June 9, 2026

Dear Neighbors:

PBNA has been working with local officials to support conservation of this managed forest land now owned by Pioneer /Walcam.  We are getting more information about how this project should work, and working with officials to provide for safeguards for the PB community.  The idea of nearby conservation land with trails is appealing; the idea of unlimited hikers, bikers, or cars having access to our streets and putting a strain on security is not.

As you have been hearing, there is a proposal for The Nature Conservancy to purchase approximately 5,000 acres within the Palmetto Bluff development plan from Pioneer (the successor to Walcam) for $42 million.  This is land along the New River to the west of the Palmetto Bluff community and on this side of the entrance bridge past the gate house. The money would be put up by Beaufort County from its Green Space fund, with efforts to obtain reimbursement of approximately half the amount from state or federal sources. Beaufort County, its Green Space Advisory Committee, and State Senator Tom Davis, with the support of the Bluffton Town Council, have been working on this for months.  Most of us just found out about this within the last few days.  This would be a very large purchase for the county.  The county already owns another 800 acres near this site- see the red-marked area in the map below.

Due to many PB residents attending the Beaufort County Council meeting in person last night, and calling and emailing the council members, the council voted to delay their approval until they have had the opportunity to provide more complete information to PB residents and to hear from those residents.  The council is working to hold a meeting at Palmetto Bluff within the next two weeks.   

PBNA will follow up during this time to provide more information and, to the extent possible, implement safeguards. Our POA (the Trust) emailed an excerpt from Tom Davis response to our earlier inquiries, and these are part of the safeguards we are looking for.

We will be providing more information as it becomes available.  Stay tuned for the date and time of the council meeting.

A video of the County Counsel meeting is here BCC VIDEO LINK. You can skip to public comment #8 and this proposal #11B.

Regards,

Your PBNA Volunteers