[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 3, 2023]
[5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
[7. TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE (CDC): ARTICLE 3, DIVISION 3.1, SECTION 3.1.70 LAND USE DEFINITIONS, DIVISION 3.4, SECTIONS 3.4.10- OVERLAY ZONES PURPOSE AND 3.4.50- CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY (CPO) ZONE STANDARDS TO UPDATE LAND USE DEFINITIONS, RECREATION FACILITY: GOLF COURSE; TO UPDATE DEFINITIONS, REGULATIONS, AND STANDARDS IN THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY ZONE]
[00:01:57]
BUT ARE YOU PLEASE AND JOIN ME WITH LEGS OF ALLEGIANCE I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND YOU'RE GONE AND THIS A LITTLE WORLD THANK YOU.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION BEEN MET. WELL, ALL RIGHT. PROCEED OF THE MINUTES FOR APRIL 3RD. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES? CORRECTIONS AMENDMENTS MOVED TO ACCEPT APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ALL THOSE IN NO OPPOSE YOU OKAY AND ONE ABSTENTION ONE UNDERSTAND OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE AGENDA? NO. ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO THE ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT? NOT RELATED TO THE ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, HARRY? NONE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ACTION ITEM.
MR. MERCHANT THIS EVENING MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY ARE AMENDMENTS THE COUNTY'S CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS PROVIDE A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND THEN KIND OF GO THROUGH THE CHANGES AND THEN JUST QUICKLY GO OVER THE STATUS OF THESE AMENDMENTS AS THEY'VE GONE THROUGH COUNCIL. SO THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE LATE NINETIES IT CAME OUT OF AN EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY PROCESS AND IT WAS ADOPTED AT THE TIME THAT THE COUNTY ADOPTED ITS ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ORDINANCE SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN APRIL 1999 AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT DISTRICT WHICH WAS SPELLED OUT WAS TO KNOW TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT SAINT HELENA ISLAND FROM ENCROACHING DEVELOPMENTS, PROTECT THE CULTURE AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. YOU LOOK IN THE PURPOSE STATEMENT GO INTO GREAT DETAIL YOU KNOW THE PURPOSE OF THE DISTRICT IT APPLIES TO ALL OF SAINT HELENA ISLAND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DR. HARBOR FRIPP AND THEN THE UNINHABITED BARRIER ISLANDS OR FAIRLY INHABITED BARRIER ISLANDS WE HAVE ALONG THE OCEAN.
AND SO THIS HAD WAS ADDRESSED IN THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THERE'S A SPECIFIC
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RECOMMENDATION THAT SPEAKS TO THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT AT THAT TIME THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DISTRICT AND TO CREATE A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF ISLAND RESIDENTS TO TO YOU KNOW, TO EVALUATE THE CULTURE PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT, SEE IF IT IS ACHIEVING ITS STATED PURPOSE AND SEEING IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO IT TO STRENGTHEN IT AND SO COUNCIL BACK IN NOVEMBER A COMMITTEE CALLED THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT COMMITTEE SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SO IS YOU REMEMBER BACK IN JANUARY 5TH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS WERE BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF INITIATED AND AT THAT TIME WE HAD A YOU KNOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION THOSE WE HAD MANY PEOPLE SPEAK AND AT THAT TIME THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THOSE AMENDMENTS THAT PARTICULAR SET OF AMENDMENTS AS YOU MAY BE AWARE WENT TO THE JANUARY 9TH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND AT THAT TIME THEY MADE THE FOLLOWING MOTION THEY MADE THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS MATTER UNTIL APRIL 10TH AND REFER THE MATTER TO THE CULTURAL CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE EXISTING ORDINANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND WITH OTHER OUTSIDE ENTITIES OF THE COMMITTEES CHOOSING TO SUGGEST REVISIONS THAT BE ADDED TO REINFORCE THE OVERLAYS PURPOSE AND TO IMPROVE THE PROTECTION IT PROVIDES TO SAINT HELENA, THE SURROUNDING. SO THAT WAS KIND OF THE MARCHING ORDERS THAT WERE GIVEN THE CPO COMMITTEE. SO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME FORWARD THE PLANNING COMMISSION KIND OF FELL THERE AND THEN THEY CHARGED THE CPO COMMITTEE OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS TO EVALUATE THE LANGUAGE THEN YOU KNOW, STRENGTHEN IT AS IT SAYS YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE PURPOSE AND WHETHER IT'S PROTECTING WHAT IT SAYS IT'S TO BE PROTECTED IN ITS YOU KNOW, IN THE PURPOSE STATEMENT SO THE COMMITTEE LED BY CHAIRMAN CLEAN AND WE PROBABLY HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS HERE WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE CPO COMMITTEE HERE JEFFREY GARDNER WELL THEY WERE HARD WE HAD MEETINGS IN THAT TIME IT WAS STAFFED MYSELF AND BY TOM CAVANEY FROM THE COUNTY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND WE BASICALLY KIND OF STARTED OUT WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE WHAT RESIDENTS ON THE COMMITTEE VALUED ABOUT THE ISLANDS AND THAT THE THINGS THAT THEY FELT WERE THREATS TO THAT AND THAT KIND OF STARTED SOME NARRATIVE IN WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE PURPOSE STATEMENT WHAT DID WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT ON THE ISLANDS THOSE THINGS THAT THAT PEOPLE VALUE IN THOSE THINGS THAT THEY SEE AS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE FUTURE OF THE ISLAND. AND SO ALL OF THAT WAS IN THE COURSE OF FOUR MEETINGS WE REVAMP THE PURPOSE STATEMENT AND IN ADDITION THE COMMITTEE LOOKED AT THE DEFINITIONS, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THAT THEY WERE ADEQUATELY DEFINING THE THINGS THAT THEY CALLED OUT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO TO MENTION THAT AND I PROBABLY SHOULD MENTIONED EARLIER THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT IT IS AN OVERLAY DISTRICT SO IN ZONING YOU HAVE YOUR BASE ZONING ON SAINT HELENA ISLAND MOST OF THE ISLAND IS HOME TO RURAL THAT'S A PRIMARILY LOW DENSITY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT ALLOWS ONE DWELLING UNIT FOR THREE ACRES SO THAT IS YOUR ZONING THAT IS IN MOST OF THE ISLAND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW PLACES LIKE THE CORNERS COMMUNITY AND SO WHAT AN OVERLAY DISTRICT DOES AND THAT'S THAT THE STATE ALLOWS IS YOU HAVE A ZONING DISTRICT THAT'S ALMOST LIKE PUTTING A TRANSPARENCY OVER AND SAYING IT'S EITHER LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS OR ADDING ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS THIS CASE AND IN THE CULTURE PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE UNDERLYING DISTRICT IT IS IT PROHIBITS GOLF COURSES, RESORTS IN GATED COMMUNITIES. SO IT DOES SPECIFICALLY THOSE THINGS.SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT. SO THE COMMITTEE DID ITS WORK AT THE THEY HAD A MEETING IN MARCH AT THAT TIME THEY FINALIZED THE WORK RECOMMEND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SO THAT DRAFT WHICH IS WHAT LOOKING AT TODAY WENT TO BACK
[00:10:03]
TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND USE COMMITTEE IN APRIL 10TH AND AT THAT TIME THEY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL IT IMMEDIATELY WENT THAT EVENING TO FIRST READING OF COUNTY COUNCIL AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER ON APRIL 24TH CAME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR SECOND READING.OF COURSE IT REQUIRES THREE READINGS SO RIGHT NOW IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL IN THAT TYPICALLY PLANNING COMMISSION IS ASKED TO COMMENT AND RECOMMEND EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS KNOW STARTING WITH STAFF AND THEN GO INTO PLANNING COMMISSION IN THIS CASE OF THIS DIRECTIVE CAME FROM COUNCIL YOU KNOW THEY IT CAME BACK TO COUNCIL THEY GOT FIRST THE TWO READINGS IN AND OUR ORDINANCE AND THE STATE LAW REQUIRE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO LOOK AT AT LEAST PRIOR TO FINAL ACTION BY COUNCIL SO WHY IT'S COMING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TODAY. OKAY SO YOU KNOW I COMMEND THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE AND THIS IS THIS IS WHAT THEY BROUGHT FORWARD. OKAY.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. OKAY HENRY NO QUESTIONS. COME I HAVE A QUESTION.
YEAH. I'M ROBERT AND IT TURNS OUT IT'S ON THIS HANDOUT THAT WE'VE JUST GOT WHICH HAS NO ID DON'T KNOW WHO IT'S FROM OR WHAT SPEAKS TO.
I MEAN THERE'S NO OWNERSHIP OF IT JUST THIS IN EVERY OTHER ACTION ITEM THAT I'VE SEEN IN PLANNING COMMISSION PACKETS I'VE SEEN A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THERE WASN'T ONE IN THIS CASE. COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE STAFF THIS IS A RESULT OF STAFF'S WORK WITH THE CPO COMMITTEE SO WE ENDORSE THE WORK THAT IS COMING FORWARD I'M SORRY YOU ENDORSED THE WORK THAT'S COMING FORWARD? NO, I WAS YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M THE LIAISON FROM FROM PLANNING TO THE CPO. THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO HEAR THOSE WORDS YOU ENDORSE. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MR. MARTIN AT THIS TIME. OKAY. YOU KNOW, WE'RE SORRY YOU KNOW WHERE THIS CAME FROM? I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE. OKAY.
SO THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS UP TO PUBLIC COMMENTS A FEW INSTRUCTIONS. I JUST FOR THE PROTOCOL OF IT IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST TO SPEAK TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SECRETARY OVER HERE THAT YOU WILL BE ALLOWED 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. THE COMMISSIONERS WILL RESPECTFULLY LISTEN TO YOUR AT THE PODIUM PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD AND PLEASE ENTER AND BE RESPECTFUL TO THE PUBLIC TO PUBLIC FORUM THAT YOU ARE IN THE PUBLIC THIS PUBLIC IS RECORDED AND THEREFORE BECOMES A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AS ALL CORRESPONDENCE ON THIS ISSUE DIRECTED COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICIALS I WOULD ASK THAT IF YOU HEAR COMMENTS THAT YOU INTENDED TO MAKE AND SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY SPOKEN TO THAT PLEASE TRY TO AVOID THE REPEATING OF COMMENTS ALREADY OFFER WE'RE TAKING IT ALL IN WE DON'T WE AREN'T RESPONSIVE TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS BUT WE WILL BE TALKING AMONG OURSELVES AND FASHION THAT WE FEEL APPROPRIATE. IT'S JUST A REMINDER THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS AN ADVISORY BODY TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND. AS SUCH THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THIS ISSUE GO FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL WHERE THE REVIEW AND VOTING DETERMINATION AT THE THIRD READING. UM WITH THAT IN MIND I'VE GOTTEN RECEIVED SEVEN REQUESTS TO SPEAK SO WITH THAT FIRST PERSON I'VE GOT IDENTIFIED HERE AS LESLIE AND I APOLOGIZE I MISPRONOUNCED LESLIE LENHART IT'S VERY WELL PRONOUNCED. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS LESLIE AND I'M HERE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROJECT AND I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE GULLAH SEA COALITION QUEEN QUOTE UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT MAKE IT HERE TONIGHT SHE ASKED ME TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT SHE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSION IN WRITING BY EMAIL I BELIEVE THIS OVER THIS WEEKEND. YES.
FIRST OF ALL, THE COMMISSION SHOULD BY NOW BE ACUTELY AT THIS POINT OF THE PURPOSE
[00:15:01]
OF THE CPO, WHICH IS TO QUOTE PROVIDE FOR THE LONG TERM PROTECTION OF THE CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES FOUND ON SAINT HELENA ISLAND AND THE PROBLEMS OF ALLOWING RAPID, UNFOCUSED AND KNEE DEVELOPMENT POSES A THREAT TO THE RURAL LIFESTYLE ON SAINT HELENA AS THE CONSERVATION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL RESOURCE IS THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES AND THIS IS NO MORE EVIDENT AT THE RECENT PROTECT SAINT HELENA ISLAND RALLY.THERE WERE OVER A THOUSAND ATTENDEES AT THAT RALLY AND THERE BEEN OVER 11,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED A PETITION IN SUPPORT OF THE CPO AMENDMENTS. SO THE SEA ISLAND COALITION COMMENDS MEMBERS OF COUNTY COUNCIL THE COMMITTEE THAT HAVE SUPPORTED AND WORKED TO ACHIEVE AMENDMENTS TO DATE INCLUDING THE BEAUFORT COUNTY STAFF. AND THOSE AMENDMENTS MAKE CLEAR THAT DEVELOPMENT IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE ISLAND'S CULTURE AND IT IS NOT BEING AMENDED TO EXCLUDE ALL GROWTH BUT TO ON STEADY WISE THOUGHT THROUGH INCREMENT GROWTH. SO THE COUNTY IS NOT FACED WITH THESE PLANNING DECISIONS BUT CAN ACT DELIBERATELY AND WITH FRAMEWORK AND MY ORGANIZATION SCALP WE GO BY ALSO SUBMITTED COMMENTS TO THE CPO COMMITTEE BY EMAIL THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE IN MARCH AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY VERY, VERY BRIEFLY THAT IF A COURT IS REVIEWING A DECISION BY A COMMISSION SUCH AS YOUR OWN THAT THEY PROVIDE A LOT DEFERENCE TO THOSE DECISIONS.
YOU ARE THE GROUP THAT KNOWS COMMUNITY WELL AND YOU KNOW THE ISSUES AT PLAY AND SO ON APPEAL IF THAT EVER CAME TO THAT WE WOULD WE WOULD YOU WOULD BE DEFERRED TO SO WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU VOTE TO AMEND THE TEXT AMENDMENTS CONSISTENTLY WITH HOW THE COUNTIES VOTED AND APPROVE THE TEXT AMENDMENTS THANK YOU THANK YOU. MR. ELVIA WILL BE HONORED GIVING US LADIES AND GENTLEMEN EXCUSE ME PIANO I'M THE OWNER OF POT ISLAND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT THE ITEMS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TAX AMENDMENTS THE CDCR SPECIFICALLY STRENGTHEN THE CPO CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY ARE INTENDED TO DO THAT BUT IN REALITY MY OPINION IS THEY'RE INTENDED TO DEVELOPMENT ON MY PRIVATE PROPERTY THOSE PLANNING CONSIDER THIS PERSPECTIVE IF WOULD JUST ROLL WITH ME FOR A SECOND I'D LIKE TO DEVELOP ON SAINT ON ISLAND IF I CAME OUT OF YOU OUT OF THE BLUE I'D LIKE TO REDUCE MY RESIDENTIAL DENSITY BY OVER PERCENT. CAN WE CONTINUE TALKING? SURE.
I'D LIKE TO REDUCE DOCKS AND DOCK ENTITLEMENTS BY OVER 90%. CAN WE CONTINUE CONVERSATION? LOVE TO. I'D LIKE TO PROTECT OVER 250 TO 400 ACRES OF MY PROPERTY IN PERPETUITY AND OVER SEVEN AND A HALF MILES OF SHORELINE FOREVER.
CAN WE LEARN SOME MORE PLEASE? I'D LIKE TO PUT A BUSINESS ON TOP OF MY PROPERTY THAT'S INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO GENERATE A SUSTAINABLE REVENUE STREAM THAT GOES DIRECTLY BACK INTO MY HOST COMMUNITY IN SAINT HELENA. MY NEIGHBORS SUPPORTING LOCAL INITIATIVES, EDUCATION PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL DAYCARE PROGRAMS, LAND RETENTION STRATEGIES AND EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS ETC. CAN WE LEARN MORE? YES PLEASE. THIS IS WHERE WE'D ARRIVE AT A DEBATE THAT BUSINESS A GOLF COURSE AND I'D ASK YOU GUYS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDER DOES A SPORT BADMINTON SOCCER, FOOTBALL, LACROSSE HOCKEY CREATE A GREATER DEMAND FOR URBAN GOODS AND SERVICES ALSO KNOWN AS GENTRIFICATION OR IS IT AS? LESLIE SAID A RAPID IN-MIGRATION OF NEW RESIDENTS TRAFFIC SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN STRESSING THE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE GROCERY STORES, COMMERCIAL DESTINATIONS ETC. NEW FAMILIES COME IN FLYING IN MY DESIRED PLANS ZERO PERMANENT RESIDENTS MY CURRENT APPLICATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ADD 500 NEW RESIDENTS MINIMUM 166 LOTS HUNDRED AND 66 SEPTIC 666 WELLS, 100 DOCKS AND THE TAX BEFORE YOU IS DESIGNED TO STOP A GOLF COURSE BUT DOESN'T FULFILL ITS PURPOSE OF CULTURAL PROTECTION. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE THE EXTREME IMPORTANCE OF THIS AND THAT'S WHY IT DESERVES THE ATTENTION THAT IT TOOK TO DRAFT IN THE FIRST PLACE WHICH WAS SEVEN YEARS BETWEEN 1993 AND 1999. ZONING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SHIELD. IT CAN BE A TOOL. NOT A LOT OF COMMUNITIES GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THAT VERY TOOL TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR LOVED ONES, SUBSEQUENT GENERATIONS NOWHERE IN THIS ORDINANCE DOES IT CREATE THE POSSIBILITY FOR
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LOCAL INVESTMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING EDUCATION, YOUTH RETENTION? IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WASTED. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO TO PINE ISLAND PLAN DOT COM AND LOOK FOR YOURSELF AT THE JUXTAPOSITION OF WHAT IT IS THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING TO FORCE ME TO DO. I ASKED THE PLANNING COMMISSION THOSE QUESTIONS CAME FROM ME SORRY I DIDN'T PUT MY NAME ON IT. I WAS FLYING THROUGH THE PRINTER BUT I ASK YOU TO ASK THEM OF PRESENTER TONIGHT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING OF THE GARLIC.THANK YOU MR. AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW CONTEXT THANK JOINS US UH WALTER GAY.
MR. CHAIRMAN MEMBERS COUNCIL I STAND BEFORE YOU AGAIN TO PROTECT SAY NOW IRELAND.
NOW I WAS HERE IN 1999 WHEN WE GOT AN ORDINANCE PASSED TO STOP DEVELOPMENT ON THE ST HELENA REGION. WE LOOKED ACROSS THE RIVER AT THE BUSKING.
I M MYSELF THE COUNTY TREASURER AUDITOR IN THE CIRCUIT COURT. HENRY CHAMBERS WENT OVER THERE . WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD. IN FACT STANDING UP FOR COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE TREASURER TRYING TO SAVE THE PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE PESKY.
NOW LOOK AT YOU THIS THE SAME THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
DON'T TRADE THE HERITAGE AND THE GULLAH PEOPLE AND SO FORTH AND A FEW LITTLE COINS OF GOLD OR SILVER. WE'RE. WE'RE NOT JESUS CHRIST.
WE PRAISE. BUT I'VE LIVED ON ST HILL ALL MY LIFE, WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE. I'VE HAD SIX COMPANIES AND THREE CORPORATIONS AND.
I'VE HIRED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE HERITAGE OVER THERE. IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO BE UNBELIEF ABOUT. YOU CAN'T REPLACE IT. DON'T TRY TO REPLACE.
NOW LIKE I SAID, I STOOD HERE IN 1950 IN 1999. I STAND HERE AGAIN.
DON'T DON'T LET HERITAGE GO. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE BLOCKED. WE DON'T WANT TO BE HILTON HEAD .
I MEAN I DRIVE OVER THERE EVERY DAY AND TEARS COME OUT OF MY EYES BECAUSE I REMEMBER DRIVING ALL THE WAY TO THE BRIDGE AT HILTON AND SEEING A BUSINESS NOT ONE BUT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WHEN YOU LOOK ON JASPER SIDE AND IT'S ALL DEVELOP AND YOU LOOK ON BEAUFORT COUNTY SIDE AND NOTHING IS CERTAIN IS IN THE MILK CLEAN OAK AND ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE ON SAINT ISLAND. I WAS THE FIRST WHITE PERSON OVER THERE EVER TO BE INITIATED INTO A PRIEST HOUSE FIRST WHITE PERSON HAS EVER BEEN SANCTIFIED IN A BLACK GULLAH CHURCH AND I SPOKE GULLAH UNTIL I WAS 11 YEARS OF AGE.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED GULLAH AND I STILL YOU KNOW, I STILL COOK THOUGH AND I PRACTICE MY RELIGION OF GULLAH AND THE CULTURE AND IT'S SOMETHING CAN'T BE REPLACED AND ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS GO OUT THERE AND. WE CAN'T AND THE GULLAH PEOPLE AND THE GOOD AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO IS JUST GOING TO COME WILL FOLLOW DEVELOPMENTS. THIS IS JUST THE FIRST ONE IF YOU LET THIS ONE GO. YOU HAVE OPENED THE BAG. THANK YOU, MR. BOX OPEN.
THANK MARY GIBBS. GOOD EVENING. EVENING, CHAIR.
I'M MARIE GIBBS. I'M A RESIDENT OF ST HELENA ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY. THIS EVENING I'M NOT ALONE. I STAND WITH MY SPIRIT OF ANCESTORS AND I'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE PARKS. WE'RE STANDING ON OUR CPO PROTECTION PLAN. THIS PLAN WAS A BLUEPRINT FOR GENERATION WEALTH FOR THE OF PEOPLE LIVING ON ST HELEN'S ISLAND. REMEMBER WE WERE DEPRIVED OF EDUCATION, HOUSING, CIVIL RIGHTS FOR MANY YEARS OF LAND SUSTAIN LIFE ON ISLAND.
WE DID IT WITH OUR GOLF COURSES. WE DID IT WITHOUT GATES.
WE IT WITHOUT RESORT. A LAND IN A WAY IS OUR REPRESENTS BILL GATES, WARREN
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BUFFETT, MICHAEL BLOOMBERG AND ROCKEFELLER TO MILLIONS THEY HAD NO INTEREST GENERATION ON ANCESTORS LEFT US. OUR GENERATIONAL WEALTH IS LAND DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN 1862.ANCESTORS PAID #400 OF COTTON OF FREEDOM DOLLAR TO BUY LAND ENABLE US TO LIVE THERE TODAY.
THE GULLAH PEOPLE LIVING ON SETTLEMENTS ALL WERE EMANCIPATED, EDUCATED AND LAND OWNERS 1862 BEFORE THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS AND OTHERS WERE STILL ENSLAVED.
THAT ALONE THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF SURVIVAL OF PEOPLE TODAY AND WHY THAT CPO PLAN IS SO IMPORTANT US. I STARTED TO SAY I SAID THAT TO SAY THAT'S GIVEN US A SAFETY NET OF ALL THESE YEARS AND KNOWING A LAND AND A WAY OF LIFE IS SAFE.
A LAND IS A STATE OF BEING CHANGED IN A CHANGE IN A LANE CHANGED A PEOPLE WAY OF LIFE.
IT'S A DOMINO EFFECT. I LOOK AT LAND I WILL SEE AND I'LL SEES OUR OUR HISTORIC AND GRAPHICAL MAP OF OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE THAT THE GOP STANDS ON THE FRIGHTENING THING IS TAXSLAYER ROAD RUNS AT WILL AND WE THE PEOPLE WILL BE DISENFRANCHIZED.
BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY EXPECTED TAXES AT. THE CBO PLAN WAS NOT PROTECTED AND RESPECTED THE WILL CAUSE THE PEOPLE TO SELL OUT AND LOSE THEIR.
IF YOU GIVE UP IF YOU ARE GIVEN A GLASS OF WATER AND ADD A OF FOOD COLORING IN IT THAT WILL CHANGE THE WHOLE DYNAMICS WILL CHANGE AND CHASE OUR WAY AND THE WAY WE LIVE.
I CURRENTLY WORK AT PRINCETON AT THE BUILDING MUSEUM AS A GUY.
I'M SO ASHAMED. PEOPLE COME AND DRIVE DRAFT PEOPLE TRYING.
THEY BLOW PEOPLE UP. YOU LOOK AT LAND, PEOPLE SEE WHAT WE DON'T.
THEY SAY PLEASE DON'T CHANGE IT THE WAY WE LIVE TODAY. ONE GUYS CAN MANAGE.
JUST SMELL THE AIR. DON'T CHANGE THAT. ONE OF OUR VERY OWN WRITE A PEN COMPETITION. I LOVE THIS ISLAND SO MUCH. HE LIVES THERE TODAY.
THAT WAS FAVORITE PLACE TO STAY. ALL PEOPLE COMING ONTO THE AMAZON LIKE. WE MAY NOT BE PIONEERS. WE'LL COME HERE AS WE COME TOGETHER. WE FIGHT FOR RIGHT TO LIVE. AS WE SING ONE SONG WE ARE ONE BAND SINGING A SONG. RESPECT YOUR ZONE. YOU HAVE TO PLAY AN ASSIGNMENT WRITTEN TO PLAY. NOTHING ELSE IS ON THE TABLE. LET'S FOLLOW THE RULES AND KEEP FOCUSED ON THE ASSIGNMENT WE HAVE DONE WITH THEM WHAT YOU ASK? TO ACCEPT A MAN. PROTECT AND RESPECT. RESPECT.
KEEP YOUR SCRAMBLING PLAN. WE THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN. WE ARE STRONG UNITED COMMUNITY AND WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING FOR THE SAFETY OF ZONE PLAN. TO MY COMMUNITY.
I'M SO PROUD. CONTINUE THE COURAGEOUS FIGHT ENDURE.
PERSEVERE AND KEEP ON GOING. DON'T STOP. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. LILY HARRIS. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.
PLANNING COMMISSION I AM ALSO I'VE BEEN BORN AND RAISED ON HELENA ISLAND.
I HAVE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE LIVED AND OWN FAMILY PROPERTY SINCE THE 1800S. THEREFORE I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CPO.
THE CPO WAS CREATED BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE ST HELENA COMMUNITY AND HAS PROTECTED THE SEA ISLAND'S WAY OF LIFE AND CITY HERITAGE FOR DECADES. THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE AND INTENT IS CLEAR. NO GOLF COURSE. NO GATES.
NO RESORTS. THE TEXT AMENDMENTS SIMPLY REINFORCE AND CLARIFY THE COMMUNITY'S VISION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I AM ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS HERE ARE ASKING YOU ALL THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO PLEASE WE IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE PASS THE THIRD READING OF THE CPO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
OH OH. NATASHA DE ROBINSON. MM.
GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. LEAVE GENTLEMEN.
THE COMMISSION COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS NATASHA ROBINSON AND I WAS BORN RAISED ON ST HELENA ISLAND. I'M KIND OF A CHILD OF ST HELENA ISLAND IS NOWHERE ON ST HELENA ISLAND I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN I KNOW PEOPLE FROM EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY, DUKE AND JAM ALL ST HELENA I'VE EATEN IN JUST ABOUT EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN ST HELENA ISLAND FROM THE TIME I WAS A CHILD TO THE TIME I'M NOW A 48 YEAR OLD WOMAN.
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AT THE AGE OF 11 I BECAME A REPRESENTATIVE FOR ST HELENA ISLAND AS A GULLAH POET AND STORYTELLER AT PENN CENTER UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MR. EMERY CAMPBELL I BECAME A STAPLE FOR THE ORIGINAL GULLAH FESTIVAL AT THE AGE OF 13 AS THE ORIGINAL GULLAH SPEAKING TOUR GUIDE. I MEAN I GREW UP ST HELENA ISLAND, I AM ST HELENA ISLAND.I PLEAD AND I BELIEVE FOR ST HELENA ISLAND I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK WHEN YOU GUYS THINK OF ST HELENA OUT AND I'M PRETTY SURE NOTORIOUS WHEN THEY COME THERE THINKING OH MY GOD THAT'S GOD'S FINEST THE MOST GRACIOUS GOLF COURSE AND RESORT ON ST ISLAND.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE COMING HERE FOR. AND LIKE MR. GIBBS SAID, WHEN THEY COME HERE THEY SAY OH MY GOD, THE AIR LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL TREES, THE LIFESTYLE HERE IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL DON'T CHANGE IT. AND THEN THE PEOPLE THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY SAY OH MY GOD, IT'S SO WONDERFUL.
I WANT TO MOVE HERE AND LIVE HERE. BUT THEN YOU COME AND YOU WANT TO CHANGE EVERYTHING TO THE PLACE THAT YOU JUST WHEN YOU COME HERE TO ABSORB THAT BEAUTIFUL NATURAL GOD GIVEN GIFT THAT YOU AND AIR AND FEEL THAT SERENITY THAT HUGS YOU AND CAPTURES YOU IN THE LIFESTYLE AND LOVE OF THE PEOPLE AND THE CULTURE THERE YOU ABSORB THAT, YOU BREATHE IT IN. YOU DON'T TAKE IT AND CUT IT DOWN AND EXCHANGE IT FOR GOLF COURSES OR GATED COMMUNITIES OR RESORTS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
SURE I MIGHT BRING IN MONEY SOME PEOPLE BUT WHO IS IT SERVING? I MEAN WHAT BENEFIT DOES ACTUALLY BENEFIT OUR CULTURE, THE WAY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE IT DOES NOT MUCH FOR US RATHER THAN TAKE AWAY IT TAKES AWAY FROM WHO WE REALLY ARE.
IT'S NOT WHO WE ARE OR WHAT WE REPRESENT AND WE DON'T WANT IT THERE.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE TO COME THERE BUT WE DON'T WANT THAT THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF HILTON HEAD THERE'S OVER 15,000 GOLF COURSES IN THE EAST OF THE UNITED STATES. WE DON'T NEED ONE. AND I THINK THE WORLD'S GOING TO HURT FOR ONE LESS GOLF COURSE. LOOK AT THAT.
SEE YOU BACK THERE. I SEE ST HELENA ALL OVER THAT FEEL THE TRIP MOSS ON THE OAK TREES THE SHRIMP BOATS TAKE ME BACK TO MY SHRIMP BOAT THE FISH IN THE COUNTRY HOUSE THE WATER ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA IT'S US PLEASE KEEP IT THAT WAY THANK YOU THANK YOU I KNOW AS MILLER I MILLER GOOD EVENING PLANNING COMMISSION AND S MILLER I'M WITH THE CENTER FOR AIDS PROPERTY. I'M THE WOODLAND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE ON ST HELENA AND FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY AND PROTECTED THEY ARE PEOPLE I SAID WE HAVE A JEWEL HERE AND WE DO WE APPRECIATE THAT AND IF PEOPLE COME FROM FAR AWAY TO VISIT AND APPRECIATE IT, YOU KNOW WE CHERISH IT SO PLEASE HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL DOING THIS COUNCIL MEMBERS YOUR COMMITTEE HELP THE PEOPLE ON ST HELENA THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR. YOU ARE THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO PLEASE WE SAY HAVE THIS SAY IN LIVING OFF THE LAND LIVING OFF THE SEA WHEN COUNTY HAS AN ECONOMIC CRISIS ALL THE COUNTRY WE GOT JARRED TOMATOES AND OKRA EACH OF THE BALES WE GOT FISHERMEN BACK HERE WHO KNOW HOW TO HUNT. GIVE US OYSTERS.
WE WANT PROTECTION FOR OUR ISLAND PLEASE I IMPLORE YOU WE IT TAKES A LOT OF WATER TO WATER GOLF COURSE AND THERE ARE TOO MANY THAT'S NOT HELPING ENVIRONMENT.
WE WANT TREES TO REMAIN FOR SHADE FOR THAT'S WHAT IT WAS FOR.
WE WANT OUR TREES DRIPPING WITH THE MOSS THAT WAS A WAY OF LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE OR HELPING WITH ASTHMA. COME ON. WE GOT THE HOME REMEDIES.
I'M SURE SOME OF YOU MEANT ALL THAT STUFF. WE GOT IT GOING ON.
AND IF THE LEGISLATURE REALIZED THAT SENATOR CAPPS AND MIKE RIVERS AND HAS THE SUPPORT WHEN I HIM ON MARCH THE SEVENTH HE HONORED PEOPLE WHO PLANTED TREES I'M A DUDLEY A MILLER A HOLMES DOUBLE COUSIN TO QUEENSWAY AND A LATSON SO PLEASE I SPEAK FOR MY FAMILY, MY ANCESTORS THAT WORK IN THE FIELDS TO MAKE A LIVING AND HAVE THIS PROPERTY FOR US EVERYWHERE. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. NOW I'M WILLING I TOLD I'LL GET ON MY KNEES PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE NOW PLEASE PLEASE STAND PLEASE PLEASE LET.
THANK YOU I DO. I WILL BECAUSE CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WE GOT TAXES THAT NEED
[00:35:07]
TO BE PAID WE STILL WORKING ON THAT WITH PEOPLE GETTING I'M ON EASY PAYMENT PROGRAMS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD. WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THE PEOPLE THAT'S ALL AND I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR TAXES AND LIVE COMFORTABLY ON THE LAND THAT THEY CAME UP ON. PLEASE I IMPLORE YOU AGAIN DO THIS LET'S ENFORCE THE CPO THIS GLORIA POTTS I KNOW SHE LOOKING DOWN AT US AND EVERY OTHER PERSON IS YOUR OWN SMILE ISN'T LOOKING DOWN BECAUSE THEY HELP SOME IS NOT LIVING SOME IS STILL HEY AND SURE THEY WATCHING TONIGHT THEY DID THIS CPO BECAUSE SAW WAY AHEAD OF TIME THAT WE HAD A DO IN FOR SAID PLEASE THANK YOU THANK YOU AND JESSE WHITE FINAL SPEAKER GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS CHAIRMAN PAPPAS JESSE WHITE ON BEHALF OF THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE A COUPLE OF THINGS.AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BLOWN FROM THAT DOCUMENT. THE IS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT THE DANGERS INCOMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT ON SAINT HELENA STATING QUOTE IMPLEMENTING LAND USE POLICIES THAT CONCENTRATE GROWTH IN URBAN AND PROTECT RURAL LAND FROM SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT ARE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS THE COUNTY CAN TAKE TO PROTECT ITS UNIQUE HERITAGE.
OVER 20 YEARS AGO, THE SAINT COMMUNITY MADE AN INFORMED CHOICE TO PROHIBIT GENTRIFYING RESORTS, GATED COMMUNITIES AND GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENTS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THAT GOAL GEECHEE CULTURE AND THE LAND OWNERSHIP THAT DEFINED SAINT HELENA AND THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT CHANGED THEIR MINDS. THE CPO EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS THESE USES BECAUSE THESE LAND USES ARE DIRECTLY LINKED TO INCREASING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE LOSS OF THE LAND OWNERSHIP AND THEREBY GOAL GEECHEE CULTURE. SO THOSE ARE THE REASONS THERE'S AN ACTUAL DOCUMENTED LINK BETWEEN THESE PROHIBITED USES.
THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SPOKE YOU EARLIER MR. TROIANO BOUGHT PROPERTY ON SAINT HELENA SUBJECT TO THESE ZONING RESTRICTIONS WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR EXISTENCE THAT WAS ALSO AN INFORMED CHOICE JUST LIKE THE COMMUNITY OF SAINT HELENA MADE OVER 20 TO 2020 YEARS AGO AND NOW IS TRYING TO IMPOSE A FALSE CHOICE ON THIS COMMUNITY.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PROTECT COUNTY'S MOST NOTABLE CONCENTRATION OF LIVING GOLD GIDGEE CULTURE AND LAND OWNERSHIP BY PROTECTING THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER OF THE CPO THROUGH THE TEXT AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU THEY ARE NOT AFFECTING ANY SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES THEY ARE REINFORCING INTENT THAT HAS BEEN THERE ALL ALONG.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH THAT I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY
[8. DIRECTOR’S REPORT]
COMMISSIONERS IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OF EACH OTHER AND YOU DISCUSSION YOU LIKE TO HAVE ON THE ISSUE THERE BEING NO QUESTIONS COMMENTS AMONG OURSELVES I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION CHAIRMAN PERHAPS I'LL MAKE MOTION I'D LIKE TO A MOTION THAT WE RECOMMEND TO COUNTY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE TEXT AMENDMENTS AS OUTLINED IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE IN PARTICULAR PER AGENDA SEVEN WHICH READS TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE[9. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT]
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE ARTICLE THREE DIVISION 3.1 SECTION 3.1.70 LAND USE DEFINITIONS DIVISION 3.4. SECTIONS 3.4.10 OVERLAY ZONES PURPOSE AND 3.4.50 CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY CPO ZONE STANDARDS TO UPDATE LAND USE DEFINITIONS RECREATION FACILITY COLON GOLF COURSE TO UPDATE DEFINITIONS REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS IN THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY ZONE. SO THAT IS FROM* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.