Tanger outlet mall reconstruction moves forward

by Jim Faber
IslandPacket.com

Plans to knock down and rebuild Tanger Outlet Center 1 on U.S. 278 in greater Bluffton took an important step forward Monday night.

The Beaufort County Planning Commission voted to recommend to the Beaufort County Council that the 25-acre aging outlet center be rezoned to a designation that allows it to rebuild without the stricter requirements it would have faced under its current commercial zoning.

The zoning change to planned unit development now needs to be approved by the County Council. Then a development plan for the site would need similar approval.

The switch in zoning allows Tanger to go forward with plans that don't quite meet county requirements for the size and number of trees and the size of the property's buffer, which is the area between the planned extension of Bluffton Parkway and the mall.

Tanger's plans call for knocking down the 191,000-square-foot center in phases and building a 222,000-square-foot center.

The new center would be built to strict "green" building standards as put forward by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Planning Commission voted to recommend Tanger's request despite the fact county planning staff recommended against it.

However, Monday's vote requires Tanger to continue to work with county planning staff to iron out whatever outstanding issues the County Council finds.

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