In one minute
Beaufort County Council met January 12, 2026 (100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort). Council approved the agenda and prior minutes; heard an Administrator update including discussion of re‑implementing a discounted impact fee schedule; directed the Administrator to have staff work with Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust Organization on affordable/workforce housing proposals; remanded an ordinance to the Natural Resource Committee (7:4); advanced multiple ordinances (2025/51 amended Chapter 102 Waterways Article IV, 2025/52 accommodations tax awards, 2025/53 drainage easement) and approved first reading of a 231.58‑acre rezoning (2026/01) by a 7:4 vote. Meeting minutes were ratified January 26, 2026.
Executive summary
At the January 12, 2026 Beaufort County Council meeting (6:00 PM; 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort), Council unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the December 8, 2025 caucus and council minutes. In the Administrator's Report Council received a quarterly economic development update and discussed funding to re‑implement the Discounted Impact Fee Schedule for Qualified Affordable Housing; a motion (by Council Member Glover, seconded by Council Member Dawson) was made to put that item on the floor for discussion (the official minutes record the motion but show no recorded vote result for that procedural motion). Council then unanimously (11:0) directed the Administrator to have staff work with the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust Organization to develop proposals related to affordable and workforce housing in unincorporated county areas. Council remanded an ordinance back to the Natural Resource Committee (motion passed 7:4). Ordinances: Ordinance 2025/51 (amend Chapter 102 Waterways Article IV — abandoned and derelict boats) passed third reading unanimously (11:0); Ordinance 2025/52 (2% State Accommodations Tax Awards) passed third reading 10:1 (Council Member McElynn opposed); Ordinance 2025/53 (acceptance and possible eminent domain associated with a drainage easement in Rivers End Subdivision) passed second reading unanimously (11:0); and Ordinance 2026/01 (rezoning/zoning map amendment for 231.58 acres) passed first reading 7:4 following the public hearing (no public speakers). Public comments were taken during the public comment period (no specifics recorded in the minutes). The minutes were signed and ratified on January 26, 2026.
Why it matters
Council advanced key local policy and regulatory items affecting waterways enforcement, allocation of accommodations tax funds, property/easement actions, and a substantial zoning map amendment (231.58 acres). The unanimous directive to staff to work with the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust Organization indicates coordinated action toward addressing affordable and workforce housing in unincorporated areas of the county.
Key decisions
Source/Context: page 1, Approval of Agenda
Source/Context: page 2, Approval of Minutes
Source/Context: page 2, Liaison and Committee Reports
Source/Context: page 2, Liaison and Committee Reports
Source/Context: page 3, Ordinances for Third Reading 2025/51
Source/Context: page 3, Ordinances for Third Reading 2025/52
Source/Context: page 4, Ordinances for Second Reading 2025/53
Agenda items
Chair Alice Howard called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Present: Chair Alice Howard; Vice-Chair Anna Maria Tabernik; Council Members David Bartholomew, Paula Brown, Logan Cunningham, Gerald Dawson, York Glover, Mark Lawson, Lawrence McElynn, Joseph Passiment, and Thomas Reitz.
100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort
Source/Context: page 1, Call to Order and header
Chair Howard led the Pledge of Allegiance; Rev. Bryson Williams gave the invocation.
Source/Context: page 1, Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation
Chair Howard stated the meeting was published, posted, and distributed in compliance with SC FOIA.
Source/Context: page 1, Statement of Compliance with FOIA
Motion by Council Member Passiment, seconded by Council Member Dawson to approve the agenda. Motion passed 11:0.
Source/Context: page 1, Approval of Agenda
Motion by Vice-Chair Tabernik, seconded by Council Member Cunningham to approve the minutes from Caucus and Council on December 8, 2025. Motion passed 11:0.
Source/Context: page 2, Approval of Minutes
Motions
Source/Context: page 1, Approval of Agenda
Source/Context: page 2, Approval of Minutes
Source/Context: page 2, Administrators Report
Source/Context: page 2, Liaison and Committee Reports
Source/Context: page 2, Liaison and Committee Reports
Official sources
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Meeting files
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