Council advances housing measures: five‑parcel conveyance to BJHT, Habitat parcel transfer and ARPA reallocation for affordable housing

Beaufort County Council on April 13 approved several items aimed at expanding attainable and workforce housing and reallocating remaining ARPA funds to existing projects.

The council approved an ordinance to convey five county parcels to the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust (BJHT) for development of attainable housing targeted to hospital staff and other workforce groups. Deputy county attorney Dylan Kidd (speaker 22) explained options for the timeline for substantial completion; the council amended the ordinance to set a five‑year completion window after conveyance and approved the ordinance as amended.

Separately, the council authorized conveyance of a 0.38‑acre surplus parcel in Shellpoint to Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry for workforce/affordable housing. Habitat representatives said they received about 80 applications for four units during open enrollment and will select four families; the Habitat representative described the project as part of broader workforce housing efforts.

Staff also explained a planned reallocation of $739,108.13 in remaining ARPA funds toward existing affordable‑housing projects and a BJWSA lab project on Morgan Road to ensure those funds are spent by the federal deadline. Legal and budget staff said they are tracking invoices and timelines to avoid returning unspent ARPA funds.

Council approved the BJHT ordinance (as amended), the Habitat conveyance, and moved forward with the ARPA reallocation on first reading; staff will return with final documents and timelines for implementation.