One Lowcountry neighbor fears his rural community will soon be a thing of the past. That's if a Beaufort County rezoning proposal gets the o-k. Right now eyes are on the more than 250 acres of land near Okatie Elementary School which could turn into commercial and residential developments.
A woodsy forest and a fair share of peace and quiet is the dream Terry Laseter's been living for 17 years now. But ideas that could equal more noise and fewer trees have him fearing a cold hard wake-up call.
"We would lose our identity,” Laseter said. “We wouldn't be the tucked in the woods type area that we love and been here for 17 years enjoying."
Although covered with signs of easy living...it's been a hard fight keeping it that way. The fears of losing the country lifestyle date back years before his kids even joined the picture. If the plan goes through, Laseter believes the future could mean more mobile units at Okatie Elementary School, a change in property value, and a dangerous Highway 170. All the more reason he's not backing down.
"There's no quit on this,” Laseter said. “We've done if for a while now. We go through all their meetings, we lose our supper, we lose our family time, we lose all that. If it starts here, it's a virus that moves all the way down Highway 170, and 170 might as well be called 278 after that because that's what it's looking toward."
But the biggest fight in him is for the ones who can't speak up.
“My kids wouldn't be able to enjoy it and that's pretty sad,” he said.
We tried to get word today from Beaufort County planners but still haven't heard back. We'll be sure to keep checking and bring you their response. And you have your chance to let your voice heard Thursday at the 5:30 pm public hearing. It will be held at the Bluffton library on 120 Palmetto Way.
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