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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY, LIKE TO CALL THE SPECIAL MEETING TODAY FOR THE MID ISLAND INITIATIVE AREA, PROJECT.
CHRISTY, ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE WHERE IT WAS WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, SIR.
WE ARE YOU PLEASE MAKE THE ROLL CALL, MR. BROWN.
MR. AMES, MR. HARKINS, MRS. BECKER HERE, MR. LENEZ HERE.
MR. MRS. HAWKINS ON THE PREMISES SOMEPLACE.
WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?
HEY, WE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE MID ISLAND INITIATIVE PROJECT.
UH, I'D LIKE TO CALL JENNIFER RAY FOR OPENING DISCUSSIONS.
BEFORE WE START, CAN I JUST ASK FOR TWO SECONDS WORTH OF TIME? IS THAT A SURE.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT WHILE WE'RE EMBARKING ON THIS VERY EXCITING PROJECT, UM, AND ENGAGE IN COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO DO THAT, THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK ABOUT ANY PEOPLE IN OUR NOW 7,000 TROOPS WHO ARE NEEDLESSLY IN HARM'S WAY, AND THAT WE REMEMBER OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND WE PLAYED FOR THEM, PRAY FOR THEM AS WELL.
AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR SACRIFICES THAT HAVE KEPT US SAFE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
AND WE PRAY THAT IT CONTINUES AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM THIS.
OKAY, JENNIFER, THANK YOU, JENNIFER RAY CAPPO PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE RECORD, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO KICK OFF THIS EXCITING PROJECT, THE MID ISLAND INITIATIVE AREA PROJECT, AS YOU REMEMBER, IT WAS A TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY PROJECT INCLUDES BOTH PREPARATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE MIDDLE OF OUR ISLAND, AS WELL AS PLANS FOR A NEW COMMUNITY PARK ON THE TOWN ON TRACT AFFECTIONATELY CALLED THE MID ISLAND TRACT.
THE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS THAT USUALLY WHEN WE COME TO Y'ALL, IT'S WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE A PLAN AND WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF IT.
WE'RE TRYING TO FLIP THAT NOW AND COME TO YOU FIRST.
THIS IS OUR VERY FIRST KICKOFF MEETING FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO APPROVE THE PLANS WHEN IT COME, WHEN IT COMES TO YOU UNANIMOUSLY, I HOPE.
UM, BUT WE WILL BRING THAT FORWARD DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WANT TO JUST HEAR FROM YOU WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE, WHAT YOU THINK, UM, WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AND HEAR WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU.
WE WENT OUT FOR RFQ LIKE WE TYPICALLY DO.
WE HIRED AN AMAZING TEAM MKS K, AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR PARTNERS UP ON THE SCREEN.
THEY'RE GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHO ALL IS ON THEIR TEAM, BUT TODAY THEY'RE HERE TO TALK TO Y'ALL ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, THERE'LL BE MEETING WITH STAFF WITH SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS.
WE HAVE 10 STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS SCHEDULED OVER TWO DAYS, AS WELL AS A PARKS AND RECREATION WORKSHOP ON THEIR NEXT VISIT.
THERE WILL BE MORE BROAD PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WHERE WE'LL ASK THE PUBLIC AT LARGE TO COME OUT TO OPEN HOUSE TYPE EVENTS AND, AND REALLY HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR RESEARCH GETTING STARTED RIGHT HERE WITH TOWN COUNCIL.
I HAVE BRIAN KENSAL, MAN, WHO IS THE PRINCIPAL OF THE FIRM.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO HIM TO START THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
MAYOR TOWN MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND CITIZENS.
UM, THANKS JENNIFER FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE ARE THRILLED AND HONORED TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR ISLAND AND I'M HUMBLED TO BE OF ASSISTANCE.
SO AS THEY SAY, LET THE GAMES BEGIN, RIGHT? THIS'LL BE, UH, EXCITING STUFF.
SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION WITH SOME PACE BUT NOT RECKLESSLY.
SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STOP ME AT ANY TIME.
BUT, UH, THE PURPOSE IS TO GET YOUR INPUT, YOUR INITIAL FEELINGS ON, UH, ON THIS PROJECT HOLISTICALLY WITH ME AS TONY.
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WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE AND MANAGING THE PARK DESIGN PORTION OF THIS, UH, OF THIS PROCESS.SO TONY WILL BE TAKING COPIOUS NOTES.
SO PLEASE, UH, OPINE AWAY, UM, WHAT TO SHOW YOU, WHO OUR PROJECT TEAM IS.
IT LOOKS TO BE, UM, EXTENSIVE, BUT THEY ARE, UM, UH, MATERIAL EXPERTS IN, IN EACH OF THEIR KEY AREAS, GIVE YOU A PROJECT OVERVIEW OF SCHEDULE AND SOME MILESTONE DATES.
IT IS AGAIN, MOVING WITH SOME PACE, IT'S A PRIORITY FOR THE, FOR THE TOWN.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT GIVE YOU SOME OF OUR EARLY THOUGHTS ON THE PLANNING AREA, UH, THE PLANNING INITIATIVE AREA, AND ALSO SOME EARLY THOUGHTS ON THE PARK PROPERTY ITSELF, AND THEN OUTLINE SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS.
AND AGAIN, WE'LL TAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS, UH, ALONG THE WAY.
SO AGAIN, THIS LOOKS LIKE AN EXTENSIVE TEAM, BUT THEY ARE, UM, SUBJECT EXPERTS FOR SURE.
I WILL BE INVOLVED THE PRINCIPAL IN CHARGE.
AND, UH, AS YOU MAY KNOW, I'M A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND A CITY PLANNER.
SO I WILL BE INVOLVED IN BOTH, UH, BOTH ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT.
ANDREW OVERBECK, WHO IS A TOWN PLANNER WILL BE LEADING THE, UH, THE, THE PLANNING INITIATIVE AREA.
UH, AND TONY, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'LL BE LEADING THE, UH, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR THE PARK ITSELF.
WE'VE GOT A PLANNING TEAM, WE'VE GOT A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE TEAM FOR THE PARK.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS, BUT THEY'RE RUNNING SIMULTANEOUSLY BECAUSE THEY'RE INEXTRICABLY LINKED PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, UH, ALONG THE WAY WE HAVE, UH, DOVER COLE, VICTOR DOVER AS AN URBAN DESIGN, UM, UH, EXPERT AND SUB CONSULTANT TO US WHO WILL BE HELPING US WITH THE, UH, AREA INITIATIVE, UH, RESILIENCY PLANNING AND MARKET ANALYSIS WILL BE DONE BY, UH, KIMBERLY HORN, TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY, UH, SPECIFICALLY 2 78.
AND SOME OF THE SURROUNDING STREETS WILL BE DEALT WITH BY HDR WHO AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IS INVOLVED ALREADY WITH THE TALENT ON THE A 2 78 PARKWAY INITIATIVE AND THEN PARK ARCHITECTURE.
TO THE EXTENT THERE WILL BE, UH, WILL BE HANDLED BY, UM, UH, LS THREE P ARCHITECTS OUT OF CHARLESTON AND CIVIL ENGINEERING BY CRANSTON FOR UNDERGROUND UTILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE WORK.
TRUST ME, IT IS NOT, IT WILL BE MANAGED, UH, DOWN TO THE MILESTONE DATE AND THESE FOLKS WILL BE JUMPING IN AND JUMPING OUT AS THEIR EXPERTISE REQUIRES.
SO, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS REALLY TWO PROJECTS, BUT THEY'RE RUNNING CONCURRENTLY AND THEY'RE INTERTWINED.
FIRST IS THE INITIATIVE AREA FRAMEWORK PLAN IS A DISTRICT PLAN FOR THAT AREA, UH, ROUGHLY CENTERED ABOUT THE MID ISLAND TRACT.
IT IS TO STUDY WHAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES MAY EXIST THERE.
UH, VERY KEY NEIGHBORHOODS THERE THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED AND ENHANCED.
THERE ARE OTHER REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'VE GOT A US TWO 70, WE GOT PARKWAY FRONTAGE.
THIS PIECE OF GROUND IN THIS DISTRICT IS VERY VISIBLE.
THAT'S GOOD FOR A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
UH, SO WE'RE GOING TO TURN OVER EVERY STONE AS IT WERE THROUGH MARKET ANALYSIS, TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT COULD HAPPEN THERE AND HOW THEN TASK TWO, WHICH IS THE PARK MASTER PLAN, HOW THE PARK CAN INCENSE THAT AND FEED INTO THAT.
SO, UH, I, I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR APPROACHING THESE TWO, WHAT COULD BE SEPARATE PROJECTS TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THEIR INTERRELATIONSHIP? I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A MORE EFFICIENT AND IT'S MORE, UH, MORE COMMUNICATIVE ONE PIECE TO THE NEXT, AS WE CRAFT THE, UH, FRAMEWORK PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT AND ALSO THE CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN FOR THE PARK THAT WILL THEN GO INTO PARK FINAL DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, DOCUMENTATION, BIDDING, AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY TO GET THAT UNDERWAY AS A, AS A SEPARATE AND, UM, FIRST PHASE ITEM.
SO NOW THE SCHEDULE, I WON'T BELABOR SOME OF THESE BOXES, BUT WE'RE AT THE PROJECT KICKOFF, THE STAR AND THE, UH, UPPER PORTION OF THE IMAGE.
AGAIN, THE REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IS TASK ONE.
THE PARK DESIGN IS TASKED TO, UH, SEPARATE YET JOINED, UH, TEAMS, UH, BOTH UNDER MY LEADERSHIP.
I HOPE THAT GIVES YOU COMFORT.
UM, BUT, UH, THAT WILL LEAD TO A FRAMEWORK PLAN THAT SHOULD BE, UH, COMPLETE COME, UH, LATE WINTER, EARLY SPRING OF 2022.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THE PARK MASTER PLAN, UH, ON THE SAME TIMELINE.
HOWEVER, YOU WILL SEE AS I CLICK FORWARD TO TASK THREE, WHICH WILL BE THE DETAILED PARK DESIGN.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET A HEADSTART ON THAT EVEN BEFORE THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN IS DONE, WE CAN BE LOOKING AT UTILITY WORK AND DRAINAGE AND SOME, UH, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE WORK AHEAD OF HAVING THE PARK PLAN FULLY COOKED.
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TO BE NECESSARY FOR US TO MOVE THIS FINAL PARK DESIGN AND TASK THREE AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION AHEAD TO GET US TO A CONSTRUCTION SET BID DOCUMENTS ON THE STREET TO THE, UH, TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, GET, UH, UH, APPARENT LOW BIDDER AWARDED UNDER CONTRACT TO THE CITY AND THEN HAVE A PARK GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY IN NOVEMBER OF 2022.SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A FAST SCHEDULE.
UH, WE'LL ALL, WE'LL ALL BE VERY BUSY IN THAT, BUT, UM, THAT IS EXTREMELY EXCITING AND REWARDING WORK.
SO, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE, WE'RE, WE'RE AT THIS, UH, KICKOFF MEETING ON SITE TOUR, WE'VE DONE THE RAMBLINGS AND RUMBLINGS THROUGH THE, UH, THE, THE OLD GOLF COURSE SITE.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU IT IS A MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
UH, IT IS IN A MAGNIFICENT PART OF OUR MAGNIFICENT ISLAND.
SO IT IS, UH, MID ISLAND IS A KEY TERM TO BE HANGING ON THIS A KEY MONIKER BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS ALMOST THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF OUR ISLAND AND MAYBE EVEN THE EMOTIONAL CENTER OF THE ISLAND.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO INFORM US AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN PARK DESIGN.
SO WE'VE GOT A RATHER ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
UH, IT BEGINS HERE TODAY WITH YOU AND CONSTITUENTS BEHIND ME.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING EVERYBODY'S OPINIONS, UH, ON A NUMBER OF, UM, PLATFORMS. SO AGAIN, THIS PROJECT, UH, UM, UH, ENGAGEMENT APPROACH BEGINS TODAY.
UH, WE'LL HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO SOCIAL FULL ASPECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'LL HAVE PERIODIC UPDATES THAT WILL BE POSTED TO THE TOWN WEBSITE SO EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND IN REAL TIME WHERE WE ARE IN THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, WE HAVE BEGUN TO STUDY ALL OF THE PLANNING THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE HERE TO FOR A VERY GOOD PLANNING.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO REMAKE ANY OF THOSE PLANS.
WE'RE LOOKING TO ADVANCE CERTAIN KEY ASPECTS OF THOSE PLANS AS IT RELATES TO THE MID ISLAND SECTION.
SO THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE DONE AND THE EXPENDITURE OF RESOURCES TO GET THOSE PLANNING DOCUMENTS IN PLACE.
SO WHEN WE GET HERE IN, UM, OCTOBER, WE'LL BE, UM, WE'LL BE MEETING WITH, UH, CONTINUED TO MEET WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND WORKSHOPS, WEB SURVEY, ALL THE KEYS OF, OF TOUCHING THE PUBLIC AND GETTING THEIR OPINIONS, UH, FEBRUARY AND MARCH UPCOMING, WE'LL BE INTO AN OPEN HOUSE, UH, DROP IN WITH SOME KEY ASPECTS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTH THE PARK AND THE DISTRICT TO GET HANDS-ON FOLKS POINTING AT MAPS AND PLANS AND GIVING US THEIR OPINION.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING AS MUCH OF THAT INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WE CAN POSSIBLY GET THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT WILL NEED TO BE TOUCHED THROUGH, UH, MANY DIFFERENT, UH, AVENUES WILL BE THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES.
AGAIN, WE'VE GOT, UH, WE'VE GOT, UH, PLANTATIONS, WE'VE GOT HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, WE'VE GOT, UH, OTHER, UM, UH, RESIDENTIAL GROUPS, IF YOU WILL, THAT NEED TO BE HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD IN MANY ASPECTS, THIS PARK WILL BE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
IT WILL BE OUR COMMUNITY PARK FOR THE ISLAND AS A WHOLE.
AND SOMETHING TELLS ME IT WILL BE A REGIONAL PARK BECAUSE I HOPE AND PRAY.
IT'S GOING TO BE A MAGNIFICENT ADDITION TO THE REST OF THE GREAT PARKS.
WE HAVE THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.
OBVIOUSLY THIS ISLAND IS RICH IN, IN BOTH OF THOSE HISTORY AND CULTURE.
I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GREATLY SHOWCASE THOSE, UH, PARKS, PARKS, AND RECREATION, UM, THAT WHOLE CONSTITUENCY, HOW WE DEAL WITH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATION, UH, THE PARK ECOLOGY, UM, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH WHAT MOTHER NATURE GAVE US.
MOTHER NATURE HAS BEEN MANIPULATED A BIT THROUGH THIS GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION, BUT I THINK THIS PARK DESIGN IS GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT, UH, MANAGING THE STORM WATER, THE WATER THAT'S ON THE SITE, THE GRADING, THE RESILIENCY NEEDS OF THE ISLAND AS A WHOLE.
SO THERE IS A, THERE IS A HAPPY MARRIAGE IN THERE.
UH, CERTAINLY ACTIVE RECREATION COMMUNITY, UH, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, AND HOW, HOW, UM, UH, REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS MAY RELATE AND INFORM WHAT THIS REDEVELOPMENT AREA COULD BE.
WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT COMMERCIAL GROUND HERE THAT, UM, UH, MAY OR MAY NOT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A VOICE IN THIS.
THE AIRPORT WE KNOW THE AIRPORT IS ABOUT TO EXPAND, AND THAT, UM, IS, IS NO SMALL FEAT AND IT NEEDS TO BE ACCOMMODATED BY THIS DISTRICT.
AND THERE'S ALSO AUXILIARY AND SPINOFF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT COMES WITH THAT AIRPORT
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EXPANSION THAT I THINK IS TO OUR BENEFIT AND THEN NOT, NOT THE LEAST WILL BE THE UTILITIES, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC UTILITIES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO, OR, OR THROUGH THE SITE.WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEIR WANTS AND NEEDS AND THEIR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
SO AGAIN, A WHOLE HOST OF, OF OUTREACH, PUBLIC MEETINGS, UM, UH, BOARDS AND OPINION GATHERING WEBSITE, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'LL TAKE ALL THE OPINIONS WE CAN GET.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED BEFORE YOU'VE DONE SOME GREAT WORK HERE TOO FOR WE'VE BEGUN TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THESE DOCUMENTS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, UH, THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN SUGGESTS FOR THE MID ISLAND.
NOW IT'S THE, UH, THE, UH, PLANNING INITIATIVE AREA.
YOU CAN SEE IT AS THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF THE ISLAND, NOT, NOT, UM, NOT TO BE IGNORED AS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AIRPORT ADJACENT.
SO IN PLAN VIEW, YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, ON THE, ON THE LEFT IMAGE, THE CIRCLE GENERALLY, UH, DEFINES THE STUDY AREA FOR THE DISTRICT.
I DON'T THINK THAT LIMIT IS GOING TO BE QUITE AS PRECISE AS A PERFECT CIRCLE, WE'LL FOLLOW ROADWAYS AND PARCEL OWNERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS IT GOES, UH, HITHER AND YON, BUT AGAIN, NOT LOST ON ANYBODY THAT 2 78 PASSES THROUGH THE CENTER OF THIS, THE PARKWAY, UH, THE PLANTATIONS ADJACENT THE AIRPORT IS A BIG PLAYER, UH, AND ON THE RIGHT IMAGE, YOU CAN BEGIN TO SEE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE WITH THE CENTRAL LOCATION OF THE, OF THE, UH, GOLF COURSE, AND ALSO THE TOWN OWNED GROUND.
WE'VE GOT THE, UH, ASHMORE PARCEL ACROSS THE STREET AND SOME, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE PROPERTIES THAT, UH, IS UNDER TOWN OWNERSHIP.
ALL OF WHICH NEED TO BE CONSIDERED THERE IS OUR SITE IN, UH, IN PERSPECTIVE VIEW, WE'VE GOT THESE GREAT, UH, INFILL AND REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'VE GOT, UH, SOME STRIP RETAIL THAT, UM, ONE COULD ARGUE IS UNDER UTILIZED.
MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR US TO BREATHE FRESH LIFE INTO THAT.
AND WHAT COULD THOSE BE? THE RETAIL WORLD HAS BEEN CHANGING QUICKLY.
IT HAS CHANGED EVEN AT A QUICKER PACE THE LAST TWO YEARS, UH, SINCE COVID HAS HIT.
SO IT'S, IT'S TIME FOR ALL RETAIL, UH, STRATEGIES TO BE REVISITED.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE AIRPORT FACILITY, THAT'S GOT ITS OWN, UH, ON THE GROUND AND ABOVE THE GROUND, UH, CONSIDERATIONS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR REDEVELOPMENT, THE AIRPORTS EXPANSION AND WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN TO, UH, SPINOFF DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT.
WE'RE GOING TO CONDUCT A MARKET STUDY.
KIMBERLY HORN IS GOING TO BE DOING THAT ON OUR BEHALF SO THAT WE ALL KNOW IN UNBIASED FASHION, WHAT SOME OF THE DEMANDS ARE FOR RESIDENTIAL, FOR RETAIL, FOR COMMERCIAL WHAT'S WHAT'S OFFICE, DOING WE KNOW THE OFFICE MARKET HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM, SINCE COVID HAS HIT.
WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT TURNS INTO AS AN IF COVID, UM, ALLOWS US TO RETURN TO SOME NORMALCY.
SO WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE EXPERTS, WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO BE VIABLE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, THAT IS ADDITIVE TO THE PLACE, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'VE GOT THESE WE'RE GRACE TO HAVE THESE WONDERFUL, UH, GULLAH HISTORIC AND CULTURAL NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE ISLAND.
I CONTINUE TO THINK THAT WE CAN, UM, SHOWCASE THOSE TO ADD A CERTAIN RICHNESS TO WHAT IT IS WE DO ON THIS ISLAND, NOT TO MENTION THE PLANTATIONS THAT ARE ADJACENT AND, AND ALL THE IN-FIELD RESIDENTIAL IN-BETWEEN, UH, HILTON HEAD ISLAND HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR 40 YEARS FOR ITS, UM, ITS EYE TOWARDS ITS ENVIRONMENT AND TO PRESERVATION OF GREEN SPACE AND THE, UH, INTERCONNECTED NETWORK OF TRAILS.
WE LOOK TO FURTHER THAT, AND EVEN ENHANCE THAT.
SO HOW WE CONNECT THROUGH THE PARK, HOW WE INTERCONNECT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO BE KEY AS ALWAYS NOW THE PARK ITSELF, YOU CAN SEE THE SIZE OF THIS.
IT'S JUST OVER A HUNDRED ACRES.
IT IS A CONSIDERABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE LOWER PART OF THE IMAGE, THE ASHMORE TRACK THAT AGAIN IS TOWN, UH, CONTROLLED.
SO, UH, IN, IN, IN RETAIL SENSE, WE OWN BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD AND THAT, THAT IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT, NOT SUGGESTING THAT THAT FRONTAGE IS FOR RETAIL, BUT IT'S, UH, IT'S A KEY POINT.
UM, THE, UH, PARKS MASTER PLAN HAD SUGGESTED, UH, SOME PROGRAM ELEMENTS THAT ARE SHOWN IN THE, IN THE LEFT
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OF THIS, THAT IS GENERALLY THE OUTLINE OF WHAT A HUNDRED ACRES LOOK LIKE.IT LOOKS LIKE CROSSINGS PARK AND CHAPLAIN COMMUNITY PARK ARE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS THIS NEW PIECE OF GROUND.
AND THEY ARE LARGELY, UM, ACTIVE RECREATION FACILITIES.
UH, YOU CAN SEE IN THE, IN THE LIGHT GREEN BOX, THAT THERE IS SOME ACTIVE YET, I'LL SAY LIMITED IN THAT REGARD, UH, PROPOSITIONS FOR THAT HAPPENING IN THE, IN THE MID ISLAND TRACT.
BUT LARGELY I THINK THIS WILL GO TOWARDS, UH, NATURE PRESERVE AND CONSERVATION AREAS AND SOMETHING MORE ON THE PASSIVE SIDE OF THINGS, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY ON HOW, HOW THIS PROCESS ROLLS OUT.
BUT, UH, UH, WE ARE APPROACHING THIS VERY CAREFULLY RELATIVE TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE, IN THE MAP OF THE ISLAND, UPPER, RIGHT, THE LOCATION AND THE SIZE RELATIVE SIZE OF THESE, OF THESE THREE PARTS.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR CONTROLLING THIS MID ISLAND PIECE.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR SAKE OF COMPARISON, JUST TO DEMONSTRATE LARGELY TO MYSELF, BUT CERTAINLY TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU ALL HOW BIG THIS PIECE OF GROUND IS.
AND IT WILL NOT BE, AS THEY SAY, A ONE TRICK PONY, WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THIS PIECE OF GROUND, WITHOUT INTERFERING ONE TO THE OTHER, MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH FORSYTH PARK AND IN SAVANNAH, WHICH BY MY ESTIMATIONS, AS I WALKED THROUGH ORDER DRIVE AROUND IT, I THINK TO MYSELF, THIS IS A BIG PARK.
WELL, IT'S A THIRD, THE SIZE SO FAR OF OUR MID ISLAND TRACK AND THE BATTERY AND CHARLESTON, AGAIN, JUST A, UH, A, A CASE IN POINT OF SOMETHING DOESN'T NEED TO BE BIG, TO BE IMPACTFUL.
THAT COULDN'T BE ANY BETTER PLACED RELATIVE TO ADDING CHARACTER TO THAT PART OF CHARLESTON.
IF IT HAD TO BE, IT'S ONLY SIX ACRES THAT COULD BE THE MOST IMPACTFUL SIX ACRES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THEN GREENVILLE, UH, 32 ACRES OF THE, OF THE FALLS PARK, WHERE WE'VE HAD THE GREAT, GOOD FORTUNE OF JUST COMPLETING THE DESIGN OF AN UPSTREAM ADDITION TO THAT PARK IN GREENVILLE, WHICH I THINK WE'LL JUST ADD MORE GRAVITAS TO THAT.
SO THE TAKEAWAY HERE IS BIG PIECE OF GROUND.
WE CAN FIT A LOT OF STUFF IN HERE.
SHOULD WE SO CHOOSE NOT SUGGESTING IT NEEDS TO BE A POPERY, BUT WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT THE LUXURY OF GEOGRAPHY.
SO NOW SOME OF THE PROGRAM ELEMENTS, PASSIVE RECREATION, PLAYGROUNDS, NATURE, PLAY THINGS THAT FIT INTO THE ENVIRONMENT, TRAILS AND FITNESS.
UH, ALL OF THOSE CAN BE, UH, PROVIDED FOR WITHOUT REALLY BEING ALL THAT RECOGNIZABLE RELATIVE TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
WE CAN HAVE EXERCISE AND YOGA AND DISC GOLF AND HORSESHOES.
ALL OF THESE THINGS, DON'T TAKE UP A WHOLE LOT OF LAND BASE.
WE COULD PUT THEM ON A PORTION OF THIS GROUND AND QUITE FRANKLY, NEVER FIND IT UNLESS I BROUGHT IT TO YOUR ATTENTION, BUT THEY MIGHT PROVIDE A VERY USEFUL SERVICE TO, TO OUR CONSTITUENCY.
AND THEN MAYBE SOME OF THE LARGER LAND USES OF PICKLEBALL AND TENNIS, A BANK OF TENNIS COURTS THAT BEGINS TO TAKE UP A BUNCH OF GROUND.
UH, OBVIOUSLY, UH, SOCCER FIELDS ARE BIG PIECES OF GROUND AS ARE FOOTBALL FIELDS, BUT THEY'RE GREEN.
I, AGAIN, I CAN PLACE A COUPLE OF SOCCER FIELDS ON THIS PIECE OF GROUND, AND YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THEM UNLESS YOU SAW THOSE GOALS THAT WERE ROLLED OUT PRIOR TO A MATCH.
SO, UH, THE TAKEAWAY HERE IS THAT THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME ACTIVE RECORD.
THERE CAN BE SOME ACTIVE RECREATION IN HERE WITHOUT A DAMAGING THE PASSIVE ASPECTS, BUT, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO LET THAT PROCESS ROLL OUT.
AND THEN THERE'S THE WHOLE NOTION OF CIVIC AND, AND GATHERING SPACES.
UH, THIS IS CITY PLANNING, AMERICAN CITY PLANNING, 1 0 1, UM, CENTRALLY LOCATED, UH, TOWN SQUARE, OPEN SPACE TYPICALLY HAS SOME CIVIC STRUCTURE ON IT OR AROUND IT.
SO WHETHER WE PLACE THOSE IN THE PARK OR ADJACENT TO THE PARK, THE PARK BECOMES IF WE WEREN'T AN ISLAND ENVIRONMENT BEACH FRONT PROPERTY FOR WHAT HAPPENS ADJACENT TO IT.
SO THE PARK INCENTIVIZES CIVIC AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE OTHER WAY AROUND, UH, ACTIVITY, UH, ADDS, UM, UH, ADDS ATTRACTIVENESS TO THE PARK.
AND THEN THE CULTURAL ASPECTS OF, UH, AGAIN, I CONTINUE TO SHOWCASE THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THIS ISLAND, UM, UH, PUBLIC ART, PERFORMING ARTS, VISUAL ARTS, BOTANICAL GARDENS, FORMAL GARDENS, UM, ART FOR ART'S SAKE.
UH, WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, THAT COULD BE INTERMINGLED, THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A PLACE THAT COULD BE THROUGHOUT THE PARK AS A WHOLE.
IT'S NOW THE PIECE OF GROUND ITSELF, WE'VE GOT, UH, FAIRWAYS, UH WALL-TO-WALL AS IT WERE, WE'VE GOT THE OPENINGS FOR THOSE FAIRWAYS, UH, PORTIONS OF THIS FAIRWAYS ARE, ARE, ARE USED FOR THE CONCOR, WHICH IS A GREAT USE FOR THIS PIECE OF GROUND.
UM, SO WHERE WE HAVE CLEARINGS,
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WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE PLACE FIELD SPORTS, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY CLEARED.WE DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE TREES.
THERE ARE SOME TREES THERE THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT AND INDIGENOUS.
THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE INVASIVE OR, UH, INTRODUCED.
SO WE'LL KNOW, AS WE MOVE AHEAD, WHICH, WHICH NEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY PRESERVED AND WHICH MAY NOT WANT TO BE PRESERVED.
WE ALSO HAVE THE IDEA OF CONNECTIVITY, NOT ONLY ALONG 2 78 AND A TRAIL OF THE PARKWAY, THE TRAIL SYSTEM, BUT WE'VE GOT A POTENTIAL FOR A GREENBELT, UM, CONNECTION FROM DEEP WATER TO THE, TO THE, UH, NORTHEAST TO, UH, BROAD CREEK ON THE NORTHWEST ALL THROUGH TOWN GROUND.
SO I THINK THAT'S A FOUND OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I THINK THIS, THIS PARK DESIGN IS GOING TO CENTER AROUND THAT WATER AND THE WATER COURSES, AND, UM, MUCH OF THESE PARKS, MANY OF THESE PONDS, IF NOT, ALL OF THEM WERE BUILT FOR SOURCE WATER AND RUN OFF FOR THE GOLF COURSE SOURCE WATER FOR THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM, BUT NOW THEY EXIST IN A, IN A FAIRLY STABLE FASHION.
THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COMBINE SOME OF THESE INTO A LARGER WATER BODY, UH, BE MORE INTENTIONAL WITH THE CONNECTING, UH, CORRIDORS AND CREEKS BETWEEN THOSE PONDS, OBVIOUSLY PAY ATTENTION TO, UH, CHANNELIZATION OR EROSION AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCY AND ALL THE THINGS THAT A CHANGING CLIMATE ON A BARRIER ISLAND MEANS TO US.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL LEAD EVERY STEP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.
FIRST, UH, THE PLANS ARE TO, UH, RELOCATE, UH, THE ST JAMES CHURCH ONTO A CORNER OF THIS PROPERTY, BECAUSE THEIR PROXIMITY WITH AN EXPANDED RUNWAY THAT WILL BE, UH, CERTAINLY BROUGHT INTO THE DESIGN OF THIS AND HOW THAT FITS INTO THIS PARCEL, HOW IT IS MEANINGFULLY FIT INTO THIS PARCEL WILL BE A STARTING POINT AS WELL MENTIONED BEFORE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, THE FLOOR ON THE FAUNA.
UH, WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF CRITTERS HERE THAT WE WANT TO LARGELY ENCOURAGE TO BE THERE.
WE'VE GOT SOME INVASIVE PLANTS, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE SOME SPECIMEN QUALITY PLANT MATERIAL, AND WE NEED TO BE FRIENDLY TO MOTHER NATURE.
SO THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, AGAIN, WE'VE GOT TWO DAYS OF KICKOFF MEETINGS AND, UM, ENGAGEMENT WITH STAKEHOLDERS WHERE WE'LL BEAR DOWN INTO THEIR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS, THEIR WANTS AND NEEDS.
UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ONLY THE AREA, BUT THE PARK ITSELF, WE DO NOW HAVE IN HAND A SURVEY OF THAT PIECE OF GROUND CONTOURS, UNDERGROUND UTILITIES, SUCH AS THEY ARE, UM, UH, PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
SO WE'VE GOT THE BASIS BY WHICH WE CAN JUMP OFF AND, AND START DESIGN.
ONCE WE START TAKING, UH, EVERYONE'S OPINIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO START IMMEDIATELY THE MARKET STUDY, WE'RE ALSO COMMISSIONING AS PART OF THIS, A RESILIENCY STUDY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT DONALD WADE, THIS SITE AND THIS DISTRICT, BUT ISLAND-WIDE WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE, REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL STRIPE, WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND, AND, UM, UH, CHANGES IN WATER ELEVATION MEAN TO US AND SEVERITY OF STORMS. WE'VE USED THAT TRACTOR IN THE PAST TO STORE SOME FILLED TREES DURING THE LAST MAJOR STORM.
AND THAT MAY VERY WELL BE A CONSIDERATION MOVING FORWARD.
SO THAT'S GOING TO START, UH, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND THEN CERTAINLY, AND ALWAYS ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
CAN'T GET ENOUGH, UH, INPUT FROM FOLKS IN GENERAL.
AND I THINK WITH THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY OF YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL SIT DOWN A MAYOR AND LET YOU, UH, UH, RUN CONVERSATION WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES, THE GLENN.
UH, BRIAN, THANK YOU FOR A VERY INTERESTING AND KICKOFF PRESENTATION.
UM, I HAVE SOME BACKGROUND IN PASSIVE PARKS AND THEN I WAS INVOLVED IN THE COUNTY RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.
AND THAT WAS A REAL FOCUS OF OURS.
AND I SEE A CRYING NEED, UH, FOR THIS PARCEL TO BE PRIMARILY IF NOT EXCLUSIVELY, A PASSIVE PARK.
UM, I HAVE BEEN ON THE SITE YEARS AGO, I WAS ON IT AS A GOLFER, BUT RECENTLY I WAS OUT THERE JUST EXAMINING THE SITE.
AND I AGREE IT'S A SPECTACULAR OPPORTUNITY.
THE, ONE OF THE MOTIVATING FACTORS THAT WE HAVE IN CREATING THIS PARK IS TO STIMULATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SURROUNDING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, UM, AND TO, UH, CERTAINLY TO PROTECT THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
UM, IN, IN THAT REGARD, IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO ME TO LEARN ABOUT SUCCESS STORIES,
[00:30:01]
HAVING TO DO WITH PARKS DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN, IN THAT SAME VICINITY, IN THE CASE OF THE LOW COUNTRY CELEBRATION PARK.WE'RE SEEING THAT EXACTLY NOW, UH, THAT WAS AN AREA FIVE YEARS AGO, WHICH WAS VERY PAST ITS PRIME AND PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE OPPORTUNITY THERE AND COME IN AND MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT TYPES OF PROPERTIES TEND TO BE STIMULATED, UM, BY A PARK OF THIS NATURE AND WHETHER THERE ARE ANY FEATURES THAT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL, UH, TO, UH, THAT, THAT GOAL.
UM, I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED, UM, UH, DEBRIS STORAGE AFTER A STORM.
UM, I WOULD HATE TO SEE THAT HERE, BUT I THINK IT HAS TO BE, UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, AND THAT IS SOMETIME AGO, THIS PROPERTY HAD NOT BEEN CLEARED OR MAINTAINED BY THE TOWN MUCH AT ALL.
WE HAD CITIZEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY TOWN WENT IN, UH, HAD A CONTRACTOR COME IN AND DO A LOT OF CLEANUP.
I REGRET THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE ARE NATIVE PLANTS IN THERE THAT, UM, SOMEBODY WITH A BIG BUSH HAWK OR A STRING TRIMMER MAY NOT RECOGNIZE.
SO I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE ON HOW YOU WOULD PREFER FOR US TO MAINTAIN THIS PROPERTY OR NOT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK WE CAN HIT A HOME RUN HERE.
OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A STRONG TEAM AROUND YOU AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THAT TEAM AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MAYOR ANY WELL AS I, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS GREAT PRESENTATION.
UM, DO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOU AND THE TEAM THAT YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE WITH REGARD TO THIS TRACK.
AND AS I STARTED PREVIOUSLY, MY COMMENTS, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO'S CONTRIBUTING TO THIS, AND WE ALL COUNT OUR BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US.
UM, I THINK THAT THE OVERALL DESIGN THAT YOU'LL COME UP WITH IS, UM, CONTINGENT OBVIOUSLY ON ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, HAVING A VOICE.
UM, I THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT THAT WE'VE DONE PREVIOUSLY TO BUILD FROM THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO HAVE A PLACE THAT IS SERENE, BEAUTIFUL, PASSIVE, UM, AND SPEAKS TO THE NATURE AND THE HISTORY OF OUR ART ISLAND IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
I REALLY AM JUST USING WORDS TO SAY WHAT I'VE SAID BEFORE WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO US.
UH, I THINK WE ALL CAN APPRECIATE THAT WHEN THIS IS LAUNCHED, EXCUSE ME, AND WE SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT, OR EVEN WHILE THE PRODUCT IS EVOLVING ON A CONCEPTUAL BASIS, UH, TH THIS ACTION IS GOING TO BREED A REACTION AND THAT REACTION, UH, IMMEDIATELY I THINK, WILL BE, UM, UH, APPRECIATION, UH, IN THE ECONOMIC SENSE, UH, FOR PROPERTIES SURROUNDING THIS AREA.
AND THERE IN LIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS OR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MISCHIEF.
AND I THINK WHILE WE'RE, UM, AT THE DRAWING BOARDS FOR THE PARK SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT THE IMPACT COULD BE.
UH, AND IN DOING THAT, I THINK WE HAVE TO REFRESH OURSELVES ON THE BUY-RITE USES SURROUNDING THIS AREA BECAUSE THERE IN LIES THE MISCHIEF.
AND IF WE SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT COULD BE A FLASH IN THE PAN, UH, COULD INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE INDIVIDUAL, UH, BUT NOT ON A MACRO SENSE.
AND YOU'RE TO THE BENEFIT OF THIS FANTASTIC PROJECT, I THINK WE'LL BE MISSING THE BOAT.
UH, THE OTHER COMMENT I HAVE IS THAT I'M A MUCH MORE INCLINED TO BE PROMOTIVE OF PASSIVE ACTIVITY.
UH, THIS, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF LAND.
I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST GOT ON TOWN COUNCIL, UH, AND VOTED FOR THIS, NONE OF US KNEW WHAT WE'D EVER USE THIS FOR, BUT IT WAS
[00:35:01]
SUCH A GOOD DEAL, 50,000, AN ACRE OF WHY NOT DO IT, AND THEN FIGURE IT OUT LATER, NOT, NOT A SENSIBLE WAY TO PLAN, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT WAS, UH, THE OTHER THOUGHT I HAVE TOO IS, UM, PARKS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY AND TO THEIR FAMILIES, UH, AND, UH, THE PARKS, UH, I THINK FRANKLY IN THE MINDS OF PEOPLE IN THAT KNOW MUCH MORE ABOUT IT THAN I DO OUR PARKS FOR OUR CHILDREN ARE PROBABLY NOT AT THE STAGE OR LEVEL OF QUALITY THAT WE WOULD LIKE.AND SO WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
AND CURRENT WITH THIS ABSENT, THAT CONCURRENCY, I THINK WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT WHILE WE PLANNED FOR THIS PARK, AND AGAIN, I'M INCLINED TO HAVE A PASSIVE NATURE, IT COULD START GETTING POPULATED WITH A LOT OF VERY ACTIVE PARK ACTIVITY, WHICH MIGHT BE BETTER SUITED TO BE DEVELOPED IN PARKS THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONING WELL TODAY.
SO THAT'S A DYNAMIC THAT IF I WERE A PARENT OF YOUNG KIDS AND SAYING WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, I'D BE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT WHERE MY KIDS PLAY? AND, UH, I, I THINK WE, WE DON'T HAVE AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THIS VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LAND IN A VACUUM.
IT HAS TO BE LOOKED AT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ENTIRE RIDE, EXCUSE ME, OF THE ENTIRE ISLAND.
AND, UH, THANK YOU, BRIAN FOLIO PRESENTATION.
YOU DID SAY THAT SOMEBODY IS TAKING NOTES, RIGHT? OKAY.
UM, THERE'S A FEW THINGS ON MY MIND HERE.
UM, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT US TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, THE CIRCLE THAT YOU DREW AROUND THE AREA IS I'M GOING TO TRY TO FOCUS MY ATTENTION, NOT NECESSARILY ON THE PARK, UM, WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD, UH, SEND US A COPY OF THAT CIRCLE.
TO STUDY A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, MUCH OF THAT AREA THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE OPPORTUNITIES ZONE AND, UM, RIGHT WRONG IN DIFFERENT, WE'VE SEEN SOME REQUESTS FOR ZONING CHANGES IN THAT AREA DUE TO HIS SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE.
WELL, WHAT WE ARE EMBARKING ON CURRENTLY IS BIGGER THAN JUST AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE, RIGHT.
UM, SO I GUESS THAT'S A FOLLOWUP TO WHAT MR. HAWKINS HAS, UH, HAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.
UM, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR ANALYSIS, WE REALLY ARE IDENTIFYING, UH, NOT JUST THE CURRENT STATUS, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE GAPS.
UM, DEAD AREA WAS DEEMED AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE BECAUSE OF ITS POCKETS OF POVERTY.
WE DON'T WANT THIS EXERCISE TO TURN INTO A GENTRIFICATION.
I THINK OF THE WORD THAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
UH, BUT INSTEAD WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN THAT AREA.
AND I'M SPEAKING OF THOSE IN PORT ROYAL PLANTATION THAT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PARK BEING ACTIVE.
AND I'M SPEAKING OF THOSE THAT ARE SHOWING UP TO FOOD PANTRIES ONCE A WEEK, BECAUSE THERE'S A FOOD DESERT IN THAT AREA.
SO HOW WE TIE ALL THAT TOGETHER IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
ULTIMATELY TO ME, THE WAY THAT WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS IS THAT 10 YEARS FROM NOW WE'VE SHOWN THAT WE'VE IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA.
AND OH, BY THE WAY, IT IS A MASTERPIECE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
UM, THROUGH YOUR STUDY, UH, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THIS PARTICULAR AREA THAT YOU HAVE DRAWN A CIRCLE AROUND HAS A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BED AREAS.
I THINK WHAT WE, AS A COUNCIL, I'M NOT NECESSARILY CLEAR ON IS THE ACTUAL AMI AND THE RENT,
[00:40:01]
UH, IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, HAVING THAT IN FRONT OF US WILL HELP US MAKE SOUND DECISIONS IN TERMS OF OFFERINGS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.BECAUSE, UH, I REALIZED THAT IT'S NOT JUST COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.
THEY ALSO, THAT WE WANT TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH, UH, STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, WE WOULD ASK THAT IF THERE ARE OTHERS THAT MAY BUBBLE UP ALONG THE WAY THAT WE DON'T, UH, DON'T MISS OUT AND SPEAK TO THEM.
AND, UH, MY LAST PIECE BEFORE I CLOSE, UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WILL HAVE A SMALL PIECE OF THE, I GUESS, CONSTRUCTION COMPONENT.
UM, GOING BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER ABOUT THIS AREA, BEING THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE, THERE ARE POCKETS OF POVERTY.
UM, I WOULD BE MORE THAN APPRECIATIVE IF YOU WERE BOLD ENOUGH TO SUGGEST TO US AS A COUNCIL, THAT THERE ARE SOME SET ASIDES FOR MINORITY CONTRACTORS IN THIS PROJECT.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE, UH, HE ON HILTON HEAD, BUT IF WE STILL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR NEW PLAN, THE WHOLE IDEA OF DIVERSITY IS DEFINITELY INCLUDED VERY HEAVILY THERE.
UH, SO I APPRECIATE THAT THOSE ARE COMMENTS, MR. MANN.
AGAIN, I SAID BEFORE, I'M VERY EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD IN THIS FASHION OF PLANNING AND GOING THROUGH THIS EXERCISE AND YOU'LL BE IN THE LEAD.
OH, RYAN, I'M GLAD YOU'RE INVOLVED.
I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE END PRODUCT BECAUSE OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT ALONG WITH YOUR TEAM, THE, UH, THE SOCIAL AND THE RECREATIONAL BENEFITS, UH, OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS, UH, ARE PRETTY OBVIOUS.
I THINK WHAT IS LESS OBVIOUS IS THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE TWO PROJECTS, SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THIS, THAT THE TOWN HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF SHELTER COVE CENTER AND PARK, UH, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CELEBRATION PARK IN THE POPE AVENUE, TIF, UH, AND THE ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT THAT IS OCCURRING RIGHT NOW, UH, IS ENORMOUSLY SIGNIFICANT.
AND I THINK WE HOPE, I KNOW WE HOPE TO SEE A SIMILAR REDEVELOPMENT, NOT DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE QUADRANTS THAT YOU HAD, UH, INSIDE THAT CIRCLE, UH, WITH A PROJECT OF THIS SCOPE.
SO I'M GOING TO REALLY BE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOUR MARKET STUDY TELLS US ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR NON-RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, UH, IN AND AROUND THAT AREA.
JUST THE AIMS. DAVID, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY.
UM, I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR BEING SOMEWHAT OF A DISTRACTION TODAY, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK KRISTEN AND JOHN TUTTLE FOR SETTING THIS UP TO ACCOMMODATE ME.
UM, I HAVE A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT THAT I HAVEN'T REALLY FELT FOR YEARS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S A SIMILAR, IT'S THE SENSE OF EXCITEMENT THAT WHEN, WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING HILTON HEAD, UM, THERE WERE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES AND IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF OUR MINDS COMING UP WITH WHAT MADE SENSE AND THEN JUST GROW WITH IT.
AND THE WAY BRIAN WAS TALKING, UM, MAKES ME FEEL AS THOUGH THAT'S REALLY ON THE CUSP OF OUR OPPORTUNITY HERE TODAY.
I LIKED THE IDEA OF INITIATIVE AREA INITIATIVE.
SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO TRY SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE, AND IT'S THIS THERE'S PROCESSES AS BRIAN DESCRIBES IT THIS FUCKING FORWARD.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS TO DO.
IN MY OPINION, UM, A PLANNING PROCESS, UH, AS RYAN HAS OUTLINED, IT IS IN MY OPINION, OUR PROCESS, UH, YOU DON'T DICTATE WHAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE AT THE OUTSET.
YOU HAVE CONCEPTS, AND THEN YOU LISTEN TO STAKEHOLDERS AND THEN YOU BEGIN TO WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS.
BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT I THINK WE MUST INCLUDE.
[00:45:01]
WE HAVE TO INCLUDE ISLAND VALUES OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND THE ENVIRONMENT THAT'S OBVIOUS TO MOST PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE ISLAND.AND SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO EXEMPLIFY THAT IN THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE THROUGHOUT THIS INITIATIVE AREA, THE SECOND IS INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY PLANNING.
HAVE I REALLY BELIEVE YET YOU SORT OF HAD TO BE AROUND CHARLES FRAZIER IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND, CREATE TIME AND INNOVATION.
AND IT WAS LARGELY THE THINGS THAT HE PUT ON THE GROUND, COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL HOUSING, UM, THAT CREATED THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND THAT GREW UP OVER THE YEARS.
AND I SEE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY PLANNING AS BEING THOSE THINGS OF GREATEST VALUE TO THIS ISLAND GOING FORWARD.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US ON COUNCIL OR KEEP OUR MINDS OPEN TO THE PROCESS SO THAT WE COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE ISLAND, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE LEVERAGE IS.
IF WE DO SOMETHING FOR THE ENTIRE ISLAND, THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE BENEFIT ACROSS THE BOARD AND FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ISLAND, I GUESS CLOSING WORDS I WOULD HAVE TODAY IS WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS, RIGHT? THIS IS, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY.
THIS COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DISTINCTIVE DIFFERENCE IN HOW, HOW THE WORLD PERCEIVES US GOING FORWARD.
I LIKE TO WALK, GIVE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
I LIKE TO TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE NOW WE'LL START WITH MR. HERON.
HOW MANY COMMENTS, SIR? MY GOD.
I WANT TO ASK YOUR NAME PLEASE.
I WANT TO ASK MORE ABOUT THE FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE AIRPORT.
DIDN'T WE JUST EXPANDED? ARE WE GOING TO EXPAND IT FURTHER? AND ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY OR AREA AROUND IT? THIS IS NOT A RUNWAY EXPANSION.
SO THE EXPANSION OF THE TERMINAL.
AND WHERE WE ALSO HAVE A MULTI-LEVEL PARKING STRUCTURE THERE.
WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD, BUT YOU KNOW, AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
OH, THE PASSIVE VERSUS ACTIVE PARK.
I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THAT MEANS.
DOES PASSIVE, CAN SOMEONE SAY WHAT THE PASSIVE VERSUS ACTIVE IS? RIGHT.
IN, IN GENERAL TERMS, THE PASSIVE WOULD MEAN MORE OF A NATURE PRESERVE OPEN GROUND, UH, NOT NECESSARILY COURT GAMES OR ANY HIGH ACTIVITY, PLACES OF TRAILS, OPEN SPACES, UH, PRESERVED WOODLOTS, UH, ACTIVE WOULD BE TENNIS COURTS, PICKLEBALL COURTS, BASKETBALL COURTS, UH, LARGE PLAYGROUNDS, UM, AND, AND THINGS THAT GENERATED A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF SWEAT AND A LOT OF ACTIVITY.
SO THERE'S THE, WHAT THEY HAVE OVER AT TOWN CENTER.
LET ME ADD WHAT I SHOULD HAVE ADDED, UH, THAT, UH, THAT JENNIFER HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH, AND THAT IS COORDINATING DEVELOPMENT IN OTHER PARKS THAT WE'RE NOW, UM, UH, UPDATING, UH, ALONG WITH THIS PARK.
SO THE NEW MID ISLAND PARK, WHATEVER IT WILL BE CALLED, DOESN'T CARRY THE BURDEN OF ALL THE DEFICIENCIES WE HAVE ON THE ACTIVE RECREATION SIDE OF THINGS.
JENNIFER, ALONG WITH THE DESIGN TEAMS OF THOSE PROJECTS IS CHOREOGRAPHING.
WHAT GOES IN, WHAT PARK FOR THE REASONS STATED BEFORE, IF WE NEED MORE TENNIS COURTS, MIGHT IT MAKE SENSE TO PUT TENNIS COURTS WHERE THEY ARE TODAY? AGAIN, THAT'S A PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO EASE TO WORK ITSELF OUT.
[00:50:01]
TO, TO THE, TO, UH, MR. AMES POINT, I'M TRYING TO KEEP MYSELF, UM, AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE, LET THIS PROCESS PLAY OUT.BUT AS I LOOK AT THAT PIECE OF GROUND, IT SCREAMS TO ME THAT IT WANTS TO BE MORE PASSIVE AND USES AND NOT THAT HIGH ACTIVITY PLACES, WE HAVE OTHER PARKS IN THE SYSTEM.
VERY NICE PARKS, MIND YOU, WE ALL, WE HAVE A VERY NICE PARK SYSTEM BY THE WAY HERE.
UM, FEEL SOMEWHAT TO COMMENT ON THAT.
UH, AND WE CAN ADD TO THAT WITHOUT BRINGING BURDENSOME, UH, DEVELOPMENT HERE, BUT THANK YOU BOTH.
ANYBODY ELSE, HEATHER THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
AND I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, UM, TO THE COUNCIL FOR PROCEEDING TODAY WITH THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND FRANK PAYPAL, WHO CAN BE HERE WITH US.
UM, SO JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FOR Y'ALL.
THREE YEARS AGO, MANY OF YOU GLENN BILL TAMRA, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WERE ON JOHN, TOM, DAVID, YOU ALL VOTED TO MAKE PARKS AND RECREATION, A HIGH PRIORITY FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AND YOU DID IT, AND WE'VE PROGRESSED SO MUCH.
AND I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT COMMITMENT TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND TO FAMILIES.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT COMMITMENT THREE YEARS AGO.
THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN THE PARKS AND REC PLAN.
THANK YOU FOR FOLDING THAT PARKS AND REC PLAN INTO THE, OUR PINE PROCESS.
I MEAN, ALL OF THAT WORK BROUGHT US HERE TODAY AND I REALLY AM GRATEFUL TRULY.
SO A COUPLE OF THINGS I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT.
I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY OUR DIFFERENT AUDIENCES HERE.
SO DID ALEX A COUPLE OF YOU DID AS WELL.
WHO ARE WE DOING THIS FOR? UM, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE COME OUT OF THOSE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS IN MARKETING, WE CALL THEM MARKETING AVATARS, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SERVICING THROUGH THIS PARK AND NOT JUST FOR THE PARK, BUT ALSO FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND THE REDEVELOPMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US CREATE THOSE AND THEN BUILD AROUND THEM TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIVES FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SERVICING.
SECOND, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING ON THIS PROPERTY.
IT BUTTS UP RIGHT AGAINST THE LEGENDS AND THE LEGENDS CURRENTLY IS SERVING AS WORKFORCE HOUSING.
PEOPLE ARE BUYING INTO THOSE PROPERTIES AND THEY'RE UPHOLSTERS AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, UH, RESTAURANT MANAGERS.
THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CANNOT MISS.
SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT THAT.
UM, AND THEN THREE, I JUST NEED TO REMIND YOU, PLEASE REDEVELOP THIS ENTIRE AREA AND THE PARK, BUT ALSO THE AREA WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES ZONE FOR RESIDENTS, FOR RESIDENTS, NOT FOR OUR VISITORS, OUR VISITORS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT, BUT OUR RESIDENTS REALLY NEED TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS PROJECT.
UM, I DIDN'T PLAN TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT, UM, YOU WOKE ME UP.
AND, AND, AND I, I WANTED TO SHARE A STORY WITH YOU.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE PARK WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, MOSTLY ECOLOGY TYPES, HISTORY TYPES, CULTURAL TYPES OF PEOPLE, AND, AND SHOWING IT TO A COUPLE DOZEN PEOPLE, UH, CLOSE UP IN, CLOSE UP AND PERSONAL.
I, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I HAD TWO, UM, PROFESSIONALS FROM CLEMSON EXTENSION.
I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CLEMSON EXTENSION, BUT IT'S STATEWIDE.
AND IT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT IN PROTECTING AND IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS AROUND THE STATE.
AND, AND I SAID TO THEM AT THE END OF THEIR JOURNEY AROUND THE PARK, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, AND WE WERE ALL SOAKING WET AND I HANDED THEM THEIR TOWELS.
UM, I SAID, ALL RIGHT, HOW DO YOU RANK THIS? YOU SEE EVERYTHING ALL OVER THE STATE.
YOU'VE SPENT YOUR WHOLE LIFE DOING THIS STUFF.
HOW DO YOU RANK THIS ONE AS AN OPPORTUNITY? AND THEY SAID, ARE YOU KIDDING? THIS IS A 10 PLUS, THIS IS SO RARE IN BUFORD COUNTY OR IN THE TRI-COUNTY AREA, JASPER BUFORD CALL CARLTON.
THIS, THIS IS AN AMAZING PLACE THAT HAS SO MANY, UH, AMAZING NATURAL ASSETS JUST WAITING TO BE ENJOYED.
AND, UM, AND, AND THEY, THEY REMINDED ME AND I, I DON'T KNOW THE COUNTY OR THE TRI-COUNTY THAT WELL, BUT THEY REMINDED ME THAT, THAT IT REALLY IS A VERY UNIQUE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND TO DO SOMETHING WORLD-CLASS OR SPECIAL WITH IT IS THERE'S PROBABLY NO OTHER OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS THAT THEY COULD THINK OF IN TERMS OF OPEN LANDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A POPULATION,
[00:55:01]
THINK OF WHERE IT'S AT AND THINK OF 2.5 MILLION PLUS THE REST OF US.SO YOU ALL KNOW THAT, AND I'M SO PLEASED THAT YOU ALL HAVE THIS SENSE OF, UH, I DON'T KNOW, YOU'RE VERY PROTECTIVE AND VERY, VERY, VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS.
AND YOU SEE IT AS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY EXCITING THAT YOU ALL FEEL THAT WAY NO MATTER WHAT IS FINALLY DECIDED.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE, LARRY GOOD AFTERNOON.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.
UH, MY COMMENT HERE IS LISTENING TO, UH, THE WONDERFUL FEELINGS AND COMMENTS AND VIEWS OF ALL OF US.
UH, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE TRACK OF THE FACT OF WHO IS THE CUSTOMER, WHAT BROUGHT EACH OF US HERE? WHAT IS BRINGING PEOPLE HERE TODAY? ARE WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF HOW WE LIVE TODAY, AND WE ARE BLESSED WITH THIS NATURE, AND WE SHOULD KEEP IT THAT WAY AS LONG AS WE CAN, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ATTRACTION THAT GIVES THE PEACE OF TRANQUILITY OF OUR ISLAND.
I'M JUST SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF, BUT I'M HAVING KIND OF STUDIED THIS A HUNDRED ACRES IS REALLY LARGE.
IF YOU'RE AT WHOLE NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT WHOLE NUMBER FIVE, RIGHT? AND, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THAT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE, LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
AND, UM, THERE'S A LOT THAT YOU COULD DO THERE AND YOU WOULD NEVER SEE THE OTHER SIDES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A SMALL PARK.
AND IF WE THINK TOO SMALL AND TOO PASSIVE, YOU KNOW, THEN WE MISS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE AND IMPROVE DEVELOPMENT.
IF WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT THERE NOW, AND WE GO SMALL AND SIMPLE, THEN WHY ISN'T THAT AREA IMPROVING NOW ON ITS OWN WITH THE PARK? THE WAY IT IS, ALL YOU'LL BE DOING IS PUTTING A TRAIL THROUGH IT.
AND IF THAT'S NOT SPRING REDEVELOPMENT, AS WE WISH, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO THINK OF SOMETHING ON SOME SCALE.
SO WE'VE ALL SEEN THE DEFICIENT.
SO HE HAD FOR PARKS, ACTIVE RECREATION AND THINGS, AND WE HAVE LOTS OF LAND TO PUT THEM ON IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE SOME HORSE TRADING AROUND WHAT TO PUT WHERE AND WHAT WOULD FIT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BETTER THAN ANOTHER PARK, BUT WE CAN GET IT DONE.
SO LET'S JUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND THERE, WHAT THEY WANT AND ALL THE LAND WE HAVE AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE.
THANK YOU TO SOMEONE ELSE IN BACK THERE, MS. HI, PAULINE LELAND.
I LIVE IN PORT ROYAL PLANTATION COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO CALL OURSELVES NOW.
UM, WHEN THE, UM, WHEN THIS PROPERTY WAS SOLD, I WAS APPREHENSIVE NOT KNOWING, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT WOULD BE.
AND THEN I FELT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF A PASSIVE PARK.
MY HUSBAND AND I CAME JUST TO HEAR ALL ABOUT IT, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A POSSIBILITY.
IT'S GOING TO BE JUST A PASSIVE PARK.
I AM A PICKLEBALL PLAYER AVID.
HOWEVER, THE IDEA OF HAVING PICKLEBALL COURTS THERE AS A POSSIBILITY MADE ME THINK OF A LOT OF THINGS.
IT MADE ME THINK THAT THE PEOPLE FROM BLUFFTON WILL COME TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND, THAT THE TOURISTS THAT ARE ON THE SOUTH END ARE GOING TO COME MID ISLAND.
THERE'S A LOT THAT THEY CAN DO HERE.
THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE COMMOTION.
WHERE ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE GONNA BE? THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN'T STAY OVERNIGHT.
BE SURE THAT YOU SEE WHAT WHAT'S GONNA GO ON IN THE MID ISLAND.
YOU'RE GOING TO BING BRING TRAFFIC FROM BOTH SIDES, A LITTLE PASSIVE PARK WITH STREAMS AND ALL THAT STUFF.
THAT'S ONE THING YOU START BRINGING IN THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTROL ALL OF THAT IN THIS MID ISLAND TRACK? NOW AN ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION, PERHAPS I'M MISTAKEN, BUT I THOUGHT THE TOWN HAD SAID THEY WERE ONLY GOING TO DEVELOP A PORTION OF THIS LARGE, A HUNDRED ACRE TRACK.
I DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE THAT A BIG PARK.
SO AM I MISTAKEN ABOUT THAT? THAT IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE A SMALL PART.
THAT WOULD BE THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONSULTANT WILL LOOK AT THE WHOLE ACREAGE AND SEEING NOT JUST PART OF IT.
AND YOU KNOW, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS THE EXPRESSION, UM, FROM FIELD OF DREAMS, IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.
SO WE HAVE TO REALLY BE CAREFUL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC AT MATTHEWS ROAD ACCIDENTS AND EVERYTHING.
[01:00:01]
I JUST HEARD SOMETHING VERY CONCERNING.AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S VALID, CAUSE I JUST HEARD IT THE OTHER DAY THAT THE OLD, UM, STEINMART IS NOW AN INDOOR GO-KART THAT'S IN BLUFFTON.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HAVE ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? GO AHEAD.
JUST THE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF APPREHENSION AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION TO WORK FROM A GREAT TEAM WORKING ON IT.
AND I THINK MANY, UM, CONCERNED AND, UH, CITIZENS THAT WHEN THIS IS ALL DONE, THE GOAL IS THAT WE ARE WORLD-CLASS THAT THE RESIDENTS DO COME FIRST AND THAT THE REST WILL FALL INTO PLACE WITH CAREFUL OVERSIGHT AND CONSIDERATIONS EACH STEP OF THE WAY.
SO I'M EXCITED TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.
YOU'LL FIND THE COMMENTS OVER HERE.
COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO ADMIT YES.
MR. GORDON, I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST BRIAN, PLEASE INCLUDE THAT PROGRESS CHART ON THE TOWN WEBSITE.
WE HAVE A PLAY THERE PLACE THERE FOR MAJOR INITIATIVES.
THIS SHOULD BE CERTAINLY AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE WHERE IT IS AS IT'S PROGRESSING.
UM, MY NAME'S JOAN HAZEL, AND I'M ALSO IN PORT ROYAL PLANTATION.
UM, TWO WORDS THAT CAME OUT DURING THIS DISCUSSION, UM, KIND OF SCARED ME.
UM, ALEX MENTIONED, UM, REZONING, AND I'M JUST WANT TO KNOW, UM, WILL ANYTHING BE, BE ZONED AS PART OF THIS UNTIL YOU GET THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, YOU'LL BE INVOLVED AS A PROCESS THAT WE GO ALONG.
YOU'LL BE INVOLVED IN A PROCESS AS IT GOES ALONG.
AND, UM, THE SAME WITH, I THINK LIKE BRIAN MENTIONED THE ASHMORE TRACK POSSIBLY GOING TO RETAIL, THAT WOULD ALL BE PART OF STAKEHOLDERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY.
GO TO BUFORD COUNTY S C.GOV, SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.
CLICK WATCH NOW, AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM THE LIST CALL TO ORDER IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
I REMEMBER CAMPBELL AND THIS IS BUFORD CONNIE MOMENTS.
WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD TODAY? THE FOOD HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF OUR LIFE IN TERMS OF GATHERING FOOD AND PREPARING THEM ALL FOOD IS BASED ON THE LAND AND THE SEA.
THE LAND FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN RICE.
WE DON'T FEEL WE HAVE EATEN DINNER UNLESS WE'VE HAD RICE.
RICE WAS MIXED WITH VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SEA, LIKE OYSTERS OR SHRIMP.
[01:05:01]
AND WHEN THEY'RE COOKED WITH RICE AND ONE POT, WE CALLED IT A RICE SHRIMP ON OYSTER PERLOW AND THEN WE HAVE THE WATERMELONS AND THE SWEET POTATOES, SWEET POTATOES WAS ALWAYS EATEN WITH FISH AND FRESH FISH WITH GRAVY AND A SWEET POTATO.VOLCKER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FOOD WAYS.
WE RAISED THEM AS WELL AS WE PREPARE THEM WITH SHRIMP AND TOMATOES.
AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A GUMBO.
AND THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
AND SO ENJOY THE FOOD OF THE LOW COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S SPENT VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THIS HAS BEEN YIELD BUFORD COUNTY MOMENT TO SEE MORE BEAVER COUNTY MOMENTS, GO TO THE BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.
LORNA DEPUTY COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
SO YOU THROW YOUR CIGARETTE BUTT OUT THE WINDOW.
THAT'S LITTER IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, YOU HAVE YOUR LICENSE, REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE.
THE SIR IT'S CIVILIZATION VERSUS NATURE'S FURY, RAGING BLIZZARDS BERRIES, CITIES UNDER THOUSANDS OF TONS OF SNOW.
HOW MANY HURRICANES TEAR APART, COASTAL COMMUNITIES, WIND AND RAIN AND FLASH FLOODS WIPE ENTIRE TOWNS OFF THE FACE OF THE YEAR.
AS THE SKY IS CLEAR, PEOPLE BEGIN TO PICK UP THE PIECES, BUT AFTER THE STORM INSIDIOUS DAMAGE IS STILL BEING DONE.
OUR MOST VITAL NATURAL RESOURCES UNDER ASSAULT, OUR NATION'S WATERS WE'RE AT THE CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT A WATERSHED IS.
I NEED YOU TO TELL ME WHAT A WATERSHED IS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA, WATERSHED, A WATERSHED WHERE PEOPLE GO TO THE BATHROOM.
SO I THINK, I GUESS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SWEATING, LIKE AFTER YOU RUN, WHEN YOU BOTH SPIRE.
WE WANTED TO ASK YOU IF YOU KNEW WHAT A WATERSHED WAS, WATERSHED IS THE CANDLELIGHT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT A WATERSHED IS? SHED THAT HOLDS COME HERE FOR A SECOND.
I WANT TO ASK YOU SOME, DO YOU KNOW WHAT A WATERSHED IS? NO.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? WHAT DO YOU THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT A WATERSHED IS? YEAH, THAT'S JUST A DRAIN POOL, I GUESS YOU'D SAY.
OR THE DRAIN AREA, THE BOARD OF WATER, THE RAINWATER GRAINS INTO THE RIVER.
UH, WATERSHED IS THAT AREA OF LAND THAT DRAINS TO A BODY OF WATER, BE THAT IF IT'S A RIVER, A STREAM, THE OCEAN AND ESTUARY A BAY, WHEREVER YOU LIVE DRAINS TO SOME WATER BODY AND YOU'D LIVE IN A WATERSHED.
AND IN THIS MODERN INDUSTRIAL AGE, OUR WATER SOURCES ARE BECOMING MORE CONTAMINATED WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.
THE BIGGEST WATER QUALITY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THE NATION TODAY IS POLLUTED RUNOFF.
IT'S ALL WATER EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE DRAINS TO THE ATLANTIC WHILE WATER WEST OF THE DIVIDE FLOWS TO THE PACIFIC AND ONE DROP OF RAIN CAN CROSS MANY DIFFERENT WATERSHEDS ALONG THE WAY.
AS RUNOFF FLOWS INTO RIVERS, STREAMS AND STORM DRAINS, THE WATER PICKS UP TRASH, DIRT, BACTERIA, TOXIC CHEMICALS, AND FERTILIZERS, CREATING A SOUP OF POLLUTANTS THAT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF POLLUTED RUNOFF EXIST WORLDWIDE.
THE UN ESTIMATE IS THAT THERE'S ABOUT A BILLION PEOPLE ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW WHO DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO FRESH WATER.
97% OF ALL WATER ON EARTH IS SALTY OCEAN WATER OF THE REMAINING 3%.
IT'S FRESH OVER TWO THIRDS IS FROZEN AND GLACIERS AND POLARIZED.
THAT LEAVES LESS THAN 1% OF ALL THE PLANETS WATER FOR OUR USE ARE PREDICTING THE FUTURE THAT SOME OF THE U S WATER NEEDS ARE GOING TO COME
[01:10:01]
THROUGH PIPELINE BECAUSE WE HAVE JUST OVERUSED OUR SUPPLY TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX THREATS FACING US WATER RESOURCES.THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RECOMMENDS ADOPTING A WATERSHED APPROACH.
WE'RE TRYING TO RECONNECT SOME OF THE RIVER.
IT'S A METHOD THAT LOOKS AT EACH WATERSHED FOR ITS OWN UNIQUE SET OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS.
IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE MISTAKENLY IDENTIFY LARGE DISCHARGE PIPES IN THE WATER AS THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM.
IT MAY BE COMING FROM AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF.
IT MAY BE COMING FROM STORMWATER RUNOFF OVER PARKING LOTS AND IMPERVIOUS SURFACES.
EVERY WATERSHED IS DIFFERENT AND YOU NEED TO LOOK AT EACH WATERSHED IN ITS OWN TERMS, AND THEN THINK SYSTEMATICALLY ABOUT HOW YOU REMEDIATE, HOW YOU CLEAN UP THAT WATERSHED IN CALIFORNIA, THE SANTA MONICA BAY WATERSHED DRAINS A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF POLLUTED RUNOFF AFTER EACH STORM.
WHEN IT RAINS, LITERALLY THE WHOLE RESIDUE OF URBAN LIVING ENDS UP GETTING WASHED INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM AND ENDS UP GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE BAY ON SANTA MONICA BAY BEACHES WITH NO TREATMENT WHATSOEVER.
I SEE LIKE A GIANT TOILET FLUSHING BECAUSE ALL OF THE POLLUTION DOG MESS HAS BEEN BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP WHEN IT RAINS, IT JUST FLUSHES THE STORM DRAIN AND GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE, UH, THE CERT IN 1996, THE SANTA MONICA BAY RESTORATION COMMISSION PROVED THERE WAS A LINK BETWEEN THE CONTAMINATED RUNOFF IN THE SANTA MONICA BAY AND REPORTS OF ILLNESS, AFFLICTING PEOPLE WHO SWIM THERE.
BUT WE DID FIND WAS AT THE OUTLETS OF STORM DRAINS, NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE UP AND DOWN THE BAY, IF THERE WAS A FLOW OF RUNOFF INTO THE SURF ZONE, THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE SWIMMING IN THOSE AREAS, UH, DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED HIGHER INCIDENCES OF ILLNESS.
THE POLLUTANTS IN THE WATER AFFECTS SURFERS BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY THE INDICATOR SPECIES WITH ALL THE POLLUTANTS.
UM, WHEN WE ARE IN THE WATERS, WE'RE INGESTING IT THROUGH OUR SKIN, IN OUR MOUTH.
EVEN IF PEOPLE DON'T TAKE A SWALLOW OF WATER, IT'S STILL GETTING INTO OUR SYSTEMS, OUR EARS, ANY ORIFICE WHEN YOUR BODY AND IT CAUSES INFECTIONS, IT CAN CAUSE A COLD SORE THROAT.
AT THE VERY LEAST, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THAT'S GOT THOSE DISEASES IN THERE, YOU KNOW, JUST FLOATING AROUND, MAKING MORE DISEASES.
I'VE SEEN IT PRETTY MUCH AS BAD AS IT COULD BE.
I'VE SEEN CRAP FLOATING OUT IN THE WATER.
BASICALLY WE CALL IT FECAL CALL FORM.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, YOU MIGHT KNOW OF IT AS E-COLI SALMONELLA OR ENTEROCOCCUS.
THERE'S TIMES WHEN IT TASTES FUNKY.
EVERY DAY, THE CITY AND COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PERFORM A BATTERY OF TESTS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED ABOUT WATER QUALITY IN THE SANTA MONICA BAY SES ARE OURS.
ADD-ON BEGINS THE MONITORING PROCESS EACH MORNING BY TAKING A SERIES OF COASTLINE WATER SAMPLES.
THEN IT'S BACK TO THE LAB FOR ANALYSIS.
MOST OF THE BACTERIA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ME, IT COMES FROM THESIS.
AND WHEN YOU PUT IT UNDER THE UV LIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENT CAR COLOR.
IT'S A FLUORESCENT, A SIGN THAT THERE IS A BACTERIA, AND THEN IT'S CALLED EQUALIZE.
THAT ONE DEFINITELY IS, UH, FECES FROM ANIMALS OR IT COULD BE HUMAN.
SO THE RESULTS ARE REPORTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND BEACH WARNINGS ARE POSTED AS NECESSARY.
THE NUMBER OF BEACH POSTINGS HAS DECREASED AND 85% OF THE BEACHES THAT HAVE BEEN MONITORED IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAVE RECEIVED EITHER A OR B GRADES.
AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN FOUR YEARS AGO.
BUT WHILE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN CALIFORNIA, THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF POLLUTED RUNOFF ARE A GROWING CONCERN EVERYWHERE.
SO WHAT CAN THE AVERAGE PERSON DO TO HELP REDUCE POLLUTION IN OUR WATERSHEDS, HOW YOU APPLY PESTICIDES OR NOT IN YOUR GARDEN, HOW YOU WASH YOUR CARS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, UH, YOU DON'T THROW CIGARETTE BUTTS.
THE STREET DO NOT DUMP THINGS ON THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY OILS OR ANY CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS, UH, PICKUP AFTER YOUR DOGS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS AND JUST BE A CONSCIENTIOUS CITIZEN AND DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING ON THE GROUND.
I THINK ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT NEEDS TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
IF NOT YOU WHO COMING UP, WE'RE HEADING FOR, WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ECO SYSTEM COLLAPSED, CAN THE GULF OF MEXICO BE SAVED FROM BLUE TO RUNOFF? IT WAS A FLOOD OF APOCALYPTIC SCALE, 26,000 SQUARE MILES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INUNDATED BY WATER.
AND 600,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.
THE FLOOD OF 1927 WAS THE MOST DISASTROUS IN US HISTORY.
AND ITS EFFECTS ARE STILL FELT TODAY.
AFTER THE FLOOD OF 27, MASSIVE LEVIES WERE PUT IN PLACE.
AND WHILE THEY HELPED PROTECT THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN FROM FLOODING, THE LEVIES AND OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES WOULD ULTIMATELY HARM THE WATERSHED IN UNFORESEEN WAYS.
THE GULF STATE OF LOUISIANA IS
[01:15:01]
THE TERMINUS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, THE MIGHTY WATERSHED THAT DRAINS 41% OF THE AREA OF THE LOWER 48 STATES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.UH, WE RECEIVE WATER FROM AS FAR AWAY AS MONTANA, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO, IOWA, ALL THOSE WATERS DRAIN RIGHT HALF THIS AREA RIGHT HERE.
BUT BY THE TIME ALL THAT WATER ENTERS THE GULF, IT HAS ACCUMULATED ENOUGH CONTAMINANTS FOR POLLUTED RUNOFF TO CREATE AN ENORMOUS HYPOXIC ZONE, AN AREA OF WATER LACKING IN VITAL OXYGEN.
THE SIZE OF THE LOW OPTIONS ZONE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IS ABOUT 9,000 SQUARE MILES.
THAT'S EQUAL TO THE SIZE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THE SHORTAGE OF OXYGEN IS KILLING FISH AND OTHER SEA LIFE, AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.
WE ARE THE LARGEST NAVIGATION PORT IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST FISHERY IN THIS COUNTRY.
LOT OF TIMES, ALL OUR CRABS WE DID.
WE CAN'T EVEN TELL HIM THE REASON HYPOXIA SHOULD BE OF CONCERN TO MOST CITIZENS IN THIS NATION IS BECAUSE IT'S A SIGN.
IT'S A SIGN OF THE DEGRADATION OF OUR WATER RESOURCES WE ARE HEADING FOR.
WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ECOSYSTEM COLLAPSE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER CAUSED BY THE OFFSHORE HYPOXIC AREAS, THEN THAT ABSOLUTELY TRANSLATES INTO AN ECONOMIC DISASTER.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS CAUSING THIS DEAD ZONE IN THE GULF HYPOXIA DEVELOPS WHEN AN AREA OF WATER RECEIVES EXCESS POLLUTANTS, PRIMARILY AN OVERABUNDANCE OF NUTRIENTS, WHICH PRODUCE LARGE ALGAE BLOOMS THAT DIE OFF AND LEAD TO LOW OXYGEN.
AND SINCE THE MISSISSIPPI GETS FED BY TRIBUTARIES, THAT FLOW THROUGH 31 STATES, THAT ADDS UP TO A STAGGERING VOLUME OF CONTAMINATED RUNOFF.
YOU HAVE DRAINAGE INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO FROM THE OHIO RIVER, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THE MISSOURI RIVER.
HE HAD EACH OF THOSE THREE MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS OR WATERSHEDS IN AND OF THEMSELVES WITH THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS ALWAYS DELIVERED A LOT OF WATER AND THAT HASN'T CHANGED OVER THE CENTURIES.
WHAT'S CHANGED IS THE AMOUNT OF NUTRIENTS IN THAT.
IN FACT, THE MISSISSIPPI'S NITROGEN LEVELS AND THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAVE TRIPLED SINCE THE 1950S AND THE GROWING HYPOXIC ZONE OFF THE LOUISIANA COAST CONTAINS THE DISTURBING EVIDENCE.
IT'S LIKE A RUSTY CARLA STANKY, ROTTEN LOOKING, YOU SEE FISH, JUST SWIMMING, SIDEWAYS, GASPING FOR AIR AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, YOU PULL UP THE NETS, NOT A ONE SHRIMP ALIVE, ALL DEAD ORANGE, THE FISH, THEY ROTTEN LIKE MELTON AWAY AND STUFF LIKE THAT CAME, READ STUFF.
THE WAY WE TREAT OUR WATER SYSTEMS, BECAUSE WE USE THEM AS OUR GARBAGE DUMPS.
WE USE THEM TO DILUTE OUR POLLUTANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I BELIEVE THE STATISTIC IS THAT IF YOU'RE IN NEW ORLEANS, THE WATER THAT IS GOING BY, YOU HAS PASSED THROUGH HUMAN GUTS.
SOMETHING LIKE THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE IT GETS TO YOU, INCREDIBLY LOUISIANA BOASTS TO NATURAL RESOURCE THAT REMOVES POLLUTANTS FROM THE DRAINING MISSISSIPPI, THE ONES ABUNDANT WETLAND PLANTS THAT GROW IN WETLANDS PRODUCE THESE WONDERFUL FILTERS FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS COMING INTO THEM.
THEY TRAP SEDIMENT A OF CHEMICALS AND WHAT LEAVES THE WETLANDS IS MUCH, MUCH CLEANER.
WATER WETLANDS ALSO PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.
SADLY, THE LOUISIANA WETLANDS ARE QUICKLY DISAPPEARING.
COASTAL LOUISIANA HAS LOST ABOUT 1.2 MILLION ACRES OF WETLANDS IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.
WHEN WE LEAVE IT OFF THE MISSISSIPPI, IT CUT OFF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATER FROM THE MARSHALL.
IN ADDITION TO THE LEVIES, A NETWORK OF MAN-MADE NAVIGATION CHANNELS IS ALSO COMPROMISING THE WETLANDS BY ALLOWING SALTWATER TO SEEP INTO THE MARSHES.
ONCE THAT SALTWATER TRAVELS UP THESE CHANNELS AND OVERFLOWS THE BANKS OF THESE CHANNELS OUT INTO FRESHWATER SYSTEMS, SUCH AS THE CYPRESS SWAMP, THAT SALT WATER SITS OUT THERE AROUND THE ROOTS OF THESE TREES, UH, AND KILLS THEM.
THEY CAN NOT SURVIVE SALT WATER, THEY'RE FRESH WATER PLANTS ELIMINATING THE HYPOXIC ZONE.
WE'LL TAKE MORE THAN SAVING OUR WETLANDS.
REDUCING NUTRIENT RUNOFF IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATERSHED IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM.
IT'S AN ISSUE INVOLVING OVER HALF THE STATES IN THE NATION AND A VAST ARRAY OF INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY FARMING, WHICH USES NITROGEN RICH FERTILIZER TO GROW ITS CROPS, FERTILIZERS OR HELPING THE UNITED STATES PRODUCE THE FOOD FOR THE WORLD.
BUT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS OVERUSE.
THERE ARE SCIENTISTS WHO HAVE DONE THE ANALYSIS AND PREDICT THAT YOU COULD REDUCE FERTILIZERS BY ABOUT 12% WITHOUT REDUCING CROP PRODUCTION AND SEE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF NITROGEN GOING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER EXPERTS SAY THE FIRST KEY TO CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR IS RAISING PUBLIC
[01:20:01]
AWARENESS.WE ALL LIVE DOWNSTREAM OF SOMEBODY AND WE ALL LIVE UPSTREAM OF SOMEBODY.
SO WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE DOES AND THEIR WATERSHED AFFECTS THE WATER THAT I RECEIVED.
AND WHAT I DO IN MY WATERSHED AFFECTS THE WATER THAT SOMEBODY ELSE RECEIVES DOWNSTREAM.
IF WE DON'T CLEAN UP OUR ACT, OUR WATER RESOURCES, WHICH WE SIMPLY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT WILL BE RUINED COMING UP.
CAN THE WATER SUPPLY FOR 9 MILLION NEW YORKERS BE SAVED FROM THE RAVAGES OF POLLUTED RUNOFF IN JANUARY OF 19 96, 1 OF THE MOST DEVASTATING WINTER STORMS IN HISTORY SLAMS THE EAST COAST TWO FEET OF SNOW DUMPS ON NEW YORK AND THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR SCHOOLS, AIRPORTS AND ROADS ARE SHUT DOWN BY THE TIME IT'S OVER THE BLIZZARD AND RESULT IN FLOODING COST $3 BILLION IN LOSSES AND 187 LIVES ARE TAKEN.
AND IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS OF UPSTATE NEW YORK, THE SNOW MELT TRIGGERS ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING CRISIS, STORMWATER RUNOFF CONTAMINATED WITH TRASH, DIRT, FERTILIZERS, AND PESTICIDES FROM NEARBY FARMS AND COMMUNITIES THREATENS THE FRESH WATER SUPPLY.
AND THE CATSKILL SYSTEM OF RESERVOIRS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR IT IS THE BIGGEST WATERSHED OF NEW YORK CITY PROVIDING DRINKING WATER TO OVER 9 MILLION PEOPLE.
THE MIRACLE OF THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IS LARGELY UNKNOWN TO MOST NEW YORKERS.
YOU ASK PEOPLE WHERE DOES THE WATER COME FROM? OFTEN PEOPLE SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS AND SAY NEW JERSEY.
I FIGURED THAT, UH, WE WERE PROBABLY OUR OWN SEPARATE WATER SYSTEM FROM THEN FROM UPSTATE.
I'D RATHER BE DRINKING WATER FROM UPSTATE.
I KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF HOW LARGE THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW CLOSE TO CRISIS MANY OF OUR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS ARE TO PRESERVE THE PURITY OF THE RESERVOIRS AND ENFORCE THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESENTED THE BIG APPLE WITH TWO OPTIONS, EITHER BUILD AND MAINTAIN A $6 BILLION FACILITY TO FILTER ALL OF THE CITY'S TAP WATER OR FUND A $1 BILLION PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE WATERSHED FROM POLLUTED RUNOFF.
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR INVESTMENT IN CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER, PRESERVING OPEN SPACE, FIXING ANTIQUATED SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, WE CAN'T WAIT.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY LESS EXPENSIVE.
IT GETS MORE EXCITING WITH THE HISTORIC WATERSHED AGREEMENT OF 1997, AN UNPRECEDENTED UPSTATE DOWNSTATE PARTNERSHIP WAS FORGED TO PROTECT THE NEW YORK CITY WATER SUPPLY OR WATERSHED AGREEMENT IS SAVING NEW YORK CITY, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE PLAN INCLUDES PURCHASING AND PRESERVING 355,000 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED WATERSHED LAND, THE UPGRADING OF SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS AND THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF STREAM PORTER.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS A MAIN TRIBUTARY OF THE SOPAS CREEK.
WE WERE SEEING A LOT OF SEDIMENT COMING OUT OF THE STREAM.
THE CLAY GETS INTO THE WATER COLUMN AND IT BECOMES VERY TURBINE.
AND THEN IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TREAT AND CLEAN UP WATER.
SO FROM A WATER QUALITY PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EROSION.
THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FARMERS THAT IMPLEMENT AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
WE HAVE A VERY EXCITING PROGRAM WITH THE WATERSHED AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL, WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL FARMERS.
WE LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE HANDLING THE ANIMALS, FILL THAT THE RUNOFF ASSOCIATED WITH MANURE FERTILIZER AND THAT THAT FARM ACTIVITY ISN'T GETTING INTO THE STREAMS AROUND OUR RESERVOIRS, THIS WATER, HERE'S BASICALLY THE WATER YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRINKING DOWN IN THE CITY.
AND, UH, I FEEL I'VE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY MY BEST TO KEEP IT CLEAN FOR WHEN IT GETS DOWN THERE.
IT USED TO BE WHEN IT RAINED HERE ON THE FARM, THE WATER THAT RAN AWAY FROM THE BACK OF THE BARN HERE WAS FULL OF MUD MANURE, AND IT WOULD JUST RUN BROWN AND RIGHT INTO THE STREAM.
TWO YEARS AGO, WE WOULD SPREAD EVERY DAY.
WE'D HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT, SPREAD IT ON THE FIELDS.
IF THE SNOW WAS DEEP, WE SPREAD IT ON THE SNOW.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IF THE GROUND WAS FROZEN, WHEN THE SNOW MELTED, THE NUTRIENT VALUE OF IT FOR FERTILIZER WAS GONE.
THAT WOUND UP DOWN IN THE RESERVOIR WITH NEW YORK CITY FUNDING, A SECURE ABOVE GROUND STEEL TANK THAT CAN HOLD 400,000 GALLONS OF MANURE WAS INSTALLED IN THE MEADOW BROOK FARM.
THAT'S ENOUGH STORAGE FOR SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
NOW WE CAN STORE IT, SPREAD IT WHEN IT'LL DO THE MOST GOOD TO US FOR FERTILIZER.
AND, UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO SPREAD IT EVERY DAY.
I'D WORKED WITH TIM ON THE PLAN TO DEVELOP THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE.
PLAN REALLY BELONGS TO THE FARMER.
UH, AND IT'S A COLLABORATION OF THEIR IDEAS AND WHAT TECHNICAL ADVICE WE CAN BRING TO THE PROGRAM.
BUT THE FARMER MAKES THE DECISION.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT SEEMS TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.
HERE'S TO THE FARMER WHO ARE WORKING SO HARD TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT CLEAN WATER TO PUT IN OUR CAR TO GUARANTEE THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY IS FRESH AT THE TAP.
COMPREHENSIVE TESTS ARE PERFORMED BY THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BOTH IN THE LAB AND AT OVER 1000 SAMPLING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, NEW YORK CITY.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMS
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IN THE NATION.IF NOT THE WORLD WE'RE SAMPLING EVERY DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
I'VE BEEN DRINKING THIS WATER FOR 53 YEARS.
THAT'S WATER IN THE WORLD, NEW YORK CITY, STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP.
THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER SUPPLY REMAINS AT RISK, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING EVERYONE CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT IT.
FIND OUT HOW NEXT TO KEEP OUR WATERSHEDS FREE OF POLLUTANTS WILL REQUIRE THE ACTIONS OF EVERY CITIZEN HUMIDITY AND BUSINESS PAVED, CONCRETE SURFACES, ASPHALT PARKING, LOTS SIDEWALKS.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE NEED TO HAVE AS MANY AS WE DO BECAUSE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE TOO MUCH IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, THE WATER IS NOT RETAINED ONSITE.
IT DOESN'T SOAK INTO THE GROUND.
IT RUNS OFF, PICKS UP SPEED, CARRIES POLLUTANTS AND CONTAMINANTS INTO THE WATER BY ONE STRATEGY FOR PREVENTING STORMWATER RUNOFF IS OCCURRING AT THE NEW FORD ROUGE CENTER IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.
THIS REMODELED TRUCK PLAN IS COVERED BY A GREEN ROOF.
THE SIZE OF EIGHT FOOTBALL FIELDS PLANTED WITH A POOREST GROUND COVER.
IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF POLLUTED RUNOFF RELEASED INTO THE WATERSHED.
THE THING THAT TENDS TO GET THE MOST ATTENTION IS THE 10 ACRE GREEN ROOF, BUT THAT'S REALLY JUST PART OF A PHILOSOPHY THAT IF AN AREA DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PAID OR BUILT UPON, IT'S GOING TO BE GREEN SPACE.
THE COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING GREENSPACE STRATEGIES, SUCH AS RAIN GUARD.
THEY SLOPED THE LIE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ALL THE FLOW GOES TOWARDS THIS LANDSCAPING, WHERE BASICALLY THE POLLUTED RUNOFF CAN PERCOLATE INTO THE GROUND AND GET FILTERED.
UM, I THINK GOING STRAIGHT ONTO THE STREET INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM AND REALLY A VERY SIMPLE APPROACH TO CLEANING UP OUR RUNOFF IN URBAN AREAS, BUT PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL COURSE OF ACTION IS INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION.
PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STATE OF OUR WATERS AND WATER.
CONSERVATION IS ONE AREA WHERE THEY CAN DO THAT AS A COMMITTED CITIZEN, ALL THOSE THINGS.
YOUR MOM TOLD YOU TO TAKE A SHORT SHOWER, DON'T LET THE WATER TAP RUNWAY.
YOU'RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH, TAKING YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE TO A CLEANUP AND RECYCLING DAY.
DON'T WASH YOUR CAR ON THE, ON THE STREETS AND PUT ALL THOSE SUDS DOWN INTO THE, THE DRAIN.
WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR USE MOTOR L YOU DON'T DUMP IT INTO THE STREET.
EVERYBODY'S GOT TO CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR PETS.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A BIG CONCERN, FERTILIZERS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES, AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T USE THEM ANY TIME.
THERE'S ANY CHANCE OF RAIN COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHEN YOU'RE IRRIGATING YOUR LAWN AND YOUR GARDEN, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT OVER SPRAYING AND CAUSING ALL THOSE CHEMICALS TO END UP GETTING INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS IF EVERYBODY DOES THEIR PART, WE ALL LIVE IN A WATERSHED.
WE ALL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND WE MUST ALL PLAY A ROLE IN THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF OUR VALUABLE WATER RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AND TO GET A FREE BROCHURE CALLED AFTER THE STORM VISIT EPA.GOV/WEATHER CHANNEL.