Jun 22, 2023 Zoning Board of Appeals

[1. CALL TO ORDER ]

[00:00:04]

ALL THAT HE MIGHT MAYBE HE'S GOT TO GO BACK. HE NOT KNOW THE CODE HE DID.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO OUR SCHEDULE ZONING BOARD OF APPEAL MEETING.

IT IS OUR CUSTOM. WE BEGIN OUR MEETING BY RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THAT YOU GUYS STAND TO FLAG A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO WHEN YOU SAY WHY NATION MANIFESTO WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR THANK YOU ALL. IF ANYONE IN HERE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SPEAK PUBLIC COMMENT I COULD GET YOU GUYS TO FILL OUT ONE OF THESE FORMS IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO YET PUBLIC COMMENT YOU HAVE UP TO 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON A PUBLIC

[3. FOIA – PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT ]

[4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA ]

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 25, 2023 ]

I BELIEVE WE ADOPTED THE MINUTES SECOND PROBABLY MADE THE SECOND ALL THE PEOPLE

[6. Michael & Debra Varner are requesting a Special Use Permit for a Lodging, Short-Term Rental Unit. The property is located at 53 Heron Drive, St. Helena Island. The property is zoned T2-Rural (T2R). ]

YOU BOUGHT THIS BOOK? YES. NO, WE DIDN'T COME BEFORE THE BOARD. WE DID. OH, WE WEREN'T IT WASN'T NECESSARY FOR US TO DO THAT RIGHT. GOTCHA.

OH YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT. YES SIR I DO.

I KNOW THIS MAXIMUM NUMBER OF GUESTS IS EIGHT THE BUT YOU HAVE TWO BEDROOMS AND ONE LAW.

ARE YOU GOING TO GET EIGHT PEOPLE IN THERE? WELL, WE HAVE TWO BEDROOMS AND THE SOFA BED IN THE LIVING ROOM THAT SLEEPS TWO AS WELL AND THEN WE HAVE SO A CLEAN BED AND A BUNK BED IN LOFT SO WE HAVE THAT ONCE THE OTHER TWO BEDROOMS HAVE HAVE TWINS AND ONE QUEEN. OKAY SO FOUR MORE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

I'M QUITE SURE WE'LL BE HAVING MORE QUESTIONS. WE COME BACK TO YOU I THINK FROM THE CAMPAIGN. OKAY. WELL, JOHNSON IS REALLY AGREEING WITH THE COUNCIL STAFF DOESN'T AGREE WITH THE UM THAT LAST APPEAL SO I LEAVE THE RECOMMENDED IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS, OKAY? BECAUSE THIS IS INSANE.

YES THE SAME SEEMS TO GO ON WITH THAT ALL THE SAME COVENANTS.

YES, YES, YES IT'S BEEN MY QUESTION HILLARY MAKE IT HARD US SO YEAH THANK YOU.

WELL IT'S BASED ON THE FACT THAT THIS IS PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST HAD THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE CAN ONLY ALLOW THE APPLICANT PUBLIC COMMENT TO COMMENT.

YES WE'RE GOING TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT IN A MOMENT. WE'RE GOING TO NOW OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. MISS LAURA PATTERSON, YOU YOU GOOD AFTERNOON.

I LIVE IN THE POINTE PLANTATION SUBDIVISION AND I AM SUBJECT TO THE THE THE IGNORING OF ANY TYPE LAWS AND RULES THAT EITHER THE COUNTY OR THE CITY HAVE ISSUED.

PEOPLE ON VACATION ARE HAVING GOOD TIME. WE WE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE A 15 YEAR OLD AND A 16 YEAR OLD DRIVING A GOLF CART ON THE AVENUE OAKS ROLLED AND THEY

[00:05:04]

THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING ANY OF THE RULES. SO IT IS A DISTURBANCE TO THOSE OF US THAT PAY THE TAXES AND LIVE THERE FULL TIME. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SPRING THE RAIN. I'M NERVOUS.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME. YES, WITHOUT ACCESS THROUGH MY FRONT YARD.

THIS PROPERTY IS LANDLOCKED I SAID WITHOUT ACCESS THROUGH MY FRONT YARD THIS PROPERTY IS LANDLOCKED. IT IT LOST ITS INTENDED ACCESS THROUGH THE BACKSIDE OF SEA PINES DUE TO EROSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS GRANTED AN EASEMENT WHEN THE VEHICLES COULD NO LONGER ACCESS THE PROPERTY DUE TO TERMINATION OF THE CAUSEWAY.

ALTHOUGH COUNTY MAINTENANCE I HAVE A KINDERGARTEN DRAWN UP THERE STOPS AT MY PROPERTY ONE AT HERON DRIVE I'VE NEVER TAKEN ISSUE WITH THE PREVIOUS OR LONG TERM RENTERS HAVING INGRESS AND EGRESS THROUGH MY PROPERTY BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WAS LEGIT AND IT'S NEVER BEEN A NUISANCE PRIOR TO THIS ESCALATION OF THE VRBO SITUATION PREVIOUS OWNERS AND LONG TERM RENTERS DID WHAT NEIGHBORS DO. THEY GOT UP THEY WENT TO WORK THEY HAD ROUTINE THERE WAS CONSISTENCY I KNEW WHO WAS IN MY YARD AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THEM AND WAS COOL.

THEY USE THE EASEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE THAT IT WAS INTENDED WHEN THE OWNER STARTED RENTING SHORT TERM IT SEEMED SPORADIC AT FIRST I WAS OUT OF TOWN. A LOT OF MY TRAVELERS AND I WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OR ASKED HOW I FELT ABOUT IT.

FAST FORWARD TODAY WHERE WE HAVE A UNVETTED REVOLVING DOOR OF STRANGERS IN AND OUT OF MY FRONT YARD THROUGH ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT THERE'S THEY'VE GIVEN THEM THE NOD TO BE IN MY YARD ANY TIME NOT BY ME. NOT BY ME.

IT'S NOT OKAY. THIS IS AN INVASION OF MY PRIVACY.

THESE VACATIONERS ARE MAKING MULTIPLE IN AND OUT BACK AND FORTH TO THE BEACH, OUT TO DINNER, PARTYING, DRIVING FOOT WALKING THEIR DOGS AROUND THE CLOCK.

IT CREATES A SECURITY RISK TO ME AND MY PROPERTY AS RANDOM PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY MANEUVER BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND MY TRACTOR, MY TWO CHICKEN COOPS BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND MY HAMMOCK THEY'LL GO WALKING. IT'S A LIABILITY RISK. INSURANW CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING BECAUSE ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO WOMAN WALKING A LARGE DOG IT SAW MY CHICKENS AND TOOK OFF AFTER THEM AND SHE TRIPPED OVER THE RAILROAD TIE.

SHE WASN'T HURT BUT IT PROMPTED A CALL TO MY INSURANCE AGENT AND SHE'S CONCERNED.

SHE SHE SAYS THAT WE HAVE ISSUES. I FEEL THAT THE INCREASE IN THIS TRAFFIC DEVALUES HOME IS I WOULD HAVE TO INFORM ANY POTENTIAL FULL TIME RESIDENTIAL IT IS A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA IN SPITE OF THE FACT IS AT THE END OF THE DAY ROAD I'VE LEARNED BY COMING TO THESE MEETINGS THAT THE TO RURAL ZONE DOES INDEED ALLOW COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AS LONG AS IT'S NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A NUISANCE THE FULL TERM RESIDENTS AS THE FULL TERM RESIDENT MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT IS A NUISANCE IT IS A VIOLATION OF MY PRIVACY. IT IS A SECURITY RISK A DANGER TO ME AND IT'S SELF LIABILITY AGAIN WITHOUT ACCESS TO MY FRONT THIS HOUSE HAS NO IT'S LANDLOCKED THIS BUSINESS SHORT TERM RENTAL TRAFFIC IS NOT THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THIS EASEMENT AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU DENY THIS APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

NO, LET ME ASK YOU THIS EASEMENT THAT THERE IS A LEGAL EASEMENT TO THIS I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS HOWEVER IN INVESTIGATING THIS FRED IS TELLING ME THAT MAYBE NOT SO MUCH I DON'T KNOW.

I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN IT FOR GRANTED THAT IT WAS OKAY. I DIDN'T MIND.

BUT NOW THEY DON'T SEEM TO MIND THAT. IT'S A TWO DAY MINIMUM RENTAL

[00:10:03]

I WOULD I WOULD I WOULD HELP THEM PAY IF COUNTY COUNCIL WOULD COASTAL COUNCIL WOULD LET THEM BUILD A LITTLE BRIDGE OVER MARSH TO GIVE THEM ACCESS. HOW HAVE THEY ALWAYS ACCESS IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE BEFORE EITHER OF US SOLD THE PROPERTY SO THAT WAS THAT EASEMENT THERE WHEN YOU PURCHASED IT WAS OKAY DOES IT ALLOW FOR YOU TO MOVE THAT EASEMENT WHERE IT IS NOW AS LONG AS THEY CAN GET THROUGH THEY HAVE ACCESS THE PROPERTY ON ANOTHER I'M UNCLEAR IF YOU DENY THIS I HAVE RETAINERS WITH WEGMAN AND WITH KEN AND A PERSON OF FURTHER THIS IS THE FREE ATTEMPT YOU KNOW AFTER THIS IT GETS A LITTLE PRICEY AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

KAREN MILLER. YES. WELL I LIVE ON SEA PINES DRIVE AND I'M LIKE KITTY CORNER. THEY'RE JUST DOWN THE STREET ON THE HERON SO I CAN LOOK OVER WHEN I WALK MY DOG ALL THE TIME AS FAR AS I'VE HEARD ABOUT PEOPLE COMPLAINING, ABOUT TOURISTS COMING IN AND VACATIONERS, I SEE MORE THINGS WITH PEOPLE RIDING THEIR GOLF CARTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAN WITH TOURISTS I DO NOT SEE TOURISTS RENTING CARDS DOWN THERE. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT CAMEL FARMS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS THIS ISSUE I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE NEIGHBORS AND THEY'RE RENTING BECAUSE I SEE THEIR THEIR PEOPLE AND I'VE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THEM ON THE OR ANYTHING ELSE AS FAR AS WHAT HAPPENS DOWN IN CLAPHAM PLANTATION THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF DOWN THE STREET SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT GOES ON THERE AS FAR AS THE BEACH I'D SAY MOST OF THE PEOPLE WERE OUT ON THE BEACH ESPECIALLY OVER THE HOLIDAYS AND OTHER STUFF.

ARE PEOPLE FROM IN TOWN AND OUT THERE BECAUSE I IN TOWN THEY'RE TOLD THAT IT'S A FREE BEACH SO BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC BEACH THEY COME OUT THERE RATHER THAN TO GO TO HAVE TO A HUNTING ISLAND AND I THINK THAT THEY CAN'T BLAME VACATIONERS FOR COMING OUT THERE IN THE EVENINGS BECAUSE IT COULD VERY WELL PEOPLE FROM BEAUFORT CITY SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF RECKLESS AS FAR AS THE EASEMENT GOES I KNOW THAT KAREN DRIVES PUBLIC DRIVE BUT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY ABOUT THE LEGAL EASEMENT FOR THAT PROPERTY. BUT I'VE HAD PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND I'VE LIVED ON SEA PINES DRIVE WHEN MY SON WAS A YEAR OLD WHEN WE MOVED THERE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY TWO YEARS EARLIER OR HAVE A LEASE WITH AN OPTION TO BUY AND WE EXERCISE WITH MY SON IS NOW GOING TO BE 27 SO 26 YEARS OF AND OUT THERE AND I'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH RENTERS THANK YOU THANK YOU TO KEITH I GUESS THERE'S RUSS ONE OH JUST LIKE LAST TIME I WAS HERE I HAVE NO WITH THE RENTAL I DO AGREE THAT THE ALL THE PART ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GOT TO GO BUY TWO BRANDIES GOT TO GO BUY MY HOUSE AND SOMETIMES THERE WAS TRAFFIC ON A DEAD END STREET BUT I GREW UP ON A DEAD END STREET AND IT'S JUST WHAT IT ABOUT THE STUFF ON THE BEACH I WISH LAURA WOULD HAVE TOLD ME AT 130 JUST LIKE I SAID LAST TIME ON THE PERMIT HOLDER I CHASED THOSE PEOPLE OFF THE BEACH WITH FLASHLIGHTS I CHASED THREE PEOPLE CALL FROM POINT RESIDENTS WITH GOLF DRIVING WITH THEIR LIGHTS ON AFTER 10:00 SO ALL THIS BRINGING GOLF CARTS NEVER SEEN ANYBODY BRING GOLF CARTS I'VE SEEN PART TIME RESIDENTS BRING IN FOUR WHEELERS AND GOLF CARTS INTO NEIGHBORHOOD MORE THAN RENTERS.

THEY USUALLY HAD SO MUCH GOOD STUFF TO BRING TO MAKE BEACH TOYS AND STUFF SO I DISAGREE WITH THE RENTERS ARE THE MOST THE PROBLEM ON THE BEACH I FIND IT MORE SINCE I'M ON THE BEACH EVERY MORNING AS PART TIME RESIDENTS THAT COME DOWN THERE AND LIKE ROCK STARS AND THEN GO BACK HOME AND WHAT CAROL SAYS A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ON THE WEEKENDS ARE PEOPLE FROM TOWN PEOPLE FROM LAND'S END AREA, YOU KNOW, SEASIDE ROAD. THAT'S WHERE THEY NEED TO COME

[00:15:08]

I THANK YOU. THANK SIR. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT THIS ISLAND SO AT THIS POINT WE CLOSED OUR PUBLIC COMMENT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IN THE WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE YESTERDAY SO FROM THE INFORMATION THAT WE SENT WITH THE APPLICATION TO MS. AUSTIN WE'VE HAD THE HOUSE FOR 20 I'M SORRY 19 YEARS NOW AND WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE HOUSE AS I PUT INTO MY NARRATIVE HERE WE RENTED THE HOUSE FULL TIME AND WE WERE GOOD WITH THAT. WE WERE ALSO OKAY THIS IS SOME PLACE MAYBE WE WANT TO RETIRE TO AND AND SAVE THE HOUSE FOR LATER PEOPLE WHO THE HOUSE FULL TIME HOWEVER DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE NOR NOR THE PROPERTY AROUND AND ESPECIALLY THE MARSH AREA.

I MEAN WE FOUND TRASH, BEER BOTTLES, CANS ALL KINDS OF STUFF AND WE GOT REALLY FRUSTRATED BY THE FACT THAT WE COULD NOT, YOU KNOW, REALLY MONITOR THAT WE HAD PROPERTY MANAGERS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT BUT DID NOT DO THEIR JOB REALLY WELL.

SO IT WAS RECOMMENDED AT ONE POINT THAT WE DO A VACATION RENTAL AND SO THAT WE COULD USE THE HOUSE AND WE DO AT LEAST TWO OR THREE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR AND SO THAT WE HAVE TIME KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS AND YOU KNOW SEVERAL OF THEM THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH OVER THE YEARS AND SO AND ARE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, WE MY HUSBAND AND I LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO. HE'S FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AND WE'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH FOR THE LAST 52 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN MARRIED AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT WE REALLY CHERISH. WE WANT TO KEEP THE PROPERTY IN GOOD ORDER AND BE SAFE TOO FOR OUR OUR GUESTS AND. WE'VE HAD A GOOD MANY PROBLEMS WITH WITH MS.. RAINES, WHO'S OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOR BECAUSE OF THE EASEMENT AND SO WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY BUT IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE THAT WAY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WE'VE GOTTEN SOME THREATENING THINGS. I MEAN IN HER YARD SHE PUTS REALLY THREATENING THINGS THAT KIND OF SCARED LITTLE KIDS COME TO FAMILIES THAT COME AND SAY IS IT SAFE TO BE HERE? IS THIS YOU KNOW IS IT AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT IS HAPPENING.

I'M REALLY SORRY ABOUT THE EASEMENT BUT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT AND WE HAD THE PROPERTY SURVEYED WE SURVEYED AGAIN IN 2018 AND WE WERE TOLD BY MR. SURVEYOR I FORGOT HIS NAME ANYWAY THAT THE HUSBAND HAS BEEN THERE FOR THE WHOLE TIME THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA HAS BEEN THERE SO. THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT THAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT AND I'M REALLY SORRY ABOUT THAT BUT WE YOU KNOW IN MY WHEN WE PEOPLE FOR AS GUESTS I DON'T ALLOW PEOPLE UNDER 30 I DON'T ALLOW BIG PARTIES WE HAVE MOSTLY RETIRED FOLKS AND THEY LIKE TO BRING THEIR PETS AND I TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING IN THERE.

I TELL THEM THEY HAVE BE ON THEIR LEASH THE WHOLE TIME THEY'RE THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO KEEP THEIR DOGS SAFE FROM CHASING ANYTHING .

THE CHICKENS ARE NEW AND MS. BRAINS YARD AND THEY JUST CAME LAST YEAR IN FACT WE WERE HERE LAST JUNE AND WE DIDN'T THE CHICKENS WEREN'T THERE YET SO SO THIS IS ALL NEW TO US AS WELL TO THE CHICKENS RUNNING AROUND THE YARD AND ON THE ROAD AND ON OUR PROPERTY AS WELL, YOU KNOW. SO SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE LAND AND THE PROPERTY AND THE ANIMALS THAT THAT ARE THERE AND WE WE ENJOY THAT SAME RESPECT AND IN REVERSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM.

I LOVE NO MA'AM. WE ALREADY CLOSED PART OF THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU. BASED ON THE TESTIMONY WE'VE HEARD OF EVIDENCE THAT'S BEFORE US WHAT WILL BE THE PLEASURE TO BOARD WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A LEGAL EASEMENT.

[00:20:09]

I MEAN AFTER 20 YEARS. YEAH. THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME KIND OF EASEMENT BY NECESSITY IF IT COULD LAND THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE ACCESS.

YEAH. LADY AND I USED TO BE ABLE TO GET IT FROM THIS.

NO, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY'VE EVER COME THIS WAY BECAUSE IT'S ALL BEEN MARSH THIS TIME THIS WAY. SO IT COMES THROUGH BUT THEY CAN TURN IN THE AREA THAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO AND A LOT OF TIMES IS EASEMENTS YOU ARE ABLE TO SO LONG AS THEY DECENT ACCESS TO THEIR PROPERTY YOU CAN MOVE AROUND BETTER SUIT YOU YOU KNOW RIGHT DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE. YEAH WELL IT'S BASED ON THE COVENANTS AND THE CRITERIAS OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO GO BEFORE US TODAY.

AND AS FAR AS THIS EASEMENT I MEAN I THINK SHE SAID IT WAS LEGAL AS IT WAS ILLEGAL EASEMENT. YOU SAID THAT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

I'VE ASKED THEM BUT THEY HAVE BEEN USING THAT THIS IS HOW THEY HAVE BEEN ACCESSING THAT PROPERTY FOR WHAT SINCE YOU PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY, RIGHT? YEAH.

WELL I GUESS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I GUESS YOU WOULD JUST HAVE TO EXPLORE WITH YOU KNOW A WITH AN ATTORNEY KIND OF FIGHT THIS RIGHT HERE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT DEAL WITH HERE AT THE TIME FOR INVASION OF OUR PROPERTY AND THAT AS I UNDERSTAND IT WILL CONTINUE TO RULE. SO IF THE NEIGHBORS SAY A NUISANCE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ABIDE BY. I'M YOU I WOULD RISK DANGER AND PEOPLE OUT IN MY YARD AT THREE EIGHT HILLS LOOKING FOR THEIR DOGS UP IN MY EVERY AND EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE SINCE AND I DO UNDERSTAND EXCUSE ME. YEAH, WE CAN YEAH. YES.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN. YEAH AND IF YOU HEAR THIS INVASION OF MY PRIVACY TRESPASSING MY KIDS WANT TO SEE THE CHICKENS AND WHO'S STOPPING THEM? MY INSURANCE AGENT IS CONCERNED WHO'S LIABLE IF THEY'RE IN MY YARD THEY'RE ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH THE MIDDLE. I GUESS BUT THEY DON'T FOLLOW RULES. THE OTHER DAY MY CARETAKER WAS WALKING MY DOG IN FRONT OF THE ANCHOR HOUSE THAT Y'ALL APPROVED LAST WEEK TWO LITTLE DOGS COME RUNNING OUT.

HE HAD TO HOLD MY DOG DOWN. I CALLED AND REPORTED IT TO ANIMAL CONTROL AND NATURAL RETREATS. MR. KEITH'S WIFE CALLED BECAUSE THEY MANAGE IT AND SHE SAID THAT EVERY HOME HAS THE RULES LISTED THAT THERE IS A LEASH LAW.

OBVIOUSLY THE VACATIONERS DON'T CARE THEY KNOW AND THEY DO IT ANYWAY THEY'RE ON VACATION.

THEY'RE NOT NOT ACCOUNTABLE PEOPLE IN MY YARD WHENEVER THEY WANT TO BE I HAVE A $45,000 COMMODE A TRACTOR THAT YOU KNOW I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN. I REALLY DO BUT IT'S A NUISANCE AND THAT'S THE PARAMETERS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW. YOU'D BE PERCEIVED AS A NUISANCE BUT IT IS YOU BOUGHT THE LOT BUT BACK GOING BUT NOT FOR A LONG TERM NOT RIGHT YEAH YEAH TRAFFIC THE TRAFFIC THERE'S NO NO BATHROOM AT THE BEACH THESE PEOPLE ARE WALKING TO THE BEACH ARE COMING BACK BACK AND FORTH MY DOGS NEVER STOP BARKING BECAUSE IT'S PET FRIENDLY THERE'S ALWAYS A NEW DOG IN THE YARD EVERY DAY THERE'S NO PEACE IT IS A NUISANCE. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE IT THAT WAY.

IT'S MY YARD, MY PROPERTY THEY HAVE GIVEN THE NOD TO ANY WHOEVER OFF THE INTERNET WHO WANTS TO WITH A CREDIT CARD CAN COME HANG OUT IN MY YARD ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT AND AGAIN I SAY I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT YOU KNOW WE BASED ON WHAT'S BEFORE US I MEAN AND WE DO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE DON'T TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE KNOW MAKE A RULING HERE. BUT ANYBODY WITH TO SEE WHAT THE SEE WHAT THE BOARD SAYS THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THIS WE HAVE ONE OF THESE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO MOVE THAT WE DENY THE SPECIAL USE BASED ON THAT

[00:25:05]

YES SO IT'S BEEN SECOND FOR THE SAKE OF CONVERSATION. UM, MY THOUGHTS ON THE NEED THESE PEOPLE TO DO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL OR WITHIN THE PARAMETERS FOR THE SPECIAL USE AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT PROHIBITS THEM FROM THAT I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT TO GO THROUGH THEIR YARD BUT YOU KNOW WHEN YOU BUY A HOUSE NEAR THE EASEMENT GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH YOUR YARD PROBABLY WE NEVER EVEN THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD EVER COME UP, YOU KNOW, AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL THEY DIDN'T EXIST AT THAT TIME. UM, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'VE EXPANDED THE USE OF THE EASEMENT EITHER. I THINK IT'S STILL BEING USED TO REACH RESIDENTIAL HOUSE NOT FOR THE AGREEMENT OR A AS FAR AS A NUISANCE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE APPROVED A BUNCH OF OTHER ONES SEEMS LIKE WE'VE HEARD THAT A LOT OF THE PRACTICES THAT THIS PARTICULAR HOUSE OR NECESSARILY TERM RENTALS AND IT'S IT'S A NUISANCE UNFORTUNATELY TO THE ONE PERSON WHO HAS THE EASEMENT AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE WORKING WITH THE OWNERS OF THE HOUSE THEY COULD HELP YOU KNOW WITH SOME OF THE ACCESS OTHER WAY I HEARD REPORTS FROM OUR WORK RIGHT NOW TO PUT IN A DRIVE YOU KNOW I DON'T LOOK AT IT YOU HAVE TO BE QUIET BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOUR TIME IS UP TO MOVE YOU KNOW THERE MIGHT BE SOME OPTIONS BUT WITH REARRANGING THE EASEMENT AS FAR AS WHERE IT GOES THROUGH THE PROPERTY THERE MIGHT NOT BE. BUT YOU KNOW, I WELL IT'S A MOTION ON THE TO DENY IT AND IT'S BEEN SECOND ALL IN FAVOR OF DENYING THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND GOING ON IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL SO SPECIAL USE PERMIT HAS BEEN APPROVED SO YOU JUST GO WITH THE COUNTING FROM THIS POINT ON AND HOPEFULLY THEN YOU KNOW YOU GUYS CAN COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF WAY TO YOU KNOW, MIX YOU GUYS AND HER SATISFIED MAYBE MOVE THESE MEN OR HOWEVER IT IS BUT THAT'S BEYOND BE AGREED AND I AGREE OKAY THAT'S FAIR THANK

[8. The Spring Property Owners’ Association is requesting a Special Use Permit for a Telecommunication Tower. The property is located at 40 Bee Tree Drive, Okatie/Bluffton. The property is zoned T2-Rural (T2R). ]

[00:30:03]

SHE HANGS UP ON ME BUT SHE NEVER LAUGHS AT ME. I ALSO HAVE TO THANK LESLIE SO WHO SNUCK OUT? WHAT WE HAVE TONIGHT HAVE WITH ME TYRANNY ROW FOUR BEFORE TOWERS AND MR. BILL GRIFFIN IT WAS SPRING ISLAND TONIGHT I HAVE A UNIQUE ONE DOWN FOR YOU AGAIN THAT'S A CELLULAR FACILITY, A WIRELESS FACILITY. THE PURPOSE IS PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VOICE AND BROADBAND AND BEING IN THE CELLULAR INDUSTRY I CAN NEVER GET AWAY. I HAVE TWO PHONES ON ME.

I HAVE AN AT&T PHONE AND A VERIZON THIS AFTERNOON WAS ABSOLUTELY LOVELY ON SPRING ISLAND BECAUSE NO ONE COULD GET A HOLD OF ME. IT WAS PERFECT BUT WHILE IT WAS PERFECT FOR ME AS A VISITOR TO SPENDING THE AFTERNOON THERE IT'S NOT AS PERFECT IF YOU LIVE THERE AND YOU WANT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE ELSE IN THE STATE HAS WORKING WITH TIERNEY AND WORKING WITH BILL AND I WORK ON A LOT OF CELL PROJECTS.

VERY RARELY DO I GET TO WORK ON ONE LIKE THIS. IT'S A VERY UNIQUE APPROACH, AN INCREDIBLE APPROACH WITH THE FOCUS BEING WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE CONTEXT OF SPRING. I HAD NOT BEEN DOWN THERE FOREVER AND IT'S JUST SO MAGNIFICENT 3000 ACRES 1800 AND PRESERVATION ONLY 400 HOME SITES AND I'VE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WAS BECAUSE DRIVING ON THERE THE TREES ARE JUST MAGNIFICENT.

SO THE DILEMMA IS HOW DO YOU GET INFRASTRUCTURE THESE FOLKS HOW DO YOU GET WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE IN? TIERNEY CAME UP WITH AN INCREDIBLE CONCEPT.

WE'RE ON THERE. MAINTENANCE AREA IS ABOUT A 24 ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE OTHER MAINTENANCE AND THE DESIGN YOUR TYPICAL CELL TOWER USUALLY COMES IN THREE FLAVORS THE MONOPOLE TOWER WHICH IS JUST A BIG PYLON OF STEEL. THE OLD GUIDE WIRES ARE WHAT WE CALL THE SELF SUPPORT WHICH THREE SIDED STEEL TIERNEY IS DOING AN INNOVATIVE DESIGN IT'S CALLED THE MONOPOD IT'S BASICALLY A DISGUISED AS A PINE TREE AND UNIQUENESS OF THAT IT ALLOWS IT TO FIT INTO THE CONTEXT OF SPRING ISLAND WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ALLOWING VERIZON WIRELESS WHO IS PUSHING FOR THIS AND I'LL SHOW YOU IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT COVERAGE MAPS ALSO THE FACILITY IS DESIGNED PER THE COUNTY RULES FOR THREE OTHER BROADBAND CARRIERS IT'S DESIGNED ON THE MONOPLANE ITSELF AND A 50 FOOT BY 50 FOOT COMPOUND BELOW IT THERE'S ROOM FOR THEIR GOING ROUND EQUIPMENT SO THE INCREDIBLE WIN WIN OF THIS WE CAN DELIVER THE INFRASTRUCTURE BUT WE CAN DO IT IN A MANNER WHERE NO ONE KNOWS IT'S REALLY THERE IF LOOK AT SECTION 4.1.

320A LOT OF RULES AND THAT'S FAIR BUT WE MEET ALL THE RULES WE HAVE TO BE HEIGHT PLUS 50 FEET AWAY FROM ANY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING IN THIS CASE 199 FEET THERE'S NO WHEREAS WE DON'T DWELLING WITHIN 199 FEET WE HAVE TO BE 500 FEET PLUS THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER FROM THE CRITICAL LOT WE'RE ABOUT 2218 FEET AWAY. SO IN EVERY CASE I THINK WHEN TIERNEY'S WORKING WITH BILL WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT 4.1320 AND DO IT RIGHT NOT JUST FOLLOW THE RULES TRYING TO MAKE IT BEST, TRY TO DELIVER THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IN A WAY AT THE END OF THE DAY THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL NOTICE IT IS YOUR PHONE WILL WORK AND WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS? SURE IS PEOPLE YAKKING ON THEIR CELL PHONE THE STUPIDEST THING I DID A FEW YEARS AGO WAS GIVE MY SON A CELL PHONE AT AN EARLY AGE IT IS LIKE AN EXTENSION OF HIS HAND. HE CANNOT GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT IT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. WHAT ELSE DOES A CELL PHONE A CELL PHONE GIVES YOU EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO 911 FIRST RESPONDERS IF YOU'RE OUT A REMOTE PART OF SPRING ISLAND OR SAY ON THE GOLF COURSE AND SOMETHING HAPPENS YOU GOT IMMEDIATE ACCESS AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I DO NOT KNOW THE NUMBER FOR COUNTY AND I APOLOGIZE BUT IN MY HOME COUNTY OF CHARLESTON COUNTY ALMOST 85% OF THE 911 CALLS COMING INTO OUR CONSOLIDATED DISPATCH COME FROM WIRELESS DEVICE AND IT MAKES I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND AS YOU CAN SEE I'M NOT YOUNG BUT I WHEN I FIRST STARTED TO DRIVE I WAS IN A REMOTE PART OF CHARLESTON COUNTY THIS LONG TIME AGO AND I HAD A BLOWOUT. THE SCARIEST THING I DID THAT NIGHT WAS WALKING UP TO THAT

[00:35:04]

SO THAT'S THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PROPOSAL, DO THE GOOD WORK OF THIS ROW THIS GRIFFIN WE'VE DONE IT IN A MANNER THAT WILL FIT THE CONTEXT, DELIVER THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY MEET 4.1320 AND YOUR CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL IF WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO IT ON AVERAGE VERIZON TAKES APPARENTLY IT TAKES ABOUT 60 DAYS OR SO TO GET THE STRUCTURE UP AGAIN, RUN THE MAINTENANCE AREA AFTER THAT VERIZON TYPICALLY VISITS MAYBE 8 TO 10 TIMES A YEAR. MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT'S OPERATED REMOTELY AND MONITOR REMOTELY THROUGH A NATIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER AND THE BEAUTY THIS THE HEIGHT IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE'RE COMING IN AT 145 FEET WITH A FOUR FOOT LIGHTNING ROD . WE ARE UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS WE'VE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FAA. WE'VE GIVEN A DETERMINATION OF NO HAZARD DURING NAVIGATION AND NO LIGHTING MARKING. WE ARE ALSO UNDER THE THRESHOLD IN COUNTY ANY LIGHTS BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY A PINE TREE WITH A LIGHT ON TOP WOULD LOOK SORT OF STUPID BUT IN EACH INSTANCE WE I FEEL THROUGH THEIR GOOD WORK. I JUST CAME IN AT THE END THEY HAD THIS ALL FIGURED OUT BEFORE THEY STARTED TO ME WE BEAT THE RULES, WE MADE THE CONTEXT AND WE DELIVER WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DELIVER. I'M HERE FOR ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU AGAIN ELEANOR IN THE QUESTIONS FOR OUT THANK YOU I NOTICE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DID YOU GUYS WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS OR YOU WANT TO JUST STAY WITH THE PUBLIC ARM. THEY ARE HERE FOR THE QUESTIONS TOO STUPID TO ANSWER.

OH THAT'S THE INPUT OF WELL MAYBE WE WILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE COUNTY BOARD AND WE LOOKED AT THIS TOWER OF STAFF REVIEW TEAM AND.

THEY ALSO SENT US THE CO-LOCATION STUDY THAT OUR INDEPENDENT PERSON LOOKED AT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND THIS TOWER IS ACTUALLY NEEDED IN THAT AREA . SO I FEEL LIKE IT COULD REALLY ENHANCE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND THERE YOU KNOW, LIKE THEM OH YEAH. SO STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AND WITH SOME CONDITIONS THAT ARE IN THE CODE THAT WE LOOK AT FINAL SO ANY DRAINAGE WILL BE LOOKED AT THAT FINAL FAR MARSHAL WEIGHED IN AND HE WANTS A 14 FOOT GRAVEL DRIVE WITH A TURN AROUND SO THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED HE GETS IN THERE HE HAS TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK OUT A 50 FOOT FORESTED BUFFER AND IF THE TOWER IS ABANDONED FOR 60 DAYS IT SHALL BE REMOVED WITHIN SIX MONTHS. BASE OF THE TOWER SHALL BE A MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM AN EXISTING RESIDENCE EQUAL TO ONE FOOT OF EACH TOWER HEIGHT PLUS AND THERE'S NO HOUSES THAT CLOSE AND THE COLLAPSE ZONE SHALL BE WITHIN THE LEASED AREA AND THE TOWER WILL NOT BE LIT.

IT'S ONLY 145 FEET SO THOSE WERE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND I WENT THROUGH ALL THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ITS REQUIRED AND NEEDED AND MEET THE STANDARDS.

THANK YOU. OKAY HILLARY, ARE YOU SAY 20 FEET OR 14 FEET FOR THAT GRAVEL DROP HE WANTED 14 IT WAS THEY WERE ONLY SHOWING TEN AND HE WANTED IT OPENED UP TO 14 WITH A HAMMERHEAD OR SOME KIND OF TURN AROUND. THANK YOU.

OF COURSE. I MEAN BASED THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE COUNTY HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THE COUNTY'S RECOMMENDATION? YES, MA'AM. THIS MAN YES IT DOES. CHAIRMAN MACK, I'M USED TO TALKING TO HILLARY WHERE I SAY YES MA'AM ALL THE TIME. YES.

MISS AUSTIN PROVIDED THOSE TOURS AND WE ARE WE'RE FINE WITH THE COUNTY RECOMMENDATIONS SO I WANT HIM TO KNOW. THANK YOU, SIR. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. DID YOU GUYS WANT TO SAY ANYTHING UNDER THE PUBLIC? WOULD WE OPEN IN PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? NO PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

WELL, GENTLEMEN BASED ON THE ABUNDANCE OF EVIDENCE THAT'S BEFORE US, I MOVE WE APPROVE THE SPECIAL USES SUBMITTED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THE COUNTY ASSESSOR SO THE RECOMMENDATION

[00:40:03]

[10. OLD BUSINESS ]

THANK YOU, SIR. AS IF IT WAS LEFT UP TO ME I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO GO WITH THIS BECAUSE WHAT OTHER INFORMATION THAT SHE COULD PRESENT TO US THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS DID NOT SEE HOW THIS NEEDS TO BE MORE OR LESS I'M NOT HERE TO WE DON'T HAVE TO GIVE HER THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE. BUT THE THING WAS THAT HEY, WE COULDN'T APPROVE THIS IF ANY OR ANY PORTION WAS ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY AND NOTHING IS CHANGED SO IF SO I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD REHEAR IT UNTIL SHE CAN PROVIDE IT TO ME JUST ON ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THEN YOU CAN YEAH WE COULD REVISIT IT BUT UNTIL THEN AND NOT I MEAN YOU'RE LIKE JUST ABOUT IT BUT JUST SHOWING THAT WE JUST WANT TO MOVE ON FLOOD YOU KNOW WITH THE SETBACKS AND I GUESS BECAUSE IT'S IT'S TOTALLY GOING TO BE A REPEAT HE'S GOING TO COME IN SCREAMING AND THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SAME THING YEAH YEAH YEAH IT IS A PERMANENT THERE I MEAN IT'S A WHOLE ISSUE SHE COULD EVEN MOVE DIFFERENTLY. SHE HAS TO GET ENCROACHMENT PERMIT TO MOVE IT YOU KNOW TO ADD A DRIVEWAY TO HER HOME IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THOUGH IN HER HOUSE IS STILL ON THE BROTHER'S PROPERTY THIS PROPERTY NONE OF HE WRITES A LETTER AND SAID HE'S OKAY. YEAH OTHER THAN THAT I JUST DON'T SEE I MEAN SO I JUST HEARD I'M SORRY BUT YOU DON'T MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE CODE TO COME BACK TO THE RIGHT PERSON SO THAT THE WITH THE ZERO SHE HAS TO WAIT A YEAR OUT OR YOU KNOW BE SAME THING UNLESS SHE'S ABLE TO MOVE WE WE TOLD THE SITUATION WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF HER SHE CAME IN AND HER NAME WAS ON B YES. FOR A YEAR THAT WE WERE GOING TO THROUGH EVEN JUST IF SHE GOT OUT ENOUGH OF IT INCLUDE HER TRYING TO MOVE THE PROPERTY RIGHT WHICH I DON'T AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE PROPERTY PRETTY GOOD. OH REALLY? YEAH. ME B PERSONALLY IF YOU LOOK AT THAT FROM THE ENTIRE DRIVE FOR RESOURCES AND JUST FOR THE RECORD I DID NOT HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER THAT WAS THE ATTORNEY YOU HEAR ATTORNEYS TALKING LIKE YEAH YOU REALLY TO REALLY LIKE WE REALLY DIDN'T GET THROUGH THE RELATIVE BECAUSE MY AND THE GUY SHE HIRED IS THE SAME INDIVIDUAL SO HE JUST HEY I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY IF HE WAS SERVING ON THAT PROJECT I'M NO LONGER INTERESTED SO THAT'S HOW IT THAT WITH I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BUT THAT'S NOT A GOOD MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE STATED THAT WHEN SHE FIRST CAME UP THAT I RECOGNIZED WAS GOING ON BUT HEY IT IS WHAT IT IS I WOULD JUST DEAL WITH THAT AND YOU KNOW RATHER I WAS RATHER RECUSE MYSELF ON THAT. YEAH I THINK THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN WHAT IT WAS YOUR PROBLEM OF YOU GOOD. OKAY.

OKAY. AND A NEW BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.