KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — A proposed $32 million settlement would permanently protect Captain Sam’s Spit — a 170‑acre stretch of dunes, beach, and wildlife habitat on Kiawah Island — after decades of legal battles over plans to build luxury homes there.
The State Fiscal Accountability Authority has approved the settlement, but the Legislature must still include the funding in the upcoming state budget.
Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler opposes the deal, creating uncertainty as lawmakers finalize spending plans, according to the Herald.
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Supporters say the settlement would end costly litigation and safeguard a rare piece of publicly accessible coastline.
Developers had sought $200 million from the state in a long‑running “takings” case after being denied permits to build 50 homes on the erosion‑prone spit.
If approved, the agreement would place the land under conservation easements, transfer portions to the Department of Natural Resources, and expand protected parkland at Beachwalker Park.
The dispute dates back to the 1990s and has included multiple court rulings, including a 2021 S.C. Supreme Court decision blocking a large seawall.
Conservation groups argue the spit is too vulnerable to storms and sea‑level rise for development.
Without the settlement, the attorney general’s office warns the state could face significant financial risk as litigation continues.
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