Lawyers representing the owner and developer of the property known as Pine Island are contesting Beaufort County’s denial of applications to build three six-hole golf courses on the 502-acre parcel.

Now it appears the county may not have to face that lawsuit on its own.

Standing with a St. Helena Island marsh as a backdrop, a group gathered on an overcast, sticky afternoon last week to announce that motions to intervene on behalf of Beaufort County in the case have been filed with the court.

The Coastal Conservation League, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition and the Penn Center along with several St. Helena Island landowners have submitted individual motions that, if granted by a judge, allows them participate in prelitigation mediation.

“For years we’ve been standing with the St. Helena Island community to protect their vision for this nationally significant rural sea island, and this filing is a continuation of that support,” said Jessie White, South Coast office director for the Coastal Conservation League, in a statement.