Mar 28, 2024 Zoning Board of Appeals

[1. CALL TO ORDER ]

[00:00:05]

. BOARD OF APPEALS TO ORDER. MY NAME IS JANE FREDERICK.

I'M THE VICE CHAIRMAN AND I'M SITTING IN FOR OUR CHAIRMAN KEVIN MACK WHO COULD NOT MAKE IT TONIGHT. OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS WE TRADITIONALLY START BY SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IF EVERYBODY WOULD STAND A PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL ALL.

[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 ]

I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS TO IT. SO COULD I HEAR A MOTION TO COMMENT? IS THERE A SECOND TO APPROVE DIGITAL?

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -February 22, 2024 ]

SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE AT THE LAST MEETING, WE WILL PUT THE APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY MINUTES UNTIL NEXT. OKAY.

[6. Mirella Astudillo is requesting a Special Use Permit for a Lodging, Short-Term Rental Unit. The property is located at 1 Walnut Hill Drive, Bluffton. The property is zoned T2 Rural (T2R) ]

YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES TO PRESENT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO PRESENT THAT THE COUNTY PRESENT WITH THEY HAVE TO PRESENT AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND EACH PERSON SPEAKING FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS HAS 3 MINUTES. AND THEN ALONG THE WAY AS BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS THEY WILL ASK AS WE GO ALONG. PERFECT.

SOUNDS GOOD. SO THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR MEETING.

MY NAME IS MILES. I AM THE OWNER PROPERTY MANAGER IN CHARGE ZENITH DEGREE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. COMING TODAY TO A LICENSE FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT ONE WALNUT HILL DRIVE. IT'S A THREE BEDROOM TWO BATHROOM WITH AN ADDITIONAL BONUS ROOM. ALL BEDROOMS HAVE QUEEN SIZED BEDS.

BONUS ROOMS, FULL SIZE BEDS. SO WE EXPECT TO HAVE EIGHT GUESTS AT A TIME STAYING AT THIS GUEST HOUSE. IT'S ON FOUR ACRES OF PRIVATE PROPERTY WITH 3288 SQUARE FEET.

I DO KNOW THAT WE THE PROPERTY INSPECTED FOR SEPTIC TANK AND IT WAS FINE TO OPERATE WITH THE EXPECTED GUESTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE THERE. WE DO HAVE THE AMOUNT OF PARKING THAT IS NECESSARY AS WELL. THE FIRE MARSHAL DID REQUEST THAT WE INSTALL A KNOX KEY SWITCH ALONG WITH A CLICK TO ENTER WHICH BOTH HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. SO WE HAVE GOT THE SIGN OFF FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL.

YOU'LL SEE IN THE APPLICATION A BIT ABOUT ME. I AM SOUTH CAROLINA REAL ESTATE COMMISSION LICENSED PROPERTY SO DO HOLD MY LICENSE HAVE EXPERIENCE MANAGING SHORT TERM RENTALS IN SAVANNAH ON BROUGHTON STREET SO YOU KNOW I DO NOTICE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE THAT MAY BE OPPOSED AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THEY FOR WHY HERE.

THAT IS WHY YOU KNOW WITH MY EXPERIENCE I PLAN PUT CERTAIN THINGS IN ACTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WON'T BE ANY TYPE OF DISTURBANCES THINGS LIKE A CAMERA THAT FACES THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY. SO WE KNOW WHO IS ARRIVING AND WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE THERE AS WELL AS. DECIBEL METERS THAT WILL BE INSTALLED IN COMMON AREA WITHIN THE HOME. SO IF NOISE GETS TO AN ABSURD LEVEL I WILL BE NOTIFIED AND I HAVE EJECTED GUESTS IN THE PAST IN SAVANNAH. SO I HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT PROCESS AS WELL. SO HOPEFULLY THAT PUTS SOME OF THE MEMBERS AND PEOPLE HERE AT EASE. BUT JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS ALL TO Y'ALL SOME RIGHT? OKAY. SIR, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD ACCOMMODATE A GUEST BUT ON YOUR APPLICATION YOU PUT TEN ARE. SO IS IT IT'S A YES SHOULD BE EIGHT.

YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT ROB? WHY COUNTY RECOMMENDS APPROVAL THE SHORT TERM RENTAL MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR A SPECIAL USE. SO AND THERE WAS NO COVENANTS RESTRICTIONS THAT PROHIBITED THE SHORT TERM RENTAL SO WE WERE APPROVAL.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OF THE COUNTY MR. AARON NECK.

[00:05:11]

I WORKED FOR HOME FOR TEN YEARS AND FOUND A PIECE OF PROPERTY. I BUILT THE HOUSE MYSELF.

I BACK THE CHELSEA PLANTATION WHICH IS THREE MILES THROUGH THE WOODS.

I HUNG AND DO TARGET PRACTICE ON MY PROPERTY OUT BACK DOOR PUTTING A ROOM ON WALL STREET IS NOT ALL IT'S ZONED FOR. IT'S NOT WHAT MY NEIGHBORS WANT EITHER.

THERE ARE ONLY FIVE EITHER LIVE FULL TIME ON WALNUT HILL. THE PERSON THAT BOUGHT THE FAMILY RESIDENCE NEXT TO MY HOME BOUGHT A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AND I UNDERSTAND THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE ZONING NOW PUTTING A VIRTUAL MOTEL ON HILL.

IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE IF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL FOUND OUT THE MOTEL SIX WERE GOING UP ON YOUR STREET YOU WOULD PROBABLY BE FUSSING ABOUT IT AS WELL.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE ANSWER TO A QUESTION OF WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD A SHORT TERM RESIDENCE GOING UP NEXT DOOR TO YOU WITH PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT CHILDREN? OUR CHILDREN GO UP AND DOWN THAT STREET ON BICYCLES. THEY PLAY IN THE FRONT AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO EXCEPT A RESIDENT ON A DAILY BASIS THE HAVE NO VESTED INTEREST IN THAT PROPERTY. WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND WE LIKE IT LIKE THAT. THE REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ZONING IS OUT OF BOUNDS.

WE CAN'T CHANGE THE COUNTY TO PLEASE ONE NEWCOMER WILL BENEFIT NO ONE EXCEPT AN UNWANTED NEWCOMER. THIS IS OWNED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.

LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS. THANK YOU, MR. PENDER. IF YOU DON'T MIND, LET MY WIFE GO FIRST. OKAY. MRS. PENDER.

MISS PENDER, I DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE THE ONLY ONE ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M NERVOUS SO WHY NOT? YOUR DRIVE WAS OUR FIRST HOME.

WE RAISED THREE CHILDREN THERE. NOW WE HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN. ALL OF THE PROPERTY THERE AND WALNUT HILL DRIVE WAS GIVEN TO THE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN BY MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER LUCILLE FRIPPERY. ANYWAY, SO I WAS THE OLDEST SO WE BUILT THEIR FIRST RATE.

25 YEARS NOW SON HARRY NERVOUS 32 IS ACTUALLY BUILDING JUST RAMSEY ARCHITECT ALLISON RAMSEY JUST DID HIS PLANS. HE'S THE ROAD WHICH RUNS ALONGSIDE THIS HOME UP FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL. HE WILL BE BUILDING IN THE BACK .

HE BEATS UP RIGHT UP TO THEIR PROPERTY. OUR TWO GRANDCHILDREN ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THEIR BIKES AND GO UP AND DOWN THE ROAD AND THERE'S GONNA BE STRANGERS.

SO JUST CONCERNING AND WE HAVE ALWAYS THE PRIVATE ROAD. WE'VE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE ROAD OURSELVES. POTHOLES. YOU KNOW THIS STUFF.

WHAT ABOUT ALL THE NEW TRAFFIC? WHO'S WHO'S GOING TO MAKE THE COUNTY DOES IT MAINTAIN IT? WE DO. THE HOMEOWNERS AT THIS FIVE HOMES BACK THERE AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE SIX. BUT ANYWAY, JUST WE'D LIKE YOU GUYS TO RECONSIDER AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PENDER. MR. PENDER, I JUST BEFORE YOU ALL MAKE A VOTE TONIGHT, I'D LIKE FOR YOU ON RIDE AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.

IS THAT POSSIBLE? DO YOU KNOW WHERE? DO YOU KNOW WHERE? WALNUT HILL IS? I DON'T SEE THAT'S THE PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHERE IT'S AT.

DOES ANYBODY? YEAH. SO IF YOU GO DOWN TO BEAUFORT WATER PLANT AND TURN RIGHT ON SNAKE ROAD IS ON THE RIGHT. OH, I KNOW WHERE IT IS I'VE RIDDEN. THAT'S ALL I'LL ASK YOU. COME AND LOOK BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION. THAT'S ALL. ASK ANY QUESTIONS FOR.

I DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH GROVE I HAVE NO PROBLEM RENT OUT BUT I WISH YOU ALL WOULD

[00:10:03]

IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S ALREADY DESCRIBED IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S IN NO USE IT'S ALL FAMILY RIGHT TWO BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT WE WE MAINTAIN AND THEN I SWEAR EVER USED CAR SALESMAN SORT OF COME ONE MAN BUT I LIKE ROAD TWO NOW I WOULD HATE TO SIT THERE AND NOT YOU KNOW YOU COULD RENT OUT YOUR HOME IT'S NOT RIGHT BUT IF YOU JUST COME AND LOOK WHERE IT'S AT YOU SAID YOU DON'T WANT THIS IT'S NOT SMALL AND YOU REALLY IT'S NOT A COMMERCIAL PLACE BEHIND US IT'S JUST A PLANTATION. I GOT TO RAISE MY KIDS LOWERED HEIGHT FISH BLINDFOLDS AND ALL THAT AND NOW IT'S SELLING MORE SO WHEN THEY GO TO DEVELOP IT YOU SELL BOATS ON THAT WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE AND THE LADY DURHAM MARKETPLACE IS PRICED A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL SHE'S REALLY OUTSTANDING. ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT'S STATE YEAH THERE'S MY GRANDSON. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. PENDER.

YOUR TIME IS UP AND I ADDRESS THE CONCERNS. YES, YOU MAY LEAVE IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. YEAH. YEAH.

SO UNDERSTANDABLY ALL THE CONCERNS YOU BRING UP I HEAR THAT AND I GET IT.

I WILL BE DOING REGULAR INSPECTIONS SO ONCE A MONTH I'M TO THE PROPERTY I'M GOING TO BE CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS INTACT STAYING WELL FURTHERMORE IF THERE IS NOTICE BOARD WHERE ON THE ROAD I'M MORE THAN HAPPY AND MORE THAN SURE THAT MY OWNER WILL BE WILLING TO WORK TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS OR FIXES.

I DO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I'M HERE FOR THE OWNER SHE WAS NERVOUS OF HOW THIS WOULD GO. IT'S NOT OUR INTENTION GO IN AND TO COMMERCIALIZE ANYTHING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS BECAUSE WE BOTH LOVE LOW COUNTRY WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND THAT HAND TO PEOPLE VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S DIFFERENT THAN STAYING AT COLO OSCILLATE. YOU KNOW IT'S KIND OF OFF THE BEATEN PATH BUT AGAIN OUR MISSION ISN'T TO COMMERCIALIZE ANYTHING TO EXTEND THAT LOW COUNTRY HOSPITALITY THAT PEOPLE BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS 100% AND I HEAR THEM.

YES. THANK YOU HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO HILTON HEAD? YEAH THAT MY WORK EXCUSE LET'S LIMIT CONVERSATION YOU CAN CHAT AFTERWARDS JUST ONE QUICK OKAY SIR I HAVE A QUESTION REAL QUICK. I'M LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS.

IS THIS HOUSE THE FIRST HOUSE TO THE LEFT WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE HEART CORRECT.

SO RIGHT WHEN YOU MAKE THE RIGHT ON ONE WALNUT HILL IT IS THE FIRST IT'S A CORNER BLOCK OKAY. YEAH. OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS FIRST? IS THERE ANY PORTION OF THE

[00:15:03]

THERE IS SOMETHING IN MY AGREEMENT WITH HER THAT OBVIOUSLY IF SHE WANTS TO USE FOR YOU KNOW CHRISTMAS OR THANKSGIVING SHE OBVIOUSLY HAS THE RIGHTS TO DO THAT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF SHORT TERM RENTAL INVESTMENT PROPERTIES IS THE OWNER HAS THAT RIGHT TO SAY HEY I'M GOING TO STAY IN IT OVER EASTER? YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BLACK OUT THE CALENDAR SO NO ONE CAN RENT THERE BUT IN TERMS OF PLANS OF OF THAT I'M NOT SURE I KNOW AT ONE POINT SHE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I'LL RETIRE HERE ONE DAY BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOTHING TO SAY. THE SHORT TERM RENT AND ANY OTHER SOMEBODY WILL MOVE TO MAKE A MOTION. I THAT WE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT BECAUSE IT IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIVISION SO I'M POINT TO POINT 130 DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS THERE A CERTAIN I JUST THE ONE THING I WOULD AMEND TO THAT WOULD BE THE EIGHT EIGHT YES OR THE EIGHT OCCUPANT FOR THOSE YEAH. WILL YOU MAKE THAT FOR ME AND I'LL AMEND THAT IT'S ONLY FOR EIGHT OCCUPANTS AND NOT TEN IS THERE A SECOND AND SECOND THAT ANY DISCUSSION ALL HANDS OVER I OPPOSED ABSTAIN OKAY IT PASSES I ARE FOUR UNDERSTAND DON'T IN TOWN ALL I OH YEAH DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN SO I THOUGHT I WOULD FAVOR THANK YOU WE'VE MANAGED TO STAY HERE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.