Our October 14 meeting featured our Town Manager and fellow Rotarian Stephen Steese.
He reviewed the growth of Bluffton from one square mile to today's 54 square miles, and from a population of 27,000 in 2020 to 38,000 today.
We have had a 1400% increase in population since 2000 to where we are the 15th largest municipality in South Carolina in population, and 5th in terms of land mass. We are 81% Built out in residential units, and 32% in commercial units.
There are a number of exciting new undertakings in process, including the New Riverside Linear Trail, the Novant and Beaufort Memorial medical facilities at Buckwalter, along with several significant affordable housing projects. In addition, the Town is more aggressively pursuing objectives to improve management of its wetlands.
We have developed significant partnerships with other communities and operate with a philosophy that economic development here does not have to look like everywhere else.
Recent surveys show that 56% of residents consider controlling population growth and development are the most critical issues facing our community. 78% say traffic is a serious problem and 66% are unsatisfied with how the town manages growth and development, yet 82% would rate the overall quality of life in Bluffton as good or excellent.
