ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. () — The Pine Island property has caused major dispute among many St. Helena Island residents. Some are for what’s being proposed as a golf course and residential development. Others believe it’s not environmentally or culturally appropriate.

The Pine Island development will be back in front of the Beaufort County council again on Monday. Nothing has been decided yet, but the fate of the property ultimately lies in the council’s hands.

Residents filled with supporters and opposers are continuing to make their voices heard, with a hope that council will listen and decide on what the people really want.

“We have over 150 letters of support,” said one Beaufort County resident who has been working with the developer and a community team to narrow down what the community wants from the development.

The resident, along with the 150 people signing over their support, are for the development. They believe the golf course would benefit the island by bringing in jobs and smart growth, as well as generational wealth over time.

They said that can be shown through a new development agreement that developer Elvio Tropeano and his firm will be presenting to Beaufort County council tomorrow.

The agreement highlights that the development wouldn’t just bring a golf course and residential properties, but funds from the course would go back into the community on the island.

“It’s not just a bunch of empty promises. You know, there’s funds for housing, ears, property and cultural preservation, which is something that they made clear was very important to them.  Those things are hardwired into the agreement, and it ensures long term accountability and community benefits in the plan,” said another St. Helena Island resident for the development.

On the other hand, people have said that the developer is using economic and growth opportunities to mask that the golf course and residential homes would be destructive to the environment and preservation of the island.

Several social media posts have been made in opposition to the developer’s plans.

One social media comment read,

“This should be cut and dry. The environmental impact greatly outweighs any benefit they say this brings.”

Several other social media posts and comments also pointed out that property shouldn’t be removed from the Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO), which is a decades old agreement which protects St. Helena land from golf courses and gates.

The Beaufort County council is meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Burton Wells Recreation Center.

They will discuss possibly removing the property from the CPO, as well as reviewing a new development agreement proposed by the developer.