Earlier this month the City of Beaufort voted to purchase the $1.85 million worth of land that is the Beaufort Commerce Park. 

The city is aiming to draw in jobs, in part, by making that land more attractive to businesses by reducing some of the bureaucratic red tape when building a new spot — red tape like the oft tedious process of getting OKs to chop down trees on that 167 acres of land.

Most view it as an obvious good idea, but criticism is returning in that the proposed rule would not apply to other area commerce parks and, that, is causing at least one owner to cry foul — I'll point you to The Island Packet's report. 

• Be sure to stay tuned to our commerce park topic page for developments.