HDR B meeting called to order Wednesday, July 8th, 2026. Board approved minutes and considered two agenda items: 1506 Green Street (addition to a non‑contributing structure) and 602 Bladen Street (new infill on a prominent corner). A workshop on materials/infill was scheduled for September (date TBD).
July 6, 2026 Waterways Commission meeting. Staff presented an overview of a draft RFQ for design services for the waterfront promenade project (four phases, 12 tasks). Committee discussed procurement approach, RFQ scope details (project management, public engagement, surveys, 30/60/90% design milestones, NEPA/permitting, grant strategy, construction support, post-construction maintenance), expectations for schedule and conflict-of-interest language, bonding/insurance/warranty concerns, and public comments urging reconsideration of design Option 2 and/or exploration of a sheet-piled bulkhead alternative. Minutes of June 1, 2026 were approved. A tentative next meeting date of Sept 14, 2026 was placed on the calendar; no meeting planned Aug 3, 2026.
The Waterways Commission (July 6, 2026) opened, approved the June 1, 2026 minutes, reviewed staff's draft RFQ scope and procurement approach (staff recommended traditional design–bid–build to preserve grant eligibility), discussed RFQ scope details (phases/tasks, NEPA/permitting, landscape design, grant strategy, construction oversight limits, schedule milestones, bonding/insurance, public engagement, construction access), set meeting scheduling by need (no Aug 3 meeting; tentative Sept 14), and heard public comments requesting reconsideration of alternatives and more detailed plan/survey/cost info.
Council convened a June 23, 2026 work session. Key items: introduction of new employees; interview of a downtown advisory board applicant; a presentation by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a federal interest determination and possible $3M feasibility study for coastal storm risk management (City requested to provide written concurrence to begin a 45‑day review); an update on the City housing repair program; public comment; and a motion to enter executive session.
Beaufort City Council meeting minutes (approved) recording new hire recognitions; applicant interviews for boards/commissions; discussions about Seabrook Farms/McLeod Tract and the Fiscal Year 2027 budget (including TIF II and Vehicle Tag Fee items); public comments; an executive session on appointed personnel matters; and adjournment. Several follow-up actions were assigned (e.g., City Manager to contact Beaufort County staff; letters regarding TIF II funds).
City Council meeting called to order at 7:21 PM. Council members present: Philip Cromer (Mayor), Neil Lipsitz, Michael McFee (Mayor Pro Tem), Mitch Mitchell, and Josh Scallate. Multiple routine items were approved (agenda, proclamations, consent agenda, minutes, several ordinances, and adjournment). Council approved a resolution to purchase a parcel at 32 Burton Hill Road by a 4-1 vote (Councilman Scallate voted against).
City Council work session (June 23, 2026) included: new employee recognitions; interview of an applicant for the Downtown Advisory Board; a detailed Army Corps of Engineers briefing on a proposed coastal storm risk management federal interest determination and potential 3-year feasibility study; an update on the city housing repair program and Trust activities; one public commenter; and a motion to enter executive session.
Planning Commission meeting: approved May 18 minutes with agreed edits; public comment focused on proposed code changes (chapters 2–4) with extended discussion and a staff assignment to rewrite the drive‑through language; commissioners polled on allowing drive‑through lanes across building fronts (RMX: near‑unanimous support; T5U: split); commissioners agreed to remove PUDs and to retain the Bladen Street overlay removal; structured‑parking/liner‑building standards were discussed with no final change and will be revisited. Several procedural action items and a tentative next work session date were set.
City Historic Review Board meeting (June 10, 2026). Minutes from May 13 approved. Consent agenda Items A & B (including a Bailey Bill for 910 Harrington) were moved and approved with one dissent on process. Final approvals granted for: 1511 King Street (detached carriage house, with 13 conditions plus metal-roof clarification), 1201 King Street (siding/trim/porch repairs/replacement), and 805 Church Street (infill duplex + detached ADU). Conceptual review of 1010 Boundary Street (12-unit infill) was presented and a motion to table for further study was made and seconded (vote outcome not explicitly recorded in transcript). Several public commenters (Historic Buford Foundation and neighbors) spoke in support of some projects and raised concerns about scale, materials, stormwater, and streetscape treatment.
City Council regular meeting (June 9, 2026). Council approved the FY27 consolidated budget and tax levy, multiple proclamations and event requests, sale of city property at 2153 Boundary Street, a number of resolutions and authorizations (including waterfront option two RFQ and Duke Streetscape contract authorization), several board appointments, a 5% adjustment to the city manager's compensation, and moved into executive session. Public commenters addressed a regional single-use plastics ordinance, trails and sports/recreation, budget priorities (waterfront, strategic partners), and questions about the city manager's compensation and evaluation.
City of Beaufort City Council regular meeting held May 12, 2026. Council (Mayor Philip Cromer; Councilmembers Neil Lipsitz, Michael McFee, Mitch Mitchell, Josh Scallate) heard presentations and public comment, approved routine consent items and minutes, adopted amendments to the Noise Ordinance (second reading), approved several ordinances on second reading, held a public hearing and first reading of the FY2027 consolidated budget (including multiple amendments), approved sale of city property (first reading) at 2153 Boundary Street, made Downtown Advisory Board appointments, and moved into executive session before adjourning.