Gov. Mark Sanford is making the same case for setting aside more public park land at Port Royal as he made for Daniel Island. In each instance, his reasons are compelling.

Speaking to Port Royal town officials last week, the governor said park land should be increased to 13 acres before development gets underway. The State Ports Authority property will soon be closed as a port and redeveloped primarily as residential and commercial space. Gov. Sanford initiated the sale, saying its continued use as a port couldn't be justified by the level of commerce there.

"There will be no shortage of people down here from Ohio and New Jersey that can afford to live on the water," Mr. Sanford said, in comments quoted by The Associated Press. "But what about the people that lived here the last 50 or 100 years? A lot of people can't afford a million-dollar place."

Currently, seven acres of the 40-acre port site have been set aside for public park land. The AP reports that residents and some town officials want more.

The Port Royal mayor, however, supports the 7-acre park plan, saying that increasing that acreage will require the town to hire more maintenance workers, according to the AP.

Putting additional maintenance employees on staff would be a small trade-off for the permanent preservation of public land by the waterfront. Considering that the town is expected to receive an additional $1 million in taxes from the anticipated development, it is reasonable to assume that the town can manage an additional expense for park maintenance.

Port Royal and the SPA have a singular opportunity to create a permanent addition to the public realm, even as the town undergoes major new development.

Increasing the park acreage will be a permanent benefit to the Beaufort County town and its residents, including those who will live on the redeveloped port site.

The town and the SPA should support the long view endorsed by the governor before the property is sold for redevelopment.