The Coalition for Smart Growth

Northern Beaufort County
South Carolina


About Us

Steering Committee Members

 

Beth Grace - served on Beaufort County Council from 1989-1999. She was influential in promoting comprehensive planning for Beaufort County. After attending a Growth Management Seminar for Counties in Arizona, she encouraged Beaufort County to begin the process. She served during the open public process of implementing the first ever Comp Plan in South Carolina.  Beth attended Emory University and has remained active politically and in community service for the past 33 years in Beaufort, SC. Her goal is to keep Beaufort as pristine and as affordable for her children and grandchildren as it was when she & her husband, Dr. Gene Grace, moved to Beaufort in 1974.

Kay Harris - a local business owner.  She received a masters degree in Speech Pathology from The University of South Carolina.  She became concerned about Beaufort after watching what was happening around the state and especially Bluffton.  She wants to make certain that Beaufort remains the kind of place that her grandchildren would like to live. She and her husband, John, reside in Seabrook.  She moved to Beaufort in 1981.

Harley Laing - worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England Office in Boston as a senior manager for 25 years.  He has broad experience in environmental protection work with business and industry,  local and state governments and citizen groups.  Harley's work included helping several regional government agencies and municipalities deal with growth management issues.  Harley is a graduate of Harvard College and Boston College Law School, served in the Peace Corps, and moved to Beaufort with his wife Lily in 2005.

Patrick Moore, ex officio member, is the South Coast Director for the Coastal Conservation League.  Patrick received his law degree from the University of South Carolina in 2005 and a Masters Degree in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School that same year. He is a graduate of Presbyterian College and the National Outdoor Leadership Program as well as an Eagle Scout.  Patrick moved to Beaufort with his wife Beth in 2007.

John Stewart - is an economist specializing in international trade and economic development with over 30 years of experience teaching and consulting in the Middle East, Caribbean and South America. He received his A.B and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and moved to Lady’s Island with his wife Veronica in 2005.