| Tweet |
In general, what are the biggest challenges facing Bluffton right now?
The biggest challenges facing Bluffton are job creation for our residents and the (health of the) May River.
What do you propose as a solution to these challenges?
Continuing to focus on ways to help bring businesses to our area. Health care and technology are souces of this, and we continue to have discussions with companies in both areas. The private/public partnership with Clemson University and the Don Ryan Innovation Center is one step toward this goal (Editor’s note: Read next month’s edition for more on this exciting development). We also need more CareCores in our town. Good-paying jobs for our residents.
The river is always a focus, and with our latest project list that was recently presented, funding is one issue, and knowing that we need the help from our county, state and federal government, but we will continue to budget for these and many other projects and also look at whatever help the county and state can give us. The transfer of density rights is also a major tool in protecting our waterway, and we continue to look at our development agreements and developers to help in this area.
What lessons have the Town of Bluffton learned from the aggressive expansion that marked the late ’90s and early ’00s?
I support what the past administration’s vision was for our town. If we had not allowed expansion of our town, then we would have been swallowed up with the same type of development but would have no say in it and no control over it. With our recent Unified Development Ordinance overhaul, we understand where our growth area needed to be and we also understand that we need to move the growth from the more sensitive areas near the May River and other rivers in our town. This growth would have taken place whether it was in the town limits or not. It is our job to make sure we are smart from this point forward in our plans.
Anecdotally, we’re seeing a lot fewer empty storefronts these days. With businesses finally putting down stakes in Bluffton at Buckwalter Place, the Best Buy Shopping Center and around town, could the worst of the downturn be behind us in Bluffton?
Yes, I believe so. Everything that we have been working on over the past few years is finally showing its accomplishments. The Old Town Master Plan that was completed in 2006-07 highlighted goals for us to achieve and we are focused on working on these tasks. Several of these are the May River Road streetscape, road diet on Bluffton Road (restriping), our parks—both Oyster Factory Park and DuBois Park—are all items listed in this plan and action items. I firmly believe that working on these projects in the historic area of our town has given businesses like you mentioned above the comfort that Bluffton is the place to have a business.
How will the town proceed in courting new growth?
Our town is business friendly. We recently changed our business license ordinance to help our current businesses focused on the areas we want to attract, e.g. health care, technology, etc. as well as lure new businesses here. We have streamlined our policies on permitting, both construction and getting a business license, and we have an open-door policy to anyone who wants to talk to us about bringing their businesses to Bluffton.
What efforts are currently underway to protect the May River?
This is our No. 1 focus. The May River is one of the reasons that so many people move to our town, so we need to protect our No. 1 resource. We recently adopted the May River Watershed Management Plan, which gives specific projects that need to be completed to help in this endeavor. Staff presented the first four projects to council in January, ranging from retrofitting current lagoon systems to building additional ones, to restoring wetlands in a critical part in the Stoney Creek area. We are also looking strongly at our Transfer of Density Rights Ordinance and using this in talks with developers who are currently under development agreements. So far the talks are very positive in that area.
Where do you see Bluffton in 10 years? Fifteen?
I see Bluffton as a beautiful Southern town and a great place to raise a family, work and/or start a business. In the next 10 to 15 years we will have an increase in startup businesses and also be attracting more technology-based and health care companies. I see that the May River will be restored somewhat to its natural state and that the next generation of families will continue to enjoy raising their children here. I believe that the Historic Old Town will continue to flourish as an authentic historic district and that we will strengthen our arts community, while continuing to be the center of our successful festivals and parades. I see our public and private schools in Bluffton surpassing academic levels of our other districts in the state, and the athletics in our high school will continue to win titles. Our entire town will be connected by pathways and trails, and the health and fitness element will increase for all of us. Bluffton will most likely have more residents than we do now, but with careful planning and vision, we will all still believe in the “Bluffton State of Mind.”
Also read:
Gov. Nikki Haley's State of the State
Mayor Drew Laughlin's State of Hilton Head Island
