Award Winning Preservation a Way of Life at Palmetto Bluff
Crescent Resources, a Duke Energy company, is committed to striking a balance between environmentally sensitive property development and long-term preservation. At Palmetto Bluff, the company’s residential community in Bluffton, S.C., that conservation ethic is evident in the land plan, educational programs for homeowners and a vision that touches every aspect of the property.More than one-third of the original 20,000 acres at Palmetto Bluff have been set aside in perpetuity for preservation. Restrictive covenants and design guidelines govern what can be done on the property. In many areas, only native plants can be used for landscaping.
Water quality is maintained through a number of measures, including extensive buffers, the exclusion of private docks, wetland preservation and stormwater structures that improve wildlife habitat. A trail system and landings for paddlers offer outdoor recreational opportunities and exercise for both residents and the general public.
Crescent has also established the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to natural resource protection. A portion of every real estate transaction funds the conservancy, which is responsible for wildlife and forestry management throughout the entire property.
In 2005, Palmetto Bluff was honored with the Corporate Stewardship Award from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. The award recognized the community’s exceptional accomplishments in archaeology and historic preservation, including hiring a full-time archaeologist and creating an archaeology lab.
The community also received a 2005 Stewardship Development Award from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. This annual award recognizes residential, public and/or commercial-industrial projects in the State which exhibit the highest level of thoughtful stewardship of the environment through careful planning and construction.
