midst of all the chaos, the pedestrian is left out.

To move towards a more sustainable community, we need to focus on not just the parts, but the sum of the parts which when considered comprehensively, can in fact be greater. Ribaut Road is a well‐known and frequently travelled corridor in Port Royal with tremendous potential for infill and redevelopment. The sketches on the following pages demonstrate the transformation that is beginning and can continue to strengthen the character and accessibility of Port Royal.

Ribaut Road at Edinburgh Avenue Ribaut Road – North End

(Existing) (Existing)

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Walkability

Ribaut Road at Edinburgh Avenue

(Potential)

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Walkability

Ribaut Road – North End

(Potential)

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Walkability

Block Size

Compact, interconnected blocks are a key element of maximizing choice and flexibility and increasing destinations that are easy to reach by walking. In general, a quarter‐mile is considered a comfortable distance that people can walk in about five minutes or so. This distance can be easily shown on a map as a circle, radiating from a central point. But when we zoom in a little closer it quickly becomes evident that the number of destinations within this distance can vary dramatically, depending on the layout and design of the streets. The following images illustrate this point, using various locations through Port Royal. Each colored line represents a quarter‐mile walk from the starting point.

In this layout, there is one path to travel. Even though a quarter mile distance “as the crow flies” extends well beyond the extent of this image, the actual destinations for the pedestrian are very limited. Only two streets can be accessed, and a true block does not even exist.

From the initial starting point, there are two paths to travel. But choices are still limited.

After walking about two‐thirds of the comfortable distance, the pedestrian then has two paths to choose from, but neither allows them to return to their initial starting point or to connect with other options.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Walkability

As connectivity increases, so too does choice. Although one block can be fully

circled within the quarter‐mile distance, the pedestrian can at least access multiple streets.

The small compact blocks of the village clearly demonstrate the maximization of choice. There are 15 different blocks which are all within one quarter of a mile from the starting point, over half of which can be fully circled. Although uses are not demonstrated on this map, someone at the startingt poin can easily reach the school, park, town hall, numerous businesses and neighbors. The compact blocks also allow for variety – someone could easily chose a different path back, either to allow for stopping at multiple points along their trip, or simply for a change of scenery.

As Port Royal continues to grow, develop, and redevelop, there is an opportunity reclaim the public realm and create places for people, as shown in the potential for Shell Point on the following page.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Walkability

Shell Point (Potential)

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Walkability

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan

TRANSPORTATION

The transportation network on which we all depend is perhaps one of the most visible elements of our modern‐day culture. As growth continues, so too does the impact of transportation on our everyday lives. While cars are, and will probably remain, our most widely used transportation mode, there are opportunities to increase the ways in which we move about and increase the efficiencies of our existing transportation system.

Transportation planning and services are provided at the county level by Beaufort County. Therefore, much of the information regarding existing conditions and long‐range plans in this element has been provided by the Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan.

REGIONAL PLANNING

Beaufort County adopted a road classification system in 2004 in order to establish the role of key roadways and intersections, establish access management standards, and help prioritize project funding. SC Highway 170 and SC Highway 802 are the two principal arterials located within the Town of Port Royal. The north end of Ribaut Road and Parris Island Gateway (SC Highway 280) are classified as minor arterials. Broad River Boulevard is a major collector and Battery Creek Road, Grober Hill, and Castle Rock Roads are minor collectors.

Image Source: Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan - 41 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

In order to evaluate the functionality of a roadway, level of service (LOS) is a frequently used method to “grade” how well a road functions, with “A” as the best and “F” as the worst. As a policy, Beaufort County has adopted LOS “D” as the minimum standard for Beaufort County roads. Of the roads classified in Port Royal, each received a LOS “D” or better, (not including the bridge over the Beaufort River to Lady’s Island, which is a LOS “F”).

Image Source: Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan

The County has committed (planned with funding identified) road improvements throughout Beaufort County to address existing and projected road deficiencies. Table 8.1 below identifies those most likely to have a direct impact on Port Royal.

Table 4.1: Planned and Funded County Road Projects Impacting Port Royal Project Description Estimate Cost US 21/SC 802 Connector Planned new connector road (4 lanes divided) $6,500,000 SC 802 Intersection $2,265,000 Planned improvements along Ribaut Rd. Improvements US 21/SC 802 & Savannah Hwy. Widen to 4 lane divided for Savannah Hwy; new parallel bridge over $42,700,000 widening Beaufort River Source: Beaufort County Engineering Department, Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan

In addition to the committed projects, Beaufort County has also identified additional improvements to meet 2025 needs. Table 8.2 identifies those most likely to have a direct impact on Port Royal.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

Table 4.2: Additional Project Needs Impacting Port Royal Project Description Estimate Cost Northern Beaufort Bypass Construction of a new highway from US 21 to Sams Point Road $216,000,000 Road connectivity and parallel collector roads from SC 802 to SC $14,000,000 SC 170 Robert Smalls Pkwy 280 Turn lanes, access management, and bike/ped improvements from $5,000,000 Joe Frazier Road Improvements Cherokee Farms to Broad River Western Beaufort Bypass New highway from US 21 to SC 170 $50,000,000 Ribaut Road Connection From SC 170 to Ribaut Rd (using old rail line) $10,000,000 Port Royal‐Yemassee Rail Trail Construction of a multi‐use trail $10,000,000 Construct turning lanes and intersection improvements along SC $5,500,000 SC 802 Improvements 802 north of US 21 Turning lanes and intersection improve. Along SC 280 from SC 170 $4,400,000 SC 280 Improvements to Mink Point Blvd. Source: Beaufort County Engineering Department, Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION & POLICIES

Communities all around the country are facing a very similar dilemma regarding transportation – the costs of transportation improvements far outweigh the funding available. In addition, the abundant marshes and waters of Beaufort County present constraints in the feasibility of some road improvement projects. Although the solution to transportation problems has traditionally been to build more roads wider, we know that policies and other strategies can also help to solve our transportation dilemmas. Beaufort County has identified the following recommended alternatives to help address future transportation needs. Again, those most relevant to Port Royal are shown.

Table 4.3: Recommended Alternative Modes of Transportation Plans, Projects, and Programs Project Description Estimate Cost TDM Coordinator Provide travel demand management coordinator $1,400,000 Service for commuters, students on loop urbanized area of $10,000,000 LRTA Transit Service Northern Beaufort and connections on SC 170 to Southern Beaufort/US 278 and Park & Ride Construct local pedestrian and bicycle connections (SC 170 at SC $7,680,000 Pedestrian & Bicycle 280 / US 21 at SC, 280 / US 21 at SC 170 / US21 at SC 802 / SC Connections 802 at Ribaut Road / SC 280 at Palamino Drive)

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

Table 4.3: Recommended Alternative Modes of Transportation Plans, Projects, and Programs Project Description Estimate Cost SC 170 from US 21 to the Broad River $165,000 Prepare Access Management Joe Frazier Road from SC 170 to Laurel Bay Road $175,000 Plans SC 280 from SC 170 to Mink Point Boulevard $100,000 SC 170 from US 21 to the Broad River $3,300,000 Implement Access Management Joe Frazier Road from SC 170 to Laurel Bay Road Listed in Table 8.2 Plans SC 280 from SC 170 to Mink Point Boulevard Listed in Table 8.2 Source: Carter and Burgess, Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan

Transit

The Palmetto Breeze (name changed in 2007 from the Lowcountry Regional Transit Authority), provides public transportation services in six Lowcountry counties. It began in 1978 with initial service to Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Since this time, it has grown to provide a number of public transportation services, including fixed route, paratransit, and job access services. The system has an estimated ridership of 209,155 annually.

Although transit is not a major part of the transportation infrastructure for Port Royal, as the community and the region continue to grow, transit will become a more important asset for the community in addressing transportation issues. Land use patterns can have a significant impact on transit use, as riders are generally limited in the distance they can walk or ride a bike to a transit stop. For example, transit‐oriented‐developments (TOD’s) typically feature high density, mixed use developments directly adjacent to a transit stop. Although generally associated with rail transit services, the development principles of TOD’s are consistent with the development patterns for certain areas of Port Royal and can facilitate greater transportation options in the future.

The Northern Beaufort County regional plan identified a variety of policy, infrastructure, and operational improvements which are provided in the Strategies section of this chapter.

Transportation Alternatives

Public input for the Port Royal Comprehensive Plan demonstrated strong support for the enhancement of bike and pedestrian facilities throughout Port Royal. The largest project currently identified is the development of the Port Royal to Yemassee trail, along the abandoned railroad corridor west of U.S. 21. This 25‐mile multi‐purpose facility would not only provide an alternative transportation corridor, but could also enhance economic development in the area. The terminus of this trail in the Port Royal - 44 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

village provides an ideal location for those traveling by bike to continue their trip through shops, restaurants, and boutiques lining Paris Avenue. The existing grid pattern of the village streets enhances wayfinding for visitors, making it easy to get around.

Another viable transportation alternative for Port Royal is the use of, golf carts particularly in the old village. The low traffic patterns, interconnected street network, and pedestrian scale of the area lends itself very well to the use of low‐speed vehicles. As development increases in this area, providing designated parking for golf carts can help to encourage their use even more as parking demands increase.

Access Management

The primary function of most state highways and other regional roads is to facilitate convenient, safe access to the travelling public. Due to higher traffic volumes, these roads also become very attractive for commercial development. The proliferation of numerous curb cuts, cluttered signage, and abundance of turning vehicles can significantly degrade the intended function of moving traffic efficiently. Access management is the systematic control of the location, spacing, design, and operation of driveways, median openings, interchanges, and street connections to a roadway which helps to bridge the gap between land use and transportation.

In 2004, the Town of Port Royal, City of Beaufort, and Beaufort County worked together to develop the Robert About Robert Smalls Smalls Parkway Joint Corridor Plan. The purpose of this plan was to recognize this corridor as a gateway to Robert Smalls was a slave who would later Northern Beaufort County as well as the primary arterial linking the northern and southern areas of the become a naval hero for the Union during the county. Therefore, this plan addressed both access and land use issues. American Civil War and was made a captain in the U.S. Navy. He then served in the South Prot Royal adopted the Robert Smalls Parkway Overlay District in 2007 to implement the plan within their Carolina House of Representatives, State jurisdiction. This overlay district outlines access management requirements, design standards, and buffer Senate, and eventually the U.S. Congress. He requirements to provide for quality development along the corridor. This regulation also addresses also served as a major general in the South pedestrian accessibility, both through the requirement for pedestrian linkages and the placement of parking Carolina militia. lots. This ordinance provides a good model of how land use regulations can facilitate efficient functionality of transportation infrastructure.

The Transportation map on page 47 shows the existing transportation system in Port Royal, including sidewalks. As shown by this map, the existing sidewalk system has significant gaps in providing continuous pedestrian facilities.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

The Greater Bluffton Pathways organization compiled the following list to highlight the benefits of a “Rail Trail” for Beaufort County Citizens: 1. Strengthens local economies in Yemassee, Beaufort and Port Royal.  Property values either increase or remain constant along rail‐trail corridors.  Tourists from SC, GA, NC and I‐95 travelers will visit the trail at Yemassee or Beaufort and stay a day or two longer to bike, hike or birdwatch along a 25 mile long pathway. Hilton Head visitors will day trip to Beaufort in order to bike or walk a safe and beautiful rail trail.  Recreation related spending on items such as bicycles, in‐line skates, food and lodging may bring more jobs to our area. Owners of restaurants and lodging facilities along other rail‐trails report that they are serving customers who have come into town specifically to ride the trail. 2. Encourages physical fitness and healthy lifestyles.  Exercise is essential for maintaining and regaining good health in all stages of life. Pathways provide a safe, inexpensive way for regular exercise for people living in rural and urban areas of Beaufort County.  In this age of expensive indoor gyms and health clubs, the paved pathway would offer a cost‐effective place to exercise.  The annual cost of obesity in the United States today is $117 billion. 3. Creates new opportunities for outdoor recreation and non‐motorized transportation  Cycling clubs and families will travel long distances to vacation on a 25 mile long, properly designed rail‐trail. (Silver Comet Trail in Atlanta, Pinellas Trail in FL attract visitors from all over the USA.)  Opportunities will exist for fishing, picnics and relaxing at the pocket parks that may be located along the rail‐trail corridor.  Trails will connect neighborhoods and schools so children can cycle or walk to their friend’s homes or to school. 4. Makes communities better places to live by preserving and creating connected, open spaces. Protects our environment.  Provides habitat and corridors for people and wildlife. Important wetlands ecosystem sustains numerous species of birds, fish, plants, mammals and threatened or endangered species.  Protects land along rivers, forests and wetlands by preventing soil erosion and road runoff.  Community pride develops in a well maintained, well marketed greenway.  Helps improve air and water quality by providing enjoyable and safe options for transportation (walking, biking, in line skating) by reducing air pollution. 5. Preserves culturally and historically valuable areas.  Preserve the corridor that carried marines by train from Yemassee to Parris Island.  Many scenic and beautiful large plantations and rice fields/dikes along the corridor.  Educate our visitors about the history of our area. Source: www.greaterbluftonpathways.org

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) & Complete Streets

The idea of Context Sensitive Solutions has been evolving over recent years with the realization that streets exist within the surrounding context and should be properly designed for all users within that context. It is formally defined as

A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders in providing a transportation facility that fits its setting. It is an approach that leads to preserving and enhancing scenic, aesthetic, historic, community, and environmental resources, while improving or maintaining safety, mobility, and infrastructure conditions.

‐ Results of Joint AASHTO/FHWA Context Sensitive Solutions Strategic Planning Process Summary Report, March 2007

This same report provides that context sensitive solutions leads to outcomes that:

 Are in harmony with the community and preserve the environmental, scenic, aesthetic, historic, and natural resource values of the area.  Are safe for all users.  Solve problems that are agreed upon by a full range of stakeholders  Meet or exceede th expectations of both designers and stakeholders, thereby adding lasting value to the community, the environment, and the transportation system.  Demonstrate effective and efficient use of resources (people, time, budget,) among all parties.

Many of the existing streets within Port Royal already demonstrate this philosophy through the natural evolution of vernacular buildings that line the streets and native vegetation that echoes the Lowcountry sense of place. However, with increased development, road widening projects, and conflicts about how a street should function, designing to preserve or establish a sense of place can be very difficult. The context sensitive solution approach can help communities ensure that their transportation facilities are meeting the diverse needs of the community.

A related outcome of the context sensitive solution approach is the development of “complete streets” which are designed to be safe for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians of all ages and abilities, as well as transit vehicles and users. Complete street policies establish a design philosophy which requires consideration of all users. As with all context sensitive solutions, there is no “one size fits all” model for a complete street. It must be approached within the context in which it is placed.

These two phrases are very closely related. In general, Context Sensitive Solutions refers primarily to the process, whereas Complete Streets refers primarily to the product.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

The Transportation/Land Use Connection

Walkable streets which reflect community character and provide transportation choice can only be achieved through planning and evaluating our transportation and land use collectively, rather than in isolation from one another. Linking transportation and land use must be a deliberate effort in order to achieve the Complete Streets model as articulated in this plan. The images below illustrate the potential results from this collaborative approach and highlight the elements from both a transportation and land use perspective.

Street trees create a physical separation between cars and pedestrians

Buildings lining the sidewalk create visual interest dan bring eyes to the street for a safe and pleasant pedestrian experience

Vernacular design, awnings, and shade trees provide shade and a sense of place

Continuous sidewalks draw foot traffic from one destination to another, increasing window

shopping along the way

Vegetated medians calm traffic and

beautify the street

Wide sidewalks are comfortable for pedestrians to walk

side by side and in both directions and enhance street activity, providing room for outdoor cafés, benches,d an other pedestrian elements

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

Dedicated bike lanes promote cycling as a safe and Quality building design at key intersections The vegetated median provides access viable transportation alternative enhance the community gateway management to move traffic efficiently

Continuous sidewalks encourage local The absence of numerous driveways A generous buffer enhances residents to walk to work, shopping, and enhances the function of the regional pedestrian safety restaurants transportation network

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

GOALS

 Our transportation system will provide safe and efficient facilities for all users, including cars, cyclists, and pedestrians.

 Our streets will reflect our community character through a complete street design which considers the adjacent land uses and scale.

 Cars will be accommodated without driving the design of our ycommunit or dominating the landscape.

STRATEGIES

 Establish parking maximums as well as minimums.

 Establish a complete streets design manual for Port Royal.

 Strengthen Port Royal’s connection to the Intracoastal Waterway. Ensure public slips are provided in the port redevelopment marina to encourage ICW travel to stop in Port Royal.

 Support regional transportation planning efforts, including mass transit and water‐borne ferry service between the islands.

 Work collaboratively with Beaufort County and SCDOT on roadway improvements to ensure that roadway improvements respect and minimize negative impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. All state and county projects should complement the goals and objectives articulated ine th Port Royal Comprehensive Plan. In order to ensure consistency, all transportation improvement projects should be reviewed by the Planning Commission. This review should begin early in the process, prior to the commencement of preliminary engineering.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

 Develop a master plan and corresponding regulations to improve the aesthetics and functionality of Ribaut Road, including provisions for increased pedestrian safety. This master plan should also continue to promote the spatial rejoining of Port Royal created by Ribaut Road.

 Continue with streetscape improvements throughout the Town, especially along major roadways such as Paris Avenue, Ribaut Road and Robert Smalls Parkway.

 Encourage the use and ownership of golf carts.

 Ensure that any roadways that are accepted by the Town for ownership or maintenance meet certain criteria in addition to the minimum engineering standards already required. Any streets or roadways accepted by the Town should meet at least the following standards; increase street connectivity for both vehicles and pedestrians, be beneficial to the entire community and meet a greater public purpose.

 Work with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County to explore and evaluate a range of transportation improvements, including road capacity improvements, transit, pedestrian and bicycle connections, enhanced access management, and operational improvements. It is important to recognize that these approaches should be explored and evaluated, and that flexibility is needed to determine the best specific solutions based upon analysis of changing conditions. o Transit and Travel Demand Management – A transit route could reduce the trips made across the key Woods Memorial Bridge and SC 802 river crossings. A circulator between these areas would need to operate with frequent service/short headways to be effective in attracting riders to switch modes from automobile use. A program to eprovid an organized approach to teleworking, flexible work hours, carpool matching, and vanpool services is recommended for the Downtown Beaufort and Port Royal areas. A second program to focus on U.S. Marine Air Station carpooling is also recommended. The transit and travel demand management strategies will require more detailed study to determine the anticipated level of benefits and feasibility. o Pedestrian and Bicycle Connections – Providing local pedestrian and bicycle connections where commercial areas are present near residential communities could reduce trip making along adjacent arterials. o Access Management – Access management along major corridors is recommended to maximize the capacity available to move through traffic. Implementation of the Robert Smalls Parkway plan and associated ordinance is key for this corridor.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

 The Northern Beaufort Regional Plan provides recommendations for the following transportation improvements, at least a portion of which are located within Port Royal. o Port Royal to Yemassee Trail ‐ Implementation of a bike corridor along the abandoned railroad corridor west of US 21 is recommended to provide access to an alternative transportation mode for those along the US 21 corridor. This corridor would provide a trail that is separated from automobile traffic, enhancing safety for all users over on‐street bike lanes or “share the road” designations. o US 21 to SC 170 – Western Bypass (Planning, feasibility analysis, and right‐of‐ way for a 2 lane road with turn lanes and bicycle lanes) – This connection will provide a link from the US 21 corridor to the SC 170 and SC 802 corridors. This connection has the potential to relieve US 21 for traffic traveling to/from SC 170, as well as serving some traffic along US 21 north of Beaufort that is destined for Port Royal, Lady’s Island, or St. Helena Island. This project will provide the planning and analysis needed for consideration of this alternative for application beyond year 2025.

 Work collaboratively with Beaufort County and the jurisdictions within Beaufort County to seek integrated solutions to complex transportation issues. More specifically, work to implement the regional transportation plan integrating road improvements, bicycle facilities, pedestrian facilities, and transit improvements as developed for the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Transportation

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan

LAND USE

Analysis of existing development patterns enhances Port Royal’s ability to accommodate growth, and to plan for the future provision of public services and facilities. Land use planning which coordinates and supports efficient growth and development patterns can promote sustainable economic development, protection of natural and cultural resources, and provision of adequated an affordable housing.

EXISTING LAND USE

The existing land use map is a reflection of the way in which land is being presently used, regardless of the existing zoning. Land use information was classified according to nine (9) standard land uses, defined as follows:

Table 5.1: Current Land Use Residential Land Use Category Total Acres % of Total Acreage Single‐family detached 1,599 11.84% Residential land uses are subdivided into the following categories: Single‐family attached 45 0.33%  Single‐family detached Mobile home residential 203 1.50%  Single‐family attached Multi‐family residential 68 0.50%  Multi‐family residential Commercial 228 1.69%  Mobile home residential Office / Professional 38 0.28% Park / Open Land 253 1.87% Commercial Public / Government / 411 3.05% Worship This category is for land dedicated to non‐industrial business uses, including retail Transportation / Utilities / 397 2.94% sales, service, and entertainment facilities. Commercial uses may be located as a Right‐Of‐Way (ROW) single use in one building or grouped together in a shopping center or office Military 7,206 53.36% building. Undeveloped / Vacant Land 1,761 13.04 % Agriculture / Forestry 1,240 9.18%

Office / Professional

This category includes land that is used for non‐retail business uses, such as professional offices that typically are not intended for general public use. - 55 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

Park / Open Land

This category is for land dedicated to active or passive recreational uses as well as land conserved as green space where development is restricted. These areas may be publicly or privately owned and may include public parks, playgrounds, nature preserves, wildlife management areas, recreation centers or similar uses.

Public / Government / Worship

This category includes certain state, federal or local government uses, and institutional land uses. Government uses include city halls and government building complexes, police and fire stations, libraries, post offices, schools, etc. Other uses include civic‐ oriented uses which may be privately owned, such as hospitals, churches, etc.

Transportation / Utilities / Right‐Of‐Way (ROW)

This category includes such uses as major transportation routes, public transit stations, power generation plants, railroad facilities, radio towers, or other similar uses.

Military

This is the classification for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island.

Undeveloped / Vacant Land

This category is for lots or tracts of land that are served, or can be easily served, by typical public services (water, sewer, etc.) but have not been developed for a specific use or were developed for a specific use that has since been abandoned. These sites can be ideally suited for infill development wherever adjacent land uses do not conflict with the new development.

Agriculture / Forestry

This category is for land dedicated to agriculture or timber. Some of these properties may have been formerly used for these purposes, but are not actively used as such today, due toe th level of surrounding development.

The current land use map is shown on the following page.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

Since 1997, the Town of Port Royal has added over 1600 residential units and over 500,000 square feet of commercial development. In addition, there has been significant investment in repair, remodel, and expansion.

Table 5.2: Port Royal Building Permits Single‐Family Multi‐Family Commercial Mobile Homes Repair & Remodel Expanded Residential

# of # of # of # of # of # of Value of Permits Value of Permits Value of Permits Square Feet Value of Permits Value of Permits Value of Permits YEAR Permits Permits Permits Permits Permits Permits

1997 18 92 4 26,070 1998 17 38 4 26,043 1999 35 0 6 121,740 2000 28 $1,862,260.00 0 4 17,085 2001 30 $2,220,188.00 0 5 12,620 2002 22 $2,583,000.00 232 $10,660,000.00 4 $10,995,500.00 4,000 2 $62,689.00 50 $243,538.00 23 $234,064.00 2003 29 $2,998,110.00 0 $0.00 4 $1,061,500.00 14624 2 $118,486.00 36 $99,174.00 14 $217,995.00 2004 44 $5,204,592.00 144 $8,630,442.00 13 $1,137,000.00 46,920 3 $175,495.00 39 $140,748.00 11 $111,233.00 2005 60 $8,023,506.00 168 $8,550,000.00 5 $4,654,267.00 97,890 0 $0.00 40 $207,285.00 10 $119,675.00 2006 80 $12,611,876.00 0 $0.00 5 $6,476,703.00 171,150 0 $0.00 30 $258,015.00 8 $157,575.00 2007 228 $30,059,907.00 240 $13,193,281.00 4 $1,917,372.00 22,306 2 $54,423.00 48 $378,431.00 7 $55,402.00 2008 109 $14,505,082.00 0 $0.00 2 $586,000.00 6700 0 $0.00 47 $245,565.00 10 $197,590.00 Source: Town of Port Royal

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

PLANNING AREAS

Port Royal is perhaps most well‐known for the Old Village, but the actual jurisdictional boundaries and planning area of Port Royal extend well beyond this, from the Beaufort River to the Broad River. As such, this plan has identified five planning districts in recognition of the variations in character between various places in the community.

The Old Village

The historic core and heart of Port Royal, the Old Village is a quaint, walkable community which supports a diversity of residential uses and neighborhood scale commercial. Most of the historic structures remaining in Port Royal are located within the village. Originally laid out with 25’ x 100’ lots in regular blocks of 200’ x 500’, the streets reflect a traditional gridiron pattern with high interconnectivity. Buildings are typically built close to the sidewalk, creating a sense of enclosure and contributing to the walkability of the Old Village.

The Port of Port Royal, located at the southern tip of the Old Village, is a significant redevelopment opportunity which can serve to greatly reconnect this area with the surrounding waterfront. A master plan and associated planned unit development have been approved which will govern this development. Although many people are anxious to see this property redeveloped, the property is owned by the State and is awaiting sale to a developer.

North End

The northern end of the Port Royal peninsula is comprised of commercial development along Ribaut Road and a mix of residential development. The Casablanca neighborhood consists largely of single‐family homes, but this area also includes a mix of housing types, ranging from condominiums to mobile homes.

The North End has significant potential for redevelopment. The existing Piggly Wiggly shopping center is underutilized, with an oversized parking lot and significant areas of undeveloped land along the road frontage. Much of the commercial strip development along Ribaut Road is also underutilized or vacant.

Another significant redevelopment opportunity in this area is the 127‐acre Naval Hospital property. Although the hospital is still in operation, there is a potential that it could potentially be relocated. The proposed relocation of the Naval Hospital is on a future projects list for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, which oversees Marine Corps and Navy construction

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

projects in seven states, including South Carolina.1 Funding for a new Naval Hospital Beaufort has been delayed for several years. According to a news article in the Island Packet, funding may not be available until 2013 or 2015. Once funding is allocated, a new hospital may be located on the existing site, at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, or Laurel Bay.2

In preparation of fostering potential redevelopment, the property was just recently added to the multi‐county industrial park, which allows officials to offer business tax and infrastructure incentives to developers and incoming industries.

Shell Point

The Shell Point planning area extends from Grober Hill Road southward to Battery Creek. The residential areas of Shell Point to the south of Savannah Highway consist primarily of medium to large lot single family development, with curvilinear streets and mature tree canopy coverage. Shell Point Elementary School is also located in this area. On the north side of Savannah Highway, there is a mix of single‐family development ranging from small to large lots, as well as mobile home parks.

Savannah Highway is lined with a mix of older residential and small‐scale commercial development. The terminus of Savannah Highway at Parris Island Gateway is a significant intersection, both in terms of traffic patterns and as a landmark of Shell Point. The existing commercial development at this intersection could potentially be redeveloped as a signature neighborhood center for the surrounding community. Parris Island Gateway, north of this intersection, is intermittently developed with a mix of small commercial and residential development.

Burton

Located between Grober Hill Road and Robert Smalls Parkway, Burton has developed in a somewhat haphazard growth pattern and includes a mix of light industrial, commercial, and residential development, ranging from older neighborhoods with large lots and mobile homes. This area maintains rural characteristics, including areas of family compounds. Connectivity is limited, with most developments channeling traffic through one or two local roads back to a connector or arterial road.

The Burton area has a lot of growth potential, with multiple large undeveloped properties in the area. Abandoned commercial areas (greyfields) provide opportunities for the establishment of new neighborhood centers.

1 http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/781719.html

2 http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/816524.html

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

Broad River

This area has good potential for new development, with some of the most significant areas of undeveloped property remaining in Port Royal. The location of Broad River Elementary School in this area will also make it attractive for growth. The predominant use in this area is single‐family residential, with very limited commercial development. The development pattern is suburban, with large lots, curvilinear roads, and the frequent use of cul‐de‐sacs. Block sizes and configurations vary, but the image to the left is typical of the development pattern in Broad River. This area is served well by good roads, but public sewer availability is limited.

An exception to the predominant development patterns of the Broad River area is Habersham, located in the extreme northwest corner of this planning area off of Joe Frazier Road. Still under development, Habersham is a ‘new urbanist’ community, anchored by a neighborhood commercial center and featuring a mix of detached and attached single‐family and small scale multi‐family, organized through an organic arrangement of interconnected streets and compact blocks.

Lemon Island

Located to the west of the Broad River, Lemon Island is a sparsely developed island which is largely protected from development. The Beaufort County Land Trust, in a joint partnership with Beaufort County, has protected 160 acres known as Widgeon Point on Lemon Island.

FUTURE LAND USE

Land use regulation has long been dominated by the use of zoning to protect public health, safety, and welfare. While zoning has been proficient (in many cases, too much so) in separating uses commonly viewed as incompatible, it has done little to address the physical environment of our communities. This is partially due to the inherent nature of zoning to evaluate land use decisions largely in isolation of the surrounding context. Our sense of place has been lost and the public realm largely ignored. Port Royal recognizes the need to think more comprehensively about “land use” than just the distinction of commercial, industrial, or residential. Therefore the land use element of the comprehensive plan focuses more on character than use, and seeks to re‐establish the importance of the public realm, especially how it is influenced through private development.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

An Introduction to The Transect

Much of the following narrative is adapted on the principal of the rural‐to‐urban transect, which is based on the ecological model of sequential habitats (image below, source: James Wassell).

As residents in this dynamic coastal environment, the application of the Transect seems inherent in understanding that just as plants and animals have a particular ecosystem niche in which they thrive, humans are much the same. The Transect does not proclaim that one habitat is superior to another. Conversely, it recognizes that there are different types of built environments which function most efficiently and effectively when developed appropriately for each place.

“The transect is a natural ordering system, as every urban element easily finds a place within its continuum.”3 The transect recognizes that the elements that form our communities – streets, buildings, open space, lighting, etc. – may be present throughout the continuum, but are presented in widely varying forms.

3 Duany, Andres. Duany Plater‐Zyberk & Company. “The Lexicon of the New Urbanism” p. 11.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

LESS DENSITY MORE DENSITY PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL USE PRIMARILY MIXED USE SMALLER BUILDINGS LARGER BUILDINGS MORE GREENSPACE MORE HARDSCAPE DETACHED BUILDINGS ATTACHED BUILDINGS ROTATED FRONTAGES ALIGNED FRONTAGES YARDS & FRONTAGES STOOPS & SHOPFRONTS DEEP SETBACKS SHALLOW SETBACKS ROTATED FRONTAGES ALIGNED FRONTAGES ARTICULATED MASSING SIMPLE MASSING WOODEN BUILDINGS MASONRY BUILDINGS GENERALLY PITCHED ROOFS GENERALLY FLAT ROOFS SMALL YARD SIGNS BUILDING MOUNTED SIGNAGE LIVESTOCK DOMESTIC ANIMALS

ROAD & LANES STREETS & ALLEYS NARROW PATHS WIDE SIDEWALKS OPPORTUNISTIC PARKING DEDICATED PARKING LARGER CURB RADII SMALLER CURB RADII OPEN SWALES RAISED CURBS STARLIGHT STREET LIGHTING MIXED TREE CLUSTERS SINGLE TREE SPECIES

LOCAL GATHERING PLACES REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS Source: Duany Plater‐Zyberk & Company PARKS & GREENS PLAZAS & SQUARES - 63 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

Port Royal Districts Transect

The future land use map is organized within an overall framework of preferred development patterns for the Town as a whole. However, it is recognized that these growth patterns may manifest differently in one area of town than another. Therefore, the development patterns are described in general terms. More detailed guidance is provided for each of the five districts within Port Royal, described generally as: Rural Lemon Island

Broad River

Burton

Shell Point

North End /Old Village Urban Each of the Port Royal Districts maintains its own identity, but also supports the larger vision for the Town of Port Royal as a whole. With the exception of Lemon Island, each of the other planning districts includes a neighborhood center to provide convenient access to daily needs.

Lemon Island

Lemon Island will be primarily preservation with very limited, low density residential development. The Beaufort County Open Land Trust is working with Beaufort County to create public access to Widgeon Point on Lemon Island for nature walks and bird watching.

Broad River

The tone of development in Broad River should reflect its proximity to the river and charm of tree‐canopied roadways. Residential development is relatively low density, but connectively of streets is important. Highway 170 will support regional retail uses, but access management and context sensitive design are a high priority to maintain mobility and character. Commercial development in other area of Broad River should be small‐scale ‘market‐style’ development.

 Increase connectivity as new development occurs and seek opportunities to improve existing connectivity in existing areas, particularly if redevelopment occurs.  Widen roadways only if absolutely necessary; minimize the need for road widening through increased connectivity.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

 Maintain tree‐canopied roadways.  Increase pedestrian linkage, especially as commercial development occurs along Robert Smalls Parkway.  The highest concentration of development should occur along Robert Smalls Parkway and decrease towards the river.  Lighting should be minimal, especially near the water, and pedestrian‐scaled.  Development along Joe Frazier Road should be small‐scale ‘market‐style’ development.

Burton

The Burton area conveys some of the similar characteristics as Broad River with suburban style development, but does not share the same proximity to the water as the other Port Royal areas and lacks as strong of an identity. There is a lot of potential for infill, redevelopment, and improved connectivity and wayfinding. The area should remain green and a more suburban overall, but there are opportunities to introduce mixed use development.

 Encourage building up instead of out in order to maintain more open space.  Promote infill housing, potentially on smaller than existing lots in appropriate areas.  Increase connectivity as development and redevelopment occurs.  Explore the opportunity for a regional park near the wastewater treatment plant. This area is geographically central in Port Royal and could encourage additional investment in Burton.  Encourage the redevelopment of greyfields along Highway 280.

Shell Point

The Shell Point area is comprised of older, well‐maintained neighborhoods, but is not very pedestrian oriented. With two major highways in this area, there is the potential for more commercial and mixed use development. Pedestrian orientation and connectivity should be improved. While older neighborhoods and areas along the water may maintain larger lots, there are also opportunities for more mixed use, infill, and smaller lot development.

 Promote village commercial along Savannah Highway.  Increase pedestrian accessibility and connectivity.  Parris Island Gateway should support mixed use and regional commercial in nodes.  The area should maintain a strong residential, neighborhood feel with opportunities for walking and biking.  Investigate traffic calming opportunities along Shell Point Road.

Additional recommendations for Shell Point are located in the Shell Point Regional Plan.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

North End/Old Village

The North End has the potential to be a regional activity area, supporting a more urban character than the village. Public access to the waterfront should be improved. Complete streets can facilitate improved pedestrian mobility and strengthen community character.

Although Ribaut Road coming into Port Royal is a thoroughfare, it should not look like a thoroughfare. Traffic calming and design improvements can make this corridor more pedestrian‐oriented. The addition of a traffic signal at Ribaut Road concurrent with the port redevelopment would allow pedestrians to walk across Ribaut Road in this area of town.

The Old Village should reflect true urbanism and become denser, with small lots and mixed residential. There are redevelopment opportunities in the village as well as the potential to add more parallel parking. Connections to the water should be strengthened.

The Old Village should be a tourist destination and a true walking community. Public access to the water is important, as is maintenance of the public beach. There is a need for more quality housing and better facilities for all modes of transportation. There is also the potential for connectivity with the naval property, if it redevelops. The port redevelopment is very important in reconnecting the village with the water and providing a marina.

 Adopt a ‘complete streets’ approach along Ribaut Road to safely accommodate all uses, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorist.  Improve connectivity in the area, particularly with any proposed redevelopment of the Naval Hospital.  Encourage local support of commercial establishments in the Old Village, as these shops cannot depend solely on tourists and visitors for success.  Redevelop infill properties, especially along Paris Avenue. This is critical for establishing Paris Avenue as a ‘Main Street.’

The Future Land Use Map

Port Royal has long been recognized as a leader in small‐town urbanism, reinforced through the creation of the 1995 Master Plan for the Village. Since this time, Port Royal has also developed multiple other area plans, including the Shell Point Master Plan and the neighborhood plan for Casablanca. The comprehensive plan seeks to build on this planning legacy through the creation of a future development map which is based on the importance of the character of these districts more so than specific land uses. This represents a significant shift in thinking about land use. The example below is taken from the Lexicon for the New Urbanism, in reference to food production:

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

As illustrated, the use of food production may occur anywhere along the Transect, but the scale and form ranges dramatically. A grocery store may be thought of in the same way…the corner store fits easily in the urban center, but the mega‐big‐box surrounded by acres of parking does not.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

Port Royal Character Sectors

The Character Sectors provide general guidance to the type of development patterns desired in Port Royal. Again, these areas are defined by a particular character more so than use. The boundaries of these sectors are intended to be general and interpreted on a case‐by‐case basis. Parcels are not shown on the future land use map intentionally, as the boundaries should not be viewed as parcel‐specific.

They are described in general terms below, but may manifest differently depending on the Port Royal District Transect within which it is located. Rural Open Sector (O)

Restricted Growth Sector (G_1)

Controlled Growth Sector (G_2)

Intended Growth Sector (G_3)

Infill Growth Sector (G_4)

Urban Open Sector (O)

Open Space Preservation (O_1)

Open space that is protected from development in perpetuity. The open space preservation sector includes areas under environmental protection by law or regulation, as well as land acquired for conservation through purchase or easement. Salt marshes are included in this category.

Open Space Conservation (O_2)

Areas of high environmental sensitivity, such as hummocks, which should be, but are not, protected from development. Any development in these areas should be extremely limited and conducted with the utmost considerations of the natural environment and stormwater management.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

Restricted Growth Sector (G_1)

Development within the restricted growth sector is dominated by single‐family residential development. Individually owned larger yards typically provide outdoor recreation space, as opposed to pocket parks. When parks are provided, they are frequently larger‐scale community or regional parks. Office and commercial development generally occurs along collector and arterial roads.y Man of these existing establishments are auto‐oriented, but future development should strive to be equally accessible to pedestrians as well.

Low Impact (G_1_A)

Generally located adjacent to rivers, creeks, salt marsh, or other environmentally sensitive areas, development in this sector is primarily low density, detached single‐family residential. Low impact stormwater management techniques and maximum tree cover should be a priority.

Conventional Neighborhood (G_1_B)

This sector includes areas of existing development and established neighborhoods with a wide range of lot sizes. Streets are typically curvilinear or a modified grid with large blocks. Future infill or redevelopment should seek to enhance connectivity.

Controlled Growth Sector (G_2)

Walkable Neighborhood

This sector includes a mix of existing development and undeveloped areas. Frequently located near activity centers, walkable neighborhoods include sidewalks, smaller lots, and housing diversity. Streets should be interconnected, typically in a traditional grid pattern with moderate to compact blocks.

These neighborhoods reflect development patterns which were predominant before the mid‐20th century and the widespread ownership of cars. Because the primary modes of transportation were walking, cycling, horses, or sometimes transit, living in close proximity to daily needs was important and necessitated compact lots and corner stores. As distance has become less of an issue and uses become more dispersed, the ability to choose another form of transportation becomes more limited.

One of the elements of the walkable neighborhood is neighborhood commercial. Neighborhood commercial establishments are those which fit into the context of the community, both through scale and building form. For example, a big‐box retailer with

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Land Use

corporate architecture would not be considered neighborhood commercial, but a former residential structure converted to an art gallery or coffee shop probably would.

Intended Growth Sector (G_3)

Activity Center

These locations can support substantial mixed use by virtue of their proximity to major roadways and existing or proposed development. Pedestrian accessibility and scale are complemented by an interconnected street network, typically in a traditional grid pattern with compact blocks.

Activity centers, by definition, are areas which draw people in from Port Royal and the region. The attraction to these areas may be due to a number of factors – shopping and entertainment opportunities, a vibrant atmosphere, special events, or natural or historic resources. On the future land use map, the current Naval Hospital property is identified as a future activity center, in anticipation of the potential redevelopment of this site. However, redevelopment should not be done at the expense of the significant historic resources on this property. It is recognized that access to the Emancipation Proclamation site should be improved, regardless of the naval hospital property. This cultural asset alone has tremendous potential to draw people into Port Royal.

Other activity centers may be suitable for larger‐scale regional commercial, such as major grocery stores or retailers, which would not be appropriate in the immediate context of residential neighborhoods. These areas may also provide smaller, neighborhood scale commercial on the periphery, as the uses transition to a more residential character.

Infill Growth Sector (G_4)

Village Core

The heart of Port Royal, the village core embodies the quaint character of Port Royal as articulated through vernacular building design, pedestrian‐scale elements, and generous vegetation. Compact buildings pulled to the sidewalk create outdoor rooms while supporting mixed use and vibrant street life.

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The village core has experienced some redevelopment in recent years, but there is still tremendous potential in this area. In particular, redevelopment of vacant lots along Paris Avenue should be a high priority. Each “gap” in the fabric of Paris Avenue disrupts the potential for fostering a vibrant street life. The physical disruptions that result from vacant lots and empty buildings not only lessen the pedestrian experience, but also create a psychological barrier for continuing on to the next store.

Maintaining the character of the village through appropriate urban form of development should be a high priority. Since the development of the Port Royal Master Plan in 1995, these principles have been well‐established. Maintaining compact development both along Paris Avenue and in the surrounding neighborhoods will be an important component of a walkable community. The scale of commercial activity along Paris Avenue lends itself to small, local businesses. Viability of these businesses, especially with competition from national chains, will be greatly enhanced by foot traffic along the street. Support of local businesses also enhances the local economy – for every $100 spent in local, independent stores, $68 returns to the community, as compared to a return of only $43 at a national chain.

Achieving a Balance

The future land use map is intended to serve as a general guide for future development. Decisions should be considered in context of the property, surrounding conditions, and the desired future state. In some instances, there may be conflicts between various goals outlined in this plan and each of these must be balanced and weighed. For example, water quality protection is a goal outlined in this plan. The use of buffers along the water is a recognized strategy for mitigating the negative impacts of stormwater runoff and should be required. However, there may be instances in which providing direct and immediate access to the water’s edge is of public benefit, such as with the redevelopment of the state port property. In this case, it may be reasonable for stormwater management to be managed in another manner so a riverwalk along the water’s edge can enhance another of the town’s goals, connectivity to the water. With each of these decisions, the benefit to the public must be weighed and the balance of goals evaluated. - 71 -

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Not to scale

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GOALS

 Port Royal will continue to build upon its strong planning tradition in placing a high priority on the quality of the built environment.

 We will strive to maintain our unique, quaint coastal character while also accommodating new growth and development to sustain our community.

 We recognize that esustainabl development must consider environmental stewardship, social equity, and fiscal responsibility.

 Port Royal includes many diverse neighborhoods with their own character, but we recognize that we are all part of a larger community.

 The Town of Port Royal will coordinate growth with the City of Beaufort and Beaufort County, especially around the current and future edges of the communities.

 Port Royal will support the vision for Northern Beaufort County to maintain a distinct regional form of compact urban and suburban development surrounded by rural development for the purpose of reinforcing the valuable sense of unique and high quality places within the region.

 Port Royal will promote compatible infill and redevelopment.

STRATEGIES

 Update Port Royal’s zoning regulations to a form‐based code in order to properly consider the importance of community design and character, building placement and proportions, and the impact of private development on the public realm. (A form‐based code is a method of regulating development to achieve a specific urban form. Form‐based codes create a predictable public realm primarily by controlling physical form, with a lesser focus on land use, through city or county regulations.)

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 Continue implementation of the Shell Point master plan in coordination with Beaufort County.

 Educate the public about the annexation process and how to evaluate when annexation is appropriate. Land located inside the Port Royal Growth Boundary is anticipated to ultimately annex into the Town with a demonstration that adequate public facilities are available or will be available at the time of development and that negative impacts of development will be mitigated. However, annexation is currently a largely misunderstood issue which needs to be better understood by the public.

 Identify infill and redevelopment priority areas. Conduct an infill parcel inventory in the identified priority areas. o Establish GIS “screening” criteria to identify possible infill areas or parcels. Consider such factors as zoning, size of parcels, infrastructure, land use, and constraints to development such as wetlands. o For redevelopment, look at such factors as ratio of assessed value of improvements to land value, age of structure, etc. o Conduct field surveys to supplement GIS screening – condition of structures, surrounding land use patterns.

 Identify impediments to infill development and develop strategies to overcome the impediments.

 Work together with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County to create and maintain an improved regional growth tracking system, including a land demand and land use forecasting model integrated with other regional models (such as the transportation model) that can be used by all entities for planning purposes.

 Redevelopment of the port property is a keystone in the future success of the Old Village. As such, this redevelopment should reflect the unique character of Port Royal while serving as an anchor to draw people into the Old Village.

 Foster compatible uses. Varying land uses should be primarily accommodated through appropriate design. Buffers should be strategically used where needed, but not serve as an impediment to walkability.

 Implement a property maintenance campaign to encourage/require property owners to maintain their property.

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 Create a gateway into the Old Village at Ribaut Road and Paris West as expressed through landscape, hardscape (signs, etc), and surrounding development.

 Create incentives to encourage higher density development in those areas where it is desired, as well as protecting naturally sensitive areas.

 Promote the development of commercial “nodes” in areas outside of the Traditional Town Overlay District to prevent sprawling development patterns and to minimize driving.

 Site all civic projects in appropriate urban locations and ensure compatibility with the principles of the Master Plan.

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NATURAL RESOURCES

The Lowcountry of South Carolina is largely defined by its natural resources – golden marshes, elegant live oaks draped in Spanish moss, meandering tidal creeks, and the wildlife that teems within this complex ecosystem. As development continues to increase, pressure will continue to mount on maintaining a balance between natural resource protection and accommodating new growth.

WATER SUPPLY

Drinking water is supplied to the Town of Port Royal by the Beaufort‐Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA). The source for this drinking water is the Savannah River. In order to protect these drinking water supplies, a Source Water Assessment Program was developed. Conducted jointly with the City of Savannah, which also utilizes the Savannah River as a drinking water source, this report identifies appropriate pollution prevention efforts to protect public drinking water supplies.

The BJWSA produces an annual report which includes results of water quality standards and inspections from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and is mailed to all customers annually in June.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Historically, many of our nation’s rivers were polluted by direct discharges of untreated or insufficiently treated water at specific discharge points, known as point‐source pollution. With the passage of the Clean Water Act over 35 years ago, this problem has been dramatically reduced. Our largest pollution threat to our surface waters is now non‐point source pollution, which is stormwater runoff that cannot be absorbed by the ground and finds its way to receiving marshes, streams, rivers, and lakes. With it, this stormwater runoff carries pollutants from the ground, including chemicals, heavy metals, oils, fertilizers and pesticides, and dirt.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources

The Town of Port Royal has a strong association with the water and marshes which surround the town. As such, water quality and ecosystem protection are a high priority. While the town has adopted comprehensive stormwater management regulations, there are additional steps that should be considered for maintaining a healthy estuarine environment.

The Town of Port Royal Drainage Study4, completed in January 2005, was conducted to develop an initial Stormwater Master Plan to address both the quality and quantity of stormwater. This study included the following tasks:

 catalog the Town’s primary drainage system,  identify areas with historic drainage issues,  develop a stormwater Capital Improvements Program priority list,  develop a public education program,  identify possible stormwater management Best Management Practices (BMPs),  and develop a digital GIS database of stormwater data features for sharing with the Beaufort County GIS department.

This study mapped and inventoried the primary drainage system for the Town, which consists of ditches, swales, culverts, and catch basins which comprise the stormwater collection and conveyance system. This study included the areas of Port Royal located between Battery Creek and the Beaufort River.

The field inventory of this study identified conditions which compromise the functionality of the system, including silting in of catch dbasins an culverts, clogged drainage pipes, incorrectly graded culverts, and areas where a stormwater system is needed. Recommendations for addressing these issues were provided as part of the Town’s Capital Improvement Plan and are repeated in the Implementation section. This study also recommended the implementation of an operations and maintenance program to maintain a functioning system. Currently, the Town is studying level of service improvements and BMP’s for controlling vegetation for Cypress Wetland, a series of marsh ponds that eventually drain into the marsh along the Beaufort River. The Town of Port Royal participates in the Beaufort County Storm Water Utility, which provides an allocation of funds each year for storm water related improvements.

Although the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) identify areas located within a floodplain, the aforementioned drainage study found that there is also flooding potential in areas not designated as 100‐year flood zones by the FIRM. Therefore, this study provides three specific recommendations for the Town of Port Royal:

4 Town of Port Royal Drainage Study, Drainage System Inventory and Capital Improvements Plan, prepared by Applied Technology & Management (ATM) Inc., January 2005.

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1. Develop a working flood zone map of the Town. Include in this map current FIRM map flood zones as well as any areas outside flood zones that have the potential for flooding and incorporate this into the Town’s GIS.

2. Strongly encourage citizens to purchase Federal Flood Insurance, even in areas not currently designated as FIRM map flood zones. This is especially important in those areas designated as having the potential for flooding.

3. Become involved in the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS). By working within the requirements of the CRS, the Town can reduce flood insurance rates for its citizens by 10 percent. By complying with all CRS requirements, rates can be reduced by as much as 45 percent. In addition, the CRS provides a strong base for public education about the potential risks of flooding and promotion of flood insurance purchase.

The Town of Port Royal currently does not have a buffer requirement. Setbacks from the critical line default to the rear setback requirement of the applied zoning district. This varies and ranges from 0 feet to 35 feet.

Low Impact Development Low Impact Development (LID) is an approach to land development (or re‐development) that works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible. LID employs principles such as preserving and recreating natural landscape features, minimizing effective imperviousness to create functional and appealing site drainage that treat stormwater as a resource rather than a waste product. There are many practices that have been used to adhere to these principles such as bioretention facilities, rain gardens, vegetated rooftops, rain barrels, and permeable pavements. By implementing LID principles and practices, water can be managed in a way that reduces the impact of built areas and promotes the natural movement of water within an ecosystem or watershed. Applied on a broad scale, LID can maintain or restore a watershed's hydrologic and ecological functions.

Conventional stormwater management typically relies on a collect‐pipe‐drain method which requires significant installation of infrastructure in the way of gutters, storm drains, pumps, detention ponds, etc. Since LID works to mimic natural systems and decrease, rather than increase, the size of drainage basins, the LID approach can be a less expensive and more sustainable alternative to conventional stormwater management. In fact, a 2007 study by the Environmental Protection Agency showed that total capital cost savings ranged from 15 to 80 percent when LID methods were used, with a few exceptions in which LID project costs were higher. 1 This study evaluated hard costs only and did not evaluate the environmental benefits of the LID approach. While site considerations such as a high water table can limit the use of some LID techniques in certain instances, other techniques, such as rainwater capture, can be easily implemented regardless of site conditions. 1 Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID) Strategies and Practices, EPA 841‐F‐07‐006, December 2007.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources

WETLANDS

Wetlands provide a multitude of ecological, economic and social benefits. They provide habitat for fish, wildlife and a variety of plants. Wetlands are nurseries for many saltwater and freshwater fishes and shellfish of commercial and recreational importance. Wetlands are also important landscape features because they hold and slowly release flood waterd an snow melt, recharge groundwater, act as filters to cleanse water of impurities, recycle nutrients, and provide recreation and wildlife viewing opportunities for millions of people.5

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Federal 404 permitting program is designed to protect jurisdictional wetlands. This program is not the responsibility of the local jurisdiction, however many communities are using the requirements of the program to enforce local wetlands protection initiatives. The Town of Port Royal relies on the USACE’s program in order to prevent development from encroaching into certain jurisdictional areas. As such, the town has been at least partially effective in protecting areas that provide valuable floodplain storage and water quality treatment for stormwater runoff.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service catalogues various types of wetlands in the National Wetland Inventory (NWI), shown on the following page. Marshlands also fall under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Office of Coastal Resource Management.

5 www.fws.gov/wetlands

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PLANT & ANIMAL HABITATS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a database of threatened and endangered species, listed by county. The table below indicates animal and plant species within Beaufort County that are threatened or endangered.

Table 6.1: Listed Species in Beaufort County Federal State Habitat Threats Species Status Status Mammals initial decreases probably due to overharvesting for meat, oil West Indian and leather; current mortality due to collisions with boats manatee E E coastal waters, estuaries, and warm water outfalls and barges; decline also related to coastal development and Trichechus loss of suitable habitat, particularly destruction of seagrass manatus beds Birds coastlines, rivers, large lakes or streams which Bald eagle provide adequate feeding grounds; typically nest in human activities that can cause them to abandon nest, or to Haliaeetus BGEPA BGEPA SC between late October and late May; tend to not properly incubate eggs, or care for young leucocephalus return year after year to the same nest tree, once they have successfully established a nest decline due primarily to loss of suitable feeding habitat; other Wood Stork primarily feed in fresh and brackish wetlands and factors include loss of nesting habitat, prolonged Mycteria E E nest in cypress or other wooded swamps drought/flooding, racoon predation on nests, and human americana disturbance of rookeries Red‐Cockaded nest in mature pine with low understory vegetation reduction of older age pine stands and to encroachment of Woodpecker E E (<1.5m); forage in pine and pine hardwood stands > hardwood midstory in older age pine stands due to fire Picoides 30 years of age, preferably > 10" dbh suppression borealis Piping plover winters on SC coast; prefers areas with expansive habitat alteration and destruction and human disturbance in Charadrius T T sand or mudflats (for foraging) in close proximity to a nesting colonies; recreational and commercial development melodus sand beach (for roosting) have contributed greatly to loss of breeding habitat Reptiles Kemp's ridley outside of nesting season, primarily found in the sea turtle nearshore and inshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico, overharvesting of eggs and adults for food and skins, E E Lepidochelys although immatures have been observed along the drowning when caught in shrimp nets kempii Atlantic as far north as Massachusetts rarely nests in SC, visits often coincide with periodic Leatherback abundance of cannonball jellyfish; distributed human exploitation, beach development, high predation of sea turtle E E worldwide in tropical and temperate waters of the hatchlings, and drowning when caught in nets of commercial Dermochelys Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans; most pelagic of shrimp and fish trawls and longline and driftnet fisheries coriacea the sea turtles nests on SC ocean beaches, forages primarily on loss or degradation of nesting habitat due to coastal Loggerhead sea mollusks and crustaceans in shallow ocean waters development and beach armoring; disorientation of turtle T T and stream channels, widely distributed throughout hatchlings by beachfront lighting; and incidental take from Caretta caretta the world channel dredging and commercial trawling - 82 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources

Table 6.1: Listed Species in Beaufort County Federal State Habitat Threats Species Status Status exploitation for food, high levels of predation, loss of nesting Green sea rarely nests in SC, generally found in fairly shallow habitat due to human encroachment, hatchling turtle Chelonia T T waters (except when migrating) inside reefs, bays disorientation due to artificial lights on beaches, and mydas and inlets drowning when trapped in fishing and shrimping nets Amphibians TE adults and subadults are fossorial; found in open mesic pine/ wiregrass flatwoods dominated by Flatwoods longleaf or slash pine and maintained by frequent habitat destruction as a result of agricultural and silvicultural salamander fire. During breeding period, which coincides with practices (e.g., clearcutting, mechanical site preparation), fire Ambystoma heavy rains from October to December, move to suppresion and residential and commercial development cingulatum isolated, shallow, small depressions (forested with emergent vegetation) that dry completely on a cyclic basis Fishes Shortnose EE habitat alterations from discharges, dredging or disposal of sturgeon occur in most major river systems along the eastern material into rivers, or related development activities Acipenser seaboard involving estuarine/riverine mudflats and marshes; brevirostrum commercial exploitation up until the 1950s Plants Pondberry E E found in swamp and pond margins, sandy sinks, drainage ditching and subsequent conversion of habitat to Lindera swampy depressions or wet flats that are subject to other uses, lack of seedling production melissifolia drying but the roots are submerged at times E E found in pond‐cypress savannahs in Carolina Bay Canby's formations dominated by grasses and sedges or dropwort loss or alteration of wetland habitats ditches next to bays; prefer borders and shallows of Oxypolis canbyi cypress‐pond pine ponds and sloughs American E E found in various sandy soil areas on the coastal chaffseed plain; plants are usually found on margins of fire suppression, habitat conversion, and incompatible Schwalbea savannas and cypress ponds that are seasonally wet; agriculture and forestry practices americana best managed by prescribed fire E= Endangered T = Threatened BGEPA = Bald & Golden Eagle Protection Act Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources

PROTECTED LANDS & SCENIC VIEWS

The Beaufort County’s Rural and Critical Lands Acquisition Program has been active in protecting sensitive lands throughout Beaufort County. Within Port Royal, the Beaufort County Land Trust, in a joint partnership with Beaufort County, has protected 160 acres known as Widgeon Point on Lemon Island, as shown on the map on the next page. Establishing permanent protection of the termination of many of Port Royal’s numbered streets in the old village would greatly enhance the public scenic views in the community and confirm their permanent protection from development.

SOILS

Soil survey data are a product of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effort of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other Federal and State agencies, as well as local participants. This survey develops and implements standards for describing, classifying, mapping, writing, and publishing information about soils of a specific area. Understanding the soils of an area is very important for many reasons, including hydrology, septic tank placement and functionality, building construction, and ecosystem functions.

Soils are classified into four hydrologic soil groups6:

 Group A is sand, loamy sand or sandy loam types of soils. It has low runoff potential and high infiltration rates even when thoroughly wetted. They consist chiefly of deep, well to excessively drained sands or gravels and have a high rate of water transmission.  Group B is silt loam or loam. It has a moderate infiltration rate when thoroughly wetted and consists chiefly or moderately deep to deep, moderately well to well drained soils with moderately fine to moderately coarse textures.  Group C soils are sandy clay loam. They have low infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consist chiefly of soils with a layer that impedes downward movement of water and soils with moderately fine to fine structure.  Group D soils are clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay or clay. This HSG has the highest runoff potential. They have very low infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consist chiefly of clay soils with a high swelling potential, soils with a permanent high water table, soils with a claypan or clay layer at or near the surface and shallow soils over nearly impervious material.

6 http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/runoff/documentation/hsg.html

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The prevalent use of septic tanks in Port Royal is of particular importance with regard to soils. As described in more detail under the “Community Facilities” chapter of this plan, the Town of Port Royal commissioned a study to evaluate the potential impact of septic tank use. As revealed by this report, the majority of the inventoried septic tanks are located in areas characterized by Wando soils. Wando soils are well‐drained with rapid permeability to groundwater, indicating a higher potential for contamination of groundwater and nearby surface water features from leaking septic tanks.

Table 3.2 below corresponds with the map eon th following page, as established by the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

Table 7.2: Soil Classifications Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Ae Argent fine sandy loam NeA Nemours fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes Ag Argent clay loam NeB Nemours fine sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes AN Argent association NoA Norfolk loamy fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes Ba Baratari fine sand Oe Okeetee fine sandy loam Bb Bertie loamy fine sand On Onslow loamy fine sand Bd Bladen fine sandy loam Os Osier loamy sand BeB Blanton fine sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes Pk Pickney loamy fine sand BK Bohicket association Po Polawana loamy fine sand Bp Borrow pits Rd Ridgeland fine sand Ca Cape Fear loam Ro Rosedhu fine sand CE Capers association Sa Santee fine sandy loam CmB Chisolm loamy fine sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes SE Santee association Co Coastal beaches Sk Seabrook fine sand Cs Coosaw loamy fine sand Sw Seewee fine sand De Deloss fine sandy loam To Tomotley loamy fine sand EdB Eddings fine sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes UL Udorthents, loamy Ee Eulonia fine sandy loam US Udorthents, sandy Fb Fripp‐Baratari complex W Water GoA Goldsboro loamy fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes Wa Wahee fine sandy loam HA Handsboro soils Wd Wando fine sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes HB Hobonny soil Wn Williman loamy fine sand LE Levy soils Ye Yemassee loamy fine sand Mu Murad fine sand Yo Yonges loamy fine sand

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GOALS

 Port Royal will re‐establish and strengthen its physical, social, and psychological connection with the water. The water’s edge will be clearly defined as an important component of the public realm.

 Through appropriate stewardship of the land, the Town of Port Royal will preserve and enhance its natural beauty, environmental quality, and natural resources, ensuring harmony between the natural and manmade environment.

 Port Royal will be protected by baseline standards for natural resources including salt marshes, marsh islands, coastal waters, and marine resources; trees, forests, and wildlife habitats; beaches and dunes; and open space preservation through the adoption of planning policies and regulations.

 Port Royal will participate with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County in developing methods of creating and permanently preserving a regional open space system.

STRATEGIES

 Improve the quality and attractiveness of The Sands, including renourishing the beach.

 Establish the vistas at the terminus of numbered streets in the Old Village as pocket parks.

 Adopt a comprehensive lighting ordinance to require cutoff fixtures and similar strategies to minimize light pollution.

 Coordinate with Beaufort County to upgrade existing boat facilities as outlined in the SCDHEC/OCRM South Carolina Five Coastal County Boat Ramp Study.

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 Require development adjacent to the marsh and/or water to respect the public realm through the establishment of a public right‐of‐way adjacent to the resource. The intent of this strategy is to allow the public visual access and enjoyment to these public natural resources. This is especially important in major redevelopments, such as the port property and potential redevelopment of the naval hospital.

 Make the protection of water quality a priority by implementing the recommendations of the Beaufort County Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). In particular: o BMP’s: Require all developments to adhere to the Beaufort County Best Management Practices (BMP’s) Manual. o Adopt baseline standards for critical line setbacks and natural vegetative buffers: Establish buffer requirements along the marsh and state waters to mitigate the impacts of nonpoint source pollution. Recognize that the development of boardwalks, riverwalks, etc. along the water’s edge may be appropriate within the village core in order to maximize connectivity to the water and create a vibrant waterfront community. Additional guidelines should be met to relieve the buffer requirements. Stormwater management must be designed to compensate for the reduction or elimination of the natural vegetative buffer and increase in the amount of impervious surfaces. o Develop and adopt baseline standards for the protection of freshwater wetlands. Recognize and protect wetlands for their capacity to filter pollutants and control flooding and erosion. Wetland protection requirements for planned communities in the Shell Point Overlay District currently apply and should be established uniformly throughout the Town. This should include policies for the management of wetlands smaller than one acre. These wetlands are not adequately protected under current state and federal policies and many rare species use only these small wetlands as habitats.

 Continue working with Beaufort County to utilize the “Greenprint” process for targeting the acquisition of future preserved lands. Actively participate in Beaufort County’s Rural and Critical Lands Acquisition Program by nominating appropriate land within the Town limits for purchase and preservation through the program.

 Consider an open space land bank where fees are collected in lieu of open space to apply to the purchase and preservation of larger or more critical lands.

 Work with other local governments in Northern Beaufort County to establish a common definition and baseline standards for open space. This would address such concerns as whether wetlands can count towards required open space, whether stormwater detention ponds could be placed within open space, and to what degree does open space serve recreation needs vs. preservation needs.

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 Maximize the retention of existing native vegetation over the practice of clearing and replanting. The types and arrangement of vegetation should correspond with the character. Urban areas should feature more regular spaces of trees and vegetation, whereas rural areas should maintain a more natural and organic look.

 Develop dan implement a public education campaign to help prevent and mitigate nonpoint source pollution, as much of this type of pollution comes from private homes.

 Develop and adopt subdivision regulations and design standards minimizing the amount of impervious surfaces and modifying current right of way requirements.

 Utilize zoning to regulate recreational and occupational uses of the rivers that protects natural resources from pollution and inappropriate use.

 Encourage conservation and protection of native birds, wildlife and habitats. o Establish contact and network with conservation organizations at the local, state and federal level to assist in identifying, preserving, and managing the Town’s natural resources. o Work with Beaufort County Open Land Trust and other conservation organizations to acquire, manage and preserve open space and scenic vistas. o Evaluate the Town’s open space development standards to more accurately reflect its urban context. o Require future land development practices to be compatible with the existing topography, vegetation, and scenic vistas.

 Foster responsible environmental stewardship in both public and private enterprise and endeavors. o Review existing land and water uses for pollution and habitat degradation. Revise regulations as necessary. Consider o Encourage and develop incentives for conservation efforts and sound environmental management by both residents and businesses. o Promote economic development compatible with adjacent land uses and the natural environment. o Encourage energy consciousness and conservation among the Port Royal residents, businesses, property owners and developers.

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o Encourage all new construction to incorporate “green” building techniques and to pursue certification such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. o Strengthen and expand the Town’s recycling program. o Explore the possibility of instituting a composting program throughout the Town.

 Address the CIP projects identified in the 2005 Drainage Study: o South Paris Avenue, 9th and 10th Street Drainage System Improvements o Casablanca Area Drainage System Improvements o Columbia Avenue, Madrid Avenue, and 14th Street Drainage System Improvements o 12th Street Culvert Rehabilitation o Indigo Woods Court Culvert Rehabilitation

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CULTURAL RESOURCES

The cultural resources section is directly related to the natural resources section, by virtue of the irreplaceable and invaluable nature of the town’s unique resources. Cultural traditions and artifacts are the most important links between the past, present and the future within the community. They are the components that bind ythe cit together and are the common ground that provide community cohesiveness and historic and cultural perspective.

HISTORY

The town began with plans for the Port Royal Railroad Company, which was created to provide access to the Port Royal Harbor, one of the finest natural harbors on the east coast. The Railroad Company began planning and fund raising in 1869, with the intention of connecting Port Royal to Augusta, Georgia. This plan was the descendant of plans earlier in the nineteenth century to use railroads as a way to siphon commerce from the hinterland of Georgia and Alabama traveling down the Savannah River; the first railroad in South Carolina in the 1830s sought to bring goods from Hamburg along the Savannah River directly to Charleston. The plan with the Port Royal Railroad was similar, using the Port Royal Harbor as the port of export.

The Town of Port Royal was chartered in 1874, the same year the Railroad began operation. By the 1880s the town contained nearly 400 inhabitants, with several churches, a school, and two boarding houses. A large railroad warehouse located twenty feet from the water contained a steam cotton press and a grain elevator. The town was designed to eclipse the antebellum town of Beaufort with new and modern shipping equipment. Phosphate quickly became the principal feature of Port Royal’s activities. In the 1880s, for example, the Port Royal Fertilizing Company had “extensive works” in the town, while in the early twentieth century the Virginia‐Carolina Chemical Company and the Baldwin Fertilizer Company operated plants in Port Royal. The new town of Port Royal received an additional boost in 1889 when Congress authorized a coaling dock and naval storehouse at nearby Parris Island. The U.S. Navy had been at Port Royal harbor since seizing it in the Civil War, and the harbor had been a rendezvous point throughout the War and after. In the late 1870s two ships, the New Hampshire and the Pawnee, were stationed at Port Royal. The Navy built a wooden dry dock, which was then the largest dry dock built by the Federal government, designed to hold large new warships. It was not large enough, however, and when in 1898 the Navy committed to replacing all of its wooden dry docks with stone or concrete, Port Royal’s facility was in danger. In 1902, Congress authorized the removal of the

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Cultural Resources

Naval Station to Charleston, though the Navy retained possession of Parris Island, and created the Marine Corps recruit training station there in 1915.7

An Above‐Ground Historic Resources Survey of Beaufort County, South Carolina was conducted in 1998. This survey identified historic resources 50 years or older that have architectural or historic significance. The purposes of this survey were to:

 Provide information for informed decisions regarding the impact of development and other activity on the community’s cultural resources;  Set priorities for the protection and use of these resources;  Generate public awareness and value of these resources;  Serve as an archival record of the county’s above ground resources.

The inventory conducted for this survey identified a total of 129 records in the Town of Port Royal, as shown in Table 4.1 below.

Table 7.1: Above‐Ground Historic Resources in Port Royal Historic Date Historic Name Common Name Address 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 7 Sea Gull Villa Lane 1930 ‐‐ ‐‐ 9 Ricket Place 1900 ‐‐ ‐‐ 856 Parris Island Gateway 1930 ‐‐ ‐‐ 286 Castle Rock Road 1930 ‐‐ ‐‐ 344 Parris Island Gateway 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 39 Providence Road 1930 ‐‐ ‐‐ 30 Providence Road 1881 Benton/Fripp Plantation Cavu Cavu Lane 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1102 Richmond Ave. 1887 Campbell House ‐‐ 1114 12th St. 19th century Battery Plantation Outbuilding ‐‐ 1110 11th St. 1948 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1102 12th St. 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1006 12th St. 1887 Jernigan House ‐‐ 1203 Paris Ave. 1909 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1215 Paris Ave. 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1210 Madrid Ave. 1911 Port Royal School Port Royal Elementary 1214 12th St.

7 An Above‐Ground Historic Resources Survey of Beaufort County, South Carolina, P. II‐30 ‐ 31

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Table 7.1: Above‐Ground Historic Resources in Port Royal Historic Date Historic Name Common Name Address 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1202 Richmond Ave. 1900 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1138 13th St.* 1941 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1108 13th St. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1106 13th St. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1109 14th St. 1910 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1115 14th St. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1016 13th St. 1941 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1305 Paris Ave. 1941 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1305 rear Paris Ave. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1011 14th St. 1946 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1013 14th St. 1935 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1304 rear Richmond Ave. 1900 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1010 14th St. 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1005 15th St. 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 920 14th St. 1948 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1503 Paris Ave. 1948 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1510 Madrid Ave. 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 908 15th St. 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 906 15th St. 1930 ‐‐ ‐‐ 911 16th St. 1945 ‐‐ ‐‐ 913 16th St. 1945 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1508 Paris Ave. 1925 Porter's Chapel A.M.E. Church ‐‐ 1515 Old Shell Rd. 1940 Field, Commander F. P., House ‐‐ 2100 Berkley Ct. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1617 Edinburgh Ave. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1603 Columbia Ave. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1613 Columbia Ave. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1615 Columbia Ave. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1614 Edinburgh Ave. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1612 Edinburgh Ave. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1610 Edinburgh Ave. 1935 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1713 Paris Ave. 1941 ‐‐ ‐‐ 804 17th St. 1935 ‐‐ ‐‐ 712 16th St.

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Table 7.1: Above‐Ground Historic Resources in Port Royal Historic Date Historic Name Common Name Address 1900 ‐‐ ‐‐ 710 16th St. 1900 ‐‐ ‐‐ E end 18th St. 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 21 Dawson Pl. 1900 Union Baptist Church The Beaufort Lodge 1708 Old Shell Rd. 1900 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1612 Old Shell Rd. 1944 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1629 Paris Ave. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1910 Lenora Dr. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1908 Lenora Dr. 1949 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1906 Lenora Dr. 1900 Port Royal Cemetery ‐‐ Royal Pines Ext., N end, E side 1950 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1700 Ribaut Rd. 19th century ‐‐ ‐‐ 1680 rear Ribaut Rd. 1910 ‐‐ ‐‐ 2 Mercury Ln. 1935 ‐‐ The Beaufort Lodge 1630 Ribaut Rd. 1947 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1614 Ribaut Rd. 1946 ‐‐ ‐‐ 2329 Hillside Ct. 1946 ‐‐ ‐‐ 2327 Hillside Ct. 1945 ‐‐ ‐‐ 2411 Casablanca Cir. 1945 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1570 Ribaut Rd. 1946 ‐‐ ‐‐ 2208 Waddell Rd. 1950 Lodge 18/O E S 20 ‐‐ 2314 Waddell Rd. 1735 Fort Frederick ‐‐ Fort Frederick Boat Landing 1935 First African Baptist Ch. Cemetery ‐‐ 1414 Ribaut Rd. 1954 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1415 rear Ribaut Rd. 1910 ‐‐ ‐‐ 8 H. E. Smalls Ct. 1937 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1401 Ribaut Rd. 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1405 Ribaut Rd. 1950 ‐‐ ‐‐ 69 Johnny Morrall Cir. 1951 ‐‐ ‐‐ 49 Johnny Morrall Cir. 1875 Port Royal Freight Depot ‐‐ 1508 Old Shell Rd. 19th century ‐‐ ‐‐ 2333 Hillside Ct. (adjacent to S) 1909 Paul, James Leith, House ‐‐ 902 7th St.* 1926 ‐‐ ‐‐ 901 7th St. 1900 Customs House ‐‐ 610 Paris Ave.

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Table 7.1: Above‐Ground Historic Resources in Port Royal Historic Date Historic Name Common Name Address 1900 ‐‐ ‐‐ 911 7th St. 1880 ‐‐ ‐‐ 70 Paris Ave. 1935 ‐‐ ‐‐ 707 Paris Ave. 1870 ‐‐ Appleton Building 703 Paris Ave. 1948 ‐‐ ‐‐ 909 8th St. 1948 ‐‐ ‐‐ 911 8th St. 1885 Scheper, F. W., Store ‐‐ 918 8th St.* 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 914 8th St. 1922 ‐‐ ‐‐ 910 7th St. 1926 ‐‐ ‐‐ 910 8th St. 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 908 8th St. 1900 ‐‐ ‐‐ 906 8th St. 1885 Scheper, F. W., House ‐‐ 904 8th St. 1885 Scheper, E. A. Stickey/Graber House 915 9th St. 1873 ‐‐ ‐‐ 923 9th St. 1891 Eichberg House Witten House 931 9th St. 1880 ‐‐ United Brotherhood of 933 Paris Ave. Carpenters Hall 1930 ‐‐ ‐‐ 924‐926 9th St. 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 910 9th St. 1915 ‐‐ ‐‐ 906 9th St. 1915 ‐‐ ‐‐ 904 9th St. 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 903 London Ave. 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 909 London Ave. 1937 ‐‐ Vagnieur House 1103 11th St. 1946 ‐‐ Funderburk's Grocery 1003 Paris Ave. 1950 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1004 Paris Ave. 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 908 10th St. 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 906 10th St. 1895 H. L. Krouse House ‐‐ 1003 London Ave. 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 911 11th St. 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 909 11th St. 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 806 Tenth St. 1950 ‐‐ "Cotton" Vagnieur House 1108 11th St.

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Table 7.1: Above‐Ground Historic Resources in Port Royal Historic Date Historic Name Common Name Address 1895 ‐‐ Kirkland's Boarding House 1102 11th St.* 1885 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1113 12th St. 1946 Homer Kent House ‐‐ 1115 12th St. 1878 Union Church Port Royal Playhouse 1004 11th St.* 1920 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1103 Paris Ave. 1952 ‐‐ Alano Hall 1005 12th St. 1945 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1007 12th St. 1940 ‐‐ ‐‐ 915 12th St. 1925 ‐‐ ‐‐ 917 12th St. 1900 ‐‐ H. R. Walker House 816 11th St. 1950 ‐‐ ‐‐ 806 11th St. * Properties which may be nominated individually as part of a multiple property submission in Port Royal. This determination was made by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in 1997.

National Register of Historic Places

There are four properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Port Royal and two additional properties listed in the vicinity.

Camp Saxton Site, US Naval Hospital

The Camp Saxton Site is nationally significant as an intact portion of the camp occupied from early November 1862 to late January 1863 by the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, the first black regiment mustered into regular service in the United States Army during the Civil War, and as the site ofe th elaborate ceremonies held here on New Year’s Day 1863 which formally announced and celebrated the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in areas then “in rebellion” against the United States. Throughout the summer of 1862 President Lincoln carefully considered the inclusion of blacks in the Union war effort, both in terms of the effect their emancipation could have on the Confederacy and in terms of the work they could perform as laborers and even soldiers in the U.S. Army. By August he was ready to implement a policy permitting his generals to use all the means at their disposal, including readily available black manpower, to help preserve the Union. On August 22nd Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton authorized Rufus Saxton to “arm, equip, and receive into the service of the United States such volunteers of African descent as you may deem expedient, not exceeding 5,000.” The Camp Saxton Site is an approximately six‐acre wooded and greenspace site, bounded on the east by the

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Beaufort River, on the west by the complex at the United States Naval Hospital Beaufort, on the north by the boat basin off the Beaufort River and on the south by the ruins of Fort Frederick. Listed in the National Register February 2, 1995.8

Fort Frederick

The Journal of the Common House of Assembly of South Carolina for January 21, 1726 stated that “in case of war the enemy might be attracted by the excellent Port Royal Harbor.” Beaufort was very near Spanish territory; attention was being given to defense against the Spaniards and Indians who had attacked on numerous occasions. Fort Frederick came into being in 1734. The tabby fortification was maintained “to the mental, if not to the physical, sense of security” for the Beaufort inhabitants. By 1756, it had fallen into disrepair and was ultimately abandoned in 1758. A stronger defense, Fort Lyttleton, was constructed a little further up the river and Fort Frederick was deserted. In 1862 the property was used as headquarters of Col. Thomas Wentworth Higginson and a regiment of black soldiers. The camp was given the name “Camp Saxton” in honor of General Rufus Saxton, who commanded the Beaufort District. Part of the original fort was destroyed by and is under the waters of the Beaufort River. The walls are the only visible remains of the fort and are in a sturdy but deteriorated condition. They are approximately 5’8” thick and 3‐4’ high. Listed in the National Register December 31, 1974.9

F. W. Scheper Store, 918 8th St., Port Royal

Located in the heart of the commercial district of Port Royal, the store served the community of Port Royal from its construction by German immigrant F.W. Scheper in 1885 until the store closed for business in 1950. The store is one of the last remaining nineteenth century commercial buildings in Port Royal and is a vivid reminder of the town’s early history and brief period of economic prosperity in the 1870s through the 1890s. A ship chandler, Scheper was a wholesale and retail grocer and a dealer in hay and grain. The store was located within short distance of the railroad terminus which was the debarkation point for the marines who arrived in Port Royal for transport to the growing naval and marine base on Parris Island. The store is a large two‐story frame commercial building that is the focal point of historic downtown Port Royal. The largest historic commercial building remaining in the town, the store retains a good degree of physical integrity. A one‐story

8 South Carolina Department of Archives and History, http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/beaufort/S10817707057/index.htm

9 South Carolina Department of Archives and History, http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/beaufort/S10817707021/index.htm

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addition at the southeast corner of the building was constructed between 1905 and 1912; it served as the Port Royal post office. Listed in the National Register June 22, 2004.10

Parris Island Drydock and Commanding General's House, Parris Island

The Parris Island Drydock is significant both from a historic and an engineering standpoint. It was one of the few wooden graving‐type drydocks ever constructed in this country, was the largest naval drydock at the time of its construction in the early 1890s, and was the largest wooden drydock ever constructed in the nation. When in use the drydock was sealed off from the Beaufort River by means of a floating caisson type gate. As ships began to outgrow the drydock in the 1920s it was allowed to fall into disrepair. The Victorian style Commanding General’s home (Quarters One) and its neighboring ca. 1900 octagonal mode gazebo reflect the style of living prevalent on military posts of the period. They are among the first few permanent structures built by the military on Parris Island and, in the case of Quarters One, the home of the Marine Corps’ greatest generals including two former Commandants, Generals W.M. Greene, Jr. and D.M. Shoup. Constructed between 1891 and 1895, Quarters One has been the traditional home of the depot Commanding General. The two‐story house boasts 27 rooms and a porch which spans the entire front and partially down both sides of the house. Although the house has undergone several renovations, it still retains its basic floor plan. Listed in the National Register November 21, 1978.11

The National Register also includes two other sites, Hasell Point and Little Barnwell Island, which are listed in the Port Royal vicinity. Both of these archeological sites contain earth mounds and shell middens with significant historic significance.

The Town of Port Royal has established a locally designated “Historic Preservation Landmark District” which is governed by the town’s Historic Preservation Commission. The ordinances for properties included in this district govern modifications and demolition of historic properties.

10 South Carolina Department of Archives and History, http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/beaufort/S10817707065/index.htm

11 South Carolina Department of Archives and History, http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/beaufort/S10817707026/index.htm

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LOCAL RESOURCES

Estuarium

The Lowcountry Estuarium is a nonprofit, environmental education center located in the heart of the old village. It provides education about the importance of the region’s estuaries to school groups and visitors. Currently located on Paris Avenue, a quarter‐acre site has been identified for a new location as part of the redevelopment of the state port authority property at the southern tip of the peninsula. The new 12,000‐square foot facility was included as part of civic open space in PUD of port redevelopment plan. The Estuarium has an existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Town for full partnership in developing the new facility.

Naval Hospital Beaufort

Naval Hospital, Beaufort was opened in 1949 on 127 acres of land. Historically, the site was formerly the John Joiner Smith Plantation which included Camp Saxton, a Civil War Garrison and Fort Frederick, both recognized as National Historical sites. The earliest federally authorized black unit to fight for the Union, the First South Carolina Volunteers, was camped at this site. On January 1, 1863, General Rufus Saxton assembled a large populace for one of the earliest readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. An annual reenactment of the reading is held at the Camp Saxton site, along with a Civil War encampment both of which are enjoyed by members of our staff and the local community.

Fort Frederick was built by the English in 1735 to protect Beaufort from the Native Americans in the area and the Spaniards to the south. Today, the remains of its walls stand within the Naval Hospital compound asy a dul designated historical monument. During the Civil War, the site became a Garrison named Camp Shaw. The present hospital replaced the Naval Hospital, Parris Island which was open from 1891 through 1 May 1949. Naval Hospital, Beaufort was commissioned on 29 April 1949, and the first patient was admitted on 5 May 1949.

Naval Hospital, Beaufort is one of the few military facilities which is a complete military compound in itself, rather than a tenant of a larger command. Located within the grounds of the Naval Hospital, Beaufort are 53 family housing single‐story units, two Bachelor Enlisted Quarters, able to accommodate 190 residents, a Navy Exchange Retail store, Gas Station and Mini Mart with package store. This command also has its own complete Public Works facility. Recreational facilities include two softball fields, swimming pool, lighted tennis and basketball courts, outdoor fitness course, a gym, fishing pier and a children's play ground.

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Naval Hospital, Beaufort provides general medical, surgical, and emergency services to all Active Duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel, as well as Retired military personnel and all military dependents residing in the Beaufort area, a total population of approximately 35,000 beneficiaries.12

As described above, the Camp Saxton site is of significant historic significance. Although not owned by the Naval Hospital, access to this important historic resource is limited due to security issues of the adjacent military property. The Town is working with the military to regain public access to the site. An important component of the military infrastructure, there are plans to expand the current hospital either in its current location or at a new site. The latter of the two is anticipated. Should the hospital be relocated, this area has tremendous redevelopment potential. As a part of any redevelopment, improved public access to the significant historic and cultural resources adjacent to this site should be a high priority.

12 http://themilitaryzone.com/bases/beaufort_naval_hospital.html

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GOALS

 Port Royal will embrace and showcase its rich history and maritime roots.

 Port Royal will foster and encourage the continued development of the arts community.

STRATEGIES

 Continue to support the Low Country Estuarium through promotion and financial support. Assist in the promotion of the capital campaign to construct the new facility.

 Encourage the development of an interactive historical museum, which would include highlighting the shrimping industry and Port Royal’s maritime history. This could potentially be developed in conjunction with the new Lowcountry Estuarium.

 Continue to present and support town concert series, cultural events, and festivals.

 Support the Historic Port Royal Foundation (HPRF) with projects and capital improvements.

 Encourage citizens to restore and preserve historic sites and properties by coordinating with local historic foundations.

 Assess the cultural resources, such as oral history and the physical, built environment, and develop a plan to protect them.

 Should the Naval Hospital site be redeveloped, the existing hospital building should remain and be redeveloped to retain its landmark significance.

 Improve public accesse to th Emancipation Proclamation site.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The economic development chapter evaluates the Town’s economic base, labor force, and general economic trends. As a small community, Port Royal’s economic development opportunities are enhanced through collaboration with other regional partners. However, with tourism as the largest economic driver in Beaufort County, Port Royal is a valuable asset locally, regionally, and to the State.

LABOR FORCE AND LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS

When compared to the county and state figures, Port Royal has the highest percentage of its population over 16 in the workforce. Given the presence of several military installations in the area, it is not surprising that almost 14% of the workforce is in the Armed Forces.

Table 8.1: Employment Status Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

EMPLOYMENT STATUS Population 16 years and over 3,083 100 95,640 100 3,114,016 100 In labor force 2,253 73.1 59,093 61.8 1,974,222 63.4 Civilian labor force 1,824 59.2 49,996 52.3 1,938,195 62.2 Employed 1,659 53.8 47,862 50 1,824,700 58.6 Unemployed 165 5.4 2,134 2.2 113,495 3.6 Percent of civilian labor force 9 (X) 4.3 (X) 5.9 (X) Armed Forces 429 13.9 9,097 9.5 36,027 1.2 Not in labor force 830 26.9 36,547 38.2 1,139,794 36.6

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Table 8.1: Employment Status Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Females 16 years and over 1,640 100 47,427 100 1,626,362 100 In labor force 1,050 64 25,002 52.7 935,656 57.5 Civilian labor force 967 59 23,691 50 928,772 57.1 Employed 857 52.3 22,539 47.5 868,936 53.4 Own children under 6 years 443 100 9,137 100 297,176 100 All parents in family in labor force 317 71.6 5,197 56.9 186,013 62.6 Source: US Census Bureau In 2000, the unemployment rate in Port Royal was slightly higher than the state average. However, this statistic can vary widely based on economic conditions at the time. During the development of this plan, the country is in an economic recession, so unemployment figures are particularly high. As of April 2009, the South Carolina unemployment rate was 11.5%; Beaufort County’s unemployment rate of 8.5% at this same time was among the lowest unemployment rate in the state.

Almost one‐third of the employed population in Port Royal works in management, professional and related occupations, which is consistent with the county and state. Sales and office occupations are held by another one‐third, with service occupations held by about twenty percent of the employed population. About one‐quarter of the workforce are government employees.

Table 8.2: Industry and Labor Force Characteristics (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Employed civilian population 16 years and over 1,659 100 47,862 100 1,824,700 100 OCCUPATION Management, professional, & related 546 32.9 15,454 32.3 530,117 29.1 Service 333 20.1 9,085 19 268,661 14.7 Sales and office 515 31 12,742 26.6 459,724 25.2 Farming, fishing, and forestry 24 1.4 325 0.7 10,679 0.6 Construction, extraction, and maintenance 123 7.4 6,401 13.4 209,048 11.5 Production, transportation, and material moving 118 7.1 3,855 8.1 346,471 19 Source: US Census Bureau - 106 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Economic Development

Table 8.3: Industry Characteristics (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

INDUSTRY Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 31 1.9 445 0.9 20,785 1.1 Construction 189 11.4 6,508 13.6 150,608 8.3 Manufacturing 60 3.6 2,158 4.5 354,386 19.4 Wholesale trade 46 2.8 1,149 2.4 60,503 3.3 Retail trade 220 13.3 6,451 13.5 217,604 11.9 Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 35 2.1 1,698 3.5 91,698 5 Information 28 1.7 1,303 2.7 38,554 2.1 Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing 159 9.6 3,752 7.8 102,764 5.6 Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services 92 5.5 4,538 9.5 125,514 6.9 Educational, health and social services 337 20.3 8,149 17 339,708 18.6 Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 183 11 6,771 14.1 151,099 8.3 Other services (except public administration) 125 7.5 2,190 4.6 85,794 4.7 Public administration 154 9.3 2,750 5.7 85,683 4.7 CLASS OF WORKER Private wage and salary workers 1,121 67.6 35,538 74.3 1,425,333 78.1 Government workers 438 26.4 8,017 16.8 289,867 15.9 Self‐employed workers in own not incorporated business 88 5.3 4,129 8.6 104,649 5.7 Unpaid family workers 12 0.7 178 0.4 4,851 0.3 Source: US Census Bureau

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EMPLOYMENT BY PLACE OF WORK AND RESIDENCE

Commuting methods for people in Port Royal are very similar to those in Beaufort County and South Carolina. However, the average travel time to work is lower for Port Royal residents (18.6 minutes) as compared to Beaufort County (23.3 minute) and South Carolina (24.3 minutes).

Table 8.4: Commuting Methods (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

COMMUTING TO WORK Workers 16 years and over 2,061 100 55,790 100 1,822,969 100 Car, truck, or van ‐‐ drove alone 1,579 76.6 39,709 71.2 1,447,338 79.4 Car, truck, or van ‐‐ carpooled 288 14 8,021 14.4 255,857 14 Public transportation (including taxicab) 12 0.6 663 1.2 15,468 0.8 Walked 117 5.7 3,063 5.5 42,567 2.3 Other means 22 1.1 1,724 3.1 23,504 1.3 Worked at home 43 2.1 2,610 4.7 38,235 2.1 Mean travel time to work (minutes) 18.6 (X) 23.3 (X) 24.3 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

Single‐occupancy vehicle travel is by far the most common mode of travel for commuting. While this is not surprising, other alternatives may need to be encouraged to minimize congestion on county roadways. Although transit service to all areas of the county is limited, this will likely become more viable as development continues and transit service expands. Other programs, such as ride‐share parking areas and carpooling, can be low cost alternatives for diversifying commuting options.

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Commuting patterns at the county level indicate that significantly more people travel into Beaufort County for work than those who leave the county for work. A higher percentage of in‐commuting is a good economic indicator, demonstrating that Beaufort County is an employment center of the region.

Table 8.5: Worker Commuting Patterns – Beaufort County In‐Commuting from top 10 counties Out‐Commuting to top 10 counties County Number County Number Jasper 3,501 Jasper 533 Hampton 1,213 Hampton 219 Colleton 1,167 Charleston 93 Charleston 375 Colleton 74 Allendale 145 Greenwood 58 Berkeley 81 Richland 48 Dorchester 76 Orangeburg 42 Richland 72 Chester 34 Lexington 69 Horry 24 Aiken 45 Greenville 20 Sumter 20 Total 6,744 Total 1,165

Total from remaining SC counties 282 Total to remaining SC counties 84

County residents who work in County residents who work in 52,634 52,634 Beaufort County Beaufort County

Total from all other states 3,751 Total to all other states 1,907

Grand Total 63,411 Grand Total 55,790 Source: SC Employment Security Commission, Labor Market Information, www.sces.org

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Economic Development

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES & ORGANIZATIONS

Lowcountry Economic Network

The Lowcountry Economic Network & Alliance is a public‐private initiative, focused on business development and recruitment in Beaufort County. According to the 2008 – 2009 Annual Report, the Lowcountry Economic Network is focused on the following target industries, with the goal of achieving economic advancement of Beaufort County and the Lowcountry.

 Aeronautics, in support of the Joint Strike Fighter (F‐35) operational and training units, and supporting ancillary businesses.  Knowledge – intensive, recognizing that with rapid changes in technology, businesses have greater freedom to locate anywhere and are attracted to high‐quality lifestyles.  Green, building upon a national priority of energy efficiency and sustainability and fostering stewardship of the Lowcountry’s environment.  Logistics, in anticipation of the Jasper Ocean Terminal.

As a member of the Lowcountry Economic Network, Port Royal is well‐positioned to capitalize on many of these regional initiatives, especially the knowledge‐intensive and green businesses. Public input received during the development of this plan consistently reflected an affection for the quaint character of Port Royal. The intimate scale of Port Royal and hometown atmosphere has not always been synonymous with business development. However, with advances in technology and a growing appreciation for high quality of life, Port Royal has an excellent opportunity to attract businesses which rely on the use of technology rather than large office buildings or heavy manufacturing.

Image Source: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2009. A report recently released by the Pew Charitable Trusts13 found that the number of jobs in the emerging clean energy economy grew nearly two and a half times faster than overall jobs between 1998 and 2007. Traditional jobs grew by 3.7 percent during this timeframe, but the clean energy economy green by 9.1 percent. The statistics are even more staggering for South Carolina: while overall job growth in the state grew by 2.2 percent, clean job growth increased by 36.2 percent.

13 The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America, The Pew Charitable Trusts, June 2009.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Economic Development

Tourism

The South Carolina Lowcountry is a popular tourist destination, which is reflected by the high percentage of leisure and retail jobs reflected in the chart below. Tourism is also the largest industry in Beaufort County. Therefore, it is a very important component of the region’s economic development strategy. Image Source: www.lowcountrynet.org Although tourism is an excellent revenue‐builder, as money is brought into the community and the services needed are minimal (since tourist don’t attend local schools or typically need emergency services), the wages of jobs created by the hospitality industry are also typically lower‐paying jobs.

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce has been active for more than one hundred years and includes more than 900 member businesses. According to the Chamber’s 2008 – 2009 Annual Report:

The vision of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce is to be recognized as the premier voice of commercial interest throughout the Beaufort region. The mission of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce is to lead the enhancement, expansion and diversification of the business community throughout the Beaufort region. The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce fulfills its mission by:

• Providing marketing, networking and business growth opportunities so that members can expand their businesses. • Providing educational opportunities so that members can become more productive and profitable. • Providing advocacy at all levels of government to ensure a favorable business climate.

Given tourism’s significant impact on the region, the Chamber is also actively involved in tourism. It recently established the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce Visitor and Convention Bureau to lead these efforts.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Economic Development

GOALS

 Port Royal will support the growth and development of quality jobs and businesses in the community.

 Port Royal will seek to increase the economic development activities related to the water, waterfront activities, and our maritime history.

 A strong, vibrant, and healthy economy will be achieved through a successful economic development program in order to ensure the long term success and viability of the Northern Beaufort County region.

STRATEGIES   Inventory the existing supply of appropriately zoned land and vacant non‐residential structures available for non‐retail commercial development within the Town of Port Royal and assess the present opportunities they provide for competitive economic development. Make this inventory and assessment available to local and regional agencies involved in promoting economic development.

 Provide more flexibility in commercial zoning districts to permit smaller non‐retail commercial uses such as contractor’s offices, small assembly facilities, and small light industrial operations that do not adversely impact surrounding retail uses.

 Where feasible, streamline the permitting process. In order to attract more business development, consider “pre‐permit” non‐retail commercially zoned properties, similar to the process established in the Beaufort Commerce Park. This involves the local jurisdiction proactively analyzing the properties, assessing site conditions, determining the location of natural resources, determining appropriate locations for buffers, etc. for the purpose of completing portions of eth development permitting process for the applicants.

 Encourage industries that support sustainable practices by promoting renewable energy and attracting or growing value‐added industries that support using locally available resources such as agricultural or seafood products.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Economic Development

 Maintain continuing use of the existing shrimp docks.

 Work with other neighboring jurisdictions to facilitate a higher level of coordination with the Technical College of the Lowcountry and the University of South Carolina Beaufort to establish research and development facilities to provide workforce development and stimulate high‐tech entrepreneurial activities in the region.

 Consider utilizing high performance green building standards through the Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) through the US Green Building Council in all future civic projects to conserve energy and set a precedent of conservation in the Lowcountry.

 Continue to work with eth Lowcountry Economic Network (LEN) in the establishment and development of regional parks and sites.

 Establish a Main Street type program to foster economic development in the Old Village, especially along Paris Avenue.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Community facilities and services are the face that a municipality provides to its public – the residents and visitors of the town. The quality, accessibility and location of facilities within the community will determine how effective they are and how well the public receives them. Likewise, the quality and efficiency of services is vital to the day‐to‐day operation of the town. Services such as garbage disposal can be taken for granted until there is a delay or an inconsistency in service delivery.

Existing community facilities are shown on the following page.

WATER SUPPLY

Drinking water is supplied to the Town of Port Royal by the Beaufort‐Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA). Drinking water is supplied from the Savannah River under a 60 MGD (million gallons per day) inter‐basin transfer permit. In order to protect these drinking water supplies, a Source Water Assessment Program was developed. Conducted jointly with the City of Savannah, which also utilizes the Savannah River as a drinking water source, this report identifies appropriate pollution prevention efforts to protect public drinking water supplies.

The BJWSA produces an annual report which includes results of water quality standards and inspections from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and is mailed to all customers annually in June.

In Port Royal, the BJWSA serves 1705 households and 278 businesses, plus 30 irrigation taps. There are over 70 miles of main water lines in Port Royal,s plu an additional 54 miles of main lines serving Parris Island. These lines range in size from one to twenty inches and are all owned and maintained by BJWSA. Approximately 485 households rely on individual private wells.

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WASTEWATER

Wastewater treatment is handled through both public sewer systems, owned and operated by the BJWSA, as well as private, individual septic tanks. The public system serves 1,220 households, plus 192 businesses. Treatment is provided at the Port Royal Island Water Reclamation14 facility, which has a permitted capacity of 10 MGD (total capacity for Port Royal, City of Beaufort, and Beaufort County). Currently, only about 2.5 MGD of this capacity is utilized. BJWSA maintains over 22 miles of main sewer lines in Port Royal, plus another 17 miles on Parris Island. The system has plenty of transmission capacity to provide additional wastewater service, but retrofitting existing neighborhoods to provide sewer service will be a challenge.

Septic tank use is prevalent in Port Royal, with approximately 485 homes and 86 businesses currently served by septic tanks. Septic tanks are considered a major source ofn no ‐point source pollution by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). In 2005, Port Royal commissioned a septic tank inventory and report in the interest of public health and water quality, to develop a systematic plan to either eliminate the septic tanks and connect them to existing or new public sewer systems or to work with individual property owners to improve septic tank operations and maintenance.15

This study, which concentrated on the Port Royal peninsula, found that the age of septic tanks ranged from one to over fifty years and that lack of routine maintenance was a common problem. Many residents had never had their septic tanks pumped and/or had ignored functionality problems due to financial difficulties. In addition, the existing soils in this area are generally unsuitable to support septic tank absorption fields due to poor filtering capacity in the soil, shallow depths to groundwater, and potential for seepage to surrounding marshes and water bodies.

At the time this report was published, public sewer service bye th BJWSA was limited, so mandatory connections to public sewer were not feasible. This study recommended the establishment of an ordinance to require septic tank inspection/maintenance at least every five years. In addition, this study also identified the following areas as priority areas for sanitary sewer extension:

 Berkley Circle h 16t Street Extension/Frederick Place  Hillside Court

14 The Parris Island plant is being shutdown and flows redirected to the Port Royal Island Water Reclamation facility.

15 Town of Port Royal Septic Tank System Inventory, Condition Assessment, and Remedies Study, Applied Technology & Management, 2005.

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 Fort Frederick Circle  Smilax Avenue/Rosemont Avenue/Rose Street  Ritter Circle/Edinburgh Avenue

PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS

The Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services (PALS) department provides recreation facilities in Port Royal. There are 26 centers, parks, and fields in Northern Beaufort County, which serve the residents of Port Royal, Beaufort, Lady’s Island, St. Helena, and Burton. Maintenance of these facilities is the responsibility of the Beaufort County Public Works department. In addition to the facilities, PALS offers many programs, such as youth football, cheerleading, soccer, basketball, softball, and adult softball and soccer, as well as lifeguard and water safety classes.

The Beaufort County comprehensive plan identifies the following future park needs for the Port Royal Island.

Table 9.1: Future Park Needs on Port Royal Island Existing Land Park Type Park Name or Location Land Needed Available Jericho Wells Park 5 Port of Port Royal 1 15 Neighborhood Grays Hill Area 10 Clarendon Plantation 10 Seabrook/Stuart Point 10 Community Southside Park 2 12 Regional Burton Wells Park 3 312 Special Use McLeod Farms 95 1 To be developed by the Town of Port Royal 2 To be developed by the City of Beaufort 3 Future Phases include additional ball fields, a tennis complex and trails

Public access to the water is an important quality of life issue for this town of the water. There are four public boat landings located in the Town of Port Royal, all of which are maintained by Beaufort County Public Works Department.

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 Port Royal (Sands) Boat Landing  Fort Frederick (Naval Hospital) Boat Landing

In addition, there are 22 additional public boat ramps, six public recreational water accesses, and eight fishing piers maintained by Beaufort County. The Town of Port Royal also has an impressive boardwalk and observation tower along Port Royal Sound.

Multi‐purpose trails are common in many areas of Beaufort County, but not particularly in Port Royal. However, the conversion of the 25‐mile rail line from Port Royal to Yemassee is identified as a high‐priority project in the Beaufort County Trails and Blueway Master Plan. Port Royal does anchor the existing Beaufort River Blueway, a 6.3‐mile route beginning in Port Royal at the Sands Beach Landing which takes users by the Fort Frederick ruins and downtown Beaufort before ending at Lady’s Island Landing.

Image source: http://www.sctrails.net/Trails/MAPS/BeaufortBlueway%20map.html

SOLID WASTE

The Town of Port Royal Public Works department provides waste management services for the town. Curbside recycling is also provided and mandatory for residents through a contract with the City of Beaufort. There may be a need in the future to establish recycle drop‐off centers. The Town does not currently have a composting program.

PUBLIC SAFETY

EMS

The Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department provides services to the Town of Port Royal. The department currently has 88 paid staff plus 6 volunteers and responds to approximately 14,800 calls annually. The average

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response time per call is 7.2 minutes. The EMS headquarters at 2727 Depot Road and EMS Station 2 at 602 Parris Island Gateway each house one ambulance.

Police

The Port Royal Police Department currently includes 20 sworn officers and one civilian staff. At 2.14 per 1,000 population, Port Royal is slightly higher than the national average of 2.0 officers per thousand. In 2008, the police department responded to 5,960 calls. Port Royal also has a mutual aid agreement witht Beaufor County. Housed on Parris Avenue adjacent to the Fire Department, the current facilities were constructed in 2000.

Fire

The Town of Port Royal contracts with the City of Beaufort to manage the operation of the Town’s fire service. Career employees now total 33, volunteer membership averages 25, and new 1,500 gallon per minute pumpers placed in service for the Town, a new fire station 3 constructed, and the city is placing in service a third 1,500 gallon per minute pumper. Between two municipalities, the combined pumping capacity of its pumping apparatus is 9,000 gallon per minute. The City of Beaufort Fire Department boasts an ISO rating of 2 (judged on a scale from 1 (best) to 10 (minimal)), which is valuable to residents not only for fire service, but also in maintaining lower insurance premiums.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Port Royal’s general government services are housed at Town Hall, 700 Paris Avenue. The town has 34 fulltime employees and two part‐time employees and is structured under a Council/Manager form of government. Day to day activities and management of the staff is directed by a professional manager who reports directly to the Town Council. There are five primary departments: operations, fire, police, accounting, and the municipal court.

The Town also has numerous authorities, boards, commissions, and committees that serve in both advisory and decision‐making roles. Several of these efforts are regional collaborations that serve to facilitate discussions and partnerships ein th region.

 Town Council  Beaufort Housing Authority  Beaufort/Jasper EOC Board  BJWSA Board

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 Design Review Board  Election Commission  Greater Bluffton/Hilton Head EOC Partnership  Historic Preservation Committee  Housing Advisory Committee  Joint Municipal Planning Commission  Redevelopment Commission  Zoning Board of Adjustments & Appeals

EDUCATION

The Beaufort County School System provides public education services for Port Royal and all of Beaufort County. The school system provides education for over 19,000 students in 30 schools, with three more schools and two childhood learning centers scheduled to open by the fall of 2010.

Port Royal Elementary School, locatede in th heart of the village on Paris Avenue, is a true neighborhood school with a current enrollment of 350 students. Originally constructed in 1911, the building was renovated in the 1950’s and 1997 and an addition constructed in 2002. The school is a valuable asset to the town both in its physical integration of the town fabric, as well as serving as a community anchor. The school is very easily accessible for students who walk to school and is an excellent example of how the physical arrangement of the school and facilities, as well as the surrounding streets and homes,e elevate th importance of this civic element to the community. The playground area serves the student population during the day and is a town park the rest of the time. Homes adjacent to the park face the green, providing a sense of enclosure to the outdoor space and also keeping e‘eyes on th street,’ which is an important public safety benefit. The Town also supports the school by providing police officers to man the crosswalk before and after school each day.

Shell Point Elementary School, located on Savannah Highway, is slightly larger, with a student population of 450 students. With a location on a state highway, its accessibility for children choosing to walk or ride their bike is more challenging. However, the area surrounding the school, aside from Savannah Highway, is primarily residential, so it is feasible for some area students to walk. Additional areas in Port Royal are also served by Broad River Elementary. Middle school students attend Beaufort Middle or Robert Smalls Middle. High school students attend Battery Creek High or Beaufort High.

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Although there are not any higher education facilities located within Port Royal, there are numerous opportunities for advanced learning in Beaufort County, including the University of South Carolina – Beaufort, Technical College of the Lowcountry, Park University, and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

LIBRARIES

The Beaufort County Library System is a department of the Beaufort County government and operates five branches around the county. The Beaufort County library is the primary location serving Port Royal. This facility was constructed in 1992. The library system is in phase I of an expansion plan to better serve the community. Equipment needs are ongoing with rapid changes in technology. In addition, the library system would like to add an outreach librarian and a teen services librarian.

The Beaufort County Library System is part of the SC LENDS (South Carolina Library Electronic Delivery System) consortium through the South Carolina State Library. This program utilizes a combined online catalog system which allows greater sharing and access to resources. This allows members to view available resources and borrow materials from any participating library in South Carolina.

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GOALS

 We will strive to efficiently provide community facilities and services to meet the needs of all Port Royal residents.

 We will support private initiatives which serve community needs and improve the quality of life in Port Royal.

 Adequate and timely regional infrastructure and public facilities will be provided in a fair and equitable manner through a cooperative process in which all units of local government participate and act in the spirit of partnership.

STRATEGIES

 Expand and upgrade the Shell Point county park, including increasing connectivity to surrounding areas. Add the adjacent church property to expand the park.

 Develop a comprehensive bike and pedestrian plan to inventory existing facilities and identify new facilities needed.

 Establish a performance arts venue.

 Establish ag do park with facilities and supplies for waste disposal.

 Reduce the impacts of septic tanks. Implement a septic tank maintenance program to encourage and/or require homeowners to have septic tanks inspected and maintained on a period basis.

 Coordinate with the Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority to expand wastewater services into areas which cannot adequately support septic tank use.

 Improve stormwater management along streets/intersections which commonly flood.

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HOUSING

The type, location and quality of housing, as well as its supply, are important characteristics of the community. Concerns over affordability, housing choices and homeownership, as well as location of housing and housing mix, will play an important role in future development. Finding a balance in housing type, mix and affordability will be a challenge that Port Royal will continue to face.

This element includes an analysis to ascertain unnecessary housing regulatory requirements, as defined in this chapter, that add to the cost of developing affordable housing but are not necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare and an analysis of market based incentives that may be made available to encourage development of affordable housing, which incentives may include density bonuses, design flexibility, and streamlined permitting processes;

EXISTING HOUSING

As shown in Table 6.1, Port Royal has a fairly diverse mix of housing types. Detached single‐family structures are the predominant housing type, but still comprise less than one‐half of the housing stock. Port Royal has a larger number of small‐ scale (4 units or less) attached structures than Beaufort County or South Carolina. Port Royal’s percentage of mobile homes is just below that of Beaufort County and significantly below South Carolina.

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Table 10.1: Housing Types (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Total Housing Units 1,749 100 60,509 100 1,753,670 100 UNITS IN STRUCTURE 1‐unit, detached 763 43.6 34,893 57.7 1,078,678 61.5 1‐unit, attached 117 6.7 3,279 5.4 40,185 2.3 2 units 85 4.9 1,052 1.7 43,607 2.5 3 or 4 units 280 16 2,759 4.6 57,981 3.3 5 to 9 units 74 4.2 2,956 4.9 77,598 4.4 10 to 19 units 71 4.1 1,443 2.4 41,561 2.4 20 or more units 96 5.5 5,035 8.3 56,005 3.2 Mobile home 254 14.5 9,001 14.9 355,499 20.3 Boat, RV, van, etc. 9 0.5 91 0.2 2,556 0.1

Source: US. Census Bureau

Since the most recent Census information is from 2000, it is also helpful to get a sense of housing supply by evaluating building permits since this time, as shown in Table 6.2. With the addition of this information, Port Royal had approximately 3,135 housing units in 2008, almost double the number of housing units available eight years earlier. Due to the construction of large multi‐ family developments, the number of multi‐family units permitted during this time frame exceeded the number of single‐family units.

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Table 10.2: Residential Building Permits Single‐Family Multi‐Family Year # of Permits Value of Permits # of Permits Value of Permits 2000 28 $1,862,260 0 NA 2001 30 $2,220,188 0 NA 2002 22 $2,583,000 232 $10,660,000 2003 29 $2,998,110 0 NA 2004 44 $5,204,592 144 $8,630,442 2005 60 $8,023,506 168 $8,550,000 2006 80 $12,611,876 0 NA 2007 228 $30,059,907 240 $13,193,281 2008 109 $14,505,082 0 NA Source: Town of Port Royal Port Royal’s housing stock is about average with the rest of South Carolina, although there are fewer historic structures built prior to 1939.

Table 10.3: Age of Housing (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Total Housing Units 1,749 100 60,509 100 1,753,670 100 YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT 1999 to March 2000 64 3.7 3,518 5.8 63,539 3.6 1995 to 1998 242 13.8 10,893 18 206,016 11.7 1990 to 1994 129 7.4 8,459 14 184,176 10.5 1980 to 1989 538 30.8 18,193 30.1 362,092 20.6 1970 to 1979 258 14.8 10,154 16.8 349,513 19.9 1960 to 1969 197 11.3 4,423 7.3 227,757 13 1940 to 1959 291 16.6 3,930 6.5 253,438 14.5 1939 or earlier 30 1.7 939 1.6 107,139 6.1

Source: US Census Bureau

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The wealth in Beaufort County is conveyed through the significantly higher median home value of $213,900. However, Port Royal’s median value of $91,200 is more modest and in line with the state average. In fact, over 60% of the owner‐occupied units in Port Royal have a value of less than $100,000.

Table 10.4: Value of Owner‐Occupied Housing Units (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Specified owner‐occupied units 520 100 24,336 100 783,909 100 VALUE Less than $50,000 26 5 632 2.6 103,516 13.2 $50,000 to $99,999 308 59.2 3,729 15.3 320,410 40.9 $100,000 to $149,999 88 16.9 3,556 14.6 173,497 22.1 $150,000 to $199,999 46 8.8 3,445 14.2 86,657 11.1 $200,000 to $299,999 27 5.2 5,246 21.6 58,246 7.4 $300,000 to $499,999 25 4.8 4,592 18.9 28,626 3.7 $500,000 to $999,999 0 0 2,428 10 9,893 1.3 $1,000,000 or more 0 0 708 2.9 3,064 0.4 Median (dollars) 91,200 (X) 213,900 (X) 94,900 (X)

Source: US Census Bureau

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

As part of the new comprehensive planning requirements in South Carolina, affordable housing must be given due consideration. “Affordable housing” is defined in S.C. Code sec. 6‐29‐1110(1) using the total cost for a dwelling unit for sale, including mortgage, amortization, taxes, insurance, and condominium and association fees. By state, law qualified affordable housing constitutes no more than 28% of the annual household income for a household earning no more than 80% of the area’s median income, by household size, as reported by US Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In the case of a rental unit, the total cost for rent and utilities can constitute no more than 30% of the annual household income for a household earning no more than 80% of the area median income, by household size, as reported by HUD.

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Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau on housing affordability is only provided at the national and regional levels. In 2004, about 58% of American families could afford a modestly priced home, defined as one that is among the 25% least expensive owner‐occupied homes in the area where a family lives.16

As of 2009, median rent values in Beaufort County were as follows (source: HUD):

 One bedroom ‐ $682  Two bedroom ‐ $849  Three bedroom ‐ $945  Four bedroom ‐ $1201

Table 10.5: Gross Rent Rates (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Specified renter‐occupied units 904 100 12,120 100 421,146 100 GROSS RENT Less than $200 0 0 338 2.8 27,496 6.5 $200 to $299 6 0.7 385 3.2 31,965 7.6 $300 to $499 97 10.7 1,567 12.9 122,673 29.1 $500 to $749 555 61.4 3,952 32.6 139,071 33 $750 to $999 122 13.5 2,722 22.5 40,644 9.7 $1,000 to $1,499 47 5.2 1,063 8.8 13,136 3.1 $1,500 or more 0 0 518 4.3 4,277 1 No cash rent 77 8.5 1,575 13 41,884 9.9 Median (dollars) 652 (X) 690 (X) 510 (X)

Source: US Census Bureau

16 U.S. Census Bureau. “Who Could Afford to Buy a Home in 2004?” Issued May 2009.

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Perhaps more telling than the value of a home is the percentage of one’s income that is spent on housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers families who spend more than 30% of their income on housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty meeting other necessities. In Port Royal, this means that over 25% of homeowners and almost 30% of renters are cost burdened. As shown in Table 6.6 below, this problem is not unique to Port Royal. According to HUD, a family with one full‐time worker earning minimum wage cannot afford the local fair‐market rent for a two‐bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States.

Table 10.6: Cost‐Burdened Households (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent SELECTED MONTHLY OWNER COSTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN 1999 Less than 15 percent 170 32.7 9,020 37.1 320,341 40.9 15 to 19 percent 83 16 3,933 16.2 136,112 17.4 20 to 24 percent 58 11.2 2,735 11.2 100,301 12.8 25 to 29 percent 73 14 2,378 9.8 64,940 8.3 30 to 34 percent 26 5 1,462 6 40,544 5.2 35 percent or more 110 21.2 4,645 19.1 112,189 14.3 Not computed 0 0 163 0.7 9,482 1.2

GROSS RENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD

INCOME IN 1999 Less than 15 percent 149 16.5 1,658 13.7 80,320 19.1 15 to 19 percent 127 14 1,840 15.2 59,832 14.2 20 to 24 percent 143 15.8 1,734 14.3 50,027 11.9 25 to 29 percent 113 12.5 1,271 10.5 37,688 8.9 30 to 34 percent 110 12.2 926 7.6 27,365 6.5 35 percent or more 157 17.4 2,952 24.4 112,878 26.8 Not computed 105 11.6 1,739 14.3 53,036 12.6

Source: US Census Bureau

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GOALS

 Port Royal will have a mix of diverse housing options available to provide quality housing for a diverse socio‐economic spectrum.

 Infill development with housing types appropriate for the neighborhood will help stabilize older neighborhoods and strengthen community.

 Affordable housing will be attractive, well‐maintained, and integrated into the community.

 Port Royal will participate in addressing affordable and workforce housing needs on a regional basis through a multi‐jurisdictional approach.

STRATEGIES

 Work with established neighborhoods to develop neighborhood plans and/or guidelines for renovations, redevelopment, and new construction. Carefully weigh goals to avoid the unintended consequence of displacing poorer residents.

 Work to prevent the negative impacts of gentrification from disproportionately affecting the low to moderate income residents of Port Royal. o Explore property tax controls which would ensure that residents who wish to remain in their homes are able to do so. o Encourage the renovation and reuse of abandoned and dilapidated properties within the Town. o Encourage lease‐options to increase affordability.

 Evaluate incentives to encourage infill development and/or redevelopment on lots or properties already served by water and sewer.

 Encourage the adaptive reuse of abandoned buildings as an alternative to new construction.

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 Encourage local homeowner participation the maintenance and preservation of existing housing stock. o Use the Historical Port Royal Foundation as a facilitator in encouraging restoration/preservation of properties. o Establish incentives and guidelines for potential renovation of older structures.

 Participate in the Beaufort County Affordable Housing Consortium and/or other spartner to work collaboratively with the Beaufort Housing Authority to address affordable housing needs in the region. Investigate innovative approaches in mixed‐use, mixed‐finance developments to meet affordable housing needs without segregating those in need of assistance.

 Pass a mandatory inclusionary zoning ordinance which would require new residential development to address the provision of affordable dwelling units. The inclusionary zoning policy should include provisions for, on a case by case basis, a housing fee in lieu of, off‐site inclusionary units, land donation, and incentives such as density bonuses that are greater than the Inclusionary Zoning set aside so that the builder can reap the benefit of some bonus market‐rate units.

 Work jointly with other local governments to: o Identify federal and state funding streams to address the housing needs throughout the county. In addition to applying for such funds directly, work with nonprofit organizations such ase th Economic Opportunity Commission, Habitat for Humanity, the Lowcountry Community Development Corporation of Hilton Head and other agencies to maximize the utilization of funds to increase housing opportunities. o Make home repair and replacement of substandard housing a housing priority to further the recommendations outlined in the 2004 Workforce Needs Assessment. In order to maximize the amount of grant funds available for housing rehabilitation, continue to provide local matching funds to the Lowcountry Regional Home Consortium (comprised of Beaufort, Colleton, Jasper and Hampton Counties), which is eligible to receive Home Investment Partnership Funds (HOME) and American Dream Down Payment Assistance Funds from HUD. The funds can be used to increase the affordable housing stock by providing down payment assistance to eligible first time homebuyers; sustaining homes through home repair; assisting with the development of new homeowner and rental units; providing assistance for infrastructure; and encouraging involvement of community based non‐profit homeownership initiatives.

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PRIORITY INVESTMENT

As already demonstrated in this document, the Town of Port Royal and neighboring jurisdictions are demonstrating their commitment to collaboration through efforts such as the Northern Beaufort Regional Plan. That is a significant part of what this chapter is all about – working together. Since Beaufort County provides many of the major capital improvements, such as transportation infrastructure and parks, much of this information is incorporated as outlined in the Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan.

The priority investment chapter is a new requirement of comprehensive planning in South Carolina. It requires that communities “analyze the likely federal, state, and local funds available for public infrastructure and facilities during the next ten years, and recommends the projects for expenditure of those funds during the next ten years for needed public infrastructure and facilities such as water, sewer, roads, and schools. The recommendation of those projects for public expenditure must be done through coordination with adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies. For the purposes of this item, ‘adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies’ means those counties, municipalities, public service districts, school districts, public and private utilities, transportation agencies, and other public entities that are affected by or have planning authority over the public project. For the purposes of this item, ‘coordination’ means written notification by the local planning commission or its staff to adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies of the proposed projects and the opportunity for adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies to provide comment to the planning commission or its staff concerning the proposed projects. Failure of the planning commission or its staff to identify or notify an adjacent or relevant jurisdiction or agency does not invalidate the local comprehensive plan and does not give rise to a civil cause of action.” In other words, let’s all work together.

Many of the capital improvements tfor Por Royal are provided by Beaufort County. Therefore, the Beaufort County Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is included in the appendix for reference. As outlined in the Northern Beaufort Regional Plan, the County’s transportation CIP has been developed in concert with the Town of Port Royal and the City of Beaufort.

FINANCING OPTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

There are a number of options available to municipal governments in South Carolina to fund capital investment in public infrastructure. These range from the traditional issuance of bonds to the more recent establishment of Municipal Improvement

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Priority Investment

Districts. Each carries its own specific requirements and restrictions. We have briefly outlined below the options available to the Town of Port Royal for financing capital infrastructure:

General Obligations Bond Issues

General Obligation (GO) Bonds have long been a means by which municipal governments raise capital for construction projects. With the recent demise of the banking industry, the GO Bond market has been in somewhat of a disarray. Most recently the GO Bond market has stabilized and rates have once again become very attractive. However, the ability to insure GO Bonds has become quite difficult as only one insurer still is able to write bond insurance. In addition, the financial performance and debt services requirements set by lending institutions have become much more stringent. Use of GO bonds to fund projects is still very viable but will be heavily dependent upon the current debt load the Town carries and its ability to service additional debt.

Tax Increment Finance Districts

The establishment of Tax Increment Finance Districts (TIF) to create funding to service new borrowing is currently being used by the Town in the Millennium Project area. The creation of a TIF is an excellent way to fund additional debt service especially for redeveloping areas. However, a TIF defers a portion of General Tax Revenues from its normal use to a specific use where it is used to pay a designated debt service on a specific bond issue. A TIF would be an excellent means by which to fund public infrastructure improvement for the redevelopment of the existing SCSPA Terminal site. Before a TIF is established the Town should insure that it can do without the increment of tax revenues that will be deferred from the Town’s General Revenues for the time period a TIF will remain in place.

Municipal Improvement District

In recent years the South Carolina Legislature has promulgated laws that allow for a municipal government to establish a Municipal Improvement District (MID). An MID allows for the Town to identify needed infrastructure improvements in a particular area, issue non‐recourse Municipal Bonds to pay for infrastructure and to recover the necessary debt service thorough a yearly assessment that is placed on each property owner within the MID. As any property owner within the MID can opt out of participation, no MIDs have been established in existing developed areas. However, the City of Hardeeville recently established a MID for the Hilton Head Lakes development where the City issued non‐recourse bonds to assist with funding the cost of roads and drainage systems that the City will own, operate and maintain. As the developer was the only property owner no one objected and the MID was established and funded. The best application of a MID is in support of new development in areas where there is only a few property owners who are willing to participate.

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GOALS

 Port Royal will work collaboratively with Beaufort County and other neighboring jurisdictions.

 Port Royal will coordinate with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County to maintain a fiscally sustainable system of funding regional capital infrastructure, operating, and maintenance needs.

 Port Royal will continue to participate in the Northern Beaufort County regional planning effort to implement the regional plan.

STRATEGIES

 Work with neighboring jurisdictions in Beaufort County to adopt Regional Level of Service (LOS) Standards: In order to establish a foundation for coordinating transportation and parks planning across the region, each of the Participating Local Governments will adopt the same level of service standard for these facilities, that is consistent and coordinated with the LOS adopted by the other Participating Local Governments.

 Identify Existing Deficiencies and Future Capital Improvements Needs: Using the agreed upon LOS standards, the Participating Local Governments will then work cooperatively to identify needed capital projects, determine their costs and identify revenue sources to fund the projects.

 Work Cooperatively with the School District: While the School District has the responsibility to plan and provide funding for its capital needs, a framework needs to be established where the Participating Local Governments can work cooperatively with the School District and support its efforts to plan for the future deficiencies and future capital improvement needs for public schools.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Priority Investment

 Develop an Overall Funding Strategy: The following factors should guide the selection of revenue sources to address the capital and operating funding gap: o Revenue Potential: Whether the tool can generate substantial sums of monies to fund capital infrastructure; o Geographic Application: Whether the tool can be applied across the region; o Legislative Authorization: Whether the tool requires legislative authorization; o Technical/Administrative Ease: The ease of administering the tool; and o Public Acceptability: How citizens will accept the tool.

 Focus First on Available Funding Tools: In order to take immediate action on addressing capital funding needs, it is important to concentrate first on revenue sources that the State of South Carolina enables local governments to use to fund capital improvements. These include property taxes, local sales, impact fees, and taxes.

 Consider Funding Tools that Require Changes in State Legislation: If the available funding tools are not adequate to address the funding gap, particularly the operating cost gap, it may be necessary to lobby the state to initiate legislation that would enable new funding sources.

 Explore New Institutional Arrangements: Where appropriate, new institutional arrangements to facilitate multi‐jurisdictional cooperation on funding issues should be explored.

 Hold long‐range meetings of the Planning Commission to advance the goals of the comprehensive plan and monitor progress.

 Continue to maintain a good working relationship and foster coordination and planning with Parris Island.

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POPULATION

The population element of the comprehensive plan analyzes basic demographics within the community and summarizes population projections. This section identifies trends and issues in population growth and significant changes in the demographic characteristics of the community through analysis of total population, which includes historic analysis and projections; age distribution; race and ethnicity; and income.

The U.S. Census provides the most detailed data available at the level needed for Port Royal. Unfortunately, this level of detail is only available for the decennial Census, which will be conducted again in 2010. Therefore, much of the detailed data in this report is somewhat dated; however, more recent information for Beaufort County is also presented to supplement the Census data. Most of this additional information is only available at the county level.

HISTORIC TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS

This section provides insight into historical and current growth trends, as well as an indication of future growth. This understanding of future growth, in the context of the comprehensive plan, allows officials to better prepare for the services and infrastructure that will be needed to support tomorrow’s residents.

In addition tog plannin for services and infrastructure, this evaluation of population trends and growth patterns can also help to identify major growth areas, thereby providing information necessary for managing future development in accordance with the community vision.

The 2000 US Census revealed a population of 3,950 for the Town of Port Royal. These figures do not include the population of Parris Island, which was considered a census‐designated place (CDP) prior to its annexation into the Town in 2002. However, this base estimate was revised to 9,309 due “resulting from legal boundary updates as of January 1 of the estimates year, other geographic program changes, and Count Question Resolution actions,”17 or in other words, annexations.

17 Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in South Carolina, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (SUB‐EST2007‐04‐45); Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Population

Using the estimates base, the U.S. Census Bureau has prepared updated population estimates for Port Royal, shown in Table 1.1 below. This change represents a population increase of 9.82% in Port Royal from 2001 – 2007, as compared to a population increase of 18.04% for Beaufort County as a whole during this same time frame.18 Table 1.2 provides population projections at the county level.

Table 12.1: Port Royal Population Estimates April 1, 2000 Port Royal Population Estimates (July of year indicated) Estimates Census 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Base

3,950 9,309 9,314 9,299 9,329 9,582 9,555 9,862 10,190 10,212

Table 12.2 : Beaufort County Population Projections 2000 (Census) 120,937 2005 (Estimate) 139,333 Projection % 5‐year Change 2010 156,070 12.01% 2015 170,640 9.34% 2020 185,220 8.54% 2025 199,780 7.86% 2030 215,270 7.75% 2035 230,240 6.95% Source: S.C. Budget and Control Board, Office of Research and Statistics

Despite the updated estimate, the most current detailed data is based on the 2000 U.S. Census figures. Therefore, Table 1.3 is provided to provide an understanding of the age and gender of Port Royal residents as compared to Beaufort County and South Carolina. As this chart illustrates, Port Royal has ya slightl younger population, with 58% age 35 or younger, as compared to 49%

18 The People and the Economy of the Lowcountry: A Demographic Overview, Lowcountry Council of Governments, October 2008.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Population

age 35 or younger in Beaufort County and South Carolina. This figure is exclusive of Parris Island, so the true percentage of those 35 or younger in Port Royal is actually higher. However, from 2000 to 2007, the median age in Beaufort County has increased from 35.8 to 38.4.

Table 12.3: Population by Gender & Age (2000)

Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total population 3,950 100 120,937 100 4,012,012 100 Gender Male 1,882 47.6 61,193 50.6 1,948,929 48.6 Female 2,068 52.4 59,744 49.4 2,063,083 51.4 Age Under 5 years 316 8.0 8,110 6.7 264,679 6.6 5 to 9 years 257 6.5 8,033 6.6 285,243 7.1 10 to 14 years 207 5.2 7,747 6.4 290,479 7.2 15 to 19 years 250 6.3 8,722 7.2 295,377 7.4 20 to 24 years 452 11.4 10,002 8.3 281,714 7.0 25 to 34 years 824 20.9 16,434 13.6 560,831 14.0 35 to 44 years 527 13.3 16,433 13.6 625,124 15.6 45 to 54 years 450 11.4 14,019 11.6 550,321 13.7 55 to 59 years 119 3.0 6,397 5.3 206,762 5.2 60 to 64 years 115 2.9 6,286 5.2 166,149 4.1 65 to 74 years 220 5.6 11,329 9.4 270,048 6.7 75 to 84 years 154 3.9 5,913 4.9 165,016 4.1 85 years and over 59 1.5 1,512 1.3 50,269 1.3 Median Age 29.9 35.8 35.4 Source: US Census Bureau

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Population

The ethnic composition of Port Royal is very similar to the composition of the state population as a whole. The predominant races are white (64.2%), black or African‐American (29.2%), and Hispanic or Latino (4.3%). Port Royal’s Hispanic population is slightly greater than South Carolina, which is consistent with the high percentage of the Hispanic population in Beaufort County (6.8%).

Table 12.4: Population by Race (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina RACE Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent One race 3,852 97.5 119,231 98.6 3,972,062 99 White 2,535 64.2 85,451 70.7 2,695,560 67.2 Black or African American 1,152 29.2 29,005 24 1,185,216 29.5 Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 169 4.3 8,208 6.8 95,076 2.4 American Indian and Alaska Native 18 0.5 321 0.3 13,718 0.3 Asian 67 1.7 953 0.8 36,014 0.9 Asian Indian 10 0.3 128 0.1 8,356 0.2 Chinese 0 0 105 0.1 5,967 0.1 Filipino 42 1.1 306 0.3 6,423 0.2 Japanese 9 0.2 145 0.1 2,448 0.1 Korean 1 0 91 0.1 3,665 0.1 Vietnamese 4 0.1 65 0.1 4,248 0.1 Other Asian 1 1 0 113 0.1 4,907 0.1 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.1 63 0.1 1,628 0 Native Hawaiian 1 0 20 0 391 0 Guamanian or Chamorro 2 0.1 13 0 489 0 Samoan 0 0 11 0 277 0 Other Pacific Islander 2 1 0 19 0 471 0 Some other race 76 1.9 3,438 2.8 39,926 1 Two or more races 98 2.5 1,706 1.4 39,950 1 Source: US Census Bureau

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Population

HOUSEHOLD NUMBERS AND SIZES

As shown in Table 1.5 below, the household size of 2.27 is only slightly lower than the Beaufort County and state averages. Similarly, the average family size is also slightly lower. Household refers to the total number of people living in a housing unit, whereas family refers to people related by birth, marriage, or adoption.

Table 12.5: Households by Type (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Total households 1,660 100 45,532 100 1,533,854 100 Family households (families) 1,011 60.9 33,060 72.6 1,072,822 69.9 With own children under 18 years 501 30.2 13,830 30.4 495,276 32.3 Married‐couple family 723 43.6 26,485 58.2 783,142 51.1 With own children under 18 years 333 20.1 9,820 21.6 333,951 21.8 Female householder, no husband present 228 13.7 4,998 11 226,958 14.8 With own children under 18 years 142 8.6 3,181 7 131,010 8.5 Nonfamily households 649 39.1 12,472 27.4 461,032 30.1 Householder living alone 517 31.1 9,796 21.5 383,142 25 Householder 65 years and over 130 7.8 3,774 8.3 132,302 8.6

Households with individuals under 18 years 564 34 15,198 33.4 560,160 36.5 Households with individuals 65 years and over 296 17.8 12,670 27.8 346,175 22.6

Average household size 2.27 (X) 2.51 (X) 2.53 (X) Average family size 2.86 (X) 2.9 (X) 3.02 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Population

EDUCATIONAL LEVELS

Of those enrolled in school in Port Royal, the distribution of school enrollment levels are fairly consistent with Beaufort County and South Carolina. In looking at educational attainment, Port Royal generally fares better than the state. Both Port Royal and Beaufort County (86.8% and 87.8%, respectively) are well above the state average (76.3%) for high school graduate or higher. Both jurisdictions surpass the state percentage of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher as well.

Table 12.6: Educational Levels (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent SCHOOL ENROLLMENT Population 3 years and over enrolled in school 1,071 100 27,897 100 1,053,152 100 Nursery school, preschool 101 9.4 2,288 8.2 68,727 6.5 Kindergarten 63 5.9 1,707 6.1 62,867 6 Elementary school (grades 1‐8) 413 38.6 12,938 46.4 474,360 45 High school (grades 9‐12) 259 24.2 6,157 22.1 230,359 21.9 College or graduate school 235 21.9 4,807 17.2 216,839 20.6

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population 25 years and over 2,328 100 78,502 100 2,596,010 100 Less than 9th grade 155 6.7 3,228 4.1 215,776 8.3 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 152 6.5 6,317 8 398,503 15.4 High school graduate (includes equivalency) 606 26 18,974 24.2 778,054 30 Some college, no degree 679 29.2 18,466 23.5 500,194 19.3 Associate degree 213 9.1 5,434 6.9 173,428 6.7 Bachelor's degree 366 15.7 16,952 21.6 351,526 13.5 Graduate or professional degree 157 6.7 9,131 11.6 178,529 6.9

Percent high school graduate or higher 86.8 (X) 87.8 (X) 76.3 (X) Percent bachelor's degree or higher 22.5 (X) 33.2 (X) 20.4 (X) Source: US Census Bureau - 142 -

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Population

INCOME CHARACTERISTICS

The median household income of $36,599 in Port Royal in 1999 was lower than both Beaufort County ($46,992) and South Carolina ($37,082). However, Beaufort County is the wealthiest county in South Carolina, so comparison with the state average is probably more relevant. Port Royal’s median household income is only slightly below the state median value.

Table 12.7: Income (1999) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Households 1,625 100 45,518 100 1,534,334 100 Less than $10,000 139 8.6 3,148 6.9 181,777 11.8 $10,000 to $14,999 110 6.8 2,194 4.8 106,693 7 $15,000 to $24,999 172 10.6 5,019 11 220,065 14.3 $25,000 to $34,999 364 22.4 5,831 12.8 213,504 13.9 $35,000 to $49,999 326 20.1 7,929 17.4 269,559 17.6 $50,000 to $74,999 283 17.4 9,395 20.6 288,757 18.8 $75,000 to $99,999 140 8.6 4,920 10.8 129,518 8.4 $100,000 to $149,999 62 3.8 3,952 8.7 81,624 5.3 $150,000 to $199,999 29 1.8 1,365 3 19,873 1.3 $200,000 or more 0 0 1,765 3.9 22,964 1.5 Median household income (dollars) 36,599 (X) 46,992 (X) 37,082 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

Additional sources of income are shown in Table 1.8. A greater percentage of households have earnings than the county or the state, but again, the mean value of household income in Port Royal is lower. The mean retirement income of Port Royal is higher than the state, but lower than Beaufort County.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Population

Table 12.8: Additional Sources of Income (1999) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

With earnings 1,358 83.6 34,958 76.8 1,225,859 79.9 Mean earnings $ 43,816 (X) $ 55,744 (X) $ 47,936 (X) With Social Security income 302 18.6 13,859 30.4 406,777 26.5 Mean Social Security income $ 10,222 (X) $ 12,891 (X) $ 10,686 (X) With Supplemental Security Income 70 4.3 1,422 3.1 71,720 4.7 Mean Supplemental Security Income $ 5,280 (X) $ 6,781 (X) $ 5,726 (X) With public assistance income 6 0.4 864 1.9 37,864 2.5 Mean public assistance income $ 2,400 (X) $ 2,320 (X) $ 2,145 (X) With retirement income 241 14.8 11,574 25.4 274,216 17.9 Mean retirement income $ 18,407 (X) $ 28,523 (X) $ 16,933 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

More recent estimates of median family income are available at the county level only. The 2007 median family income estimate for Beaufort County was $61,100, an increase of almost 16% from 2000. As with the household income, median family income in Port Royal is below the state and county values. Pera capit income in Port Royal ($18,163) is only slightly lower than the state’s per capital income ($18,795).

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Population

Table 12.9: Income Levels (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Families 975 100 33,397 100 1,078,736 100 Less than $10,000 36 3.7 1,583 4.7 76,639 7.1 $10,000 to $14,999 42 4.3 1,193 3.6 55,247 5.1 $15,000 to $24,999 135 13.8 3,350 10 135,330 12.5 $25,000 to $34,999 189 19.4 3,911 11.7 143,201 13.3 $35,000 to $49,999 209 21.4 5,658 16.9 201,370 18.7 $50,000 to $74,999 173 17.7 7,302 21.9 241,243 22.4 $75,000 to $99,999 135 13.8 4,157 12.4 114,775 10.6 $100,000 to $149,999 27 2.8 3,416 10.2 73,186 6.8 $150,000 to $199,999 29 3 1,225 3.7 17,752 1.6 $200,000 or more 0 0 1,602 4.8 19,993 1.9 Median family income (dollars) 40,867 (X) 52,704 (X) 44,227 (X) Per capita income (dollars) 18,163 (X) 25,377 (X) 18,795 (X) Median earnings (dollars): Male full‐time, year‐round workers 26,942 (X) 30,541 (X) 32,027 (X) Female full‐time, year‐round workers 23,671 (X) 25,284 (X) 23,329 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Population

GOALS

 Port Royal will be attractive for a diverse population of retirees, young families, and professionals in order to have a stable population mix and increase prosperity.

 An integrated ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the region will be promoted regionally, and in particular the ability of indigenous population groups to remain a contributing part of the region and benefit from the opportunities that come from growth will be protected.

STRATEGIES

 While we cannot control the population of those who chose to live in Port Royal, we can enact strategies which provide the characteristics desirable to this mix, including high quality schools, attractive jobs, and a good quality of life.

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The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Update of 2014 1

The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan Update of 2014

Town Council Beaufort – Port Royal Joint Metropolitan Planning Commissioners Samuel E. Murray, Mayor Mary Beth Gray-Heyward, Mayor Pro Tempore Joe DeVito Town of Port Royal, Chairman Vernon DeLoach Jim Crower Town of Port Royal Tom Klein Bill Harris City of Beaufort Joe Lee Alice Howard City of Beaufort Robert Semmler Beaufort County

Town Manager Van Willis

Planning Administrator Linda Bridges

2

Introduction

The 2014 Update process was conducted by Town of Port Royal staff under the supervision of the Beaufort - Port Royal Joint Municipal Planning Commission which served as the steering committee. The update process included the update of all relevant factual information, as well as revisiting and updating the Community Principals, Goals and Strategies.

This Document is a preface to The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan 2009 and must be used in conjunction with (not instead of) that plan.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY UPDATE 4 EXISTING LAND USE 28 FUTURE LAND USE 29

LABOR FORCE AND LABOR FORCE 30 CHARACTERISTICS

EXISTING HOUSING 34

POPULATION 39

3

Executive Summary – This updates the Executive Summary of the 2009 plan.

N Needs Implementation

P Partially Implemented or Needs Continued Implementation

C Completed

Community Principle: The Public Realm Our sense of community is largely defined through the quality of the public realm. The streets, the water, and our natural resources are owned by the community and should be respected as such. The public realm and the adjacent development is an outward reflection of our community character, pride, and sense of place.

Goals

Our streets will reflect our community character through a complete street design which considers the adjacent

land uses and scale.

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other N Develop a master plan and corresponding regulations to improve the aesthetics and X functionality of Ribaut Road, including provisions for increased pedestrian safety. This master plan should also continue to promote the spatial rejoining of Port Royal created by Ribaut Road.

P Ensure that any roadways that are accepted by the Town for ownership or maintenance X meet certain criteria in addition to the minimum engineering standards already required. Any streets or roadways accepted by the Town should meet at least the following standards; increase street connectivity for both vehicles and pedestrians, be beneficial to 4

the entire community and meet a greater public purpose.

P Create a gateway into the Old Village at Ribaut Road and Paris West as expressed through X landscape, hardscape (signs, etc), and surrounding development.

P Encourage local homeowner participation the maintenance and preservation of existing X housing stock. Use the Historical Port Royal Foundation as a facilitator in encouraging restoration/ preservation of properties. Establish incentives and guidelines for potential renovation of older structures.

P Establish a Main Street type program to foster economic development in the Old Village, X especially along Paris Avenue.

Community Principle: A Place for People Streets are for people, not just cars, and should be designed appropriate to their context. Dominance of the automobile should be reduced. Our transportation network will be highly interconnected to maximize mobility and choice.

Goals

Our transportation system will provide safe and efficient facilities for all users, including cars, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Cars will be accommodated without driving the design of our community or dominating the landscape.

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other P Establish parking maximums as well as minimums. Parking maximums limit the number of X parking spaces which can be provided in order to avoid large, oversized parking lots which 5

typically remain unused.

C Establish a complete streets design manual for Port Royal. X

P Work collaboratively with Beaufort County and SCDOT on roadway improvements to ensure x X that roadway improvements respect and minimize negative impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. All state and county projects should complement the goals and objectives articulated in the Port Royal Comprehensive Plan. In order to ensure consistency, all transportation improvement projects should be reviewed by the Planning Commission. This review should begin early in the process, prior to the commencement of preliminary engineering.

P Continue with streetscape improvements throughout the Town, especially along major X roadways such as Paris Avenue, Ribaut Road and Robert Smalls Parkway.

P Encourage the use and ownership of golf carts. X

N Develop a comprehensive bike and pedestrian plan to inventory existing facilities and X identify new facilities needed.

Community Principle: Commitment to Quality Development Quality and character are inextricably linked. Our buildings and development will strive for quality, for permanence over short- lived. Quality design, materials, and construction will not be sacrificed in the name of affordability, as durability and efficiency produce affordability.

Goals

Port Royal will continue to build upon its strong planning tradition in placing a high priority on the quality of the built environment.

Port Royal will promote compatible infill and redevelopment. 6

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other N Identify infill and redevelopment priority areas. Conduct an infill parcel inventory in the X X identified priority areas. Establish GIS “screening” criteria to identify possible infill areas or parcels. Consider such factors as zoning, size of parcels, infrastructure, land use, and constraints to development such as wetlands. For redevelopment, look at such factors as ratio of assessed value of improvements to land value, age of structure, etc. Conduct field surveys to supplement GIS screening – condition of structures, surrounding land use patterns.

P Identify impediments to infill development and develop strategies to overcome the X X impediments.

P Work with established neighborhoods to develop neighborhood plans and/or guidelines for X renovations, redevelopment, and new construction.

P Where feasible, streamline the permitting process. In order to attract more business X development, consider “pre-permit” non-retail commercially zoned properties, similar to the process established in the Beaufort Commerce Park. This involves the local jurisdiction proactively analyzing the properties, assessing site conditions, determining the location of natural resources, determining appropriate locations for buffers, etc. for the purpose of completing portions of the development permitting process for the applicants.

Community Principle: The Importance of Urban Form Land development regulations should respect a flexible mix of land uses, allowing the market to operate naturally over time. Regulations should focus on fundamental design issues, such as the proper placement of buildings on their sites. The position and proportion of the building in relation to the public space is far more important than the uses inside it or the style of its architecture.

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Goals

We will strive to maintain our unique, quaint coastal character while also accommodating new growth and development to sustain our community.

Affordable housing will be attractive, well-maintained, and integrated into the community.

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other

C Update Port Royal’s zoning regulations to a form-based code in order to properly consider X the importance of community design and character, building placement and proportions, and the impact of private development on the public realm. (A form-based code is a method of regulating development to achieve a specific urban form. Form-based codes create a predictable public realm primarily by controlling physical form, with a lesser focus on land use.) P Continue implementation of the Shell Point master plan in coordination with Beaufort X County.

C Foster compatible uses. Varying land uses should be primarily accommodated through X X appropriate design. Buffers should be strategically used where needed, but not serve as an impediment to walkability.

C Promote the development of commercial “nodes” in areas outside of the Traditional Town X X Overlay District to prevent sprawling development patterns and to minimize driving.

P Site all civic projects in appropriate urban locations and ensure compatibility with the X principles of the Master Plan.

8

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other P Continue to maximize the retention of existing native vegetation over the practice of X X clearing and replanting. The types and arrangement of vegetation should correspond with the character. Urban areas should feature more regular spaces of trees and vegetation, whereas rural areas should maintain a more natural and organic look.

P Work to move existing utilities underground; require new utilities to be placed X X underground.

C Provide more flexibility in commercial zoning districts to permit smaller non-retail X commercial uses such as contractor’s offices, small assembly facilities, and small light industrial operations that do not adversely impact surrounding retail uses.

Community Principle: A Town of the Water Connection to the surrounding natural environment should be maximized, with public access to the waterfronts and clear vistas to the marshes. We will minimize impacts to these important resources through proper stormwater management and land development practices.

Goals

Port Royal will re-establish and strengthen its physical, social, and psychological connection with the water. The water’s edge will be clearly defined as an important component of the public realm.

Port Royal will be protected by baseline standards for natural resources including salt marshes, marsh islands, coastal waters, and marine resources; trees, forests, and wildlife habitats; beaches and dunes; and open space preservation through the adoption of planning policies and regulations.

9

Port Royal will embrace and showcase its rich history and maritime roots.

Port Royal will seek to increase the economic development activities related to the water, waterfront activities, and our maritime history.

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other N Strengthen Port Royal’s connection to the Intracoastal Waterway. Ensure public slips are X provided in the port redevelopment marina to encourage ICW travel to stop in Port Royal.

N Redevelopment of the port property is a keystone in the future success of the Old Village. As X X such, this redevelopment should reflect the unique character of Port Royal while serving as an anchor to draw people into the Old Village.

P Improve the quality and attractiveness of The Sands, including rehabilitation of the beach. X

P Establish the vistas at the terminus of numbered streets in the Old Village as pocket parks. X

P Coordinate with Beaufort County to upgrade existing boat facilities as outlined in the X SCDHEC/OCRM South Carolina Five Coastal County Boat Ramp Study.

P Require development adjacent to the marsh and/or water to respect the public realm X through the establishment of a public right-of-way adjacent to the resource. The intent of this strategy is to allow the public visual access and enjoyment to these public natural resources. This is especially important in major redevelopments, such as the port property and potential redevelopment of the Naval Hospital.

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Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other New Support Port Royal Sound Maritime Center and partner with them for stormwater Stategy management N Develop and implement a public education campaign to help prevent and mitigate nonpoint X source pollution, as much of this type of pollution comes from private homes. C Develop and adopt subdivision regulations and design standards minimizing the amount of X impervious surfaces and modifying current right of way requirements.

N Utilize zoning to regulate recreational and occupational uses of the rivers that protects X natural resources from pollution and inappropriate use.

P Address the CIP projects identified in the 2005 Drainage Study: X South Paris Avenue, 9th and 10th Street Drainage System Improvements Casablanca Area Drainage System Improvements Columbia Avenue, Madrid Avenue, and 14th Street Drainage System Improvements 12th Street Culvert Rehabilitation Indigo Woods Court Culvert Rehabilitation

N Reduce the impacts of septic tanks. Implement a septic tank maintenance program to X X encourage and/or require homeowners to have septic tanks inspected and maintained on a period basis.

P Coordinate with the Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority to expand wastewater X 11

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other services into areas which cannot adequately support septic tank use.

P Improve stormwater management along streets/intersections which commonly flood. X

P Maintain continuing use of the existing shrimping docks. X

Community Principle: An Authentic Community Our authentic community embraces diversity in many ways, including socioeconomic, ethnic, housing, and cultures. We do not seek to be an exclusive enclave, but instead a welcoming community of people who share a common love for Port Royal.

Goals

Port Royal includes many diverse neighborhoods with their own character, but we recognize that we are all part of a larger community.

We will strive to efficiently provide community facilities and services to meet the needs of all Port Royal residents.

We will support private initiatives which serve community needs and improve the quality of life in Port Royal.

Port Royal will foster and encourage the continued development of the arts community.

Port Royal will have a mix of diverse housing options available to provide quality housing for a diverse socio- economic spectrum.

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Infill development with housing types appropriate for the neighborhood will help stabilize older neighborhoods and strengthen community.

Port Royal will participate in addressing affordable and workforce housing needs on a regional basis through a multi-jurisdictional approach.

Port Royal will be attractive for a diverse population of retirees, young families, and professionals in order to have a stable population mix and increase prosperity.

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other

P Continue to educate the public about the annexation process and how to evaluate when X annexation is appropriate. Land located inside the Port Royal Growth Boundary is anticipated to ultimately annex into the Town with a demonstration that adequate public facilities are available or will be available at the time of development and that negative impacts of development will be mitigated. However, annexation is currently a largely misunderstood issue which needs to be better understood by the public.

P Continue to present and support town concert series, cultural events, and festivals. X

P Support the Historic Port Royal Foundation (HPRF) with projects and capital improvements. X

N Encourage citizens to restore and preserve historic sites and properties by coordinating X with local historic foundations.

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Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other N Assess the cultural resources, such as oral history and the physical, built environment, and x develop a plan to protect them.

New Work with the Sainta Elena Foundation to promote Port Royal as “Where America Began” Strategy P Should the Naval Hospital site be redeveloped, the existing hospital building should remain X X and be redeveloped to retain its landmark significance.

P Improve public access to the Emancipation Proclamation site. X

N Expand and upgrade the Shell Point county park, including increasing connectivity to X surrounding areas. Add the adjacent church property to expand the park.

N Establish a performance arts venue. X

N Work to prevent the negative impacts of gentrification from disproportionately affecting the X X low to moderate income residents of Port Royal. Explore property tax controls which would ensure that residents who wish to remain in their homes are able to do so. Encourage the renovation and reuse of abandoned and dilapidated properties within the Town. Encourage lease-options to increase affordability.

N Pass a mandatory inclusionary zoning ordinance which would require new residential X 14

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other development to address the provision of affordable dwelling units. The inclusionary zoning policy should include provisions for, on a case by case basis, a housing fee in lieu of, off-site inclusionary units, land donation, and incentives such as density bonuses that are greater than the Inclusionary Zoning set aside so that the builder can reap the benefit of some bonus market-rate units.

P Hold long-range meetings of the Planning Commission to advance the goals of the X comprehensive plan and monitor progress. P While we cannot control the population of those who chose to live in Port Royal, we can X enact strategies which provide the characteristics desirable to this mix, including high quality schools, attractive jobs, and a good quality of life.

Community Principle: The Three E’s: Environment, Economy, Equity As a community which has stood the test of time, we will continue to sustain our community and resources: Environment – The built environment will be designed, built, and maintained to minimize impacts on the natural environment. Economy – Our government services will be fiscally responsible and maximize return on investment. We will support entrepreneurial ventures which strengthen our local economy. Equity – A diverse range of household incomes should be encouraged with dignified forms of both affordable and market-rate housing.

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Goals

We recognize that sustainable development must consider environmental stewardship, social equity, and fiscal responsibility.

Through appropriate stewardship of the land, the Town of Port Royal will preserve and enhance its natural beauty, environmental quality, and natural resources, ensuring harmony between the natural and manmade environment.

An integrated ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the region will be promoted regionally, and in particular the ability of indigenous population groups to remain a contributing part of the region and benefit from the opportunities that come from growth will be protected.

Port Royal will support the growth and development of quality jobs and businesses in the community.

Strategies

Plan Policy Program ActionItem Regulatory Other

P Implement a property maintenance campaign to encourage/require property owners to X maintain their property.

C Create incentives to encourage higher density development in those areas where it is X desired, as well as protecting naturally sensitive areas.

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Strategies

Plan Policy Program ActionItem Regulatory Other

C Adopt a comprehensive lighting ordinance to require cutoff fixtures and similar strategies to X minimize light pollution.

P Make the protection of water quality a priority by implementing the recommendations of X the Beaufort County Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). In particular: C BMP’s: Require all developments to adhere to the Beaufort County Best Management Practices (BMP’s) Manual. P Adopt baseline standards for critical line setbacks and natural vegetative buffers: Establish buffer requirements along the marsh and state waters to mitigate the impacts of nonpoint source pollution. Recognize that the development of boardwalks, riverwalks, etc. along the water’s edge may be appropriate within the village core in order to maximize connectivity to the water and create a vibrant waterfront community. Additional guidelines should be met to relieve the buffer requirements. Stormwater management must be designed to compensate for the reduction or elimination of the natural vegetative buffer and increase in the amount N of impervious surfaces. Develop and adopt baseline standards for the protection of freshwater wetlands.

P Recognize and protect wetlands for their capacity to filter pollutants and control flooding X X and erosion. Wetland protection requirements for planned communities in the Shell Point Overlay District currently apply and should be established uniformly throughout the Town. 17

Strategies

Plan Policy Program ActionItem Regulatory Other

This should include policies for the management of wetlands smaller than one acre. These wetlands are not adequately protected under current state and federal policies and many rare species use only these small wetlands as habitats.

P Continue working with Beaufort County to utilize the “Greenprint” process for targeting the acquisition of future preserved lands. Actively participate in Beaufort County’s Rural and X Critical Lands Acquisition Program by nominating appropriate land within the Town limits for purchase and preservation through the program.

P Use the Port Royal Rookery – Cypress Wetlands to encourage conservation and protection of x N native birds, wildlife and habitats. Establish contact and network with conservation organizations at the local, state and federal level to assist in identifying, preserving, and managing the Town’s natural P resources. Work with Beaufort County Open Land Trust and other conservation organizations to acquire, manage and preserve open space and scenic vistas. P Evaluate the Town’s open space development standards to more accurately reflect its urban context. P Require future land development practices to be compatible with the existing topography, vegetation, and scenic vistas. 18

Strategies

Plan Policy Program ActionItem Regulatory Other

P Foster responsible environmental stewardship in both public and private enterprise and X X N endeavors. Review existing land and water uses for pollution and habitat degradation. Revise N regulations as necessary. Encourage and develop incentives for conservation efforts and sound environmental P management by both residents and businesses. Promote economic development compatible with adjacent land uses and the natural P environment. Encourage energy consciousness and conservation among the Port Royal residents, P businesses, property owners and developers. Encourage all new construction to incorporate “green” building techniques and to pursue certification such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. P Strengthen and expand the Town’s recycling program. N Explore the possibility of instituting a composting program throughout the Town.

P Consider an open space land bank where fees are collected in lieu of open space to apply to X the purchase and preservation of larger or more critical lands. P Evaluate incentives to encourage infill development and/or redevelopment on lots or X properties already served by water and sewer. 19

Strategies

Plan Policy Program ActionItem Regulatory Other

P Encourage the adaptive reuse of abandoned buildings as an alternative to new construction. X

N Inventory the existing supply of appropriately zoned land and vacant non-residential X structures available for non-retail commercial development within the Town of Port Royal and assess the present opportunities they provide for competitive economic development. Make this inventory and assessment available to local and regional agencies involved in promoting economic development.

P Encourage industries that support sustainable practices by promoting renewable energy X and attracting or growing value-added industries that support using locally available resources such as agricultural or seafood products.

P Consider utilizing high performance green building standards through the Leadership in X Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) through the US Green Building Council in all future civic projects to conserve energy and set a precedent of conservation in the Lowcountry.

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Regional Cooperation Although regional cooperation is a high priority for the Town of Port Royal, it is not articulated as a community principle due to the multi-jurisdictional agreement needed for true regional cooperation to occur.

Goals

The Town of Port Royal will coordinate growth with the City of Beaufort and Beaufort County, especially around the current and future edges of the communities.

Port Royal will support the vision for Northern Beaufort County to maintain a distinct regional form of compact urban and suburban development surrounded by rural development for the purpose of reinforcing the valuable sense of unique and high quality places within the region.

Port Royal will participate with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County in developing methods of creating and permanently preserving a regional open space system.

Adequate and timely regional infrastructure and public facilities will be provided in a fair and equitable manner through a cooperative process in which all units of local government participate and act in the spirit of partnership.

A strong, vibrant, and healthy economy will be achieved through a successful economic development program in order to ensure the long term success and viability of the Northern Beaufort County region.

Port Royal will work collaboratively with Beaufort County and other neighboring jurisdictions.

Port Royal will coordinate with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County to maintain a fiscally sustainable system of funding regional capital infrastructure, operating, and maintenance needs.

21

Port Royal will continue to participate in the Northern Beaufort County regional planning effort to implement the regional plan.

Port Royal will participate in the Lowcountry Joint Land Use Study

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other P Support regional transportation planning efforts, including mass transit and water-borne X ferry service between the islands.

P Work with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County to explore and evaluate a range X of transportation improvements, including road capacity improvements, transit, pedestrian and bicycle connections, enhanced access management, and operational improvements. It is important to recognize that these approaches should be explored and evaluated, and that flexibility is needed to determine the best specific solutions based upon analysis of changing conditions. Transit and Travel Demand Management – A transit route could reduce the trips made across the Woods Memorial Bridge and US 21 river crossings. A circulator between these areas would need to operate with frequent service/short headways to be effective in attracting riders to switch modes from automobile use. A program to provide an organized approach to teleworking, flexible work hours, carpool matching, and vanpool services is recommended for the Downtown Beaufort and Port Royal areas. A second program to focus on U.S. Marine Air Station carpooling is also recommended. The transit and travel demand management strategies will require more detailed study to determine the anticipated level of benefits and feasibility. Pedestrian and Bicycle Connections – Providing local pedestrian and bicycle connections where commercial areas are present near residential communities could reduce tr

22

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other Access Management – Access management along major corridors is recommended to maximize the capacity available to move through traffic. Implementation of the Robert Smalls Parkway plan and associated ordinance is key for this corridor.

P Work collaboratively with Beaufort County and the jurisdictions within Beaufort County to X X seek integrated solutions to complex transportation issues. More specifically, work to implement the regional transportation plan integrating road improvements, bicycle facilities, pedestrian facilities, and transit improvements as developed for the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.

P The Northern Beaufort County Regional Plan provides recommendations for the following X X transportation improvements, at least a portion of which are located within Port Royal. P The Spanish Moss Trail - Implementation of a bike corridor along the abandoned railroad corridor west of US 21 is recommended to provide access to an alternative transportation mode for those along the US 21 corridor. This corridor would provide a trail that is separated from automobile traffic, enhancing safety for all users over on-street bike lanes or “share the road” designations. N US 21 to SC 170 – Western Bypass (Planning, feasibility analysis, and right-of- way for a 2 lane road with turn lanes and bicycle lanes) – This connection will provide a link from the US 21 corridor to the SC 170 and SC 128 corridors. This connection has the potential to relieve US 21 for traffic traveling to/from SC 170, as well as serving some traffic along US 21 north of Beaufort that is destined for Port Royal, Lady’s Island, or St. Helena Island. This project will provide the planning and analysis needed for consideration of this alternative for application beyond year 2025.

23

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other

N Work together with other jurisdictions in Northern Beaufort County to create and maintain X an improved regional growth tracking system, including a land demand and land use forecasting model integrated with other regional models (such as the transportation model) that can be used by all entities for planning purposes.

P Work with other local governments in Northern Beaufort County to establish a common X definition and baseline standards for open space. This would address such concerns as whether wetlands can count towards required open space, whether stormwater detention ponds could be placed within open space, and to what degree does open space serve recreation needs vs. preservation needs.

P Participate in the Beaufort County Affordable Housing Consortium and/or other partners to X work collaboratively with the Beaufort Housing Authority to address affordable housing needs in the region. Investigate innovative approaches in mixed-use, mixed-finance developments to meet affordable housing needs without segregating those in need of assistance.

24

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other P Work jointly with other local governments to: X X Identify federal and state funding streams to address the housing needs throughout the county. In addition to applying for such funds directly, work with nonprofit organizations such as the Economic Opportunity Commission, Habitat for Humanity, the Lowcountry Community Development Corporation of Hilton Head and other agencies to maximize the utilization of funds to increase housing opportunities. Make home repair and replacement of substandard housing a housing priority to further the recommendations outlined in the 2004 Workforce Needs Assessment. In order to maximize the amount of grant funds available for housing rehabilitation, continue to provide local matching funds to the Lowcountry Regional Home Consortium (comprised of Beaufort, Colleton, Jasper and Hampton Counties), which is eligible to receive Home Investment Partnership Funds (HOME) and American Dream Down Payment Assistance Funds from HUD. The funds can be used to increase the affordable housing stock by providing down payment assistance to eligible first time homebuyers; sustaining homes through home repair; assisting with the development of new homeowner and rental units; providing assistance for infrastructure; and encouraging involvement of community based non-profit homeownership initiatives.

P Work with other neighboring jurisdictions to facilitate a higher level of coordination with X the Technical College of the Lowcountry and the University of South Carolina Beaufort to establish research and development facilities to provide workforce development and stimulate high-tech entrepreneurial activities in the region.

P Work with neighboring jurisdictions in Beaufort County to adopt Regional Level of Service X X (LOS) Standards: In order to establish a foundation for coordinating transportation and parks planning across the region, each of the Participating Local Governments will adopt the

25

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other same level of service standard for these facilities, that is consistent and coordinated with the LOS adopted by the other Participating Local Governments.

N Identify Existing Deficiencies and Future Capital Improvements Needs: Using the agreed X X upon LOS standards, the Participating Local Governments will then work cooperatively to identify needed capital projects, determine their costs and identify revenue sources to fund the projects. P Work Cooperatively with the School District: While the School District has the responsibility X to plan and provide funding for its capital needs, a framework needs to be established where the Participating Local Governments can work cooperatively with the School District and support its efforts to plan for the future deficiencies and future capital improvement needs for public schools.

N Develop an Overall Funding Strategy: The following factors should guide the selection of X X revenue sources to address the capital and operating funding gap: • Revenue Potential: Whether the tool can generate substantial sums of monies to fund capital infrastructure; • Geographic Application: Whether the tool can be applied across the region; • Legislative Authorization: Whether the tool requires legislative authorization; • Technical/Administrative Ease: The ease of administering the tool; and • Public Acceptability: How citizens will accept the tool.

P Focus First on Available Funding Tools: In order to take immediate action on addressing X capital funding needs, it is important to concentrate first on revenue sources that the State of South Carolina enables local governments to use to fund capital improvements. These include property taxes, local sales, impact fees, and taxes.

26

Strategies

Plan Policy Program Action Regulato Item ry Other N Consider Funding Tools that Require Changes in State Legislation: If the available funding X tools are not adequate to address the funding gap, particularly the operating cost gap, it may be necessary to lobby the state to initiate legislation that would enable new funding sources.

P Explore New Institutional Arrangements: Where appropriate, new institutional X arrangements to facilitate multi-jurisdictional cooperation on funding issues should be explored.

P Continue to maintain a good relationship and foster coordination and planning with Parris X Island.

New Actively participate on the Lowcountry Joint Land Use Study’s Technical Committee Strategy

27

This data replaces Table 5.2: Port Royal Building Permits on Page 58 of The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan 2009

Table 5.2: Port Royal Building Permits Single-Family Multi-Family Commercial Mobile Homes Repair & Remodel Expanded Residential

YEAR # of Value of Permits # of Value of # of Value of Permits Square Feet # of Value of Permits # of Value of Permits # of Value of Permits Permits Permits Permitted Permits Permits Permits Permits 1997 26,070 18 92 4 1998 4 26,043 17 38 1999 121,740 35 0 6 2000 28 $1,862,260.00 17,085 0 4 2001 30 $2,220,188.00 12,620 0 5 2002 22 $2,583,000.00 232 $10,660,000.00 $10,995,500.00 4,000 2 $62,689.00 50 $243,538.00 $234,064.00 4 23 2003 29 $2,998,110.00 $0.00 $1,061,500.00 14624 2 $118,486.00 36 $99,174.00 $217,995.00 0 4 14 2004 44 $5,204,592.00 144 $8,630,442.00 13 $1,137,000.00 46,920 3 $175,495.00 39 $140,748.00 $111,233.00 11 2005 60 $8,023,506.00 168 $8,550,000.00 5 $4,654,267.00 97,890 0 $0.00 40 $207,285.00 $119,675.00 10 2006 80 $12,611,876.00 0 $0.00 5 $6,476,703.00 171,150 0 $0.00 30 $258,015.00 $157,575.00 8 2007 228 $30,059,907.00 240 $13,193,281.00 4 $1,917,372.00 22,306 2 $54,423.00 48 $378,431.00 $55,402.00 7 2008 109 $14,505,082.00 0 $0.00 2 $586,000.00 6700 0 $0.00 47 $245,565.00 $197,590.00 10 2009 78 $ 13,611,825.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 1 $500.00 44 $192,102.00 $143,493.00 9 2010 45 $7,687,342.00 0 $0.00 3 $7,386,410.00 34,191 1 $80,900.00 34 $222,841.00 $263,105.00 10 2011 54 60 $11,424,683.00 $3,180,000.00 0 $0.00 0 2 $65,371.00 52 $200,898.00 7 $131,950.00

2012 66 $15,039,057.00 0 0 1 $231,179.00 1,635 1 $47,839.00 36 $419,426.00 4 $38,157.00

2013 108 $23,027,883.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 $465,794.00 8 $65,003.00 Source: Town of Port Royal

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This Future Land Use Map, adopted by Council April 10, 2013, replaces the Future Land Use Map on page 72 of The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan 2009.

29

Labor Statistics The following tables replace Tables 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5 on pages 105 thru 109 of The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan 2009.

Table 8.1: Employment Status Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

EMPLOYMENT STATUS Population 16 years and over 3,083 100 95,640 100 3,812,758 100 In labor force 2,253 73.1 59,093 61.8 1,974,222 63.4 Civilian labor force 1,824 59.2 49,996 52.3 1,938,195 62.2 Employed 1,659 53.8 47,862 50 1,824,700 58.6 Unemployed 165 5.4 2,134 2.2 113,495 3.6 Percent of civilian labor force 9 (X) 4.3 (X) 5.9 (X) Armed Forces 429 13.9 9,097 9.5 36,027 1.2 Not in labor force 830 26.9 36,547 38.2 1,139,794 36.6 Females 16 years and over 1,640 100 47,427 100 1,626,362 100 In labor force 1,050 64 25,002 52.7 935,656 57.5 Civilian labor force 967 59 23,691 50 928,772 57.1 Employed 857 52.3 22,539 47.5 868,936 53.4 Own children under 6 years 443 100 9,137 100 297,176 100 All parents in family in labor force 317 71.6 5,197 56.9 186,013 62.6 Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 8.2: Industry and Labor Force Characteristics (2010) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Employed civilian population 16 years and over 1,659 100 47,862 100 1,824,700 100 OCCUPATION Management, professional, & related 546 32.9 15,454 32.3 530,117 29.1 Service 333 20.1 9,085 19 268,661 14.7 Sales and office 515 31 12,742 26.6 459,724 25.2 Farming, fishing, and forestry 24 1.4 325 0.7 10,679 0.6 Construction, extraction, and maintenance 123 7.4 6,401 13.4 209,048 11.5 Production, transportation, and material moving 118 7.1 3,855 8.1 346,471 19 Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 8.3: Industry Characteristics (2010) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

INDUSTRY Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 31 1.9 445 0.9 20,785 1.1 Construction 189 11.4 6,508 13.6 150,608 8.3 Manufacturing 60 3.6 2,158 4.5 354,386 19.4 Wholesale trade 46 2.8 1,149 2.4 60,503 3.3 Retail trade 220 13.3 6,451 13.5 217,604 11.9 Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 35 2.1 1,698 3.5 91,698 5 Information 28 1.7 1,303 2.7 38,554 2.1 Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing 159 9.6 3,752 7.8 102,764 5.6 Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services 92 5.5 4,538 9.5 125,514 6.9 Educational, health and social services 337 20.3 8,149 17 339,708 18.6 Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 183 11 6,771 14.1 151,099 8.3 Other services (except public administration) 125 7.5 2,190 4.6 85,794 4.7 Public administration 154 9.3 2,750 5.7 85,683 4.7 CLASS OF WORKER Private wage and salary workers 1,121 67.6 35,538 74.3 1,425,333 78.1 Government workers 438 26.4 8,017 16.8 289,867 15.9 Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business 88 5.3 4,129 8.6 104,649 5.7 Unpaid family workers 12 0.7 178 0.4 4,851 0.3 Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 8.4: Commuting Methods (2010) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

COMMUTING TO WORK Workers 16 years and over 2,061 100 55,790 100 1,822,969 100 Car, truck, or van -- drove alone 1,579 76.6 39,709 71.2 1,447,338 79.4 Car, truck, or van -- carpooled 288 14 8,021 14.4 255,857 14 Public transportation (including taxicab) 12 0.6 663 1.2 15,468 0.8 Walked 117 5.7 3,063 5.5 42,567 2.3 Other means 22 1.1 1,724 3.1 23,504 1.3 Worked at home 43 2.1 2,610 4.7 38,235 2.1 Mean travel time to work (minutes) 18.6 (X) 23.3 (X) 24.3 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

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Housing The following tables replace Tables 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6 on pages 126 thru 130 of The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan 2009.

Table 10.1: Housing Types (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total Housing Units 1,749 100 60,509 100 1,753,670 100 UNITS IN STRUCTURE 1-unit, detached 763 43.6 34,893 57.7 1,078,678 61.5 1-unit, attached 117 6.7 3,279 5.4 40,185 2.3 2 units 85 4.9 1,052 1.7 43,607 2.5 3 or 4 units 280 16 2,759 4.6 57,981 3.3 5 to 9 units 74 4.2 2,956 4.9 77,598 4.4 10 to 19 units 71 4.1 1,443 2.4 41,561 2.4 20 or more units 96 5.5 5,035 8.3 56,005 3.2 Mobile home 254 14.5 9,001 14.9 355,499 20.3 Boat, RV, van, etc. 9 0.5 91 0.2 2,556 0.1

Source: US. Census Bureau

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Table 10.2: Residential Building Permits Single-Family Multi-Family Year # of Permits Value of Permits # of Permits Value of Permits 2000 28 $1,862,260 0 NA 2001 30 $2,220,188 0 NA 2002 22 $2,583,000 232 $10,660,000 2003 29 $2,998,110 0 NA 2004 44 $5,204,592 144 $8,630,442 2005 60 $8,023,506 168 $8,550,000 2006 80 $12,611,876 0 NA 2007 228 $30,059,907 240 $13,193,281 2008 109 $14,505,082 0 NA 2009 78 $ 13,611,825.00 0 $0.00 2010 45 $7,687,342.00 0 $0.00 2011 54 $11,424,683.00 60 $3,180,000.00 2012 66 $15,039,057.00 0 0 2013 108 $23,027,883.00 0 0 Source: Town of Port Royal

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Table 10.3: Age of Housing (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total Housing Units 1,749 100 60,509 100 1,753,670 100 YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT 1999 to March 2000 64 3.7 3,518 5.8 63,539 3.6 1995 to 1998 242 13.8 10,893 18 206,016 11.7 1990 to 1994 129 7.4 8,459 14 184,176 10.5 1980 to 1989 538 30.8 18,193 30.1 362,092 20.6 1970 to 1979 258 14.8 10,154 16.8 349,513 19.9 1960 to 1969 197 11.3 4,423 7.3 227,757 13 1940 to 1959 291 16.6 3,930 6.5 253,438 14.5 1939 or earlier 30 1.7 939 1.6 107,139 6.1

Source: US Census Bureau Table 10.4: Value of Owner-Occupied Housing Units (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Specified owner-occupied units 520 100 24,336 100 783,909 100 VALUE Less than $50,000 26 5 632 2.6 103,516 13.2 $50,000 to $99,999 308 59.2 3,729 15.3 320,410 40.9 $100,000 to $149,999 88 16.9 3,556 14.6 173,497 22.1 $150,000 to $199,999 46 8.8 3,445 14.2 86,657 11.1 $200,000 to $299,999 27 5.2 5,246 21.6 58,246 7.4 $300,000 to $499,999 25 4.8 4,592 18.9 28,626 3.7 $500,000 to $999,999 0 0 2,428 10 9,893 1.3 $1,000,000 or more 0 0 708 2.9 3,064 0.4 Median (dollars) 91,200 (X) 213,900 (X) 94,900 (X)

Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 10.5: Gross Rent Rates (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Specified renter-occupied units 904 100 12,120 100 421,146 100 GROSS RENT Less than $200 0 0 338 2.8 27,496 6.5 $200 to $299 6 0.7 385 3.2 31,965 7.6 $300 to $499 97 10.7 1,567 12.9 122,673 29.1 $500 to $749 555 61.4 3,952 32.6 139,071 33 $750 to $999 122 13.5 2,722 22.5 40,644 9.7 $1,000 to $1,499 47 5.2 1,063 8.8 13,136 3.1 $1,500 or more 0 0 518 4.3 4,277 1 No cash rent 77 8.5 1,575 13 41,884 9.9 Median (dollars) 652 (X) 690 (X) 510 (X)

Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 10.6: Cost-Burdened Households (2000) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

SELECTED MONTHLY OWNER COSTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN 1999 Less than 15 percent 170 32.7 9,020 37.1 320,341 40.9 15 to 19 percent 83 16 3,933 16.2 136,112 17.4 20 to 24 percent 58 11.2 2,735 11.2 100,301 12.8 25 to 29 percent 73 14 2,378 9.8 64,940 8.3 30 to 34 percent 26 5 1,462 6 40,544 5.2 35 percent or more 110 21.2 4,645 19.1 112,189 14.3 Not computed 0 0 163 0.7 9,482 1.2

GROSS RENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF

HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN 1999 Less than 15 percent 149 16.5 1,658 13.7 80,320 19.1 15 to 19 percent 127 14 1,840 15.2 59,832 14.2 20 to 24 percent 143 15.8 1,734 14.3 50,027 11.9 25 to 29 percent 113 12.5 1,271 10.5 37,688 8.9 30 to 34 percent 110 12.2 926 7.6 27,365 6.5 35 percent or more 157 17.4 2,952 24.4 112,878 26.8 Not computed 105 11.6 1,739 14.3 53,036 12.6

Source: US Census Bureau

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Population Statistics The following tables replace Tables 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, and 12.9 on pages 138 thru 145 of The Town of Port Royal Comprehensive Plan 2009.

Table 12.3: Population by Gender & Age (2010)

Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total population 10,678 100 162,233 100 4,625,364 100 Gender Male 6339 59.4 80089 49.4 2250101 48.6 Female 4339 40.6 82144 50.6 2375263 51.4 Age

Under 5 years 799 7.5 10960 6.8 302297 6.5 5 to 9 years 532 5.0 9566 5.9 295853 6.4 10 to 14 years 364 3.4 8553 5.3 297286 6.4 15 to 19 years 1863 17.4 9956 6.1 328989 7.1 20 to 24 years 2635 24.7 11756 7.2 332494 7.2 25 to 34 years 1844 17.2 20137 12.4 592056 12.8 35 to 44 years 489 4.6 17534 10.8 601292 13.0 45 to 54 years 676 6.3 18580 11.4 659428 14.3 55 to 59 years 337 3.2 9886 6.1 303240 6.6 60 to 64 years 227 2.1 12273 7.6 280555 6.1 65 to 74 years 293 2.7 20137 12.4 369043 8.0 75 to 84 years 172 1.6 9698 6.0 192114 4.1 85 years and over 102 1.0 3197 2.0 70717 1.5 Median Age 22.9 40.6 37.9

Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 12.4: Population by Race (2010) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

RACE Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent One race 10283 96.3 158900 97.9 4545429 98.3 White 7346 68.8 116606 71.9 3060000 66.2 Black or African American 2206 20.7 31290 19.3 1290684 27.9 Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1421 13.3 19567 12.1 235682 5.1 American Indian and Alaska Native 63 0.6 481 0.3 19524 0.4 Asian 263 2.5 1889 1.2 59051 1.3 Asian Indian 45 0.4 244 0.2 15941 0.3 Chinese 35 0.3 357 0.2 9686 0.2 Filipino 65 0.6 460 0.3 10053 0.2 Japanese 29 0.3 175 0.1 2413 0.1 Korean 15 0.1 146 0.1 4876 0.1 Vietnamese 35 0.3 282 0.2 6801 0.1 Other Asian 1 39 0.4 225 0.1 9281 0.2 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 12 0.1 119 0.1 2706 0.1 Native Hawaiian 1 0 24 0 570 0 Guamanian or Chamorro 1 0 56 0 1046 0 Samoan 3 0 12 0 225 0 Other Pacific Islander 2 7 0.1 27 0 865 0 Some other race 393 3.7 8515 5.2 113464 2.5 Two or more races 395 3.7 3333 2.1 79935 1.7 Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 12.5: Households by Type (2010) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total households 3029 100 64945 100 1801181 100 Family households (families) 1844 60.9 45322 69.8 1216415 67.5 With own children under 18 years 977 32.3 16573 25.5 509699 28.3 Married-couple family 1324 43.7 35966 55.4 849959 47.2 With own children under 18 years 657 21.7 11214 17.3 319204 17.7 Female householder, no husband present 401 13.2 6968 10.7 281102 15.6 With own children under 18 years 252 8.3 4123 6.3 151472 8.4 Nonfamily households 1185 39.1 19623 30.2 584766 32.5 Householder living alone 972 32.1 15809 24.3 477894 26.5 Householder 65 years and over 230 7.6 6710 10.4 166356 9.3

Households with individuals under 18 years 1052 34.7 18499 28.5 590942 32.8 Households with individuals 65 years and over 453 15 22431 34.5 459418 25.5

Average household size 2.35 (X) 2.42 (X) 2.49 (X) Average family size 2.97 (X) 2.84 (X) 3.01 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 12.6: Educational Levels (2010) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT Population 3 years and over enrolled in school 2678 100 33466 100 1148054 100 Nursery school, preschool 203 7.6 2945 8.8 66511 5.8 Kindergarten 81 3.0 1799 5.4 67763 5.9 Elementary school (grades 1-8) 646 24.1 14603 43.6 471501 41.1 High school (grades 9-12) 710 26.5 7055 21.1 249543 21.7 College or graduate school 1038 38.8 7064 21.1 292736 25.5

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population 25 years and over 4063 100 105953 100 2981382 100 Less than 9th grade 90 2.2 3417 3.2 176143 5.9 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 275 6.8 6563 6.2 330359 11.1 High school graduate (includes equivalency) 1080 26.6 25667 24.2 931546 31.2 Some college, no degree 1096 27 22701 21.4 581690 19.5 Associate degree 377 9.3 8026 7.6 247448 8.3 Bachelor's degree 910 22.4 24594 23.2 462485 15.5 Graduate or professional degree 235 5.8 14985 14.1 251711 8.4

Percent high school graduate or higher 91.0 (X) 90.6 (X) 83.0 (X) Percent bachelor's degree or higher 28.2 (X) 37.4 (X) 24.0 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 12.7: Income (2010) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Households 2382 100 64042 100 1768255 100 Less than $10,000 165 6.9 3485 5.4 161142 9.1 $10,000 to $14,999 112 4.7 2672 4.2 116431 6.6 $15,000 to $24,999 185 7.8 5138 8.0 222966 12.6 $25,000 to $34,999 437 18.3 7350 11.5 206332 11.7 $35,000 to $49,999 551 23.1 9499 14.8 262173 14.8 $50,000 to $74,999 422 17.7 12620 19.7 321185 18.2 $75,000 to $99,999 296 12.4 8168 12.8 196742 11.1 $100,000 to $149,999 128 5.4 8215 12.8 181342 10.3 $150,000 to $199,999 55 2.3 2805 4.4 54660 3.1 $200,000 or more 31 1.3 4090 6.4 45282 2.6 Median household income (dollars) 43626 (X) 56581 (X) 44623 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 12.8: Additional Sources of Income (2010) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

With earnings 2026 85.1 45865 71.6 1339472 75.8 Mean earnings (dollars) 52227 (X) 66093 (X) 60584 (X) With Social Security income 530 22.3 25513 39.8 566586 32.0 Mean Social Security income (dollars) 14604 (X) 20214 (X) 16714 (X) With Supplemental Security Income 72 3.0 1566 2.4 76276 4.3 Mean Supplemental Security Income 9307 (X) 9271 (X) 8273 (X) (dollars) With public assistance income 56 2.4 740 1.2 31342 1.8 Mean public assistance income (dollars) 1521 (X) 3747 (X) 3189 (X) With retirement income 320 13.4 17657 27.6 352142 19.9 Mean retirement income (dollars 18026 (X) 38049 (X) 21904 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

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Table 12.9: Income Levels (2010) Port Royal Beaufort County South Carolina Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Families 1453 100 44267 100 1192051 100 Less than $10,000 126 8.7 1575 3.6 72263 7.1 $10,000 to $14,999 20 1.4 959 2.2 45908 5.1 $15,000 to $24,999 116 8.0 2697 6.1 121206 12.5 $25,000 to $34,999 139 9.6 4172 9.4 126148 13.3 $35,000 to $49,999 397 27.3 6303 14.2 173170 18.7 $50,000 to $74,999 277 19.1 9159 20.7 240290 22.4 $75,000 to $99,999 204 14.0 6211 14.0 164162 10.6 $100,000 to $149,999 88 6.1 6987 15.8 159371 6.8 $150,000 to $199,999 55 3.8 2561 5.8 49124 1.6 $200,000 or more 31 2.1 3643 8.2 40409 1.9 Median family income (dollars) 48614 (X) 66996 (X) 55058 (X) Per capita income (dollars) 18661 (X) 32725 (X) 23906 (X) Median earnings (dollars):

Male full-time, year-round workers 26392 (X) 42126 (X) 42597 (X) Female full-time, year-round workers 30471 (X) 34854 (X) 32524 (X) Source: US Census Bureau

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