Seeking Exemptions for Workforce and Affordable Housing
As the Town of Port Royal and City of Beaufort consider moratoriums on new multifamily development, BJHT is advocating for an important distinction: workforce and affordable housing developments should be exempt from any temporary pause.
Local officials have raised legitimate concerns about the pace of multifamily growth, including impacts on infrastructure, public safety services, stormwater systems and community character. Port Royal may advance a six-month moratorium at their next council meeting, while Beaufort City Council discussed a potential moratorium at a recent work session.
BJHT believes these growth-management discussions should not unintentionally create additional barriers to housing that is specifically designed to address the region’s affordability challenges.
Beaufort and Jasper counties continue to face a shortage of housing affordable to teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, hospitality employees and other members of the local workforce. In Beaufort County, several affordable housing developments are currently competing for or advancing through important state financing programs. Delaying those projects could jeopardize financing, increase development costs or make already-challenging affordable housing projects more difficult to complete. BJHT is encouraging both municipalities to carefully define the scope of any moratorium and provide a clear exemption for income-restricted affordable and workforce housing developments.
Communities can address infrastructure and responsible-growth concerns while continuing to advance housing opportunities for the people who live and work here. Protecting those projects during a temporary development pause is an important part of maintaining the region’s recent momentum on workforce and affordable housing.
