Development panel reviews 76-home Alston Park expansion; safety camera audit and e-bike rules ahead
Bluffton’s Development Review Committee on July 1 reviewed a final plan for a 76-home expansion of Alston Park, the most consequential item in a week that also saw the Historic Preservation Commission take up an amended certificate for exterior doors at 36 Wharf Street. Because meeting minutes are not yet published, outcomes of those reviews remain unconfirmed, but the agendas give residents a preview of decisions that will shape neighborhoods, historic streetscapes, and public art in the coming weeks.
Development review
The Development Review Committee considered two applications at its July 1 meeting:
- **Alston Park – Phase 3 final development plan**: 76 single-family homes, open space, right-of-way, and infrastructure on 63.4 acres east of New Riverside Road within the New Riverside Planned Unit Development. The property is identified as tax maps R610 035 000 0019 0000 and R610 035 000 0864 0000.
- **Campbell Church AME development plan amendment**: addition of two ADA-compliant parking spaces and a pedestrian sidewalk at 23 Boundary Street, within the Old Town Bluffton Historic District (tax map R610 039 00A 0080 0000).
The committee also set its next regular meeting for July 8, 2026, which was later canceled due to lack of agenda items.
Historic preservation
The Bluffton Historic Preservation Commission on July 1 heard a request from Jamie Guscio, on behalf of owners Kathy Barbina and Tim Harris, for an amended Certificate of Appropriateness for alternate exterior doors at 36 Wharf Street in the Old Town Historic District (zoned Neighborhood General – Historic District). The commission also received the monthly historic district update and adopted minutes from its June 3 meeting. Public comment was permitted.
Public art
The Public Arts Committee met June 30 and had two main action items: determining locations for a poetry walk in Buckwalter Place Park and selecting the poetry submissions that will be installed at the park. The committee also adopted minutes from its May 26 meeting and heard public comment.
Affordable housing
The Affordable Housing Committee met July 2 for discussion and committee input only. The panel received a fiscal year 2027 update on the Neighborhood Assistance Budget and a historical overview of the program’s budget from 2020 to 2026. No votes were taken.
Canceled meetings
The Historic Preservation Review Committee meeting scheduled for June 29 was canceled because there were no agenda items. Its July 6 meeting was also canceled for the same reason. The next planned meeting is July 13.
The July 8 Development Review Committee meeting was canceled due to lack of agenda items; the next meeting is July 15.
Coming up
Several public meetings are on the town calendar. Key items residents may want to watch:
- **Board of Zoning Appeals – July 7, 2026**: A public hearing on a variance request from Pinellas Park LLC to reduce minimum off-street parking for a restaurant proposed for Pinellas Park Building C (tax map R610 022 000 1143 0000, case ZONE-06-26-020315). The board will also elect a chair and vice-chair.
- **Law Enforcement Citizens Advisory Committee – July 9, 2026**: The committee will consider approval of a Flock Safety Camera Audit, discuss formation of a strategic planning committee for a new 2026–2029 plan, review Safe Teams statistics, and receive an update on the town’s e-bike plan and proposed ordinance. Public comment is allowed.
Agendas for upcoming meetings are posted on the town website and available from Growth Management at 843-706-4500. Residents can attend in person or watch live streams where provided.
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.