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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
LET'S CALL THIS MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
[1. Call to Order ]
TO ORDER AND START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO, TO WHY OF MARIAH, STATES OF AMERICA AND TWO TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH TO STAND.
INVISIBLE WILL THEIR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UH, COMMISSIONERS ARE REMINDED TO TURN ON THEIR MICROPHONE WITH THE GREEN LIGHT IF THEY WANNA BE HEARD.
LET'S START WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE
[3. Adoption of the Agenda ]
AGENDA.UH, YOU'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT.
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO TODAY'S AGENDA? NO, SIR.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION THEN TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? COMMISSIONER HENCE MOVES.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL SECONDS.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
SO WE'LL GO ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES,
[4. Approval of the Minutes ]
WHICH YOU'VE ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO SEE, UH, FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024.UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? UH, COMMISSIONER MEER, SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER DEIS.
ANY DISCUSSION? UH, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE AGAIN.
UH, WE HAVE NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS OR NEW BUSINESS.
UH, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR, UH, ITEMS THAT DO NOT APPEAR ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY? DON'T SEE ANYBODY.
SO WE'LL SPARE YOU WITH THE RULES AND, AND MOVE ON TO, UH, COMMISSIONS BUSINESS, WHICH WE HAVE DONE.
AND NOTHING FOR THE CHAIR REPORTS.
SO WE'LL MOVE RIGHT TO THE STAFF REPORTS.
[10. Staff Reports ]
IS GONNA GO QUICKLY TODAY.UH, WHO IS, IS TREY GONNA BE MAKING THAT? SHAY? OKAY.
TREY, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD? THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THAT THING.
SO TODAY WE HAVE ONE STAFF REPORT FOR A NEW MAJOR DPR.
WELL, IT'S BEEN IN, IT'S BEEN IN STAFF OF YOU FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT IT'S GOTTEN TO THE END OF STAFF REVIEW AND NOW WE HAVE IT FOR YOUR FINAL REVIEW.
AND ONCE THIS IS DONE, UH, THEY WILL BE PERMITTED TO GO ON WITH THE PROJECT.
SO, AS WE KNOW, TOWN STAFF IS CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PROCESSES.
ONE CHANGE IMPLEMENTED BY TOWN STAFF FOR THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROGRAM IS TO REQUIRE ALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW APPLICATIONS FOR NEW COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND MAJOR SUBDIVISION APPLICATIONS BE SHARED WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED BY STAFF FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY.
THIS WILL PROVIDE A WAY FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE MADE AWARE OF ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT BEING PROPOSED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
AND TODAY, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE ONE MAJOR DPR.
THIS IS DPR 0 0 2 0 9 3 20 23 FOR 1 48 BEACH CITY ROAD.
AND WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING IS A HIGH-END CAR STORAGE FACILITY KNOWN AS THE BEACH CITY CAR BARN.
IT'S 8,800 SQUARE FEET, I BELIEVE IT'S TWO STORIES IN SIZE, AND IT'S GONNA BE ADDED TO AN EXISTING 1.38, UH, ACRE PARCEL, UH, WHICH IS CURRENTLY THE OFFICE FOR GRAVES CONSTRUCTION, UH, OFF OF BEACH CITY ROAD.
THE NEW BUILDING WILL BE LOCATED ON THE REAR OF THE SITE, ALONG WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING, UTILITIES AND STORMWATER CHAMBERS.
THE SITE IS ZONED AS LIGHT COMMERCIAL AND THE REAR OF THE LOT IS ADJACENT TO THE HILTON HEAD AIRPORT.
AND IT HAS RECEIVED ALL FAA APPROVAL AND CLEARANCE HAS GONE THROUGH THEIR CLUE TOOL REQUIREMENT TO SEE IF THE USE IS SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF THEIR PLAN THAT IS NOT PART OF THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN.
SO IT DOESN'T AFFECT THAT THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE FAA FOR REVIEW AND THE, A DETERMINATION OF NO HAZARD TO AIR NAVIGATION RATING FOR EACH OF ITS FOUR CORNERS, WHICH THE FAA ASSESS SEPARATELY DUE TO PROXIMITY.
AND THEN WE'LL JUST HAVE THE OVERALL SITE PLAN HERE.
THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, WHICH IS GRAVES CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION, IS HERE.
THE SINGLE STORY STUCCO METAL BUILDING.
THE NEW PROPOSED BUILDING IS HERE, AND THE ASSOCIATED PARKING IS HERE.
THEY WILL UPDATE SOME OF THE PARKING HERE TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE LMO, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TWO FACILITIES TO EXIST TOGETHER.
UM, I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT UP AN AERIAL.
THIS, THIS PARCEL IS ON BEACH CITY ROAD AS THE AIRPORT PROPERTY, UM,
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BECOMES ADJACENT TO BEACH CITY ROAD.THIS IS THE LAST PARCEL BEFORE THE AIRPORT ROAD OR AIRPORT PARCEL IS, UH, TOUCHES THE ROAD.
SO FOR, JUST FOR YOUR, UH, SO YOU KNOW WHERE IT'S AT.
SO AS TREY MENTIONED, COMMISSIONERS, UH, THIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY, BUT WE ARE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS AND, AND PASS ALONG COMMENTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS AS THIS GOES FORWARD.
SO, UH, WHO WOULD, UH, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER HENS? UH, YES.
UM, AGAIN, IT WOULD BE, UM, IT WOULD BE GOOD IF, IF IN THE FUTURE YOU COULD BRING A, A BIGGER MAP SO WE COULD GET AN IDEA VISUALLY WHERE THIS IS.
AND, UM, SO COULD YOU TELL US? I WILL.
PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND I GOT BEHIND.
ALRIGHT, HUNTER AND UH, OH, THANK YOU.
SO, UM, 48, 1 48 IS GRAVES AND ONE 50 IS THE PROPOSED.
AND, AND THE, UM, RUNWAY IS WHERE, AH, THIS IS GREAT.
UM, SO 1 48 AND IT'S RIGHT BEHIND THAT.
AMAZING THAT THEY, TO ME, THAT THEY TOOK DOWN BUILDINGS ON BEACH CITY BECAUSE OF THE AIRPORT.
AND NOW THEY'RE ALLOWING, YOU SEE THIS A TWO STORY BUILDING, TWO STORY BUILDING, AND THEY'RE ALLOWING A TWO STORY BUILDING RIGHT ON THE RUNWAY.
I I, I CAN'T, THAT JUST SEEMS BIZARRE TO ME.
SO AS A BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THAT THE AIRPORT HAS, WAS RECLASSIFIED IN THE PAST, WHICH IS WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, THEY'RE HAVING TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE I DON'T HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION IN FRONT OF ME.
I CAN'T SPEAK PERFECTLY ON IT, BUT FROM WHAT I'M, WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS BECAUSE OF THE RECLASSIFICATION, WHICH ALLOWS LARGER COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT TO COME INTO THE, TO THE AIRPORT FACILITY, THESE RUNWAY PADS HAVE TO BE CLEARER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE AIRPORT COMING ALONG TRYING TO BUY UP THESE PARCELS ON THE SIDE BECAUSE AS THEY CONTINUE TO GROW, THEY'LL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, UH, ACCOUNT FOR THAT EXTRA WINGSPAN THAT HAS TO GO AROUND.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A CLEARANCE AREA THAT HAS TO BE MET.
AND RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, BY RIGHT, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO THIS.
THE AIRPORT HAS NOT, HAS NOT, UH, DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY TO COME IN AND TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THIS CAN'T BE APPROVED.
AND THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THEIR FAA APPROVALS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
UH, COMMISSIONER DEIS, I THINK I OVERHEARD HEARD YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT TWO BUILDINGS OR SOMETHING
SO THERE, THERE IS AN EXISTING BUILDING NOW ON THE SITE, WHICH LET ME GET THAT 1 48.
1 48, WHICH IS GRAVES CONSTRUCTION.
UH, THE NEW FACILITY HERE BY RIGHT.
UH, THEIR COMMERCIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE ON THAT SITE ALLOWS FOR THE, WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
I WANT, I I WANNA SAY IT'S RIGHT AT 8,800 SQUARE FEET IS WHAT THE REMAINING DENSITY IS ON THAT PARCEL.
SO THE TWO COMBINED BUILDINGS, SQUARE FOOTAGE? YES.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY CARS ARE GONNA BE STORED HERE? I DON'T KNOW THE, THAT EXACT NUMBER.
DO YOU KNOW THEY'RE GONNA BE ELECTRIC CARS OR IS IT CABLE OR WHAT'S THE PLAN BEHIND THAT? UH, I, I IS THE APP, IS ANYONE REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT HERE? I'M A
MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THE, THE QUESTIONS IF YOU'LL COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND I'LL HE'LL BE BETTER.
SERVED TO, TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
I'M REPRESENTING THE DESIGN ENGINEER.
MAYBE I'LL HAVE TO ANSWER A FEW OF THEM, BUT AS YOUR QUESTIONED, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT ELECTRIC CAR.
UM, THEY'LL LIKE FACILITATE ANY, LIKE, CHARGING STATIONS IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LEADING TO.
YEAH, NO CHARGE STATION AND IF YOUR GUARD ARE GONNA STORE ELECTRIC CARS THERE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT AT THE MOMENT.
AND COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR US PLEASE? UH, HUNTER.
OTHER QUESTIONS OF EITHER TREY OR HUNTER? COMMISSIONER WHALEY.
AYE, THANKS, UH, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE MAP, WHEN I, I SEE MOST OF THE BLACKTOP IS WHERE THE NEW BUILDING'S GONNA BE.
IS IT INCREASING THE IMPERVIOUS SPACE AT ALL? IT, IT, IT,
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SO, SO WHAT, IN WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE IMPERVIOUS SPACE IS IT GOING TO BE VERSUS WHAT IT WAS? SO IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE, LET ME PULL THOSE PLANS BACK UP.LET ME PULL UP, THAT'S NOT THEM.
MINE, THIS DOESN'T, SO I'M JUST GONNA PULL UP BECAUSE I'M, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE ELECTRIC STORAGE AS WELL.
UH, IT, ONE OF THE SHEETS SHOWS AN UNDERGROUND, UH, STORMWATER DETAIN.
THE CRATE SYSTEMS THAT ARE BURIED.
SO I'M SURE THEY'RE ACCOMMODATING THAT.
WE, WE DID GO THROUGH SOME PLAN REVIEW.
SO THEY'RE, WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS, IT RUNS ALONG THIS AND COMES BACK INTO TO HERE, BUT WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS ENOUGH SEPARATION IN, IN BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS IN THERE SO THAT THEY COULD MAINTAIN THAT.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S LOCATED UNDER THE NEW PARKING.
I THINK GO BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION.
ARE YOU ABLE TO ANSWER THAT OR IS THAT SOMETHING, ARE YOU ABLE TO ANSWER THAT OR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO US ON? I CAN, I CAN, UH, PULL UP THE PLAN SET.
AND, AND WHILE YOU'RE PULLING THAT UP, THE REA THERE'S A TWO TWOFOLD REASON I'M ASKING THAT.
ONE IS, AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE LMO, WE'RE VERY, UH, FOCUSED ON RESILIENCY.
AND IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE A, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT'S GRAVEL THERE OR BLACKTOP RIGHT NOW.
DO YOU KNOW IF THAT'S GRAVEL OR BLACKTOP? UH, CURRENTLY, CURRENTLY.
LET, LET ME GET BACK TO WHAT, WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU ASKING? I'M LOOKING.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING WHERE 1 48 IS RIGHT HERE.
SEE WHERE ONE 50 IS RIGHT HERE.
IT'S HARD TO TELL FROM THIS BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE BROWN AND THINGS.
IS THAT A GRAVEL TOP? IS IT A MIX? I WOULD IMAGINE, I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S GRAVEL.
THAT, THAT PICTURE RIGHT THERE IS NOT, OR THIS, UM, OVERLAY HERE IS NOT A, AN ACCURATE DEPICTION OF WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS THERE.
IT'S MUCH MORE, UM, IT'S, IT'S BASICALLY SERVING AS A LAY DOWN YARD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS THAT'S BESIDE IT.
AND IT'S MUCH, GOT MUCH MORE STUFF ON TOP OF IT.
SO YOU DO, YOU KNOW, SO IS IT NOT IMPERVIOUS THERE? IS IT, IS IT GRAVEL OR JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST EVEN IF IT WAS GRAVEL, IT'D BE THE COMPACTION, I WOULD SAY WOULD CREATE A, AN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE.
UM, DOES THE, DOES THE PERMIT OR THE USE OF THAT LOCATION ALLOW THEM TO WASH CARS THERE? TO WASH CARS THERE? YES.
I MEAN, IF IT'S AN 80, 8000, 8800 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AND THEY'RE GONNA STORE THEM, DO THEY HAVE, DO THEY HAVE A PLAN TO BE ABLE TO WASH CARS THERE? I I, I HAVEN'T, IT WAS NOT PART OF THE PLAN FOR THEM TO HAVE A CAR WASH, BUT, SO THAT'S NOT THE SAME QUESTION.
SO ARE YOU GONNA ALLOW, I MEAN, HAVING THAT MANY CARS THERE, I'M GONNA ASSUME SOME OF YOU ARE CAR PEOPLE, RIGHT? UM, YOU'RE GONNA TAKE IT OUT OF A DUSTY FACILITY.
YOU WANNA TAKE YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR CUTE CAR ON THE ROAD, YOU'RE GONNA WASH IT, YOU'RE GONNA TAKE IT HOME TO WASH IT? OR ARE YOU ALLOWING THEM TO WASH IT THERE AND CREATE, UM, WATER RUNOFF FROM A CAR WASH PLUS THE CHEMICALS? OUR STAFF PERSONALLY IS NOT ALLOW, WE ARE CAR WASH USE HAS NOT BEEN PROPOSED ON THIS SITE.
THEREFORE WE WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO, TO USE THE SITE AS A CAR WASH IF YOU SO THAT WASHING.
SO THERE'S NOT A HOW MANY'S NOT A FACILITY HERE TO WASH THEIR CARS? I'M, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL I THINK OF THAT LANGUAGE BECAUSE I'M NOT ASKING IF THEY HAVE A CAR WASH FACILITY.
BECAUSE WASHING A CAR TAKES JUST A LOT OF BIG HOSES AND A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE OFF THE SIDE.
USES A LOT OF WATER, A LOT OF RUNOFF.
I MEAN, YOU WASH A CAR IN YOUR DRIVEWAY.
YOU SEE WHAT, HOW MUCH? TWO CARS IN DRIVEWAY.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CARS ARE HERE.
IS THERE A WAY TO GO BACK AND ENSURE THEY'RE NOT USING BECAUSE YOU'RE NOW CREATING IMPERVIOUS SPACE AND WHAT'S PROBABLY COMPACTED GRAVEL? I'M NOT A SOIL ENGINEER, SO I DON'T KNOW THE DEGREE TO WHICH THAT AFFECTS, UH, SURROUNDING PROPERTIES OR EVEN THE WATER.
YOU KNOW, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GONNA LEACH INTO THE GROUND THERE.
WHAT'S THE ALLOWED USE HERE? SO THE ONLY THING, THE ONLY USE THAT'S BEING ALLOWED THERE, OTHER THAN THE THE CURRENT, UM, CONSTRUCTION OFFICE FACILITY WOULD BE A CAR STORAGE FACILITY.
NO CAR WASH FACILITY WOULD BE ALLOWED THERE.
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THIS WOULDN'T BE.AND THEN YOUR OTHER QUESTION WAS, UM, ACCOUNT ACCOUNT WORK.
OIL AND FIRE WOULD NOT BE, THIS WOULD NOT BE, YOU COULD NOT REPAIR YOUR CAR HERE.
THIS IS MORE FOR HIGH-END CARS AS YOU, THIS IS NOT, I THINK WHEN YOU THINK OF STORAGE, YOU TYPICALLY THINK OF, UM, LIKE PUBLIC STORAGE IN BACK IN YOUR CAR INTO A, A FACILITY THAT'S NOT, UM, YEAH.
CLIMATE CONTROLLED AND, AND WHERE SOMEBODY'S NOT THERE TENDING TO THE CARS.
THIS IS, I WISH THEY IN THE PLAN SET AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ELEVATIONS.
THERE WAS FOR SOME ELEVATIONS WITH THE INTERIOR IN IT.
LET ME SEE, I REMEMBER EARLIER ON THEY HAD THOSE IN THERE.
'CAUSE I WANT YOU TO GET A BETTER FEEL OF WHAT, WHAT THE FACILITY IS.
AND YOU WANNA SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS? IS THAT ABSOLUTELY.
SEE YOU'RE GOING AND I HOW MANY CARS A TRAY DO YOU, DO YOU THINK THIS COULD HAVE AT ONE TIME? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THAT WAS PART OF THE, UM, 8,000 SQUARE FEET FOOTPRINT.
SO ONE OF THE PLAN SETS DID HAVE SOME ELEVATIONS ON IT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A BIT MORE THAN THAT.
YOU THINK IT PUT MORE IN THERE? YEAH.
THIS IS A BIGGER FACILITY NEED DRIVE.
SO HERE'S, HERE'S WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
I WONDER WHETHER IT WAS GONNA HAVE LIFTS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY IT'S TWO STORIES.
'CAUSE IT'S RIGHT, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, OH, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A RAMP, IT'S NOT A RAMP STORY.
THIS GIVES YOU A MUCH BETTER, DOES THIS HAVE, HAVE THEY SUBMITTED ENGINEERING, WHICH SHOWS, UH, WATER OUTLETS IN THE BUILDING? THE NUMBER OF WATER OUTLETS IN THE BUILDING? YOU MEAN LIKE A HOSE BIB OR NO, LIKE BIG HOSE BIBS? YEAH.
AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE REASON I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, TREY MM-HMM.
UH, WE'RE INCREASING THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, UM, PUTTING A BUNCH OF CARS OVER THERE, WHICH DOESN'T BOTHER ME.
IT'S HOW THEY USE THE PROPERTIES MORE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF, THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS IT.
I DON'T THINK THE INTENT IS FOR FOLKS TO WASH THEIR CAR THERE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT, WHAT I BELIEVE THE INTENT.
I WILL, I CAN GET THAT ANSWER AND THEN IT IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN BRING UP TO THE APPLICANT AND LET THEM KNOW.
THIS IS, THIS IS NOT THAT WOULD THEN COULD BE CONSIDERED YOU WOULD BE A CAR WASH USE BECAUSE YOU'RE A COMMERCIAL FACILITY PROVIDING THAT SERVICE, SERVICE FOR YOUR CAR.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE REVIEWING HERE.
WHAT IS APPROVED IS A CAR STORAGE FACILITY.
I SAY GOING FORWARD IN THE PROCESS THEN, AND I THINK IT'LL KIND OF BRING MY QUESTIONS TO AN END AND I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER.
UM, WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS, WE'RE KIND OF DISCLOSING TO THE PUBLIC WHAT'S GOING ON.
WHAT I HEAR YOU SAY, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS THAT THERE IS NO GRANTED PERMISSION NOR DO, DOES THE ZONING ALLOW THEM TO WASH CARS AT THIS FACILITY RIGHT NOW? THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL USE.
OR HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN? SO DID IT.
I'M, I'M, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THE LMO RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I'M ALMOST 99% POSITIVE THAT CAR WASH USE IS ALLOWED IN THE LIGHT COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT WHAT'S BEING APPROVED ON THIS PLAN TO BE ALLOWED.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK IN.
NOW THERE'S A CAR STORAGE FACILITY NOT WITHIN LIKE A MILE FROM THIS ONE.
THAT DOES HAVE A DETAILED SPOT.
AND THEN THE ONE, THERE'S, THERE'S ALSO ONE BEING BUILT OFF OF DUNNIGAN ALLEY BEHIND US.
THIS, THIS WAY THAT HAS A DETAILED SPOT TOO.
AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS PART OF THE APPROVED PLAN WAS THAT DETAIL.
THAT'S A COMPLETELY SEPARATE USE THAN THE, UH, THAN THE STORAGE FACILITY.
SO THERE'S, I'M GLAD MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER DETAILING.
SO THERE'S NO DETAILING, NO DETAILING ALLOWED ON THOSE PROPERTY AS FAR AS FOR WHAT WE REVIEWED.
THERE IS NOT A DETAIL USE BEING PERMITTED, WHETHER IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL CAR OWNER OR THEY BRING IN A, YOU KNOW, A SERVICE, AN INDIVIDUAL CAR OWNER CANNOT, YOU KNOW, USE THE
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RESOURCES THERE TO WASH THEIR CAR, DETAIL THEIR CAR, NOR CAN THEY HIRE SOMEONE TO COME IN AND CLEAN A BUNCH OF 'EM.IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? THAT IS A FAIR STATEMENT.
HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN? DO OUR WELL, I CAN'T, I'M TRYING TO, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING I HAVE TO REPORT BACK.
AND, AND I WANTED TO GET TO, TO YOUR POINT, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THAT THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE DID INCREASE ON THE SITE.
I WANTED, I WANTED YOU TO SEE THAT.
DID YOU, ELLEN, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE DEGREE TO WHICH IT'S CHANGED? OH YEAH, I CAN, CAN, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS BROUGHT OUT IN PUBLIC BECAUSE WE HAVE, AS A, AS COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS IN THE TOWN, WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY COGNIZANT OF THIS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, INCREASING THE IMPERVIOUS SERVICE, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE NATURAL ELEMENTS WE DEAL WITH.
AND THAT'S WHY I AM, I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION ABOUT DETAILING.
DID YOU STILL HAVE A QUESTION? NO, I THINK SHE FINALLY DROVE HOME.
WHICH, UH, MY QUESTION WAS, UH, CAN WE AS, AS A TOWN, UH, WITHIN THIS PROCESS, ALTHOUGH WE'RE, WE'RE NOT APPROVING OR NOT APPROVING THIS PRO, THIS PROJECT, BUT CAN YOU ALL ENSURE THAT THE APPLICANT UNDERSTANDS THAT HE, DOES HE OR SHE, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO CAR REPAIR WITH HAZARD MATERIAL? YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY COMING FROM THAT OR OUR WASHING, I'M HERE, I, I I, I HEAR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE, 'CAUSE THIS IS NOT AN APPROVED PLAN.
THIS IS, THIS IS THE LAST PART OF THE APPROVAL THAT IT GOES THROUGH, BEFORE IT GOES THROUGH.
SO I COULD GO BACK AND HAVE THEM REMOVE THOSE, UH, WATER OUTLETS THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE BUILDING THAT, THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE CAN, AS A STAFF LOOK AT AND, AND ADD TO OUR CORRECTIONS IF WE NEED TO.
UH, IF I, SO AGAIN, I WANNA JUST MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
SO YOU, AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, YOU'RE GONNA GO BACK, DISCUSS IT WITH THE TEAM AND THE APPLICANT, PUT IT IN WRITING THAT WHAT HAS TO BE CHANGED OR WHATEVER YOU AGREE TO BE CHANGED.
AND SO THERE'S NO GRAY AREA ABOUT WHAT THE TOWN HAS AGREED TO.
SO FIRST YOU, THE FIRST PLACE I HAVE TO GO IS LMO OFFICIAL DISCUSS THAT, MAKE SURE LEGALLY THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN, WE CAN GO WITH.
THEN I HAVE TO GO TO, AND WE HAVE TO ALSO INVOLVE BUILDING TO MAKE SURE THAT BY LAW THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF WATER OUTLET ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING FOR WHAT, FOR THEIR PURPOSE.
AND THEN ONCE THAT'S DETERMINED, WE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER WHAT THE APPROPRIATE WAY IS TO DISALLOW THAT KIND OF SERVICE TO HAPPEN ON THE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMISSIONER CORDES.
CRAIG, CAN YOU GO TO THE SHEET THAT SHOWS THE DETENTION? SO THEY, THEY'RE CAPTURING ONE, I'M GUESSING 100% OF THEIR STORM WATER RUNOFF TO MEET CURRENT CODE IN A SYSTEM THAT'S HOLDING IT UNDERNEATH THE PARKING LOT.
AND YOU'VE GOTTA GET TO THE PAGE WITH THAT.
WHICH PAGE IS IT? IT WAS, IT'S GO TO THE MOST RECENT VERSION.
FOR THE LAST FEW PAGES YOU'LL SEE IT LOOKS, IT'S A CROSS HATCHED AREA THAT'S UNDERNEATH THE PARKING.
SO IF YOU ZOOM IN THERE, YOU'LL SEE.
WELL, IT'S GETTING A LITTLE LAGGY ON ME NOW.
IT'S, IT'S IN THE, YOU YOU HAD IT IN THE LAST IMAGE.
UM, THAT BOX, IF I READ, I READ THE SET INDICATES UNDERWATER AND I, WE'VE GOT SOMEONE HERE FROM THE ENGINEERING FIRM.
CAN YOU GUYS CLARIFY IF YOU'RE HOLDING YOUR, IF YOU HAVE DETENTION THERE FOR STORM WATER? YES, IT SHOULD BE.
LEMME GET TO THE RIGHT SHEET HERE.
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THERE, IT'S ALRIGHT.IS THAT WITHHOLD, IS THAT INTENDED TO WITHHOLD 100% OF A RAIN EVENT? HAVE YOU I'M SURE IT'S BEEN CALCULATED.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT IT'S WHATEVER WE MEET OUR EXISTING CONDITIONS, IT'S TO HOLD THE SAME AMOUNT THAT THE SITE WAS HAVING BEFORE AND WE WERE NOT DISCHARGING MORE THAN WAS BEFOREHAND.
WHATEVER PERCENTAGE STORAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE.
SO THE LICENSE AND TO YOUR QUESTION, UH, ONE EV CHARGING STATION.
BUT WILL YOU BE STORING THEM ELECTRIC CARS? I'M SURE THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE PLENTY ON EV CARS IF THEY NEED TO BE, UM, STORED IN THE FACILITY.
THE REASON WHY I ASK THAT, BECAUSE THERE'S A FIRE HAZARD TOO NEXT TO THE AIRPORT.
IS THERE LIKE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL VEHICLES YOU CAN HAVE IN A FACILITY OR CHARGING STATIONS? NO, NO.
BUT I MEAN, NEXT TO AIRPORT WOULD BE A FIRE HAZARD.
SO AS I'M LOOKING AT THIS, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF BUILDING OVER AT THE AIRPORT, RIGHT, TREY? YES, MA'AM.
AND I JUST HEARD THE ENGINEER SAY THAT IT WILL HANDLE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF A NATURAL EVENT.
CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN TO US SO WE UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU SAY NATURAL EVENT, IS IT THE AVERAGE EVENT OR THE HURRICANE EVENT? AND ALSO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE AERIAL, WE SAW THE RUNWAY IS PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL.
DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S WATER RUNWAY OFF THAT PART OF THE RUN OFF THAT RUNWAY THAT THAT LAND WAS EXPOSED TO DURING A HIGH STORM EVENT? HAVE YOU GUYS LOOKED INTO THAT AT ALL? I DO NOT KNOW THAT.
OUR STORM WATER MANAGER AT THE TIME, JEFF INGER, IS THE ONE WHO, WHO REVIEWED THIS FOR ALL OF THAT AND IT MET ALL OF HIS CRITERIA.
UM, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN CRITERIA? AGAIN, I ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT SORT OF THE NORMAL, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE OF THE NORM AND THEN THE HURRICANE EVENT AND IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THAT RUNWAY TARMAC.
I'M, I'M GOING, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MY OFFICIAL ANSWER IS THAT'S NOT IN MY PURVIEW, MY SCOPE OF REVIEW.
SO I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? AND THIS WAS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE STAFF WILL TAKE THE COMMENTS THAT THEY'VE HEARD TODAY AND WORK THEM INTO THE PLAN.
HEY CHESTER, HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, MS. LEY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE CODE REQUIRES THAT YOU RETAIN ON SITE THE FIRST INCH OF RAINFALL.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? YOU KNOW, NO, NOBODY CAN RETAIN ON SITE THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL THAT'S GONNA OCCUR ON A HURRICANE THERE.
I TRUST THAT MR. METZINGER, WHEN HE GOES OVER THE PLANS, WILL VERIFY THAT IT MEETS THE CODE REQUIREMENT.
AND ALSO, AS FAR AS YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT IMPERVIOUS, IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE, THE PLANS SHOW THAT THE, OR ONLY UTILIZING 70% OF THE MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE.
SO THEY HAVE A, THEY HAVE A LOT OF LEEWAY THERE.
I MEAN, THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF PROJECT AS I LOOK AT IT, WHERE THEY ARE PAVING OVER EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE PARCEL THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HAVE OVER THE FIGURES, UM, 0.858 ACRES IS THE MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE AND THEY HAVE 0.5 SOMETHING.
SO IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A FAIRLY, FROM THAT STANDPOINT, A FAIRLY ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY PROJECT.
AND MR. WILLIAMS IS CORRECTED, IS RETAIN THE FIRST INCH? I, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH CONFIDENCE.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS, LET ME ASK IF THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, ANYONE WOULD CARE TO ADDRESS US ON THIS TOPIC? NONE.
I THINK WE'RE NOW GONNA HAVE OUR LAST ITEM, WHICH IS THE, AN UPDATE ON THE, UH, DISTRICT PLANNING PROCESS AND THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE CHANGES, AND I THINK SHAY'S GONNA GIVE THAT TO US.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER SHAFER FOR THE RECORD.
UM, BEFORE I MOVE INTO THE UPDATES, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT AS PART OF THE REVIEW
[00:30:01]
PROCESS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS, WE ARE IN A, IN AN EVOLUTION FOR THAT PROCESS.SO WE CAN REFINE HOW WE PRESENT THOSE AND POINT OUT SPECIFICS FOR IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE AND, AND FACTORS THAT MIGHT BE PERTINENT OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION.
UM, IT'S ALSO HELPFUL FOR US IF YOU DO HAVE QUESTIONS WHEN WE SEND THE PACKETS OUT.
I KNOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT COMING OUT A LOT OF TIME IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETINGS, BUT IF SOMETHING DOES COME TO MIND AND YOU CAN GET THAT TO US IN ADVANCE, WE CAN ENGAGE WITH THE APPROPRIATE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE HERE, UM, TO FEEL THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT AND THAT WILL GO BACK TO THE APPLICANTS.
UM, AND WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU, UM, MOST LIKELY VIA EMAIL AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IN THAT PARTICULAR, UM, DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW.
SO, UM, FOR DISTRICTS, UM, WE ARE GETTING TO A VERY EXCITING POINT WITH THE PROJECT.
UM, AS YOU RECALL, TOWN COUNCIL REVIEWED, UM, AT THEIR WORKSHOP ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, THE THEME CHARACTER, VISION, ASPIRATIONS AND FOCUS AREAS.
SO THE ENGAGEMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY WILL BEGIN OVER THE COURSE OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THOSE MEETINGS SCHEDULED NOW.
IT WILL LIKELY BE ONE MEETING, A ONE MEETING A WEEK.
THROUGH THE COURSE OF THOSE TWO MONTHS, WE WILL WORK WITH THE COMMISSION TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS.
SO IN DECEMBER, ONCE WE HAVE THOSE PLANS FINALIZED, WE WILL BE AGAIN TO WORK WITH YOU ON HOW THAT ENGAGEMENT WILL OCCUR AND WHAT YOUR ROLES WILL BE, UM, IN THAT PROCESS.
UM, SO WE WILL HAVE MORE TO COME ON THAT.
UM, WE WILL ALSO ENGAGE WITH THE OTHER BOARDS LIKE THE GALLAH GEECHEE TASK FORCE, UM, AS WELL AS STAKEHOLDERS TO GAIN ADDITIONAL INPUT, UM, TO REFINE THE, THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE PREPARED AND PRESENTED.
SO THAT WILL, UM, THAT WILL BE OVER JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, UH, AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN TO REFINE, UM, AND WE'LL REPORT OUT FROM THOSE MEETINGS ON WHAT WE LEARNED AS WELL.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE DISTRICT'S PORTION OF THE UPDATES? UH, COMMISSIONER HENS, UM, FOR PUBLIC INPUT, WHICH IS GREAT.
WILL THE ENTIRE ISLAND GET TO OPINE OVER EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS OR ARE YOU JUST LOOKING FOR THE RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF THE SPECIFIC DISTRICTS TO INE FOR THEIR DISTRICT? THE PLAN CURRENTLY WOULD BE TO HOLD DISTRICT LEVEL MEETINGS FOR EACH DISTRICT WHERE WE WOULD, UM, DO A MAILED INVITATION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THOSE DISTRICTS.
HOWEVER, ALL OF THE MEETINGS WILL BE NOTICED PUBLICLY.
SO THERE WILL BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR ANYONE INTERESTED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT INPUT.
AND WE WILL ALSO DO A SURVEY FOR EACH DISTRICT THAT WILL BE AN ONLINE BASED SURVEY, WHICH WE HOPE TO HAVE, UM, THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE COMMENTS AS WELL DURING THOSE MEETINGS.
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM OF, FROM THE COMMISSION? LET ME, UM, LET ME MOVE, UM, INTO THE LMO UPDATES.
SO, UM, YOU RECEIVED A, UM, AN UPDATE FROM US THAT THE PRIORITY AMENDMENTS WILL ACTUALLY COME TO YOU FOR AN INTRODUCTION IN DECEMBER, AND THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY AT THIS TIME.
THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE, UM, A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, UM, THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OUTLINING AND FOR THE FULL OVERHAUL WORK CONTINUES ON THAT AND THE BACKGROUND, UH, BEHIND THE SCENES STAFF CONTINUES TO WORK WITH CODE STUDIO, UH, TO ADVANCE THAT PROJECT, WHICH WILL REALLY FOLLOW THE DISTRICT'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2025.
QUESTION TO SHAY ABOUT THE LMO UPCOMING CHANGES.
AND FROM WHAT SHE, YEAH, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY FROM WHAT SHEA JUST SAID, PLUS WHAT WE LEARNED FROM OUR INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH MISSY.
LUKE, WE'VE GOT, UH, SOME BUSY STUFF COMING UP HERE, SO OUR AGENDAS ARE GONNA START LOOKING A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, MEATY.
SO ARE THERE ANYTHING ELSE, UH, THAT NEEDS TO COME BEFORE US TODAY FROM THE COMMISSION SEEING NON WE STAND ADJOURNED? THANKS FOR WATCHING BC TV.
[00:35:06]
PORT FREMONT CLOSES OUT A 350 YEAR LEGACY OF COASTAL FORTIFICATIONS IN PORT ROYAL SOUND, BEGINNING IN THE MID 16TH CENTURY.IT ALSO REPRESENTS THE CLOSING CHAPTER OF AMERICA'S COASTAL DEFENSE SYSTEM BEFORE THE DAWN OF AIR POWER.
PORT FREMONT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MOST ADVANCED MILITARY TECHNOLOGY OF ITS TIME.
IT WOULD PARALLEL THE B 17 AND AIRCRAFT CARRIER OF WORLD WAR II, THE F 35 OF TODAY.
FORT FREMONT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BEAUFORT CULTURE, VERY SIMILAR TO PARIS ISLAND AND THE MARINE CORPS AIR BASE.
TODAY IN 1525, THE SPANIARDS NAMED THIS SOUND AND THIS HARBOR, SANTA ELENA, THEY CALLED THE NAVIGATIONAL POINT, LA PUNTA DE SANTA ELENA, THE POINT OF SANTA ELENA.
AND WHAT THE SPANISH EXPLORERS DISCOVERED IS THAT PORT ROYAL SOUND IS A UNIQUE PIECE OF GEOGRAPHY.
IT'S THE DEEPEST NATURAL HARBOR SOUTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, POSSIBLY SOUTH OF NEW YORK, THE CHANNEL INTO PORT ROYAL SOUND.
THIS I FIND A REMARKABLE GEOLOGICAL FACT.
THE CHANNEL HA UH, HAS NOT CHANGED FOR 500 YEARS.
THERE'S NO INLET ON THE SOUTHERN COAST THAT HASN'T SHIFTED ENTIRELY IN 500 YEARS EXCEPT PORT ROYAL SOUND.
THERE'S SOMETHING GEOLOGICALLY DIFFERENT, OR ONE MIGHT SAY MAGICAL ABOUT PORT ROYALS ISLAND.
SO SPANISH SAILORS BEING THE BEST IN THE WORLD IN THEIR TIME, FOUND THIS PLACE VERY EARLY, KNEW THAT FOR THE SPANISH EXPLORATIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHEAST, THIS WOULD BE THE ENTRATA, THE ENTRANCE.
AND SO THEY BUILT A CITY ACROSS THE RIVER, UH, ACROSS THE SOUND FROM WHERE WE ARE ON PARIS ISLAND THAT BECAME THE FIRST CAPITAL OF FLORIDA.
AND THEY EXPLORED THE BACK COUNTRY FROM THIS LOCATION FOR, UH, MORE THAN A CENTURY WITH THE OBJECT OF BUILDING A HIGHWAY FROM THIS MAGNIFICENT HARBOR TO MEXICO CITY.
SO THE SOUND WAS KNOWN TO THE SPANIARDS, IT WAS KNOWN TO THE FRENCH WHO ACTUALLY GOT HERE FIRST AND FOLLOWED AND CREATED THE FIRST PROTESTANT COLONY IN THE NEW WORLD ON PARIS ISLAND OVER MY SHOULDER.
UM, AND THAT COLONY WAS A FAILURE.
IT WAS PART OF SPANISH, FLORIDA WHEN THE ENGLISH ARRIVED 150 YEARS LATER.
AND THIS WAS BECAME, AS A CONSEQUENCE, A BATTLEGROUND IN THE 18TH CENTURY BETWEEN SPANISH INTERESTS IN FLORIDA AND ST.
AUGUSTINE AND THE ENGLISH COLONY IN CAROLINA AND IN CHARLESTON AND BACK AND FORTH.
THESE WARS WENT, MANY OF THEM NAVAL WARS, MANY OF THEM EMPLOYING AS ALL THE SAILORS KNEW BY THEN THE MAGIC OF PORT ROYAL SOUND.
WHEN THE CIVIL WAR CAME, CONFEDERATES DEFENDED THE, UH, HARBOR, BUT IT WAS BASICALLY INDEFENSIBLE AGAINST, UH, LARGE NAVAL FORCES.
SO THE US NAVY MADE IT THEIR PRINCIPLE TARGET DURING THE BE BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR AND SENT THE LARGEST FLOTILLA OF SHIPS, UM, ASSEMBLED BY THE UNITED STATES NAVY IN THE 19TH CENTURY INTO PORT ROYAL SOUND.
ON NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER 7TH, 1861, IN A FOUR HOUR CANNONADE, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN DEAFENING FROM WHERE WE'RE SITTING, WAS HEARD FROM MILES FROM SAVANNAH, NEARLY TO CHARLESTON.
IT WAS CALLED THE DAY OF THE BIG GUN SHOOT.
DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THIS HARBOR THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WAS FILLED WITH SHIPS.
THERE WOULD BE HUNDREDS OF SHIPS IN THIS HARBOR.
THERE WAS A THOUSAND FOOT, UH, DOCK WITH A RAILROAD ON TOP OFF OF HILTON HEAD.
UM, THE MILITARY INSTALLATION WAS MAMMOTH.
THERE WERE 13,000 US SOLDIERS ON HILTON HEAD, WHICH WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LARGEST POPULATION ON HILTON HEAD UNTIL 1974.
SO THIS WAS A MAJOR US GOVERNMENT INSTALLATION IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH.
IT WAS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE US ARMY DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WAS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON.
SO THE BIGGEST SHIPS IN THE NAVY WERE HERE.
AND, UM, SO IT, IT BECAME, AND, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE STORY OF FREIGHT.
FORT FREMONT STARTS WITH THAT HUGE CIVIL WAR MILITARY, UH, OPERATIONS AND INSTALLATIONS, UM, ON HILTON HEAD, ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND, ON PARIS ISLAND, AND IN, BUT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, WE'RE GONNA SEE A MASSIVE CHANGE IN TECHNOLOGY THAT'S GONNA REVOLUTIONIZE THE MILITARY.
DURING THE CIVIL WAR, WE HAD IRONCLAD SHIPS, WE HAD RIFLE CANNONS, BUT THEY WERE ALL MADE OUT OF IRON AND THEY WERE NOT TERRIBLY EFFECTIVE.
BUT ITS TECHNOLOGY IS GONNA CHANGE.
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, WE'RE GONNA SEE STEEL PRODUCED, AND STEEL IS MUCH HARDER.
SO NOW WE HAVE A NEW MATERIAL, UH, TO MAKE ARMOR OUT OF FOR SHIPS.
[00:40:01]
THESE ARMORED SHIPS MADE WITH STEEL AND A MUCH MORE RESISTANCE A SHOT, BECAUSE I HAVE STEEL, I CAN MAKE, UH, STRONGER BARRELS FOR MY GUNS.UH, I CAN RIFLE AND MACHINE THESE MUCH BETTER.
AND THE RIFLING IS THE SPIRALS THAT ARE CUTTING THE BARREL THAT ALLOWS IT TO SHOOT FURTHER WITH MORE ACCURACY.
AND WE CAN ALSO NOW HAVE BREACH LOADING GUNS THAT CAN LOCK FROM BEHIND.
SO I CAN LOAD MY GUN FROM BEHIND.
I DON'T HAVE TO GO HAVE THE OLD BLACK POWDER MUZZLE LOADING CANNON I HAD BEFORE.
NOW I CAN FIRE MUCH MORE RAPIDLY.
IF I COMPARE THE GUN OF, UH, 1890 TO THE GUNS OF 1860, UH, FOR THE SAME CALIBER, THE SAME DIAMETER GUN, UH, THAT 1890 GUN WILL BE ABLE TO FIRE PROJECTILE AS FOUR TIMES HEAVIER, CAN SHOOT IT THREE TIMES FURTHER, CAN PUT IT IN WITH GREATER PRECISION, AND CAN PUT IT THROUGH MUCH MORE ARMOR THAN ANYTHING WE HAD IN 1860.
A MILITARY HISTORIAN, ER LEWIS WOULD SAY THAT THE CHANGE BETWEEN THE CIVIL WAR IN 1890 AND ARTILLERY TECHNOLOGY WAS THE GREATEST THAT WE'D BE SEEN SINCE INVENTION OF ARTILLERY IN THE 14TH CENTURY TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NUCLEAR PROJECTILE IN THE 1950S.
SO THERE'S BEEN A HUGE CHANGE IN GUN TECHNOLOGY AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S NOT JUST THE STEEL, BUT ALSO THE POWDER THAT FIRES THESE GUNS IS DIFFERENT.
WE'RE HAVING NEW CHEMICAL MAKEUP.
AND SO LIKE CORDITE IS INVENTED NOW, AND IT'S STILL A WIDELY USED MILITARY EXPLOSIVE.
SMOKELESS POWER IS INVENTED DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
AND IT'S NOT JUST CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, BUT IT'S THE DETAILS OF HOW YOU MAKE THE GRAIN, HOW FAST THEY BURN.
SO MUCH LIKE THE SKILL OF FIRING A SOLID ROCKET, UM, SOLID FUEL, UM, ROCKET.
IT'S THAT SAME KIND OF TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED IN THESE, UH, GUN POWDER, IN THIS NEW POWDER.
SO OUR WEAPONS OF THIS DAY ARE, ARE MUCH, MUCH GREATER.
UM, THEY WOULD BE THE GREAT KILLING MACHINES IN WORLD WAR I.
MOST OF THE CASUALTIES ON THE BATTLEFIELDS WORLD WAR I WOULD COME FROM ARTILLERY.
SO THE WORLD HAS SEEN A HUGE CHANGE IN ARTILLERY, AND THAT'S TIED INTO CHANGES IN SHIPS.
WE NOW HAVE STEEL ARMORED SHIPS.
THEY'RE ALL, UH, STEAM POWERED.
THEY ARE NOW EQUIPPED WITH THESE FINE LONG RANGE GUNS, AND THEY NOW BECOME THE DOMINANT THREAT OF THE LATE 19TH, EARLY 20TH CENTURY.
THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH WOULD BOMBARD CITIES LIKE CAIRO AND REDUCE THEM TO RUBBLE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DEFEND THEM.
SO THIS IS HOW THE WORLD WAS SEEING THE THREAT FROM THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.
BIG BATTLESHIPS ARE THE THREAT OF THE ERA, AND NEW GUNS AND FORTIFICATIONS ON, UH, THE GROUND ARE WHAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO DEFEND AGAINST THEM.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FIRST THINGS THAT HAPPENED AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IS THEY BUILT A RAILROAD TO PORT ROYAL SOUND, WHICH DIDN'T EXIST.
IT WAS THE FIRST CONNECTION OF THE SEA ISLANDS TO THE MAINLAND.
AND THE ADVANTAGE OF THAT RAILROAD IS IT BROUGHT COAL TO PORT ROYAL SOUND.
SO WHEN THE COAL WAS DELIVERED, THE NAVY FOLLOWED IN 1872, ROBERT SMALLS WAS IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE, AND HE PUSHED THROUGH A RESOLUTION TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR CALLING FOR THEM TO PUT A NAVY STATION ON PARIS ISLAND.
AND EVENTUALLY HE WOULD GO ON TO CONGRESS WHERE HE WOULD CONTINUE HIS SUPPORT FOR A NAVY STATION HERE IN THE BEAUFORT FORT ROYAL AREA.
THEY EVENTUALLY OPENED A NAVY STATION HERE AND A COALING STATION THEY CREATED IN THE 1890S ON PARIS ISLAND, THE LARGEST DRY DOCK IN THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS THE PERIOD WHEN THE US NAVY WAS SWITCHING FROM SAIL TO STEAM.
ALL THE NAVYS OF THE WORLD NEED COALING STATION.
THIS WAS THE PRINCIPAL COALING STATION BECAUSE OF THE RAILROAD FOR THE CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN FLEETS, THIS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST DRY DOCK SOUTH OF NORFOLK.
IN FACT, IT IS THE ONLY DRY DOCK SOUTH OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA THAT'S CAPABLE OF TAKING THESE NEW MODERN BATTLESHIPS AND THESE NEW MODERN ARMORED CRUISERS.
SO THIS BECOMES, AT THIS POINT, A STRATEGIC NAVY BASIN THAT IT PROVIDES COAL AND IT PROVIDES, UH, TOP LINE SUPPORT TO THE SHIPS, AND THEY CAN REPAIR THE HULLS OF EVEN THE BIGGEST SHIPS IN THE US NAVY.
FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR, NATIONAL STRATEGY AND EMPHASIS IN THE UNITED STATES SHIFTED FROM TO RECOVERY FROM WAR, AND ALL OF OUR COASTAL FORTIFICATIONS WENT INTO NEGLECT.
THE MILITARY WAS BUSY TAMING THE WEST, AND COASTAL DEFENSES, UH, BECAME SOMETHING THAT WAS NO LONGER IMPORTANT IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.
TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING FORWARD AND THEY'RE DEVELOPING THESE BATTLESHIPS.
THEY'RE DEVELOPING NEW, UH, HIGH QUALITY ARTILLERY, AND THIS IS GOING ON, UM, WORLDWIDE.
AND IN 1885, PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND APPOINTED ENDICOTT BOARD, THIS WAS SEC HEADED BY SECRETARY WAR ENDICOTT, WILLIAM ENDICOTT.
AND THE BOARD WOULD MEET AND ISSUE A REPORT IN 1886.
AND THEY SAID THE CONDITIONS OF OUR COASTAL DEFENSES
[00:45:01]
WERE JUST UNBEARABLE.THEY CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO STAY LIKE THAT.
AND THEY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FORTIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENTS.
IDENTIFIED 29 PLACES THAT NEEDED FORTIFICATIONS, AND 11 OF WHICH WERE CRITICAL IN THAT LIST OF 29.
SAVANNAH AND CHARLESTON ARE ON THE LIST, BUT BEAUFORT IS NOT ON THE LIST.
IT'LL TAKE INTERNATIONAL EVENTS TO BRING BEAUFORT INTO THE PLAY OF, OF MODERN FORT TECHNOLOGY.
SO THE USS MAINE WAS HERE ON PATROL AND IN THE HARBOR, AND WHILE THEY WERE IN THE HARBOR, SEVERAL TIMES THEY ENTERTAINED THE LOCAL POPULATION.
SO THE MERCHANTS AND THE SOCIAL LEADERS AND THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF BEAUFORT WERE INVITED TO COME HAVE LUNCH WITH THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP, CAPTAIN SBY.
AND THE OFFICERS GOT TO KNOW THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE GET, GOT TO KNOW THE OFFICERS.
THE CREW, WHICH WAS LARGE, WOULD GO ASHORE ON PAYDAY AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH EVERYBODY IN TOWN.
SO IT WAS A VERY SOCIAL, UM, ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNS, PORT ROYAL AND BEAUFORT AND THE SHIP.
SO THE MAIN LEFT HERE, IT WENT AND REPROVISION, IT REFUELED IN KEY WEST AND THEN WENT TO 90 MILES ACROSS TO HAVANA INTO THE HARBOR AND BLEW UP THIS INFLAMED.
THE ALREADY, UH, HOT PASSIONS BOTH IN CUBA AND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AT THAT POINT, SOMEBODY IN THE WAR DEPARTMENT REALIZED THAT WE HAD THIS BIG DRY DOCK, THE ONLY DRY DOCK IN THE SOUTH THAT COULD HAVE TAKE ON AND REPAIR THESE BIG CAPITAL SHIPS THAT WERE IN OUR NAVY.
WE WERE GOING TO START OPERATIONS AGAINST A POWER IN THE CARIBBEAN.
AND THIS FORT WAS TOTALLY UNDEFENDED, AND THAT'S WHAT PUT FORT FREMONT ON THE MAP.
WE HAD TO HAVE A FORT HERE TO DEFEND THE COALING STATION, AND ESPECIALLY THIS BIG DRY DOCK, AS WELL AS THIS FINE HARBOR THAT'S HERE.
AND OF COURSE, THAT EVENT, WHICH KILLED 300 OR MORE SAILORS ON THE SHIP, UM, WAS VERY MUCH FOLLOWED BY THE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND VERY MUCH LAMENTED BY THE MANY FRIENDS THAT THE CREW HAD MADE HERE.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE USS MAINE WAS A PERSONAL MATTER TO BEAUFORT AND TO PORT ROYAL SOUND.
UM, AND OF COURSE IT WAS THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR AND THE ATTEMPT TO DEFEND THIS HARBOR AGAIN, WHICH LED TO THE, THE CREATION OF FORT FREMONT.
THE UNITED STATES DECLARED WAR ON SPAIN IN, IN APRIL, 1898.
AND BY EARLY MAY, WE HAD TEMPORARY BATTERIES IN PLACE HERE, SUBMARINE MINES WERE IN PLACE, AND IN THE SUMMER, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY PLACE THE MINES ACROSS THE BEAUFORT RIVER.
THE TEMPORARY BATTERIES WERE A TEMPORARY EXPEDIENT.
THEY WERE LOCATED TO MY LEFT ABOUT A THOUSAND YARDS.
THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT WOULD BECOME FORT FREMONT.
THE LARGE BATTERIES WOULD HOUSE THE LARGE GUNS BATTERY FOR ANCE.
THE RAPID FIRE GUNS, THE SMALLER BATTERY WAS COMPLETED BY JUNE OF 1898.
IN THE 1898, EVERYBODY IN TOWN WENT TO WAR.
UM, THEY HAD A NAVAL MILITIA UNIT, SOUTH CAROLINA NAVAL MILITIA UNIT, AND THEY WERE ABSORBED BY THE NAVY.
UH, MANY OF THEM RAN TUGBOATS FROM HERE TO NEW YORK TO KEY WEST, WHICH WAS THE PRINCIPAL SUPPORT BASE, TAMPA AND KEY WEST FOR THE US ARMY OPERATIONS IN CUBA.
PEACE WAS DECLARED BY THE END OF 1898 AND THE, UH, REMAINDER OF FORT FREMONT WOULD NOT BE FINISHED UNTIL EARLY 1899, AND THE FIRST SOLDIERS WOULD ARRIVE FROM THE REGULAR ARMY AT THAT POINT IN MARCH, 1899.
WELL, FORT FREMONT WAS NAMED FOR, UH, MAJOR GENERAL JOHN FREMONT.
UH, HE WAS ACTUALLY A LOCAL BOY, SO TO SPEAK.
UH, HE WAS BORN AND GREW UP IN, UH, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, JUST, UH, SOUTH OF US.
AND, UH, WENT TO, UH, COLLEGE IN THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, UH, UP JUST NORTH OF US IN CHARLESTON.
HE SERVED IN THE ARMY AND, UH, PRIMARILY INITIALLY AS A, UM, EXPLORER, AS ARMY FORTS WERE GENERALLY NAMED FOR ARMY OFFICERS.
UH, AND HE WAS, UH, CONNECTED LOCALLY.
UH, THIS IS, UH, MORE THAN LIKELY WHY THE FORT WAS NAMED FOR HIM.
THE FORT WAS CONSTRUCTED ON A SITE, UH, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE RIVER FROM, UH, THE PARIS ISLAND, UH, UH, NAVAL STATION.
AND THE SITE SELECTED WAS 170 ACRES, WHICH INCLUDED THE TWO, UH, ARTILLERY, UH, BA BATTERIES, UH, FORT, UH, FOR FREMONT, OF COURSE HAD BATTERY FOREIGNNESS AND BATTERY JESSUP.
UH, BUT THEN ADJACENT TO THE BATTERY SITE WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE QUADRANGLE, A VERY TYPICAL MILITARY TYPE,
[00:50:01]
UH, ADMINISTRATIVE SQUARE.UH, WE ARE SITTING IN THE NUMBER THREE GUN POSITION OF A THREE GUN BATTERY BATTERY JESSUP, WHICH HAD THREE 10 INCH DISAPPEARING CARRIAGE, LARGE CALIBER GUNS BREACH LOADING GUNS.
THEIR PURPOSE WAS TO, UH, ENGAGE THE WARSHIPS THAT MIGHT, UH, BE ENTERING THE HARBOR, UH, AND FORT ROYAL SOUND.
WE'RE HERE NOW AT THE SECOND BATTERY, UH, THAT WAS PART OF FORT FREMONT.
THIS IS BATTERY FOR NANCE, UH, WAS NAMED FOR, UH, ARMY OFFICER, UH, THAT WAS ACTUALLY KILLED DURING THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR.
UH, DURING THE BATTLE OF SAN JUAN HILL, UH, BATTERY FOR MOUNTED TWO, UH, BRITISH MADE 4.72 INCH ARMSTRONG QUICKFIRE GUNS.
UH, THEY WERE CALLED QUICKFIRE BECAUSE THEY LOADED, UH, WERE LOADED WITH A COMPLETE CARTRIDGE AND IT, UH, IN TIME OF ACTION, THEY COULD FIRE FOUR TO SIX ROUNDS PER MINUTE.
THE PURPOSE OF BATTERY FOR NANCE WAS TO DEFEND THE MINEFIELD, WHICH WAS THE OTHER COMPONENT OF THE ENDICOTT COAST ARTILLERY OR OR COAST DEFENSE SYSTEM.
UH, A MINEFIELD, UH, WITH CONTROLLED MINES.
CONTROLLED MEANING THAT THEY WERE CONNECTED ELECTRICALLY TO SHORE AND COULD BE FIRED ON COMMAND FROM SHORE.
THAT, UH, CONTROL STATION WOULD'VE BEEN, UH, PROBABLY SHARED WITH THE PLOTTING ROOM.
AND IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE MINE FIELD, OBVIOUSLY AN ENEMY WOULD WANT TO INTERFERE WITH THAT.
MIGHT SEND VESSELS, UH, SMALL SHIPS IN HERE AT NIGHT TO TRY TO INTERFERE.
AND THIS BATTERY WOULD TAKE THOSE VESSELS UNDER FIRE IF THERE WAS SOME, UH, THERE WAS SUSPECTED THAT, UH, UH, THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING TO INTERFERE WITH THE MINES, SUCH AS, UH, PULLING UP THE CABLES AND CUTTING THOSE.
THE IN OF GOD ERA OF FORT WAS A FORMIDABLE TECHNOLOGY.
IT REPRESENTED STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY, DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY OF ITS TIME AGAINST THE STATE-OF-THE-ART THREAT, WHICH WOULD BE THE BATTLESHIP.
THE LIFE FOR THE SOLDIERS AT FORT FREMONT WAS DISCIPLINED AND REGIMENTED.
THEY EVEN HAD MEALTIMES WERE SPECIFIED LENGTHS OF TIME, 15 MINUTES FOR LUNCH, 15 MINUTES AT BREAKFAST, 20 MINUTES AT SUPPER.
THEY HAD TO PRACTICE THEIR SKILLS.
THEY WERE TRAINING AND DOING MAINTENANCE CONSTANTLY, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THESE BIG GUNS.
THEY HAD TO HAVE SKILLS IN AND PRACTICE SKILLS IN ARTILLERY MIND LAYING SIGNALING, WHICH INVOLVED IN OUR CASE AT FORT FREMONT, THE USE OF THE FIRE CONTROL TOWER, WHICH WAS A PRETTY SOPHISTICATED AND, UM, ADVANCED SIGNALING TECHNIQUE.
THEN THEY ALSO HAD TO, UM, PRACTICE THE TYPICAL MILITARY SKILLS, MARCHING AND, UH, DRILLING SMALL ARMS, FIRE, FIRST AID AND SO FORTH.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ALSO, UM, HAD PARTICIPATED IN ATHLETICS.
THEY HAD PHYSICAL TRAINING, PT, AND THEY ALSO HAD SPORTS TEAMS. SO THIS WAS TO KEEP THEM PHYSICALLY FIT SO THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE THEIR, THEIR DUTIES BECAUSE THEY WERE, IT WAS PRETTY RIGOROUS AT FORT FREMONT.
WHEN EVENTUALLY THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MOVE A DRY DOCK AND THE COALING STATION AND THE NAVY STATION UP TO CHARLESTON, THEN THIS FORT NO LONGER BECAME SIGNIFICANT.
THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT HERE THAT WAS TO BE PROTECTED.
AND AT THAT POINT, 1911, THE LAST TROOPS WERE TRANSFERRED OUT, AND THE FORT WAS CLOSED IN 1901, THE MAYOR OF CHARLESTON AND THE UNITED STATES SENATOR PITCHFORK, BEN TILLMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, WANTED THIS TO MOVE FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY TO CHARLESTON COUNTY 'CAUSE THERE ARE MORE VOTES IN CHARLESTON COUNTY.
AND THE MAYOR WANTED THE US CORPS OF ENGINEERS THAN IN THE NAVY TO DREDGE THE HARBOR IN CHARLESTON.
'CAUSE BATTLESHIPS IN THOSE DAYS REQUIRED 26 FEET OF WATER.
CHARLESTON'S NATURAL HARBOR IS 15 FEET OF WATER.
PORT ROYAL IS 30 FEET OF WATER.
IN ORDER FOR CHARLESTON TO SUSTAIN ITS PORT, ITS COMMERCIAL PORT, IT HAD TO DREDGE THE HARBOR.
WELL, IF THEY COULD GET THE NAVY UP THERE, THEY GET THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO DRUDGE THE HARBOR.
AND THE, THE PLAY FOR PITCHFORK, BEN TILLMAN, THE US SENATOR IN 1900 WAS THAT HE'D GET A WHOLE LOT MORE VOTES FROM VOTES FROM THE LARGEST CITY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO IT WAS A POLITICAL COMMERCIAL OPERATION, AND THEY MOVED THE NATION AND IT WAS DONE, BOOM, LIKE THAT.
[00:55:04]
THE FORT DID ITS JOB, THE DETERRENT FOR ANYBODY THAT WISHED TO ATTACK THESE.IN FACT, THE WHOLE INDICO SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH NEVER CHALLENGED IN, UH, THIS ERA HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDED SOME 300 MAJOR GUNS, COASTAL GUNS, TO PRO, UH, PROTECT MAJOR AREAS AND LEFT THE UNITED STATES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY WITH AS WELL DEFENDED, UH, COASTLINE AS ANY PLACE IN, IN THE WORLD.
BUT I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IT IS A MAGNIFICENT ARTIFACT OF AN ERA, AND IT'S AN ERA THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED, UH, THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, UM, THE NAVAL STATION ACROSS THE RIVER HERE.
AND, UM, SO IT'S A, IT'S A PIECE OF HISTORY THAT'S DISAPPEARING AND THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT AND BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE PRESERVED IT BEFORE THE USE OF THE PUBLIC.
AND, UH, AS A MEMORIAL TO THAT MOMENT IN HISTORY, FORT FREMONT CLOSES A 350 YEAR STORY OF HOMELAND SECURITY ADDRESSING EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM IN THE 19TH CENTURY.
IT'S A TALE OF HOW GEOGRAPHY, TECHNOLOGY, AND NATIONAL SECURITY CREATES A TRANSITION FOR AMERICA TO BECOME A GLOBAL POWER.
IT'S ALSO A WONDERFUL SNAPSHOT OF AMERICA.
IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT AND BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE A VALUED PARTNERSHIP WORKING IN TANDEM TO PRESERVE THE FORT'S INTEGRITY AND PROMOTE THE HISTORICAL, NATURAL AND CULTURAL ASPECTS OF THE FORT.
MOST IMPORTANT, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE.
I THOUGHT YOU GUYS MIGHT GET A REAL KICK OUT OF THIS.
SO THIS IS A CORN SINK THAT I JUST CAUGHT, I MEAN, MINUTES AGO.
AND I PUT 'EM ON THE SIDE OF THE TREE BECAUSE I WANTED YOU GUYS TO SEE HOW GOOD OF CLIMBERS THEY ARE.
NOW I'M GONNA MOVE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
AND YOU NOTICE HOW THE EDGE OF THE SCALES ARE SLIGHTLY CURVED AND SO ON A CORN SNAKE, THEY CAN USE THOSE IRREGULAR SCALES TO GRIP ROUGH PARTS IN THE BARK AND GO STRAIGHT UP THE TRUNK OF A TREE.
AND OF COURSE, THIS WORKS REALLY WELL FOR RAT SNAKES AND CORN, SNAKES THAT CAN GET UP HIGH WHERE THEY CAN CATCH MICE AND RATS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND BIRDS.
AND YES, OCCASIONALLY BLUE BIRDS, ALTHOUGH YELLOW RAT SNAKES ARE GENERALLY THE ONE THAT, UH, GETS INTO TROUBLE FOR THAT.
ANYWAY, CORN SNAKE, NON VENOMOUS.