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SEPTEMBER 8–14, 2022
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PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Future of Port Royal development project uncertain Board denies request for variance to protect massive live oak By Tony Kukulich For the second time in recent months, a tree is at the center of efforts by Port Royal residents to squash, or at least alter, a development project. At least for the moment, those efforts appear to have been successful. Residents packed council chambers Thursday, Sept. 1, as Johnson Development Associates (JDA) asked the Town of Port Royal Design Review Board for a building variance. The requested variance would allow JDA to construct three-story apartment buildings as part of a development project tentatively planned for 2900 Oak View Drive. The town’s building codes allow a
The Ellis Cherry Hill Plantation live oak is thought to be the largest of its kind in Beaufort County. Dylan McCombs/The Island News
maximum of two-and-half stories. “In order to meet the density required to make the development worthwhile for our purposes, we are requesting a waiver to go to three stories,” said Anders Ike, a JDA spokesperson. Ike added that if the town did not issue the requested waiver, the development project would probably not be feasible. Despite the statement from the developer, the board denied the request. While still in the early design phase, the project as presented would include an estimated 200 apartments and six town houses on a 12-acre site. The apartments would
average about 1,000-square feet. All units will be available for rent. There is, however, one significant sticking point. The selected development site is home to what is believed to be the largest and oldest live oak in Beaufort County, the Ellis Cherry Hill Plantation live oak. Additionally, the 1818 grave of Mary Pope, an enslaved woman, is located at the base of the tree. The Baptist Church of Beaufort, where Pope was a member, maintains the gravesite to this day. “We understand that the population is very concerned about the tree within the area,” Ike said. “The heritage oak is a key focal point of
SEE OAK PAGE A4
Toddler reported missing found dead in pond
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-SC01, center, after receiving a rousing welcome, discusses a wide range of topics with about 50 supporters and the curious during her Cocktails with Your Congresswoman meet and greet Thursday evening at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal. Mace, is being challenged by Democrat Annie Andrews, Independent Alejandro Otman and Joseph Oddo from the Alliance Party. All 435 Congressional seats are up for grabs. Bob Sofaly/The Island News
Mace stumps for reelection Republican touts record during Port Royal appearance
By Tony Kukulich PORT ROYAL – U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, R-SC01, made a stop in Port Royal as she campaigns to retain her seat in the November general election. Speaking without the benefit of a microphone, Mace had to nearly shout to be heard above her supporters and patrons inside the busy Shellring Ale Works. The message she deliv-
ered focused on her legislative achievements since her election to the House in 2020. “I am a tried and true conservative,” Mace said. “I also know how important it is to work with Democrats in order to be successful and achieve things for the 1st Congressional District and getting results. You’re going to see that I have passed over 20 bills in my first year and
a half in office out of committee. Of those 20 bills, I’ve passed seven on the floor of the House. I cannot do that alone. I do that by building bridges with the other side.” Stating that she runs her office like a business instead of a bureaucracy, Mace discussed the 2021 annual report that her office produced. “You can see the amount of
grant funding that we were able to get for the district, which was over $50 million,” she said. “So far this year, because we’re cooking with gas, we’ve gotten over $100 million in funding for the Lowcountry and the 1st Congressional District.” She continued by touting
By Tony Kukulich A toddler who was reported missing in Port Royal Wednesday evening, Aug. 31, was found dead, the apparent victim of an accidental drowning. The body of 3-year-old Mason Henley was discovered in a pond in his Shadow Moss neighborhood According to the Port Royal Police Department (PRPD), officers arrived at 7:25 p.m. and initiated a search for the boy, who had reportedly wandered off from his home on Cedar Creek Circle about 40 minutes earlier. A neighbor’s doorbell camera captured video images of Henley chasing ducks near his home. A dive team discovered the boy’s body about 20 feet from the shoreline of a pond located behind his residence. The coroner has not yet released the official cause of death, but police suspect it to have been an accidental drowning. An advisory issued by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Wednesday at 10:37 p.m. stated that Henley had been located, but did not indicate that the boy had died. That did not become clear until 8:30 Thursday morning when the PRPD followed up with a press release revealing the circumstances of the boy’s death. A spokesperson for the BCSO said a large number of people showed up to look for the boy, and they needed to be advised that the
SEE MACE PAGE A6
ARTS
SPORTS
INSIDE
USCB Center For Arts’ new season opens with ‘Guys and Dolls.’
Eager home crowd sees Eagles KO Seahawks.
PAGE A7
PAGE A10
Lowcountry Life A2 News A2–6 Legal Notices A2 Arts A7 Health A8–9 Sports A10
SEE TODDLER PAGE A5
Local Events A11 Military A12–13 Voices A14–15 Faith A15 Directory A16 Classifieds A17
2022 CALL FOR ENTRIES | Visit PortRoyalSoundFoundation.org for more information.
RECYCLED
REGISTRATION DUE
Oct 21st
CONTEST
ENTRIES DUE
Nov 4th-5th
JUDGING THE WEEK OF
Nov 7th
$2,000 in prize money
will be awarded in several categories
Get creative!