[00:00:02]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
EVERYONE.IT IS NOW 4:00 PM WE ARE AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, MARCH 27TH, UH, WITH THE CLERK.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN GLOVE HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VICE CHAIRMAN MCGILLAN.
WOULD YOU RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR THE UNIFICATION? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TWO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE RAW.
UH, AS WE ALL KNOW ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST, THERE'S BEEN SOME TERRIBLE STORMS AND WE CAN ONLY PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED.
AND REMEMBER THE OTHERS WHO ARE IN THE, IN THE MIDST OF CLEANING UP.
IT MADE ME THINK OF THE STORY FROM MARK'S GOSPEL.
UM, GOD BROUGHT A STORY FROM MARK'S GOSPEL WHEN JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES SET SAIL ACROSS THE SEA OF GALILEE.
A MASSIVE STORM SWEPT OVER THEM OUTTA NOWHERE, JUST LIKE THESE TORNADOES DID, LEAVING THE DISCIPLES UTTERLY TERRIFIED AND CONVINCED THEY WOULD DROWN.
YET JESUS REST RESTED PEACEFULLY.
WE CAN DRAW FROM A SCRIPTURE THAT A STORM IS NEVER OUTSIDE GOD'S CONTROL.
THE STORM WON'T LAST FOREVER, AND THE STORM CAN DEEPEN OUR FAITH.
JESUS, THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR ANCHOR THROUGH EVERY STORM.
HELP OUR HEARTS FIERCELY CLEAN TO THE TRUTH OF WHO YOU ARE.
MAY WE GROW IN FAITH AS WE WAIT FOR THE CALM TO COME AGAIN.
EVERYBODY PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS
[3. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT]
BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
COUNSEL TO MAKE A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA.MAKE THAT MOTION MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MADE THE MOTION.
MR. MCCALLEN MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
OUR NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
MR. GREENWAY, WE MAY WANNA WAIT TO DO THIS PART AT FIVE.
WE'VE EXPECTED SOME EMPLOYEES HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY GOT THE WORD ABOUT THE CHANGE.
WE CAN MOVE RIGHT ALONG BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE NEED TO GET TO.
LET'S DO THAT AT FIVE IF YOU WANT.
[6. CITIZEN COMMENTS]
COMMENT, WE ONLY HAVE ONE CITIZEN COMMENT FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS. MICHAEL, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM? YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS US.CAN I GIVE YOU THAT REAL QUICK? SURE.
SORRY, I ONLY HAVE THREE, BUT THEN YOU GUYS CHAIR.
UM, I WAS REPRESENTING NUMBER 15 ON THE LIST.
UM, THE CAMPBELLS THAT ARE LOOKING TO DO A MEDICAL CENTER AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DENIED AT PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN FIRST READING LAST MONTH ON THE PROJECT.
UM, THE REASON I'M SPEAKING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT, BEING IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR 21 YEARS AND DEVELOPING A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE HERE, IT, IT'S HARD FOR ME SOMETIMES TO SEE INFORMATION THAT IS NOT CORRECT, THAT IT COMES OUT, UM, NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO PRESENT AS AN ARCHITECT OR DEVELOPER OR AS A LAND PLANNER.
UM, THE PROPERTY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, PEOPLE HAVE SAID, HEY, THIS IS SPOT ZONED.
THE FIRST PIECE THAT WAS PUT HERE WAS SPOT ZONED.
THIS IS A, A CONTINUATION OF THE ZONING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE.
UM, SOME PEOPLE HAVE COME OUT AND SAID, HEY, WHY DON'T THEY BUY THE PIECE OF PROPERTY NEXT DOOR? WHY DON'T THEY DEVELOP THAT PIECE? WHY DON'T THEY DEVELOP THE PIECE THAT'S ON THE CORNER THAT GOES ON GIBBET ROAD? THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S SELLING GBBT ROAD IS A FACT.
HE WANTS 7 MILLION FOR SEVEN ACRES.
THE GENTLEMAN TO THE LEFT WANTS $900,000 FOR TWO ACRES.
SO THERE'S PRICE GOUGING GOING ON HERE AND PROJECTS AREN'T BEING DEVELOPED.
THE DOCTOR WHO WANTS TO PUT A PROJECT HERE IS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY'S ON 46.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PLANS I'VE GIVEN YOU, LEFTON
[00:05:01]
CONTROLS MOST OF THE PROPERTY AROUND THE COUNTY.THEY HAVE MORE DENSITY IN THAT AREA THAN ANYWHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU'RE GONNA GET A TRIANGULATION OF TRAFFIC.
YOU'RE GONNA GET 1 70 46 AND GIBBET ROAD.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A SMALL BUILDING.
THAT AREA SHOULD BE CONTINUOUS.
IT SHOULD GO TO SMALL DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION.
NOW THE LAST THING I'LL TELL YOU IS THIS.
SOMEBODY ALSO SAID, HEY, THERE IS NO NEED.
THERE IS NO PERSON LOOKING TO DEVELOP THIS.
THE FORESTRY SERVICE JUST SOLD 10 ACRES RIGHT NEXT TO THIS PROPERTY.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS CUZ I KNOW THEM WELL.
THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE ASKING FOR A REZONING.
THAT PROPERTY IS RIGHT NEXT TO JIM MAT MATE'S PROPERTY.
THE TOWNHOUSE IS THE CONDOS, THE PUBLIX, THE RESTAURANTS, THE BARS, PEOPLE ARE DEVELOPING THAT AREA.
AND THE AREA WE'RE IN, AS YOU CAN SEE WE'RE FROM A, A DARK GREEN TO A DARKER GREEN, BUT RIGHT IN THAT QUADRANT.
ONCE IT PASSES THAT QUADRANT AND WE HEAD EAST, WE'RE IN THE MAYOR OF A PRESERVE.
AND WHEN YOU GET INTO BLUFFTON, BLUFFTON DID A GREAT JOB.
IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT CROSS FROM THE OLD PIGGLY WIGGLY OR WE CALL IT NOW THE DELHI, THE DOWNTOWN DELI, THERE'S A LINE OF COMMERCIAL THAT FORWARDS 46 WITH RESIDENTIAL ON THE BACK.
AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO HERE IN THIS LOCATION.
AND THE LAST COMMENT REAL QUICK WAS THE REASON IT HASN'T BEEN DEVELOPED IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WATER SEWER AND THERE IS NO WATER SEWER BECAUSE THE POOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE HAVE NEVER GOT WATER SEWER.
SO NOW IT'S OVER IMMENSELY EXPENSIVE TO PUT THE WATER SEWER IN THAT LOCATION.
HE CAN DEVELOP THIS WITHOUT WATER.
AND WHO IS THAT? YOU'RE SPEAKING ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA ITEM COME FORWARD.
HELLO, MY NAME'S GRANT MCCLURE.
I WORK FOR THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE.
I'M GONNA BE SPEAKING TO ITEM 16.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE REZONING OF THE 2.81 ACRE LOT AT THE INTERSECTION OF OKEE HIGHWAY.
THAT'S ONE 70 AND LOW COUNTRY DRIVE HIGHWAY 4 62.
FROM T TWO R TO C4 COMMUNITY CENTER MIXED USE.
THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLANS SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE SC ONE 70 CORRIDOR.
THE PLAN CALLS FOR CAREFUL COORDINATION BETWEEN JASPER COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HARDY ON A SHARED VISION FOR THE CORRIDOR.
THE LEAGUE HOLDS THE POSITION THAT MORE CAREFUL COORDINATION IS NEEDED BETWEEN JASPER COUNTY HARDY AND BEAUFORT COUNTY TO ACHIEVE THE SHARED VISION FOR THE CORRIDOR OUTLINED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY TO INITIATE THIS COORDINATED PLANNING EFFORT, WHICH ASPER AND HARDY BILL, WHICH IS NEEDED URGENTLY.
UH, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXISTING TRAFFIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES AT THIS SITE.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, ACCORDING TO D O T DATA FROM 2021, UH, THE ANNUAL AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC COUNT FOR ONE 70 AND 4 62, UH, WAS WAS OVER 36,000 TRIPS A DAY.
UM, THAT'S AMONG THE HIGHEST ALONG THAT CORRIDOR.
AND THAT DATA IS, IS NOW TWO YEARS OLD.
UM, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE TRAFFIC THE NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE AMOUNT OF ALREADY APPROVED AND PENDING DEVELOPMENTS ALONG THIS REGIONAL CORRIDOR, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'VE GOT THINGS LIKE EAST A, UM, THAT ARE, THAT ARE PENDING, UM, AND WOULD BRING AS MANY AS AS, UH, I BELIEVE 9,000 UNITS, 9,500 RESIDENTIAL UNITS TO THE AREA.
UM, GIVEN, GIVEN THESE CONCERNS, WE SUPPORT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S VOTE, UH, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE PROPOSED REZONING.
AND THE CONSERVATION LEAGUE LIKE LIKEWISE RECOMMENDS THAT THAT DENIAL OF REZONING FROM T TWO R TO TO C4 COMMUNITY CENTER MIX MIXED USE FOR THIS T 0.81 ACRE LOT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THESE COMMENTS AND, UH, PLEASE REACH OUT IF WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, UH, CLARIFICATION OR SUPPORT AS YOU CONSIDER THIS DECISION.
THERE ARE BEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
WE'LL CLOSE THE UH, COMMENT SECTION.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
MOTION FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODES 34 70 A TWO WHERE WE WILL HAVE RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE WHERE LEGAL ADVICE RELATES TO MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE FOR A POTENTIAL SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS AGAINST ADDITIONAL OPIOID OPIOID LITIGATION DEFENDANTS.UH, ALSO LEGAL ADVICE RELATING TO MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE FOR MEDIATION OF PENDING LITIGATION AND DISCUSSION OF APPOINTMENTS OF PERSONS TO A PUBLIC BODY, WHICH IS THE GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I'LL SECOND THAT MS. TABERNAC MADE MOTION.
MS. BROWN MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE OF THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED AND WE WILL RETIRE TO THE ECR FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[00:10:01]
WILL PROBABLY TAKE 45 MINUTES AND THEN WILL BE BACK OUT THERE MAY BE MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE WILL THEN CONDUCT THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING.OKAY, WE ARE RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ORDER FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[10. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION]
DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.I AM GOING TO CALL ON MR. MCLELLAN TO READ THE FIRST ITEM AS A RESULT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A, UH, A MOTION HERE WITH REGARD TO, UH, POTENTIAL SEVEN OF SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS AGAINST ADDITIONAL OPIOID LITIGATION DEFENDANTS.
I MOVE THAT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY PARTICIPATE IN SETTLEMENTS WITH THE OPIOID MANUFACTURER DEFENDANTS TEVA AND ALLERGEN THAT IT PARTICIPATE IN THE SETTLEMENTS WITH THE RETAILER DEFENDANT'S WALMART, WALGREENS, AND CVS COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS NEW SETTLEMENTS AS PRESENTED TO US AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND FURTHER THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVE AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH SETTLEMENTS.
MAY I HAVE SECOND MOTION, MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
IT WILL BE FOR 10 OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH ONE ABSENTEE.
ITEM NUMBER TWO WILL BE, UM, READ BY MR. CUNNINGHAM.
I MOVE THAT COUNTY COUNCIL AGREE TO ENTER INTO THE 2023 AMENDED SOUTH CAROLINA OPIOID SETTLEMENT ALLOCATION AGREEMENT AS PRESENTED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVE AUTHORIZATION, EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THIS AGREEMENT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNTY COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
THE THIRD ITEM WILL BE READ BY MS. TABERNAC.
I MOVE THAT COUNTY COUNCIL APPOINT THE FOLLOWING PERSONS TO THE GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
FIRST, MS. ALICE HOWARD TO SERVE AS THE MEMBER FROM COUNTY COUNCIL SENATOR TOM DAVIS TO SERVE AS THE MEMBER FROM BUFORT COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
THIRD, MR. MIKE MCSHANE TO SERVE AS THE MEMBER WHO IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHY AND CONDITIONS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S LAND.
FOURTH, MR. TIMOTHY L. EVANS TO REPRESENT THE NORTHERN GEOGRAPHICAL REGION.
FIFTH, MS. LAUREL ROTON TO REPRESENT THE EASTERN GEOGRAPHICAL REGION.
SIXTH, MS. CARMEN AVON MANNING TO REPRESENT THE WESTERN GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND FOR THE SOUTHERN GEOGRAPHIC REGION.
I FURTHER MOVED THAT THE TASK FORCE REOPENED THE APPLICATION PERIOD, INTERVIEW CANDIDATES AND UPDATE COUNSEL ON ITS EFFORTS AT THE APRIL MEETING OF THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
SECOND, THAT MOTION MR. CHAIRMAN DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
ANY QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS OF COUNTY COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, AND MAY I HAVE THOSE RESOLUTIONS BACK SO THAT I MAKE SURE THE CLERK, UH, HAS THEM IN THE MINUTES APPROPRIATELY? THANK YOU.
THAT WAS ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT CAME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE NOW TURN BACK TO THE REGULAR MEETING
[5. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]
AND WE WILL HAVE OUR ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT FROM MR. GREENWAY.MY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT IS GONNA BE, UH, JUST, UH, INTRODUCING EMPLOYEES TONIGHT.
SHE WORKS IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
SHE IS A STAFF ACCOUNTANT AND SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 21 YEARS.
UH, LORI PERFORMS MONTHLY RECONCILIATIONS OF NUMEROUS BANK STATEMENTS, ANALYZES AND POST CASH RECEIPTS TO THE GENERAL LEDGER, ASSISTS WITH PROJECTS AND BACKUP FOR PCARD UPLOADS AND CODING.
SHE HAS RECENTLY BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE LATEST MODERNIZED AND EFFICIENT CHANGE TO THE PCARD PROCESS AND IT'S ENHANCED POSTING OF TRANSACTIONS TO THE GENERAL LEDGER.
SHE ALSO DEVELOPED A USER-FRIENDLY STEP BY STEP MANUAL AND ASSISTED IN THE TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES
[00:15:01]
FOR THIS NEW PCARD PROCESS.SO I WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE PERSONALLY ABOUT LORI, UH, A LITTLE BIT.
UM, OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN FINDING, SHE IS THE ONE THAT IS THE FRIENDLIEST AND, UM, MOST, UM, MOST COURTEOUS TO ME WHENEVER I GO IN THERE.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, SO SHE'S A GREAT EMPLOYEE.
I ENJOY WORKING WITH HER A LOT.
UH, AND, UH, SHE'S A REAL ASSET, UH, TO THE COUNTY.
SO I WANT YOU TO STAND RIGHT HERE AND LET'S GET A PICTURE TOGETHER.
CAN YOU BACK UP RIGHT HERE WITH ME?
YOU DON'T WANNA SAY ANYTHING? UH, OUR NEXT TWO EMPLOYEES COULDN'T BE WITH US TONIGHT.
UH, WE HAVE, UM, MS. STACY EMK FROM THE LIBRARY.
UH, SHE'S THE BEAUFORD BRANCH MANAGER.
SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR 15 YEARS.
UH, SHE BEGAN WORKING IN BEAUFORD COUNTY LIBRARY AS A LIBRARY ASSISTANT 15 YEARS AGO WHILE SHE STARTED IN CLEAR MASTERS IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION AND SCIENCE.
AFTER RECEIVING HER MASTER'S DEGREE, SHE WORKED AS A REFERENCE LIBRARY AND AT THE BLUFFTON BRANCH LIBRARY.
UH, CURRENTLY, AS I SAID, SHE IS THE MANAGER OF THE BUFORD BRANCH, WHERE SHE SUPERVISES 13 LIBRARY EMPLOYEES TO ENSURE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE BUFORD BRANCH LIBRARY SERVE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
UM, LET ME SAY SOMETHING ABOUT A LIBRARY.
WE HAVE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST LIBRARIES SYSTEMS IN THE STATE, UM, DIRECTED BY MS. AMANDA DICKMAN.
UH, SHE DOES A GREAT JOB AND SO TO HER EMPLOYEES, SOMETHING UNIQUE TO SHARE ABOUT MS. INMAN IS THAT SHE LOVES THE GREEN BAY PACKERS.
SO I'M NOT SURE SHE'S FROM WISCONSIN, BUT APPARENTLY SHE IS A CHEESEHEAD.
SO, UH, OUR THIRD AND FINAL EMPLOYEE THIS EVENING IS SOMEONE THAT I WORK CLOSELY WITH ON A WEEKLY BASIS BECAUSE I GO TO ALL EMPLOY NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATIONS.
AND MS. NATALIE GARVIN RUNS THOSE FOR US AND OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
SHE'S A HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST.
SHE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR FOUR YEARS.
SHE OVERSEES MANY FUNCTIONS IN THE HR DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING NEW HIRE ORIENTATION.
AS I SAID, SHE WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE PAYROLL DEPARTMENT BY PROCESSING ALL EMPLOYEE PROMOTIONS, TRANSFER, AND OTHER ITEMS THAT RELATE TO PERSONNEL.
SHE ASSISTS WITH THE CURRENT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
WE CALL THAT PERFORMANCE PRO AND CREATES A DEPARTMENT'S QUAR QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER THAT SOME OF YOU ON COUNCIL PROBABLY SEE, UH, FROM TIME TO TIME.
SHE IS THE PRIME DEFINITION OF A TEAM PLAYER AND PROVIDES SUPPORT TO ANYONE IN NEED.
SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT MS. GARVIN IS THAT SHE ENJOYS READING OR LISTENING TO AUDIO BOOKS, DOING NAILS, AND BEING CREATIVE.
SHE HAS SEVEN NIECES AND NEPHEWS.
THIS IS PRETTY INTERESTING HERE.
SHE HAS GAINED AT LEAST ONE NIECE OR NEPHEW EACH YEAR SINCE 2017.
SHE ALSO HAS A SIX YEAR OLD PUG NAMED COSMO.
SO LET'S GIVE, UH, MS. EMK AND MS. GARVIN A ROUND THE APPLAUSE.
[11. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
NOW AT THE, UH, LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL THAT WISHES TO GIVE A REPORT? WE'LL START WITH MS. TABERNAC.
WELL, FIRST COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MET ON THREE 15 AND I JOINED THEM ONLINE.
THEY WERE DISCUSSING TRAFFIC FLOW AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ONE 70 TRIANGLE THAT WILL IMPROVE SAFETY, ACCESS AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS.
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PORTION OF THAT PROJECT FROM ONE 70 TO AEN BOULEVARD HAS MADE IT TO SECRETARY HALL'S DESK AND IS CLOSE TO APPROVAL.
THE US 2 78 ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN FROM AEN BOULEVARD TO ONE 70 IS ABOUT TO WRAP UP AND THAT'S CLOSE TO GOING FOR BID.
THEY UPDATED ON THE HILTON HEAD BRIDGE PRODUCT PROJECT AND THE HILTON HEAD STUDY.
UM, AND THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND THE COUNTY HAVE NOT AGREED YET ON THE DESIGN AS EVERYBODY KNOWS.
AND, AND ONE THING I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING, THE CHAIR ASKED ALL MEMBERS OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TO GO THROUGH THEIR DISTRICT AND LIST THE ROADS IN THEIR OWN DISTRICT THAT NEED ATTENTION.
AND THEY WERE DIRECTED TO BRING THAT TO THE JULY MEETING SO THAT THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS REPRESENTED WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT ROADS.
UM, ALSO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING JUST TO KEEP YOU UP TO DATE IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, UM, THEY, THEY RECOGNIZE SOME STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONS AND ONE OF THEM WAS A FEMALE.
THEY'VE ALL BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE.
THE BOOK REVIEW COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CONTINUING.
[00:20:01]
AS YOU KNOW, THERE WERE 97 BOOKS IN THERE.THEY HAVE VOTED TO REMOVE TWO 19 MINUTES AND IT ENDS WITH US.
AND A THIRD BOOK IS BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE FOR REMOVAL AND IT'S CALLED THE HATERS.
AND IF THIS PROCESS CONTINUES, THEY ESTIMATE IT WILL TAKE UNTIL SEPTEMBER TO GET THROUGH ALL 97 BOOKS FOR REVIEW.
AND ONE THING I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING, IF THEY AGREE, IF THE BOARD AGREES TO REMOVE A BOOK, IT'S REMOVED FOR FIVE YEARS, UH, FROM THE SHELVES.
THEY ALSO HAD A GREAT REPRESENTATION FROM THE COMMUNITY PROJECT REVIEW COMMITTEE, UM, TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
BUT SOMETHING THAT REALLY STUNNED ME, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT FURNITURE REPLACEMENTS NEEDED IN MOST SCHOOLS AND THE REPLACEMENT RATE IS 64 YEARS.
WHAT FURNITURE LASTS 64 YEARS UNLESS IT'S MADE OF OAK.
I GUESS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL BUSES, TECHNOLOGY.
VERY, VERY LONG LIST THAT WILL BE DISCUSSION OF ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN THE REFERENDUM AND CURRICULUM.
THEY APPROVED COURSE PROGRESSIONS FOR SCIENCE, MATH AND SOCIAL STUDIES.
AND THE LAST THING, PAULA AND I ATTENDED THE LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT'S ORIENTATION FOR NEW OFFICIALS.
THAT WAS RATHER INTERESTING, BUT THE THANK YOU.
THEY DID A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.
UM, MR. B GREENWAY, YOU'RE GONNA APPRECIATE THIS ONE.
I ATTENDED A BOARD MEETING ON MARCH 16TH WHERE JOHN REMOLD, UH, REC, UH, RECOGNIZED A GENTLEMAN NAMED ROB O'NEAL, WHO RETIRED AFTER 43 YEARS IN THE FIRE SERVICE.
AND BACK IN 2010 HE JOINED THE AIRPORT AND HE DOES A LOT OF THINGS FOR HIM, BUT HE, UM, RECOGNIZED HIM AND IT WAS A VERY NICE THING.
UM, RIGHT NOW, STARTING TODAY THROUGH MARCH 31ST, THEY'RE ON 2,600 ROAD AT THE AIRPORT.
THEY'RE DOING A TSA PRE-CHECK ENROLLMENT PROCESS FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO DO THAT.
JOHN REBOLT WAS WITH US HERE AND, UH, THE COMMITTEE MEETING AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BEING OUT FOR BID DUE BACK APRIL 19TH.
THERE ARE THREE BIDDERS, UM, AND THE BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT.
UM, ON MARCH 27TH, THERE'S GONNA BE A CHAMBER EVENT FROM FIVE TO SIX OF RIBBON CUTTING TO SEE ALL THE WORK THAT WAS DONE INSIDE AND OUT OF THAT TERMINAL.
SO IF YOU CAN MAKE THAT, THAT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY.
UM, YORK GLOVER AND MYSELF ATTENDED THE BEAUFORT COUNTY, UM, RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS RETREAT, WHICH WAS HELD AT FORT FREMONT, WHICH WAS A NICE, UM, PLACE TO DO THAT.
THEY DID SOME TRAINING, UM, TOM KEK DID SOME TRAINING WITH ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.
AND THEN, UM, THE SAME DAY, MARCH 23RD, I WENT TO TCLS RETREAT AND I'M GOING TO SEND OUT SOME INFORMATION THEY GAVE OUT AT THEIR BOARD RETREAT ABOUT ALL THE SCHOOLS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS AND, AND UPPER UPPER EDUCATION.
THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM IS KEEPS GROWING.
UM, OTHER COUNTIES ARE JOINING IN WITH THAT.
AND ENROLLMENT IS UP AT, UM, TCL AS YOU WOULD EXPECT NOW THAT THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE NORMAL.
UH, FROM THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE THINGS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, THIRD READING OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
NUMBER THREE IS THE THIRD READING OF, UH, STATE ACCOMMODATION TAX, UM, UH, APPROPRIATIONS.
UH, NUMBER FOUR IS, UM, ALSO THIRD READING OF THE LOCAL, UM, AID TAX ACCOMMODATIONS.
UM, UM, FUND, UH, NUMBER FIVE IS THE THIRD READING TO PURCHASE PROPERTY AT, UH, 33, 33 AND 3 35 BUCK WATER PARKWAY.
UH, NUMBER SIX IS THIRD READING, UM, TO PURCHASE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1505 SALEM ROAD.
UM, THEN ALSO OUT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, UH, APPROVAL TO PURCHASE FURNITURE, UM, FOR THE, UM, THE, UH, THE GOODNESS, UM, FOR THE PROBATE COURT.
I'M SORRY, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT THERE FOR A SECOND.
AND THEN ALSO APPROVAL FOR LIGHTING FOR, UM, THE FIELDS AT LADIES ISLAND.
AND OUR NEXT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING IS APRIL 17TH.
WE'RE READY FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION
[12. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS. AND OUR FIRST ONE IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO LUTH, MR. MCKALEN MAKES THE MOTION.
MR. LAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
ANY QUESTIONS? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[13. TIME-SENSITIVE ITEM ORIGINATING FROM THE MARCH 27TH PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SAFETY COMMITTEE- APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FAIR HOUSING MONTH]
ITEM NUMBER 13 CAME OUT OF TODAY'S PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SAFETY COMMITTEE.IT'S TIME SENSITIVE BECAUSE APRIL IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH.
[00:25:01]
SO WHAT I, I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO APPROVE OF RES RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FAIR HOUSING MONTH.I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
AND SECOND IN MY PEN CAME APART BY MS. HOWARD AND MS. BROWN.
ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[14. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE (CDC): SECTIONS 3.1.60 (CONSOLIDATED USE TABLE), 3.2.60 (T2 RURAL CENTER (T2RC) STANDARDS), AND 4.1.220 (RESIDENTIAL STORAGE FACILITY) TO CONDITIONALLY ALLOW THE USAGE OF RESIDENTIAL STORAGE FACILITY IN T2 RURAL CENTER]
ITEM NUMBER 14 IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTIONS 3.1 0.60 CONSOLIDATED USE TABLE 3.2 0.60 T TWO RURAL CENTER STANDARDS N 4.1220 RESIDENTIAL STORING FACILITY TO CONDITIONALLY ALLOW THE USAGE OF RESIDENTIAL STORAGE FACILITIES IN T2 RURAL.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
SECOND, SECOND, I'LL SECOND NOTE.
MS. TABERNAC, YOU WILL BE CREDITED FOR THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON FIRST READING? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED
[15. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT/REZONING REQUEST FOR 1 ACRE (R600 036 000 0369 0000) AT 3 BENTON LANE FROM T3 EDGE TO T2 RURAL CENTER (failed at Community Services & Land Use Committee on March 13, 2023 - 3:5)]
WITHOUT OBJECTION.ITEM NUMBER 15 IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REZONING REQUEST FOR ONE ACRE AT THREE BENTON LANE FROM THREE T3 EDGE TO T RULE CENTER.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND PLEASE.
MR. OU MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
YOU SAW THAT THIS FAILED AT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE, UH, AS A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE IT TO COUNCIL, BUT IT AUTOMATICALLY COMES TO COUNCIL.
ANYWAY, QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE? MR. CHAIRMAN? MAY I SPEAK? YES.
CAMPBELL SENIOR HAS BEEN IN THE HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON AREA FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
HE HAS TWO SONS THAT ARE NOW JOINING HIM IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS OF BEING AN OPTOMETRIST.
THE CAMPBELLS ARE A SMALL BUSINESS.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SAME MEANS AS PUBLICS OR PARKERS.
AND AS YOU HEARD EARLIER IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, THE LAND COSTS AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THERE FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE.
THEY'RE ASKING TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM COMMERCIAL, FROM RESIDENTIAL OVER TO COMMERCIAL SO THEY CAN BUILD A MEDICAL OFFICE.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING TO BUILD A BAR OR A RESTAURANT.
THEY'RE ASKING TO BUILD A MEDICAL OFFICE BECAUSE OPTOMETRISTS IN GENERAL AREA ARE ONE TO 5,000 PEOPLE.
GUESS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THIS AREA? ZERO TO 20,000 PEOPLE.
FOLKS, THERE ARE PEOPLE MOVING HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
BLUFFTON, THE LOW COUNTRY IS PARADISE.
IF YOU'VE COME FROM UP NORTH AND MOVED HERE, HERE, YOU KNOW VERY WELL HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE.
THE PEOPLE THAT WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE.
SPOT ZONING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING.
THERE WAS ALREADY BEEN SPOT ZONING THERE.
IF I WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR APPROVED, UM, FROM GOING FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL.
SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED TRAFFIC FLOW.
THE TRAFFIC FLOW IS NOT GONNA CHANGE ANY CUZ WE'RE ONLY TALKING 18, 20 PEOPLE A DAY.
AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM PALMETTO BLUFF IN THAT AREA, THE NEW RIVERSIDE AREA.
AND THEY'RE PASSING THERE ANYWAY.
THEY'RE GOING TO PUBLIX, THEY'RE GOING TO PARK AS TO GET GAS.
THEY'RE GOING WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING.
OTHER COMMENTS MR. CUNNINGHAM? THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.
OH, I WOULD LOVE ANOTHER RESTAURANT OR A BAR FOR THE RECORD.
THE PERSON THAT RUNS RESTAURANTS AND BARS, BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
UM, THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF LOCATION THAT WE HAD IN OLD TOWN BLUFFTON.
UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF MY DISTRICT, EVEN AFTER THE REZONING.
THIS AREA IS BEING DEVELOPED COMMERCIALLY.
I WAS THE ONE THAT SUPPORTED THE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY NEXT BEFORE IT LAST YEAR.
I WAS THE ONE THAT MOTIONED IT ALL THREE TIMES, UM, TO GET THAT MOVED FORWARD.
UM, BUT THAT SAID, IT WAS THE SAME TYPE OF CONCEPT NEXT DOOR THAT PEOPLE DISCUSSED
[00:30:01]
A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING.UM, MAYBE LEASE OUT SOME OF THE OTHER OFFICE SPACE, BUT THEY ARE LIMITED EITHER WAY BECAUSE OF PLUMBING.
WHEN YOU'RE ON A SEPTIC, THERE'S ONLY SO MANY SQUARE FEET YOU CAN GO.
UM, I SEE THIS AREA CONTINUING TO BE DEVELOPED COMMERCIAL, UM, WITH THE AMOUNT OF HOMES THAT BLUFFTON HAS ALREADY APPROVED DOWN ON NEW RIVERSIDE.
IT'S PUT RESTRAINTS ON US IN THE COUNTY.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO WIDEN THE ROAD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THAT CIRCLE GOING TOWARDS JASPER.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE PREPARING FOR IT.
UM, I DO SUPPORT THIS REZONING.
AND EVEN IF WE TELL THEM NO TODAY, SOMEBODY ELSE IS GONNA COME WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROPERTY.
UM, IT'S ALWAYS A BALANCE WHEN WE BRING IN MORE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES THAT WE DO HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
YOU HAVE TO, UM, JUST FROM A TAX DOLLAR BASIS ALONE, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE CHANGE.
WE HEAR THAT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY, BUT SOMETIMES YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEVELOP AREAS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I REMEMBER WHEN PEOPLE PUSHED BACK ABOUT THE PUBLICS GOING IN RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AND PEOPLE WERE MAD THAT THAT WAS BEING DEVELOPED, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT THERE WAS UPSET ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ON THE BOOKS BEFORE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS EVEN BUILT, THAT IT WAS COMMERCIAL SPACE AND THERE WAS PUSHBACK THERE.
SO THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE SOME TYPE OF A PUSHBACK.
UM, I DO SUPPORT THE FIRST READING ON THIS.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S INFORMATION IN OUR PACKET FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE QUESTIONS, SO I WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST A, UM, VOTE.
WELL, WE WE WILL DO A ROLL CALL.
SO LEMME JUST FIRST SAY THAT I, I DID VOTE TO, UM, CHANGE THE ZONING OF THE SIM UH, A PROPERTY THAT'S IN THAT AREA THERE.
BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE, UM, THEY HAD AN ACTUAL PERMIT IN HAND FROM ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, 12 YEARS AGO THAT, UH, ALLOWED THEM TO DO A CONVENIENT STORE.
UM, SO WHENEVER THE, THE NEW ZONING TOOK OVER, UM, THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO IT.
SO THOSE FOLKS ALREADY HAD A PERMANENT HAND, HAD ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF, OF, OF BEING APPROVED.
UM, I AM, UH, I AM, I DON'T DISAGREE THAT THIS AREA IS, IS A GROWING AREA.
HOWEVER, WE GET INTO THE, THE PART WHERE IF WE SPOT ZONE THIS, AND AGAIN, IT IS SPOT ZONING, THAT MEANS THE NEXT PERSON THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR IS GONNA COME BACK AND ASK FOR THE ZONING.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEXT DOOR TO THAT WILL COME BACK AND ASK FOR ZONING.
UM, RIGHT BEHIND THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, ACROSS THE STREET IS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST REELECTED AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WAS TO SLOW GROWTH AND SLOW DEVELOPMENT DOWN AND TO, TO NOT INCREASE DEVELOPMENT.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, AGAIN, NOTHING AGAINST THE OPTOMETRY FOLKS.
UM, AND I THINK I'VE ONLY HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THEM.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS AN AREA WHERE, UH, WE MAKE THE DECISION TO, UM, UP ZONE, WHICH IS WHAT IT'S CALLED, UP ZONE THIS.
THEN WE'RE GONNA BE UP ZONING A LOT OF OTHER PLACES AS WELL, OR, OR OTHER PEOPLE WILL COME TO US WITH THE SAME THING.
UH, AND I, AGAIN, I THINK AT, AT THIS TIME, UM, WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR, OUR, OUR CONSTITUENTS, WE'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE, UM, THAT, AGAIN, TOO MUCH GROWTH, TOO MUCH THINGS HAPPENING THAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY, UM, BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM.
OTHER COMMENTS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THE SAME THING I QUESTION.
UM, IT IS EITHER DIRECTED TO OUR ATTORNEY TO, OR OUR COUNTY COUNCIL.
THE TERM SPOT ZONING HAS BEEN USED.
UM, I NEED A DEFINITION OF SPOT ZONING.
I CAN, UH, GIVE YOU THAT, UH, ALMOST VERBATIM.
I'VE DEALT WITH THIS FOR 30 SOMETHING YEARS IN, UM, ZONING AND ENTITLEMENT WORK.
SO SPOT ZONING IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS SIMPLY ZONING A PIECE OF PROPERTY OR A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING AREA.
THAT THE STATE STATUTE GIVES A LOT OF LATITUDE TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AS TO WHAT THAT MEANS.
SO IF YOU ALL MADE THE DECISION THAT THIS IS A COMMERCIAL AREA, UH, IN CHARACTER, UH, THEN I THINK YOU COULD WITHSTAND THE TEST OF SPOT ZONING.
IT DOES NOT MEAN J JUST REZONING ONE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY.
CONTRARY TO THE COMP PLAN OR TO THE ZONING OF ADJACENT O PROPERTIES IS THE OVERALL CHARACTER OF THE AREA.
IT COULD, YOU COULD HAVE A ONE ACRE SPOT ZONING, YOU COULD HAVE A HUNDRED ACRE SPOT ZONING.
IT DEPENDS ON THE CHARACTER OF THE AREA.
SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU ALL THAT, IF YOU WANT TO ACT ON THIS COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON IS CORRECT
[00:35:01]
THAT IF YOU CONTINUE THEY'RE LODGING THE SAME ARGUMENTS AS THE PEOPLE, UH, A ARGUED A YEAR OR SO AGO.AND GUESS WHAT? THE NEXT PERSON THAT COMES ALONG FINDS A PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR SALE THAT'S NOT ZONED COMMERCIAL.
INSTEAD OF THEM BUYING COMMERCIAL THAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET AT A COMMERCIAL RATE, THEY'RE GONNA BUY ANOTHER PIECE OF PRO OR PUT A PIECE OF PROPERTY UNDER CONTRACT AND MARCH IN HERE AND ASK YOU ALL TO REASON ON ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY IN THAT AREA FOR THE SAME REASONS.
AND YOU ALL WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE NO REASON TO STOP REZONING PROPERTIES COMMERCIAL, UH, IN THIS AREA.
SO IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, THEN I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU INSTRUCT THE STAFF TO GO OUT AND EVALUATE THIS AREA AND BRING, BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION ON AMENDING THE COMP PLAN SO THAT WE CAN AMEND THE COMP PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ZONING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UH, BEFORE WE PROCEED AND TAKE ACTION ON IT.
UH, THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION, UH, BUT THEN THAT WAY THAT WOULD, UM, ALLEVIATE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT SPOT ZONING OR ANY LEGAL CHALLENGES.
AND THAT WAY WE COULD HAVE A MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND FIGURE OUT IF A COMP PLAN AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY.
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE THIS CYCLE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER WITH THE SAME FOLKS GOING OUT, BUYING CHEAP PROPERTY, PUTTING ON CONTRACT, HOPING THAT THEY CAN COME IN HERE AND CONVINCE YOU ALL TO RAISE ON THE PROPERTY UNDER THE SAME ARGUMENTS THAT WAS USED FOR THE OTHER TWO PROPERTIES.
THE OTHER PROPERTY WHERE THE CONVENIENCE STORE WAS.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IS NOT DEVELOPED YET.
SO THERE IS NO COMMERCIAL PROP, NO COMMERCIAL MARKET ON THIS ROAD BECAUSE IF THEY WERE THEN THE PROPERTY THAT YOU ALREADY OWNED LAW EVERY A YEAR AGO WOULD'VE ALREADY DEVELOPED.
SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE PLANNING, UH, MY PROFESSIONAL PLANNING BACKGROUND AND ALSO AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS.
WHAT I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO DO, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS, THEN RECOMMEND, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSIDER AMENDING THE COMP PLAN BEFORE YOU ACT ON THE REZONING APPLICATION.
IF YOU, EXCUSE ME, IF YOU AMEND THE COMP PLAN, WHAT WILL THAT DO TO THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT NOTHING, YOU'RE JUST BASICALLY SAYING THAT THIS AREA HAS CHANGED IN CHARACTER AND IT'S NO LONGER, YOU KNOW, THE DESIGNATED ZONINGS OF THE PROPERTY AND YOU WOULD SUPPORT REZONING PROPERTIES TO A DIFFERENT HIGHER DENSITY, WHICH WOULD BE A COMMERCIAL REZONING.
AND IT WON'T CHANGE VALUE WON'T CHANGE VALUE.
UH, THE WHAT CHANGES VALUE ZONING DOESN'T CHANGE.
VALUE COMP PLAN DOESN'T CHANGE VALUE.
WHAT CHANGES VALUE IS IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY AND THE, UM, THE COMPARABLES OF SIMILAR SITUATED PROPERTIES SOMEWHERE ELSE.
MR. GREENWAY ACTUALLY GOT A QUESTION, UH, FOR YOU.
DOES TWO TRC, DOES THAT ALLOW FOR ANY MIXED USE THERE FOR APARTMENTS ABOVE, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING POTENTIALLY ABOVE IT? I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA HAVE TO LET UP.
I DON'T KNOW THE CODE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I'M, I GOT THE PLANET RECORD DOES.
UH, T2 RURAL CENTER, T TWO RC, UH, DOES, IT ALLOWS COMMERCIAL, BUT IT DOES NOT ALLOW VERY HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH AT ONE DWELLING UNIT PER ACRE.
WELL, FOR INSTANCE, COULD THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, IF THEY BUILT THE OPTOMETRY CENTER ON THERE, COULD THEY HAVE RESIDENTIAL ABOVE IT? I DON'T BELIEVE IT ALLOWS MULTI-FAMILY.
SO IT WOULD LIMIT THAT SITE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, MOST LIKELY A SINGLE USE IN OFFICE BUILDING.
WHAT IS ALLOWED UNDER T3 EDGE CURRENTLY T3 EDGE IS PRIMARILY A SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, SO IT ALLOWS A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES, UH, AT A, UM, 75 BY 150.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A RELATIVELY LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT.
THIS, THIS IS A VACANT LOT CURRENTLY, RIGHT? YES.
SO WOULDN'T THE SAME LOGIC BE USED WHEN THEY SAY THAT THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY NEXT DOOR, IF IT WAS GONNA BE COMMERCIAL, WOULD ALREADY BE DEVELOPED? THE SAME THING COULD BE SAID ABOUT RESIDENTIAL, THAT THIS PROPERTY WAS RESIDENTIAL FOR WAY LONGER THAN IT WAS COMMERCIAL, AND IT'S NOT DEVELOPED FOR RESIDENTIAL YET.
SO SOMEBODY DOES NOT DEEM THAT AS A PLACE TO PUT A HOUSE CURRENTLY.
I MEAN, THERE IS, I'M I'M JUST SAYING FOR THIS INSTANCE IN THIS CORRIDOR, LIKE WE SEE A LOT OF COMMERCIAL COMING IN THERE.
IT'S BEEN RESIDENTIAL FOR YEARS AND NO RESIDENTIAL WAS PUT ON THERE.
THE ARGUMENT WAS JUST MADE THAT THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR A YEAR AGO, WE CHANGED IT TO COMMERCIAL AND IT'S NOT DEVELOPED YET.
WELL, WE'RE STILL, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE TIMEFRAME HERE.
SO MAYBE IT, IT IS TIME FOR THAT CHANGE WITH THAT DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING BECAUSE SOMEBODY OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT SEE THIS LOT, LOT FIT TO BUILD A HOUSE OR IT WOULD'VE BEEN DONE 15, 20 YEARS AGO.
YEAH, I WILL SAY THAT THE CURRENT CONFERENCE OF PLAN IN THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, PRI THE CONCERN WAS, UM, 46 IS A SCENIC CORRIDOR.
[00:40:01]
ABOUT STRIPPING COMMERCIAL ALONG THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR.AND SO IN THE PRITCHARD COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT CLUSTERED AT THE INTERSECTION WITH GBBT ROAD MM-HMM.
AND THEN, UH, ABOUT A QUARTER MILE, UH, WEST OF THIS IS THE INTER IS THE, UH, NEW RIVERSIDE AREA.
SO THERE'S A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT THERE.
AND SO THAT IS ANOTHER REASON THAT STAFF WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT INTRODUCING A THIRD DISTRICT WHEN YOU HAVE MM-HMM.
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, I, THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IS, IS ERIC HAD MENTIONED APPROVING ONE PARCEL, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE THE CHARACTER OF THAT, THAT AREA CHANGING OVER TIME BECOMING MORE COMMERCIAL.
SO ON THE SENSE OF THE COMP PLAN, SORRY, I I WAS JUST SAYING ON THE SENSE OF THE COMP PLAN, I WAS GONNA ADDRESS THE COMP PLAN IN MY COMMENTS.
UH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, DOES THAT MEAN WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FIRST READING TO GIVE TIME TO EVEN ADDRESS THAT IF WE WANTED TO? IT'S DO YOU ALL, YOU CAN GIVE FIRST READING AND THEN THE DELAY FROM THAT POINT UNTIL THEY CAN DO A COMPOUND AMENDMENT STUDY IF WE DECIDED TO GO DOWN THAT, THAT'S WHATEVER YOU ALL PREFER.
I, I WOULD SUGGEST NOT EVEN VOTING TONIGHT, BUT ACTUALLY DOING IS THE ADMINISTRATION SUGGESTED THAT WE MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE COMP PLAN.
AND IF IN FACT THE COMMUNITY, UM, NEEDS TO KNOW THAT WE'RE CHANGING THE CHARACTER IN A HOPSCOTCH, NOT A HOPSCOTCH IN A, IN A STEPPING STONE PATTERN, IF WE DO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, I'M ONE OF THE ONES THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE OTHER REZONING.
UM, FOR THIS VERY REASON, I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, DELAY THIS EVEN FIRST READING UNTIL WE HEAR FROM 'EM.
UH, UM, THAT AREA IS VERY MUCH A, A SCENIC DRIVE AND HAVING JUST DRIVEN THROUGH MOUNT PLEASANT THIS PAST WEEKEND
UH, OF COURSE, MOUNT PLEASANT IS NOT, IS NOT BLUFFING EITHER, BUT IT BLUFFTON COULD BE MOUNT PLEASANT
OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE I ASK? CAN I MAKE, GET IN THE MOTION THAT WE, YOU CERTAINLY CAN, YOU WOULD WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO EITHER REFER TO A SPECIFIC COMMITTEE OR TO POSTPONE ACTION UNTIL A SPECIFIC DATE.
UM, I'M LOOKING TO, CAN I COMMENT BEFORE SHE MAKES A MOTION? YEAH.
IT SAYS THE PROPOSED PRI EXPANSION WOULD INCORPORATE WORKFORCE HOUSING ABOVE THE MEDICAL OPTICAL SPACE.
UM, AND WE JUST SAID THAT CAN'T HAPPEN IF I HEARD IT RIGHT? YES, ROB.
OKAY, BECAUSE THAT'S IN THE PLAN HERE.
IT TALKS ABOUT THE WATER AND THE SEWER.
AN OPTOMETRIST'S OFFICE CANNOT HAVE WELL WATER.
IF THE CAMPBELLS WERE ALLOWED TO SPEAK EARLIER, THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT.
WELL WATER, YOU CANNOT HAVE WELL WATER AND BE IN AN OPTOMETRIST OFFICE.
NOW, I'M NOT GONNA GO ANY FURTHER BECAUSE THE DOCTORS WOULD HAVE TO EXPLAIN AND WE'RE ON YOUR CORNEA.
SO I THINK A MOTION TO A LATER DATE UNTIL THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CAN BE, WE CAN GET SOME MORE PUBLIC INPUT IF PUBLIC OKAY, SO THEN WANTS TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO POSTPONE THIS MATTER UNTIL NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE.
HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE STAFF TO, UM, HAVE THOSE MEETINGS WITH, TO LOOK AT THE COMP PLAN? WHY, WHY DON'T YOU SEND IT BACK TO THE, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
BECAUSE THEN THAT COMMITTEE COULD MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION THERE MM-HMM.
THAT WOULD ALSO BE, THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION.
SO IT'S DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED TO REFER, UM, UH, TO THE, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER STUDY AND ACTION.
IT MAY BE THAT THE, THE PUBLIC'S FINE WITH TURN TURNING THIS INTO A COMMERCIAL AVENUE.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA SPEAK ON THE AMENDMENT, RIGHT.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, OKAY, SO IT GOES FORWARD TO THE, WE, DO WE REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE A PUBLIC NOTICE AND HAVE PUBLIC MEETING OR SOMETHING? IS THAT THE WAY IT WORKS? THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
SO THE, THERE'S A DEPARTMENT AND WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT WILL REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE.
SO WE NEED TO GET THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA TO COME FORWARD AND SAY IT'S OKAY OR IT'S NOT OKAY.
[00:45:01]
IS THAT RIGHT? IS THAT THE WAY IT WORKS? MM-HMM.SO WE AT LEAST NEED TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE.
THOSE THAT LIVE THERE ALL THE TIME WANT TO SEE THIS AREA CHANGE INTO, IF YOU ALL, IF WE'RE GONNA START STRIPPING COMMERCIAL OUT DOWN THIS ROAD, YOU ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT FROM A TRANSPORTATION STANDPOINT.
BECAUSE ANYTIME YOU PUT CURB CUTS ALONG THE ROAD IN A COMMERCIAL AREA, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH TRAFFIC THEY GENERATE, IT'S GONNA CONGEST THE EXISTING THOROUGHFARE OF THE ROAD.
SO IF WE DO NOT HAVE, IF IT'S A TWO-LANE ROAD NOW, AND YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE COMMERCIALS WITH CURB CUTS DIRECTLY OUT ONTO THAT HIGHWAY, AND D O T WILL ISSUE ENCROACHMENT PERMITS FOR THEM TO PUT A DRIVEWAYS OUT ON THAT, THEN IT'S GONNA CAUSE TRAFFIC TO START BACKING UP DOWN THAT THOROUGHFARE, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE USE IS.
SO WE NEED TO EVALUATE ALL OF THAT FROM A PLANNING STANDPOINT AND NOT JUST FALL FOR THE ARGUMENT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU THIS, IF YOU GO TO A BASIC ZONING CLASS STATION, ONE OF THE THINGS I HATE ABOUT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS THAT YOU CAN'T DO PROFFER ZONING OR CONTRACT ZONING.
YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD A WAY TO SAY, YEAH, WE'LL REZONE THIS PROPERTY FOR YOU TO PUT AN I EYE DOCTOR OFFICE THERE, THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE THAT SAME CONCERN.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, ONCE WE RAISE ON THE PROPERTY, THEY MAY DECIDE TO DO WHAT THE OTHER FOLKS DECIDED TO DO THAT WAS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, PUT COMMERCIAL ON THERE AND PUT IT ON THE MARKET TO SELL IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE, WHICH IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE.
JUST BECAUSE YOU RAISE ON THE PROPERTY DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT AN EYE DOCTOR'S OFFICE THERE.
WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH MAYLAND BLUFF.
WE'VE SEEN IT WITH TOWN OF HARDY.
ON THIS ISSUE, WHEN YOU MENTIONED CURB CUTS, UH, WHERE WILL THE CURB CUTS GO AND WHAT WILL THEY LEAD TO? THE CURB CUT WILL, IT'LL BE THE DRIVEWAY INTO THIS EYE DOCTOR'S OFFICE FROM THE MAIN ROAD INTO THE PARKING LOT.
WHAT PARKING LOT? THE PARKING LOT FOR THEIR EYE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, WHICH WILL BE LOCATED WHERE? ON THE PROPERTY BEING REZONED BEHIND THE, THE OFFICE OR BESIDE IT OR SOMETHING.
SO HOW MANY CARS THAT I, I MEAN, IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, RIGHT? SO, OKAY.
RATHER THAN SEND THIS BACK TO COMMITTEE AND WASTE ALL, I HATE KICKING THINGS DOWN THE CANS DOWN THE ROAD, RIGHT? CAN'T WE MAKE THE SUGGESTION HERE TONIGHT TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY STUDY AND FIND OUT IF THERE'S AN INTEREST IN REZONING? WHY DO WE HAVE TO SEND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND WASTE ALL THAT TIME? YOU DON'T WHEN WE CAN JUST DO IT HERE TONIGHT AND YOU DON'T GET GET IT DONE.
YOU DON'T, YOU HAVE TO TAKE AN ACTION ON THIS.
EITHER APPROVE IT OR DIS THAT'S FINE.
WELL, YOU GOTTA, I MEAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN DELAY, YOU CAN DEFER ACTION ON IT.
UM, YEAH, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND IT BACK TO A COMMITTEE.
YOU DON'T, WE CAN, WE CAN REQUEST YOU TO DO THIS FROM HERE.
RATHER THAN TAKING ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO TO SEND IT BACK FOR A DECISION TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO HERE RIGHT NOW.
AND YOU CAN DO IT FIRST READING AND SAY, BY THE TIME WE, YOU CAN GIVE FIRST READING NIGHT, SAY, BY THE TIME WE DO THIRD READING, WE WANT TO HEAR BACK FROM THE STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT DOESN'T INTERFERE AT ALL WITH SETTING UP THE COMMUNITY MEETING.
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA DENY IT, YOU CAN DENY IT ON SECOND OR THIRD READING.
IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE TO GO BACK TO A COMMITTEE.
WE CAN, WE CAN PUT THE SECOND READING AFTER WE GET THE INFORMATION.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IMMEDIATE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE IMMEDIATE NEXT MEETING, IN OTHER WORDS.
AND THAT WAY WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR COMMITTEE INPUT.
SO THAT MEANS YOU WOULD'VE TO WITHDRAW YOUR FIRST, YOU WOULD'VE TO WITHDRAW YOUR AMENDMENT, YOU HAVE TO WITHDRAW THE AMOUNT.
I, WE'LL, WE'LL WITHDRAW AND MAKE ANOTHER AMENDMENT.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S SPEAKING TO THE DELAY BEFORE WE REMOVE THE DELAY.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER DELAY COMING AFTER IT.
UM, IT'S THE SAME THING WE DO ALL THE TIME WITH THESE PROJECTS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS HILTON HEAD BRIDGE FIVE YEARS LATER.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT COMPARABLE.
IT, IT'S NOT, IT MIGHT BE SMALLER, IT MIGHT BE BIGGER, BUT IT'S THE SAME THING.
WE'RE WE'RE KICKING SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD OVER AND OVER, JUST LIKE WE DID WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION TAX AND WAITING UNTIL LAST MINUTE AND THE GREEN SPACE TAX AND THAT PULLING INTO THAT LAST MINUTE.
IF WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING, WHY ARE WE JUST KICKING IT DOWN THE ROAD? IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, YOU HAVE COMMERCIAL TO THE LEFT OF IT, RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
THREE SPACES BETWEEN THAT ON THE LEFT YOU HAVE MORE COMMERCIAL.
THAT IS A HUGE CLUSTER THAT IS BEING ALSO, ALSO DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW.
FIVE LOTS BETWEEN THAT AND ANOTHER TT OR UH, T2 R WORLD OR WHATEVER IT IS.
T2 WORLD CENTER, THERE'S FIVE LOTS BETWEEN THE ON THE RIGHT.
WE'RE ACTING LIKE WE'RE SPLITTING HAIRS BETWEEN MILES WHEN WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT, I, I LIVE HERE.
I SEE THIS, THERE'S FIVE LOTS ON THE RIGHT OF THAT LOT BETWEEN ANOTHER HUGE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THAT THEY WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT ON GIT.
I HAVE THE OTHER MAP RIGHT HERE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIVE LOTS IN BETWEEN THESE SPACES FOR COMMERCIAL WORK.
BUT MR. CHAIRMAN, MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC IS THAT LET'S JUST VOTE.
YOU REALLY, YOU REALLY AREN'T TALKING
[00:50:01]
ABOUT FIVE LOTS BECAUSE THE GUIDE TO THE FACING THIS MOUNT, THE GUIDE TO THE RIGHT COULD COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, I WANNA RAISE ON MY PROPERTY THE GUIDE TO THE RIGHT OF THAT.THEN COME IN AND SAY, HEY, YOU RES ON THE GUY TO THE LEFT OF ME RES ON MY PROPERTY.
AND YOU COULD STRIP THIS ENTIRE ROAD DOWN THE ENTIRE LENGTH BACK INTO, UM, BY GBB ROAD BLUFF FIVE BLOCKS ROAD.
WELL, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT, IT COULD GO EVEN GO FURTHER THAN THAT, BUT THEY COULD DO THAT EXACT SAME THING OVER THERE.
THAT'S THE BEAUTY, THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF A COMP PLAN AMENDMENT IS BECAUSE THE STAFF CAN TELL YOU, HEY, THIS AREA IS CHANGING, BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU STOP ANY ADDITIONAL REZONINGS AT GBBT ROAD.
OTHERWISE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE SAME ARGUMENT COME IN HERE AS THESE FOLKS ARE DOING.
THEY'RE MAKING THE SAME ARGUMENT THAT I THINK, I THINK THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION HERE AT COUNCIL.
THAT'S THE COMMUNITY DECISION AND RIGHT.
I DON'T CARE WHETHER YOU'RE DELAYED, UH, BY GOING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER, BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO MAKE AN INPUT INTO WHAT THEY WANT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
IF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING, THEN LEAVE ALL THE WAY, GO FORWARD.
SO WE HAVE THAT WAS IN MY MS. HOWARD, YOU ARE GOING TO WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION.
SO WE'RE BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.
IT, WE, WE CAN, AS PART OF THE MOTION AMENDED TO DIRECT COUNSEL BEFORE WE TAKE THE SECOND READING TO DO A, B, C, D, WHATEVER WE THE COUNCIL WANT THEM TO DO.
NO SECOND THAT NO SECOND MOTION.
NO, THE MOTION WILL BE AND THERE'S TOM COMING IN TO SAVE THE DAY.
IT'S TO AMEND THIS MOTION TO INSTRUCT ADMINISTRATION TO HOLD A PUBLIC, UH, NO.
TO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE POTENTIAL THE COMP PLAN CHANGE TO THE COMP PLAN THAT WOULD AFFECT THIS COMMUNITY AREA BEFORE THE SECOND READING.
BEFORE THE SECOND READING AT THAT TIME.
SO THE MOTION, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE, UM, THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
WELL, TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WOULD AFFECT THE COMMUNITY AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.
BEFORE WE HOLD THE SECOND READING ON THIS.
ALL YOU, ALL YOU REALLY HAVE TO SAY IS WE MAKE A MOTION TO INSTRUCT THE STAFF TO, UH, PROCESS A COMP PLAN AMENDMENT, UH, FOR THE APPROPRIATE ZONING OF, OF THIS AREA.
APPROPRIATE LAND USE FOR THIS AREA.
DO WE HAVE THAT? DO WE KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? WE DIDN'T.
WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO MOVE ON AND VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
IT, THAT, THAT DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE FIRST READING.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE FIRST READING? THIS IS THE AMENDMENT TO IT.
SO IT'S TIED IN WITH THE, SO IT'S TIED IN.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT, DIRECTING HIM TO OKAY.
DO WHAT I SAID AND HE SAID CORRECTLY, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE FIRST READING.
EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THE AMENDMENT UNDERSTOOD.
WE'RE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENT.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENT? SEEING NONE.
NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, RIGHT? THAT INCLUDES THE AMENDMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE OPPOSED TO THE MOTION AS AMENDED? MR. I DO.
SO WE, UH, WE HAVE TWO OBJECTIONS.
WELL CHAIR, SO I'M OPPOSED TO IT AS WELL.
SO NOW WE'LL CALL THE, UM, THE ORIGINAL MOTIONS OF THE FIRST READING WERE MR. CUNNINGHAM FOLLOWED BY MS. BROWN.
THEY WILL VOTE FIRST AND SECOND, AND THEN YOU CAN GO DOWN THE LIST.
THEY'RE VOTING ON THE FIRST READING.
NOW WE'RE VOTING ON THE AMENDED.
[00:55:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER BARUM? YES.COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD? UH, NO.
[16. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT/REZONING REQUEST FOR 2.81 ACRES (R600 008 000 0625 0000) AT THE INTERSECTION OF OKATIE HIGHWAY (170) AND LOWCOUNTRY DRIVE (462) FROM T2 RURAL (T2R) TO C4 COMMUNITY CENTER MIXED-USE (C4CCMU)]
ITEM NUMBER 16 IS A FIRST SWING THING.WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN WHILE.
THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REZONING REQUEST FOR 2.81 ERS AT THE INTERSECTION OF OKEE HIGHWAY, ALL KNOWN, ALSO KNOWN AS ONE 70 AND LOW COUNTRY DRIVE 4 62.
FROM TITU RURAL TO C4 COMMUNITY CENTER.
MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? PLEASE SHALL MOVED.
MR. CHAIRMAN? MR. CUNNINGHAM? DULY MOTION DIDN'T SECONDED ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT ACTUALLY OBJECTION.
UM, ARE THIS WAS A STAFF REZONING, CORRECT.
PUT FORWARD BY STAFF TO REZONE? YES.
ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR THAT PROPERTY OR WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET ANYTHING? NO, IT IS, THERE'S NO PLANS FOR THE PROPERTY AS YET.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET IT MASHED UP WITH THE, THE OTHER COOLER TRUCK.
THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ANYONE ELSE? SINCE THERE IS NO OTHER OBJECTION, THIS WILL PASS WITH ONE OBJECTION BY MR. GLOVER.
[17. PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, OR ITS DESIGNEE, THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 114 ELLIOTT STREET ]
ITEM NUMBER 17 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH BUFORD COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, OR ITS DESIGNEE, THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT ONE 14 ELLIOT STREET.I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. GLOVER MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.
UH, LAST TIME WE MET ABOUT THIS IN THE COMMITTEE, IT WAS ACTUALLY MY COMMITTEE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I ASKED WAS IF WE WERE GONNA PUT A RESTRICTION ON HOW MUCH THEY CAN CHARGE FOR RENT SO THEY CAN'T MAKE PROFIT OFF OF OUR DISCOUNTED RATE.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS IN THE NEW CONTRACT.
I'VE DISCUSSED THE LEASE WITH BMH, UM, AND IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THEY WILL SET A RENTAL RATE, UM, WHEREBY THEY ARE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.
UM, BUT IT WILL BE PAYING FOR THE SMALL MAINTENANCE FEES THAT THEY MAY HAVE, SUCH AS THEY'RE HIRING A LANDSCAPING CREW.
ANY OTHER, SORRY, MY SECOND QUESTION IS HOW LONG IS THIS AGREEMENT? BECAUSE I KNOW OUR ORIGINAL GOAL BEHIND THIS IS EVENTUALLY USE THIS PROPERTY OURSELF OR SELL IT FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND MAYBE IT'S BE MEMORIAL, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T GET LOCKED INTO THIS, WHERE WE'RE TIED UP FOR YEARS.
WE HAVE PLACED IT AT A TWO YEAR, UM, TERM, AND IT CAN BE RENEWED FOR ONE YEAR PERIOD.
IT'S UP TO, UH, THREE TIMES YOU'VE THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
UH, FINAL ITEM IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT CHAIR.
YOU, YOU FORGOT THE RECEIVED PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY TAKE ACTION? SEEING NONE, THEN WE ARE DOING IT APPROPRIATELY.
[18. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE SC DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 FOR THE COMBINED PROJECTS OF PROJECT PACKET AND PROJECT LAWN.]
ALL RIGHT.FINALLY, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 FOR THE COMBINED PROJECTS OF PROJECT PACKET AND PROJECT LAWN.
MS. TABERNAC MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
MR. CHAIR, ONE THING, UM, I WILL COMMENT.
SOMEBODY IN MY AREA SAID, WHY DO YOU GUYS JUST VOTE ON THINGS WITHOUT DISCUSSING THEM? SO I'M GONNA MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THIS WAS DISCUSSED IN DEPTH AT COMMITTEE AND ALL OF OUR COMMITTEE WORK FOCUSES ON ALL OF THESE, UH, AGENDA ITEMS. AND SO REALLY WHEN WE GET HERE, WE'VE ALREADY SORT OF BEATEN THE HORSE.
SO I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE QUESTION WAS RAISED TO ME.
WELL, ALSO IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY, THERE'S A SUMMARY OF THE ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN AT THE COMMITTEE,
[01:00:01]
WHICH IS BACKED UP AND AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY WHO CHECKS THE AGENDA ITEMS, UH, ONLINE.SO DON'T, THERE'S A DISCUSSION PRIOR TO COMING.
AND THEN THERE'S A SUMMARY OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED.
AND THEN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS WELL.
IF THEY GO THROUGH THE PACKET, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW THAT.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.
[19. CITIZEN COMMENTS]
WE ARE NOW AT THE SECOND CITIZEN COMMENTS.WE DO HAVE A 15 MINUTE PERIOD AND WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE SIGNED UP THAN THE 15 MINUTES.
ALL OF YOU SEEM TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT PINE ISLAND.
ONE PERSON WANTS TO TALK ABOUT ST.
SO WITHIN THE 15 MINUTE PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE HAVE, IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR POINTS SUCCINCT SO THAT ALL SIX PEOPLE CAN GET TO SPEAK, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
OTHERWISE ONE PERSON ISN'T GOING TO BE THERE.
CHAIRMAN, LET ME, UM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD, UH, A LIMIT ON THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN IN 15 MINUTES.
OKAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND IT TO ALLOW THE OTHER PERSON TO SPEAK.
WE SPEND CRAZY HOURS DOING THIS.
PINE ISLAND, THE DEVELOPER, AS YOU'RE AWARE, HAS OPENLY STATED HIS VISION OF CREATING AN EXCLUSIVE GATED GOLF COURSE RESORT FOR THE UBER, UBER RICH.
AS WITH ALL DEVELOPERS, HE ESPOUSES HIS CONCERN FOR THE HISTORY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT? NOBODY IS ARGUING THAT THE DEVELOPER DOES NOT HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS.
HE DOES WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE CPO THAT EVERY OTHER DEVELOPER ON THE ISLAND HAS ABIDE BY FOR ALMOST A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
HE CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY ONE CAN'T SEE HIS WONDERFUL VISION.
HIS TRADE OFF LESS HOUSES AND DOCKS, AND HE GETS HIS GATE AND HIS GOLF COURSE WAS A TERRIBLE DEAL.
OF COURSE, GIVEN THE GOLF COURSE WOULD TAKE UP ALMOST HALF OF HIS PROPERTY ANYWAY, BY DEFAULT, THERE WOULD BE LESS HOUSES AND DOCKS.
NOW IT HAS ALL BECOME A VEILED THREAT.
THE REALITY IS, WITHOUT THE GATE AND THE GOLF COURSE, THE WHOLE PLAN COLLAPSES.
THE UBER RICH ARE NOT COMING WITHOUT THE GATE AND THE GOLF COURSE.
THE SIXTH, THE THREE SIX HOLE GOLF COURSE SCAM, WILL NEVER PREVAIL IN A SOUTH CAROLINA COURT UNDER THE EXISTING CPO OR UNDER THE ENHANCED CPO THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE ADOPTED BY COUNTY COUNCIL.
SHORTLY, THE CHARLESTON POST COURIER CALLED THE END AROUND SCHEME COMICAL.
THERE ARE A HOST OF ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE SOME OTHER NAMES FOR IT.
WE KNOW YOU WILL HELP ENSURE THAT THIS TRAVESTY WILL NEVER COME TO PASS, AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY THE PROPERTY WILL BE IN PUBLIC HANDS WITH A FAIR SALE FOR THE DEVELOPER.
IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO WHO KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR ST.
LOTS OF LOCALS APPARENTLY, INCLUDING SITTING, SITTING POLITICIANS TO SHULA'S PROJECT.
AFTER ALL OF THIS IS THE WAY AFTER ALL THIS IS DONE, THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE IN BEAUFORD COUNTY.
HELENA ARE THE ONES WHO KNOW BEST.
HELENA, THE RICH GOLO GEE COMMUNITY HAS BANNED MORE THAN SIX GENERATIONS.
WE HAVE VAST AGRICULTURAL FIELDS, SWEET GRASS BASKET LADIES PERFECTING THEIR CRAFT AND FISHERMEN SELLING THEIR DAILY CATCH ON THE BACK ROADS.
HELLO AND ALSO HAVE TIME JUST TO CHAT IS WHY PAT CONROY INSISTED THAT ITS FINAL RESTING PLACE BEYOND ST.
HELENA IN THE HISTORIC AFRICAN-AMERICAN CEMETERY INTERTWINED WITH THE LONG GOA GEECHEE HISTORY OF THE ISLAND.
WHAT HAPPENED IN HILTON HEAD 30 YEARS AGO DIDN'T HAVE, THEY HAD A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY AND NO GOLF COURSES.
NOW THEY HAVE 24 GOLF COURSES.
NO LONGER IS IT A PLACE THAT, UM, CAN BE TREASURED IN THE SAME WAY THAT ST.
I HOPE YOU MOVED THE MEETING DOWN TO ST.
THERE'S TONS OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK IN TWO WEEKS.
OH,
HELENA, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW POINTS TODAY, UH, TONIGHT, WHATEVER.
AS SOME OF YOU, IF NOT ALL OF YOU KNOW, DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING PINNED SOME OF HIS, I'VE GOT A DREAM SPEECH ON THE GROUNDS OF THE PEN CENTER.
HE DID NOT BELIEVE IN ANY KIND OF CLASS SUPERIORITY.
[01:05:01]
HELENA ISLAND IS HOME TO THE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE.THE CPO WAS DEVELOPED TO HONOR AND PROTECT THAT CULTURE.
IT SHOULD NOT BE DESTROYED BY ALLOWING A GATED COMMUNITY AND THREE SIX HOLE GOLF COURSES AMONG OTHER THINGS TO BE DEVELOPED.
PLEASE DON'T ALLOW THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF THE LOW COUNTRY TO BE DEVELOPED INTO ANOTHER HILTON HEAD.
I APPRECIATE, UH, THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I MOVED HERE FIVE YEARS AGO.
WE SETTLED, PAUL AND I LIVE IN DEL LAMO.
AND, UM, I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD AND WHAT I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE GULLAH PEOPLE.
UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ABOUT THE MOST LOVING PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET.
UM, I ALSO FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THE FORESIGHT AND INSIGHT OF THE FOLKS THAT DID THE CPO ALMOST 25 YEARS AGO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION.
UM, THE GULLAH FOLKS, THEY'VE PAID THEIR DUES TO SOCIETY FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED, 300 YEARS.
HELENA IS ALL THEY HAVE LEFT, UM,
SO MUCH OF CHARLESTON AND THIS, THIS JUST CAN'T CONTINUE.
UM, I ALSO THINK THAT THE DISRESPECT AND DISREGARD FOR THE GULLAH COMMUNITY, UM, IT, IT CAN HAPPEN.
UM, I FEEL SO, UH, EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS FOR A LOT OF REASONS.
I ALSO AM A EXTREME NATURALIST AND I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE GOD INTENDED US FOR, TO PROTECT THE CREATURES AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF ALL THE WILDLIFE ON THIS TRACK WOULD, YOU KNOW, IS NOT A GOOD THING.
UM, I ALSO FEEL THAT THE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS KIND OF GROWTH DOWN THERE.
AND I ALSO HAVE DONE SOME STUDIES ON GOLF COURSES.
UM, MOST OF US BABY BOOMERS ARE COMING TO AN END.
HEALTH DOESN'T ALLOW US TO GOLF.
I THINK THERE'S QUITE A FEW X GENS THAT ARE STILL INTO GOLFING.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE GOLF COURSES HERE LOCALLY HAVE OPENED UP TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HAVING THE GOLFERS COME.
AND I PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOUR MILLENNIALS AND Z GENS, WHATEVER THEY'RE CALLED, ARE MUCH INTERESTED IN GOLFING.
UH, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE THROUGH THE FLAG AND OPENING PRAYER THAT TELLS ME THAT GOD WAS INVITED HERE.
HIS WISDOM HAS BEEN INVITED HERE.
AND I'M SURE FROM TIME TO TIME, WHOEVER'S LEADING THAT PRAYER IS ASKING FOR GOD'S WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHO'S THE BABY'S MAMA.
IN ONE KINGS CHAPTER THREE, VERSE THREE, CHAPTER THREE VERSES UH, 16 TO 28, 2 WOMEN WENT TO SING KING'S CALL SOLOMON'S COURT AND COMPLAINED, NOT COMPLAINED, BUT THEY WERE SAYING THAT THE BABY BELONGS TO THEM.
KING SOLOMON, WHO WAS KNOWN AS A WISE, THE WISEST PERSON COULD NOT MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THEIR EYES, THEIR NOSE, THEIR LIPS, COMPLEXION OR ANYTHING.
SO HE SAID TO ONE OF THE SERVANTS, GIVE ME A SWORD AND I WILL DIVIDE THE BABY IN TWO.
[01:10:01]
THEM IN REMAIN SILENT.THE OTHER LI WOMAN SAID, DON'T DO IT.
KING SOLOMON MADE, MADE A DECISION BASED ON DEDUCTIVE REASONING, COMMON SENSE, AND A REASONABLE PERSON'S THEORY.
IN OTHER WORDS, HE SAID, THE LADY WHO SAID, DON'T DO IT, THAT HAS TO BE THE MOTHER.
I WILL TELL YOU HOW THAT APPLIES TO THE CPO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST PAGE OF WHAT WAS PASSED OUT TO YOU, YOU ACTUALLY FIND A COPY OF THE CPO ON PAGE C TWO.
LOOK AT I HIGHLIGHTED SITE DESIGN, EVERYTHING UNDER THAT PARAGRAPH THAT SAYS SITE DESIGN IS PROHIBITED EXCEPT ONE ITEM.
OKAY? UM, AND I HIGHLIGHT THE WORD PROHIBITED.
UNDER, ON THE PARAGRAPH TWO IT SAYS GOLF RESTRICTED.
UM, AND THEN UNDER, UNDER, WHERE IT SAYS A DOES NOT INCLUDE ECHO TO TOURISM.
THE MISINTERPRETATION OF NUMBER THREE IS NUMBER THREE IS WHERE THE ISSUE IS, WHICH IN, AND IF YOU NOTICE, PARAGRAPH TWO SAID THIS, USE INCLUDES.
PARAGRAPH THREE ALSO SAYS THIS, USE INCLUDES ALSO THAT MEANS THE EXCLUDED.
SO I'M ASKING, HOPING THAT BASED ON LOGIC REASON AND, AND THAT THIS ITEM IS NOT SUPPORTED, UH, MR. TOM BARNWELL, WHO IS THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR, IS HERE TONIGHT SITTING BEHIND ME.
IF ANYONE IS CONFUSED AS TO WHAT HE WROTE, WHAT, 21, 23 YEARS AGO, MAYBE HE SHOULD BE TALKED TO.
ALSO, QUEEN CREDIT WAS A PART OF THAT TEAM ALSO.
SO THEY CAN TELL YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
THEY CAN TELL YOU WHAT THEY MEANT AND WHAT THAT DOCUMENT MEANS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I COME HERE AS A RESIDENCE OF ST.
LIVED THERE ALL MY LIFE, 75 YEARS GOING ON 76.
I SPOKE GULLAH UNTIL I WAS 11 YEARS OF AGE BEFORE I LEARNED TO SPEAK PURE ENGLISH.
AND HELEN HARVEY BRANTLEY, HARVEY'S WIFE, TAUGHT ME TO SPEAK ENGLISH.
HE HAD ALREADY KICKED ME OUTTA BEAUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CUZ I COULDN'T SPEAK.
I'M THE ONLY WHITE PERSON THAT'S EVER BEEN SANCTIFIED IN A BLACK GULER CHURCH.
I'M THE ONLY WHITE PERSON THAT'S EVER BEEN INITIATED AT A PRAISE HOUSE.
THE ONE THAT'S AT COFFIN POINT.
I'VE GOT THE KEY IN MY POCKET RIGHT NOW.
NOT ONLY THE, THIS IS NO RACIAL ISSUE.
THE THING ON WITH THE GOLF COURSES AND THE GATED COMMUNITY ON ST.
HELEN, ON FROGMORE, IT'S NOT ST.
SOUTH CAROLINA ALWAYS WILL BE.
BUT WHAT IT IS IS OVER THE YEARS, LOOK BACK AT WHAT COUNTY COUNCIL'S DONE IS THIS COUNTY.
I WAS SITTING BACK THERE, BEAU FOOT, SOUTH CAROLINA, BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA HERITAGE.
NO, YOU HAVE, AND YOU'RE CONTINUING TO THROW THE HERITAGE OUT THE WINDOW AND THE HISTORY.
I'VE STUDIED A HISTORY AND OF BEAUFORT AND THE COUNTY AND I GAVE TOURS ALMOST 20 YEARS DOWNTOWN.
I TELL YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS COUNTY.
BUT ANYWAY, I KNOW THE PEOPLE OUT THERE.
I WAS RAISED, I STILL SPEAK GULLAH.
AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS EVERY TIME YOU TAKE IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU'RE DUPLICATING THE HUSKY ISLAND, WHICH I WENT OVER THERE WITH PAT CONROY AND I TAUGHT SCHOOL TO THE GULL OF CHILDREN.
AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU'RE THROWING THAT HERITAGE OUT OF THE WINDOW.
CUZ EVERY TIME YOU TAKING ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR, THEIR LAND TAXES GO UP.
I'M THE FIRST ONE THAT STEPPED UP DOWN AT THE BEAUFORT COURTHOUSE, THE OLD COURTHOUSE, AND ASKED HENRY JACKSON, ME AND HENRY HOW TO PLAN TO TRY TO KEEP 'EM FROM TAKING THE, THE LAND OF THE, OF THE GULLAH PEOPLE BECAUSE THE TAXES WERE DUE.
AND WE ASKED THE PEOPLE, DON'T BID, DON'T BID.
THIS WAS GIVEN THEM TO 'EM AFTER THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR.
[01:15:01]
THROWING IT AWAY.YOU BETTER LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE GOT AND CHERISH WHAT YOU'VE GOT.
NO, WE DON'T NEED ANY GATED COMMUNITIES AND WE DON'T NEED ANY GOLF COURSES.
ANYBODY WANTS TO PLAY GOLF? THERE'S 10 ON THE ISLAND, 10 GOLF COURSES.
GO PLAY ONE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW.
ANYBODY WANTS TO CONTACT ME? CALL ME.
UM, ELAINE SCOTT, GOOD EVENING.
I I WILL THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE CALL I MADE TO YOU ON SATURDAY MORNING.
I SENT YOU AN EMAIL WITH MY CREDENTIALS IN THIS FIGHT.
HELENA ISLAND WAS THE LARGEST BLACK LAND OWNERSHIP IN AMERICA UNTIL, AS MY FRIEND PAT CONROY, WHO MUST BE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT, SAID, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE HAVE ALWAYS FOUND IT BEAUTIFUL.
BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF MOSQUITO CONTROL AND AIR CONDITIONING, ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW, EVERYONE ELSE IS SEEING THE BEAUTY OF IT.
HELENA HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR 30 YEARS TO PROVIDE AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM HILTON HEADSTYLE DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF HOURS IN MEETINGS.
WE HAVE TRAVELED ALL OVER THIS COUNTY, AND WE HAVE NEVER WAVERED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL PROTECTION.
WE HAVE GIVEN TIME, RESOURCES, AND BRAIN POWER TO THIS ENDEAVOR.
NO ONE WHO HAS WORKED TO CHANGE OUR PROTECTIONS HAS DONE SO FOR FREE.
THEY ARE PAID TO DISMANTLE OUR PROTECTIONS.
AND IF FOR ONE MOMENT THERE IS ANY DOUBT OF OUR INTENT, CONSIDER THE 30 YEARS WE HAVE INVESTED IN OUR CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY.
I MIGHT ALSO HAZARD A GUEST THAT OUR, THE NEW, THE GENTLEMAN WHO NOW OWNS PINE ISLAND WAS NOT EVEN BORN WHEN WE BEGAN THE WORK TO PROTECT ST.
UM, SO WE, THEY HIRE ATTORNEYS WHO COME IN.
NONE OF US WERE ATTORNEYS, AND THEY GO THROUGH OUR DOCUMENTS, WHICH WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE FOR WIGGLE ROOM AND LOOPHOLES.
SO WE ASK COUNCIL, COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, FOR YOUR RESPECT.
AND DARE I SAY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE WE ARE THE KIND OF CITIZENS THAT EVERY COUNTY WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE AND TO, AND, AND YET YOU CAN CALL US BUFORT.
WE PARTICIPATE IN OUR GOVERNANCE.
WE CARE AND WE LOVE AND WE KNOW OUR HOME AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO PROTECT IT.
THAT ENDS OUR CITIZEN COMMENTS.
UH, IS THERE ANY OTHER ACTION TO COME BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL? SEEING NONE.
ANY OTHER MEMBER, ANY OTHER PERSON OTHER THAN NO, THEY ALL SPOKE.