[00:00:01]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
LORD AT THIS TIME.WOULD YOU RISE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG PLEDGE OF JESUS TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UM, STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH, UM, FREEDOM, INFORMATION ACT OF ALL, ALL NOTICE AND ABOUT THIS MEETING, THE TIME DATE HAS BEEN POSTED, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
TIME THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.AND MR. TABER, UH, ANY QUESTION, DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- April 8, 2025]
WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF APRIL THE EIGHTH, UH, 2025 CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.UM, ANY QUESTIONS? UH, CAN WE APPROVE THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION? ARE THERE ANY OBJECTION? NO.
[6. CITIZEN COMMENTS PERIOD – 15 MINUTES TOTAL]
CITIZENS' COMMENT.UM, AND IS, UH, I HAVE THEREA WHITE.
SO, MY NAME NAME'S THERESA WHITE.
I'M FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ALSO THE PAN AFRICAN FAMILY PRESERVATION NETWORK.
WHICH IS CELEBRATING IN 10 YEARS OF THE HELP SAVE TAH GEEKIE LAND CAMPAIGN HERE AND SAVING ABOUT $25 MILLION WORTH OF PROPERTY OWNED BY GULLAH GEEKIE PEOPLE IN GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA IN REFERENCE TO PINE ISLAND BOUND ZONING.
THE APPLICATION, I SEE IT AS AN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE ON, AND IT'S UNHEARD OF FOR ANY DEVELOPER TO ASK FOR LESS DEVELOPMENT AND HE OR SHE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO BY.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT ADDRESSES A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED ABOUT, ABOUT CONSERVATION, TRAFFIC, AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE PINE ISLAND DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT ENCROACH ON ANY LAND OWNED BY
IT DOESN'T BLOCK ACCESS TO THE GRAVEYARDS WHERE BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BURIED AND IT'S NOT GONNA RAISE PROPERTY TAXES ACROSS THE ISLAND.
AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE STATED, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED TO THE PLAN IS TO HAVE EITHER THE COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OR THE UNITED WAY, OVERSEE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ESTIMATED TWO TO $3 MILLION THAT MR. PR HAD AGREED TO SATISFY ASIDE FOR THE ST.
IF THIS PROPOSAL IS, UH, APPROVED BY COUNSEL AS IT'S PRESENTLY WRITTEN, I BELIEVE THAT IT FALLS SHORT IN THE AREA OF ADDRESSING TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
THAT'S THE BORDERING THE LOSS OF LAND THROUGH DELINQUENT TAX SALES AND HEIRS PROPERTY.
I THINK THAT AT LEAST $1 MILLION OF THE MONEY THAT HE'S PROPOSING IN THIS, IN THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT SHOULD BE SATISFIED TO ASSIST WITH EDGE PROPERTY TITLED CLEARANCE TO CENTER FOR EDGE PROPERTY PRESERVATION.
AND WHICHEVER ORGANIZATION IS, UM, COUNCIL DECIDE TO BE ASSIGNED TO HELP WITH THE PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN THAT DESERVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
AND AS I'VE SAID PREVIOUSLY, THE CPO IS A GOOD THING.
IT DID, WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO DO WOULD START DEVELOPMENT IN A WAY THAT THAT WOULD CAUSE PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR PROPERTY FROM, FROM THE DEVELOPMENTAL RESORTS.
BUT IT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD BECAUSE IT CAUSED PEOPLE TO HAVE TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE TAXES AS THE TAXES CONTINUED TO RISE.
AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY, BASICALLY, BESIDES GROWING CROPS AND TREES ON IT.
SO YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE PROPERTY THAT'S VALUED AT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS AND ONLY GOT TREES AND GOATS AND COWS ON IT, AND THEY
[00:05:01]
CAN'T CREATE ANY GENERATIONAL WEALTH THAT WAY.SO IF YOU CAN FIND A WAY, AND I KNOW YOU CAN, BECAUSE YOU GOT SOME SMART PEOPLE WORKING FOR YOU, IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP THE CPO TO IN PLACE AND CUT MR. ANO SECTION OUT BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE CPO IN THE FIRST PLACE, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SOLUTION FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND EVERYBODY WOULD GET, THEY WON'T.
AND THE COMMUNITY WOULD GET SOME OF THE HELP THEY NEED THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD FOR YEARS, AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP OWNERSHIP OF THEIR PROPERTY.
OH, RIGHT NOW, MS. WHITE IS THE LAST PERSON, UM, ON THE LIST OF SIGN UP.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE, UH, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS, THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AFTER MS. WHITE IS FINISHED.
OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE AGENDA.
JESSE WHITE WITH THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE.
UM, I JUST WANNA GIVE MY FULL, UH, SUPPORT AND EXCITEMENT, UM, FOR THE ITEM NUMBER NINE.
UM, AND NUMBER, UH, WHERE DID IT, THE CHELSEA, UM, THE CHELSEA, UM, CONSIDERATION, UM, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT.
THAT'S AN ASIDE, BUT MY COMMENTS TONIGHT ARE FOR THE, UH, REZONING IN BURTON.
AND WE, WE APPRECIATE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS GONE THROUGH THE RIGHT PROCESS IN UTILIZING THE PTO OVERLAY FOR BRINGING THIS REZONING FORWARD.
UM, OUR ONLY COMMENT IS TO ENCOURAGE YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF GROWTH IN THIS BURTON AREA BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE'S BEEN OVER 2000 UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN EITHER APPROVED OR ARE ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION BETWEEN, UM, THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF BEAUFORT IN THIS AREA ALONG THE ROBERT SMALLS PARKWAY.
AND AS ANYONE WHO HAS DRIVEN ALONG THAT ROADWAY NOSE, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, CONGESTION.
THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT ALL OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO, AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING A REZONING, UM, PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
'CAUSE THIS WILL BE ADDING TO, UM, AN AREA THAT'S ALREADY UNDERGOING REALLY SIGNIFICANT GROWTH WITHOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO REALLY SUPPORT IT.
UM, AND WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT.
UM, IF YOU ARE GONNA CONSIDER, UM, THIS REZONING, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER MORE THAN 10 WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS, I THINK, UM, THAT IS A REAL NEED.
AND 10 IS, IS PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH TO ADDRESS IT.
UM, BUT ALSO CONSIDER THE, THE IMPACTS TO THE SURROUNDING EXISTING COMMUNITIES AND THE CHARACTER OF THE AREA, UM, WHERE THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE GOING.
IS THERE ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS? YES, SIR.
UH, ROBERT ADAMS, UM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PENN CENTER.
UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S, UH, CONTINUED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR FRIENDS OF F FREE FORT FREMONT, WHO ARE GREAT NEIGHBORS AND JUST GREAT FOLKS.
UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE AGENDA AND, UM, WE DOWN TO
[7. ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT]
THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR DIRECTOR OF LAND PRESERVATION, MS. STEPHANIE, STEPHANIE NAT.
SHE'S GONNA PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE POGO PRESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT WAS COMPLETED ABOUT, UH, A MONTH AGO.
AND, UH, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS, UH, THE FORMER NAME OR IT SITS ADJACENT TO COTTON HALL.
UH, SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER.
I HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU, JUST A FEW SLIDES.
DO I CLICK OR DO YOU CLICK? OKAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR COMMITTEE.
UH, AS CHUCK MENTIONED, MY NAME'S STEPHANIE NAT.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE LAND PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT, FORMERLY KNOWN AS PASSIVE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, TODAY I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE POAL ALGO PRESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
[00:10:01]
AS MR. ATKINSON MENTIONED, UM, WE DID RENAME IT SINCE THE ADJACENT PROPERTY IS STILL KNOWN AS COTTON HALL AND IS STILL OPERATING AS A, UH, A BUSINESS.SO WE WANTED TO NOT HAVE ANY CONFUSION THERE.
I JUST COMMENT THAT I, UM, YES, SIR.
WE THOUGHT FOR A WHILE ABOUT IT,
UM, IN CASE, UH, JUST TO HAVE A LITTLE REFRESHER ABOUT THE PROPERTY DESCRIPTION, UH, IT IS 527 ACRES.
IT WAS ACQUIRED IN OCTOBER 20TH, HAPPENED TO BE MY BIRTHDAY ON 2023 FOR ALMOST FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
UH, A MILLION OF THAT DID COME FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION BANK.
THE ACQUISITION PURPOSES DID INCLUDE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES, CONNECTIVITY, AND ECOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE ACE BASIN.
UH, REGARD AS FAR AS WATER QUALITY AND, UM, IMPACTS TO THE WATER QUALITY IN THE ACE BASIN IS CONCERNED, AS WELL AS FUTURE PUBLIC ACCESS FOR PASSIVE RECREATIONS IN PARTICULAR.
IN PARTICULAR, IT IS BOUND BY HIGHWAY 17 ON THE WEST COTTON HALL ROAD ON THE NORTH, AND THE OTTLEY PLANTATION, WHICH IS STILL KNOWN AS COTTON HALL ON THE EAST AND THE SOUTH SIDES OF THE PROPERTY.
FOR THE LAST YEAR, I'VE BEEN COLLECTING A LOT OF DATA ON THE PROPERTY WE'VE HAD.
UH, PREVIOUSLY I DID GIVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS WHERE I SHOWED YOU SOME SLIDES ABOUT, UM, SOME WATER QUALITY ASPECTS AS WELL AS SOME WILDLIFE THAT WE FOUND ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, WE DID HIRE A, UM, LAND MANAGEMENT COMPANY WHO IS, UH, FAMILIAR WITH THIS AREA AND HAS WORKED WITH A LOT OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE AREA.
IT'S CALLED FOLK LAND MANAGEMENT, UH, TRAVIS FOLK.
THE COMPANY WAS CREATED BY HIS FATHER.
THEY HAVE OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MC AREA AND KNOW THIS WATER BASIN AND WATERSHED VERY, VERY WELL.
UH, SO THEY WENT OUT TO THE PROPERTY AND CREATED THE STAND MAPS THAT YOU SEE HERE.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 10 STANDS OF FALLOW FIELDS THAT ENCOMPASSED AROUND 180 ACRES.
THEY HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY FARMED FOR VARIOUS FARM PRODUCTS.
UM, CURRENTLY THEY ARE RECOVERING WITH NATIVE GRASSES, FORBES, AND TREES.
THERE ARE ALSO TWO STANDS IN THE NORTHERN SECTION STAND EIGHT AND 14 THAT ARE FORESTED MUSIC UPLANDS.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY CLEAR CUT OR MANAGED.
THEY'VE BEEN, UM, THEY'RE CURRENTLY INTACT ON THAT SECTION, ROUGHLY 9,700 ACRES OR SO.
THERE ARE ALSO TWO STANDS OF FORESTED WETLANDS ON THE SOUTHERN SECTION STANDS SIX AND SEVEN ON THAT MAP.
THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY CLEAR CUT.
THEY USED TO BE, UH, MATURE HARDWOOD FORESTS.
UM, BUT PRIOR TO OUR OWNERSHIP, THEY WERE CLEAR CUT ON THAT SOUTHERN SECTION.
AND SO THEY'RE CURRENTLY RECOVERING WITH EARLY SUCCESSIONAL, UH, TREE SPECIES.
SO A LOT OF THE STUMPS THAT ARE THERE HAVE RE SPROUTED.
UM, SO IT IS RECOVERING, BUT, UM, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE, IT WAS CLEAR CUT BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT.
THE IMPOUNDMENTS TOTAL ROUGHLY 140 ISH ACRES.
THERE ARE FOREST STANDS, AND THOSE ARE INLAND FIELD NUMBER 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR ON THAT MAP.
TWO OF THE INLAND FIELDS ARE IN THE NORTHERN SECTION IN A, A SKINNY RECTANGULAR SHAPE.
AND THEN THE TWO INLAND FIELDS THAT ARE THE BULK OF THE IMPOUNDMENT IS THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPERTY.
THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY SEMI MANAGED, UM, AND ARE CURRENTLY IN AN OPEN FLOW SITUATION, BUT THEY DO NEED SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
UM, THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE CULVERTS AND SUCH ARE IN A BIT OF DISREPAIR.
AND SO WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT HERE SHORTLY.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER IMAGE OF SOME DATA WE COLLECTED REGARDING THE LIDAR ON THE PROPERTY.
SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE HIGH GROUND IS IN THE RED VERSUS THE LOW GROUND IN THE BLUE.
AND THEN THE BLUE AREAS, THE DARKER THE BLUE, THE DEEPER THE WATER.
HOWEVER, BASED ON THE CONTOUR, THE BATHOMETRIC MAPPING THAT OUR CONSULTANT DID, THE IMPOUNDMENTS ARE REALLY ONLY ABOUT THREE FEET DEEP.
SO THEY'RE STILL REALLY RELATIVELY SHALLOW WHEN COMING UP WITH THE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
I KEPT THOSE THREE INITIAL GOALS, UM, FOR THE ACQUISITION PURPOSES IN MIND TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST HABITAT RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY.
SO THE FIRST AREAS WHERE THE FORESTED MUSIC UPLANDS IN THE NORTH AND THE FORESTED WETLANDS IN THE SOUTH, BASICALLY, WE'RE GONNA MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THOSE.
THERE IS, UH, INVASIVE EXOTIC VEGETATION GROWING IN THEM, MAINLY CHINESE TALLOW.
SO WE WILL DO HAVE SOME TARGETED REMOVAL OF CHINESE TALLOW TO PREVENT THAT FROM OVERTAKING ALL OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, WE ALSO WANT TO ALLOW NATURE TO DO ITS THING AND ALLOW THE CLEAR CUT AREAS TO RECOVER AND, UM, EVOLVE THROUGH THOSE NATURAL PROCESSES.
WE MAY HAVE SOME SUPPLEMENTAL PLANTING IF WE HAVE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE A LOT
[00:15:01]
OF TALLOW THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT.LIKE IF THERE'S A BIG CLUMP, WE CAN COME IN THERE AND WE CAN SUPPLEMENT PLANT WITH OTHER HARDWOOD SPECIES THAT ARE SIMILAR IN THE AREA TO JUST KIND OF HELP JUMPSTART THAT SO IT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO STAY.
JUST THIS, UH, LITTLE SPOT OF EARLY SUCCESSIONAL GROWTH.
THE FALLOW FIELDS, BECAUSE THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY FARMED, THEY ARE GRASSLANDS RIGHT NOW.
UM, SOME NATIVE GRASSES, SOME EXOTIC GRASSES.
THERE'S, THERE'S KIND OF A MIX THERE.
BUT WE DO WANT TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE THOSE FALLOW FIELDS SO THAT THEY BECOME LONGLEAF GRASSLAND OR GRASSLAND SAVANNAH AREAS.
SO DEPENDING ON THE SOIL TYPE AND THE ELEVATION, WE'LL DETERMINE WHETHER WE REPLANT WITH LONGLEAF OR WHETHER WE KEEP IT AS A GRASSLAND.
UM, IF IT ENDS UP BEING A LITTLE BIT TOO WET FOR, FOR THE LONGLEAF, WE HAVE DONE AN INITIAL PRESCRIBED BURN EVENT.
SO THAT IS ACTUALLY A PICTURE OF NATURALIST ON THE FIRE LINE DURING A PRESCRIBED FIRE THAT WE HAD IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
UH, SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRESCRIBE, BURN THE, UM, FIELDS FOR PROMOTING NATIVE GRASSES AND FORS, AS WELL AS TO DO SITE PREPARATION AND OTHER TECHNIQUES FOR LONGLEAF PINE RESTORATION, AND THEN MAINTAIN THOSE OPEN GRASSLANDS IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE.
THE IMPOUNDMENTS ARE DEFINITELY WHERE THE BULK OF THE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES, UM, MONEY FUNDING, FUNDING ENERGY, AND TIME ARE GOING TO BE SPENT.
WE WANNA ENHANCE THE EXISTING IMPOUNDMENTS BY REPAIRING THOSE WATER CONTROL STRUCTURES AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE CONNECTIVITY AND FLOW OF WATER ACROSS THE PROPERTY.
WE ALSO WANNA ENHANCE THROUGH THOSE ACTIONS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE HABITAT FOR THE FISH AND THE AVIAN SPECIES THAT UTILIZE THOSE PROPERTIES,
SO THE PLANT ITSELF HAS A LOT OF VERY, VERY DETAILED INFORMATION.
UM, I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION BRIEF
UM, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, RIGHT WHERE THOSE YELLOW STARS ARE, ARE THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO REPLACE CULVERT'S, FLAP GATES AND FLAP GATES AND RISERS IN ORDER TO, UM, HAVE BETTER FLOW ACROSS THE PROPERTY.
IN ADDITION, THE GREEN LINES THAT JUST POPPED UP, YEAH, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT THE GREEN LINES THAT JUST POPPED UP.
UM, WE NEED TO REPAIR AND STABILIZE THE EXISTING DIKES.
THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS IN THE DIKES WHERE THE WATER HAS UNDERCUT THE D**E, WHERE IT'S BLOWN A HOLE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE D**E OR WHERE IT'S JUST TOO SOFT AND MUSHY AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE SUITABLE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS EITHER BY PEDESTRIAN OR VEHICLE.
UM, IT'S BARELY GOOD ENOUGH FOR US TO DRIVE AN A TV ACROSS IN SOME SPOTS, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE REPAIR THOSE DIKES AND MAKE THEM SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC AND HAVE THE CULVERTS AND THE DIKES FULLY REPAIRED BEFORE INVITING THE PUBLIC TO THE PROPERTY.
AND THEN THE LAST LITTLE BIT IS EXCAVATING THE CIRCULATION CANALS.
UM, THE CANALS, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN, UM, SLOUGHED IN, UH, THE DIKES OVER TIME WITH WATER AND EROSION.
UM, START TO FILL IN THE CANALS.
THERE ARE ON THE LARGE IMPOUNDMENTS, UH, AN INTERIOR CANAL INSIDE THE IMPOUNDMENT, AND THEN AN EXTERIOR CANAL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE IMPOUNDMENT.
AND BOTH OF THOSE CANALS ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO HAVE WATER COME IN DURING HIGH TIDE AND THEN FLOW OUT DURING LOW TIDE.
SO RIGHT NOW THINGS ARE FLOWING.
IT IS FLOWING OUT LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO.
WE DO PLAN ON MAINTAINING THAT OPEN WATER FLOW, BUT WE DO WANNA HAVE BETTER CIRCULATION SO THAT THE IMPOUNDMENTS THEMSELVES DO NOT BECOME JUST ALGAE FILLED, SHALLOW MUDDY PITS.
UM, WHEN CREATING THIS PLAN, I MADE A VERY SPECIFIC POINT TO OUR CONSULTANT TO TELL THEM WE CAN HAVE ZERO IMPACT TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
SO OUR NEIGHBORS CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT ON THEIR PROPERTY.
IF OUR NEIGHBORS WANNA HOLD THEIR WATER, THEY CAN HOLD THEIR WATER.
IF THEY WANNA LET THEIR WATER GO, THEY CAN LET THEIR WATER GO.
OUR PROPERTY IS THE CONDUIT FOR THAT WATER.
SO IF THEY LET THEIR WATER GO, WE'RE NOT IMPEDING THE FLOW OF WATER OUT OF THE SYSTEM, BUT WE DO NEED TO MAINTAIN CIRCULATION.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT BEFORE I MOVE FORWARD? GO AHEAD.
UH, JUST RIGHT OVER INFORMATION.
WHAT IS A D**E? A D**E IS A BERM.
UM, IT'S WHERE YOU DREDGE THE EDGE OF THE, OF THE IMPOUNDMENT AND YOU BASICALLY PILE THE DIRT ON ITSELF.
SO IT CREATES A BERM AROUND THE IMPOUNDMENT.
AND WHAT IS THE CHINESE TALLOW? CHINESE TALLOW IS AN INVASIVE EXOTIC TREE.
IT'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL TREE THAT YOU SEE IN THE FALL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE PLANTED IT FOR ITS FOLIAGE.
IT GETS REALLY PRETTY RED AND ORANGE AND YELLOW.
IT MAKES THESE LITTLE POPCORN FRUITS THAT, UM, BIRDS LOVE TO EAT AND SPREAD ALL OVER THE PLACE.
SO THEY'RE NOT GOOD? NO, THEY'RE NOT GOOD.
AND, UH, WHY DID THE NAME CHANGE?
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THE NAME CHANGED BECAUSE COTTON HALL IS STILL AN ACTIVE BUSINESS NEXT DOOR TO US, SO WE DIDN'T WANNA WHAT DID THE NAME COME FROM? IS THAT AN INDIAN NAME? IT IS A YEE TRIBE THAT WAS IN THE AREA, AND IT IS ALSO THE NAME OF THE RIVER NEARBY.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
ARE YOU GOING TO, CAN THIS BE INCLUDED OR SENT TO SEPARATELY? UH, THIS, IT'LL BE AS AN ADD-ON.
AND THE FULL MANAGEMENT PLAN WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE ON MY, ON THE LAND PRESERVATION WEBSITE TOMORROW MORNING.
UH, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS SECTION HERE, UH, ACTUALLY CONTROLLED THE DOWNFLOW FOR ALL THE WATER THAT COMES IN UPSTREAM.
SO THE WATER COMING IN FROM THE NORTH WHERE THAT STAR IS ON THE TOP LEFT, UM, THAT IS ALL THAT IS THE WATER COMING FROM THE NORTH UNDER COTTON HALL ROAD INTO THE PROPERTY.
AND SO THE CONTOURS OF THE PROPERTY ARE HIGHER ON THE NORTH END THAN ON THE SOUTH END.
SO THE WATER IS FLOWING SOUTH AND THEN IT'S FLOWING WEST UNDERNEATH 17 OUT TO A STRUCTURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER, AS WELL AS TO THE CREEK ONCE IT GETS TO THE, TO THE CREEK.
SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO KEEP AN OPEN FLOW SCENARIO.
DID, DID I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THAT THE IMPOUNDMENTS ARE NO MORE THAN THREE FEET DEEP? YES, THEY'RE VERY SHALLOW.
AND SO BY, BY INSTALLING THE CANALS, ESPECIALLY THE INTERIOR CANAL, THE BENEFIT OF THAT IS IT GIVES A THERMAL REFUGE FOR FISH IN THE, IN THE IMPOUNDMENT.
AND THEN, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME FISHING ACCESS POINTS ALONG THE BERM, IT'S GONNA GIVE A REALLY NICE PLACE WHERE WE'LL HAVE SOME DEEPER WATER FISHING AND EASY ACCESS, AND THEN HAVE THAT THERMAL REFUGE FOR THE FISH.
OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY IMPACT TO THE CEMETERY THAT SAYS, NO, THAT CEMETERY IS OWNED BY ANOTHER, A DIFFERENT PARTY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 17, BUT DOES THE WATER IMPACT THAT? NO.
THE WATER IS GOING INTO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE THE, YEAH, YOU CAN'T SEE THE POINTER ON THE THING.
THE WATER'S GOING INTO THAT LITTLE TRIANGLE ON THE WEST OF 17, AND THEN YOU SEE WHERE THE CREEK AND THE MARSH ARE, THAT'S WHERE THE WATER'S FLOWING OUT.
SO IT, THE TIDAL INFLUX IS ONLY UP TO THAT EDGE WHERE THE MARSH, WHERE THE MARSH AND THE UPLAND MEET.
ALRIGHT, SO MOVING ON TO THE ACTUAL PUBLIC ACCESS PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
ONCE WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE SAFE FOR PEOPLE, THEN WE CAN START TO DO THE PLANNING, ACCESS, AND DEVELOPMENT LIKE I WOULD NORMALLY DO FOR ALL THE OTHER PARK PROJECTS.
UM, THE IMMEDIATE NEED OBVIOUSLY IS FOR THE WATER CONTROL STRUCTURE, REPAIR, AND ACCESS AND SAFETY.
UM, WE DO NEED A FEDERAL PERMIT WITH THIS FROM THE ARMY CORPS.
SO THE ARMY CORPS PERMIT TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE IN THE PLAN WAS SUBMITTED TO THEM IN OCTOBER, 2024.
WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT THEY GIVE US, UM, FEEDBACK AND OR POTENTIALLY APPROVAL EITHER THIS MONTH OR NEXT.
UM, SO FOLK LAND MANAGEMENT IS STILL WORKING WITH THE CORE TO ADDRESS RESPONSES TO THEM.
UM, WE WOULD ALSO NEED A PERMIT FROM THE STATE, TOO.
AND I THINK YEE 'CAUSE THE PROPERTY'S IN THE TOWN OF YEE, UH, PUBLIC ACCESS PLANNING AND PERMITTING CAN BEGIN AFTER THESE INITIAL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED.
ONCE THOSE, ONCE THE PLANNING AND PERMITTING PROCESS HAS BEGUN, IT COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE TWO TO FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE PLANS AND THE NECESSARY PERMITS JUST BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A COMPLICATED SYSTEM AND THERE'S A LOT TO CONSIDER.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO GET, UM, A MASTER PLAN COMPLETED AND THEN PERMIT IN PHASES AS WE GO.
ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS ARE LIKELY TO INCUR IN STAGES, OCCUR IN STAGES OVER ABOUT A FIVE TO SEVEN YEAR PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL COMPLETE.
AND THIS IS STRICTLY BECAUSE OF FUNDING AND TIME FOR PERMITTING THAT I'LL GET TO IN JUST A MOMENT.
UH, AND SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DOING, EVEN IF WE, WHEN WE OPEN THE PROPERTY UP FOR PUBLIC ACCESS IS MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION DOES NOT END, THAT IS AN IN PERPETUITY ITEM.
WE WILL CONSTANTLY HAVE TO DO PRESCRIBED BURNING.
WE WILL CONSTANTLY HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF IMPOUNDMENT AND CANAL, UM, EXCAVATION MAINTENANCE.
UM, THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE IMPROVEMENTS IN MAINTENANCE NEEDED ON THIS PROPERTY.
UM, SO THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN THE PROPERTY IS CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THESE ACTIONS
[00:25:01]
IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY.NOW, SOME COST ESTIMATES, AND I AM DEFINITELY PREFACING THIS, THAT THESE ARE PRE TARIFF ESTIMATES, UM, AND ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING MATERIAL AND LABOR IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THESE ACTION ITEMS. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE WATER CONTROL STRUCTURE REPAIRS AT $150,000.
THAT WAS THE INITIAL, UM, COST ESTIMATE OF FOCAL LANE MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE SEVEN CULVERTS, UM, RISERS AND FLAP GATES THAT I UH, MENTIONED.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE FIRST STEP, IS GET THOSE FIXED.
UM, THAT IS IN MY CURRENT, UM, FISCAL YEAR 26 DEPARTMENT BUDGET, UM, THAT HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH YOUR PROCESS.
THEN THE NEXT STEP IS THE BERM STABILIZATION, UM, THE D**E STABILIZATION AND THEN THE CANAL EXCAVATION.
THAT IS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 750 TO A MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, RIGHT NOW THAT'S THE ESTIMATE THAT FOLK LAND MANAGEMENT HAS, UM, BASED OFF OF OTHER PROJECTS THEY'RE DOING IN THE AREA.
BUT IT REALLY KIND OF DEPENDS ON HOW BAD THOSE DIKES REALLY ARE OR HOW MUCH MUCK IS IN THOSE CANALS AND WHERE TO DISPOSE OF IT.
A LOT OF THIS IS DISPOSAL COSTS.
PRESCRIBED BURNING COSTS AROUND $8,000 PER EVENT.
LONGLEAF PINE RESTORATION IS GONNA PROBABLY COST ABOUT $20,000 FOR SITE PREP.
AND REFORESTATION, INVASIVE EXOTIC CONTROL IS ABOUT $5,000 PER EVENT PUBLIC ACCESS PLANNING.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LARGE PROPERTY AND IS VERY COMPLEX AS FAR AS LIKE ACCESS AND PLANNING AND, AND PERMITTING PROCESS, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE AROUND $350,000.
AND THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A SEVEN TO $10 MILLION PUBLIC ACCESS IMPROVEMENT PRICE TAG.
SO WE'RE, THIS IS A VERY LONG-TERM CAPITAL INVESTMENT, AND I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY IT'S 530 ACRES.
SO THE TIMELINE, AND AGAIN, I'M GONNA PREFACE THIS, THAT THIS IS COMPLETELY DEPENDENT UPON FUNDING AND PERMITTING APPROVALS.
THIS IS MY BEST GUESS, MY SWAG, IF YOU WILL.
SO FISCAL YEAR 25 THAT WE'RE IN NOW, WE'VE COMPLETED THE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WE COMPLETED THE INITIAL PRESCRIBED BURN, SO WE KNOW HOW WE'RE OPERATING OUT THERE WITH THAT.
SO LOTS OF LESSONS LEARNED THIS PAST APRIL.
UM, AND WE WANT TO OBTAIN THAT ARMY CORPS PERMIT, WHICH WAS SUBMITTED AS, AS I HAD MENTIONED, HOPEFULLY GETTING THAT SOON, NEXT FISCAL YEAR, I WANT TO COMPLETE THOSE INITIAL WATER CONTROL REPAIRS AND THEN BEGIN THE OTHER LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS WHILE THOSE WATER CONTROL STRUCTURES ARE BEING COMPLETED.
UM, SO THINGS LIKE LOOKING AT THE, DOING SOME SITE PREP FOR THE REFORESTATION, CONTINUING PRESCRIBED FIRE, UM, CONTINUING THE EXOTIC CONTROL AND THEN MONITORING THE VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS HAVING THE EFFECT THAT WE WANT, THE GOAL THAT IS ACHIEVING THE GOAL THAT WE HAVE SET OUT FISCAL YEAR 27, I'M ASSUMING WE CAN, UM, BEGIN THE CANAL AND THE BERM IMPROVEMENTS AND THEN START THE CONCEPTUAL PUBLIC ACCESS PLANNING.
UM, SO I, THAT'S, WE CAN HAVE THESE TWO THINGS RUNNING CONCURRENTLY.
WE CAN DO PLANNING AND PERMITTING WHILE WE'RE COMPLETING THE IMPROVEMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 28.
AND I SAY COMPLETE THEM BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING, BECAUSE OF OUR BID PROCESS AND OUR PURCHASING PROCESSES, IT'S GONNA TAKE US PROBABLY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS IN ORDER TO GET SOMEBODY ON BOARD AND UNDER CONTRACT.
AND THEN IT'S POTENTIALLY GONNA TAKE THEM ANOTHER FEW MONTHS TO GET A PERMIT AND THEN ANOTHER SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS IN ORDER TO COMPLETE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT MORE OF LIKE A YEAR AND A HALF TIMELINE FOR DOING, UM, THOSE REPAIRS TO THE, TO THE BERM AND THE CANALS.
WE'LL COMPLETE THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN AND THEN ALSO, UM, BEGIN CIVIL PLANNING AND THEN START THAT PERMITTING PROCESS FOR THE PUBLIC ACCESS.
AND THEN FISCAL YEAR 29, COMPLETE THE CIVIL PLAN AND PERMITTING, AND THEN HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO BID OUT PHASE ONE OF THE PUBLIC ACCESS CONSTRUCTION SO THAT BY FISCAL YEAR 30, WE CAN HAVE A COM COMPLETED PHASE ONE, PUBLIC ACCESS CONSTRUCTION, AND POTENTIALLY MOVING INTO A PHASE TWO OR PHASE THREE.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT THE TIMELINE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HOPING FOR, BUT I'M, I'M TRYING TO SET, I'M TRYING TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS AND BE REALISTIC.
ALRIGHT, MR. I DUNNO IF MY MIC'S WORKING, BUT, UM, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HEAR ME.
I, UM, I WOULD HOPE, AND I, I KNOW YOU WILL, THERE'S GRANTS FOR LONGLEAF PINE REFORESTATION.
I HOPE YOU'LL GO FOR GRANTS FOR SOME OF THESE OTHER ITEMS, BUT YES, MA'AM.
[00:30:01]
I AM HOPING IT'LL MOVE FASTER.IT'S JUST THE PERMITTING PROCESS THAT WE HAVE HAD SO FAR HAS JUST BEEN SO SLOW.
AND NOW HAVING TO ADD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTO THAT PERMITTING PROCESS IS, YOU KNOW, WE SUBMITTED THIS PERMIT IN OCTOBER AND WE ARE JUST NOW ATTEMPTING TO GET FEEDBACK BACK.
UM, I THINK YORK AND GERALD DAWSON AND I ARE THE ONLY THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WENT OUT THERE.
WE NEED ANOTHER FIELD TRIP SINCE WE CAN'T HAVE THE PUBLIC ACCESS MAYBE SOON.
IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR, HASN'T IT? YEAH.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SHOW NOW THAT YOU'VE DONE THE PRESCRIBED BURNING MM-HMM
AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, I I THINK IF THE PUBLIC AND OTHERS SEE IT, THEY, THEY GET REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE, IT'S, I'M SUPER EXCITED.
I CAN'T, LIKE, I I HOPE THAT THAT TIMELINE IS SPED UP
UM, LIKE I'M GOING TO KEEP MOVING THROUGH EACH STEP IN EACH PROCESS AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD, UM, I, I'M HOPE TO BE HERE IN
AND I HOPE YOU ARE STILL HERE.
AND THE FUNDING, UH, UM, WE, WE ARE DOWN TO,
[8. 2024 ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTATION FROM FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT 2024 ANNUAL REPORT - Barney Forsythe, President, Friends of Fort Fremont]
UM, $10 MILLION MM-HMMPRESENTATION NUMBER EIGHT OF THE, UM, ANNUAL REPORT FOR, UM, FORT FREMONT AND MR. FORESITE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT.
UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE.
THEY'RE FOLKS IN THE RED SHIRT, AND I WANNA PARTICULARLY ACKNOWLEDGE WENDY WILSON, WHO WAS THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT, AND IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
AND PAT SCULLY, WHO'S THE VICE PRESIDENT AND WILL TAKE OVER FOR ME NEXT YEAR AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS.
SO, AND THEN ALL MY COLLEAGUES HERE, SO THANK YOU.
WE'RE REQUIRED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO PRESENT AN ANNUAL REPORT, UH, TO THE, UH, TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THAT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2024.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE, UH, I THINK YOU NEED TO PUT IT ON, IT JUST TAKES A MINUTE.
THIS IS THE MISSION OF THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT, UH, TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE FORT.
UH, IT IS A TREASURE, UH, HERE ON THE SHORES OF PORT ROYAL SOUND.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, WE TRY TO ANCHOR THE STORY OF FORD FREMONT AND THE LARGER STORY OF THE HISTORY OF, UH, OF THE PORT ROYAL SOUND AREA.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 80 MEMBERS, UH, WHO ARE, UH, ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDS OF FORD FREMONT, UH, GOING FORWARD.
AND THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THIS, UH, ORGANIZATION, THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT, WHICH IS A 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATION AND BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE'RE HERE TO WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT, UH, IN ENJOYING AND, UH, THIS, UH, IMPORTANT TREASURE THAT WE HAVE HERE.
I'M GONNA BRIEFLY, UM, HIGHLIGHT THESE TOPICS, WHICH ARE, UH, CONTAINED IN MY REPORT, UH, GOING FORWARD.
FIRST ARE, UM, HISTORY CENTER OPERATIONS.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE STAFFED THE HISTORY CENTER WITH VOLUNTEERS ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY.
WE HAVE RECENTLY EXPANDED THAT TO INCLUDE THURSDAYS DURING THE SUMMER.
AND SO WE ARE OPEN FROM ONE TO FOUR, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND, UH, AND SUNDAY AND 10 TO FOUR ON SATURDAYS AS WELL.
WE HAVE, UM, ALMOST 2000 A HUNDRED, 1,862 VOLUNTEER HOURS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, WITH THE FRIENDS OF FORD FREMONT AND, AND PARTICULARLY STAFFING THE CENTER.
LAST YEAR WE HAD, UH, OVER 6,000 VISITORS FROM 46 STATES AND 13 FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
NOW, THIS IS A, ACTUALLY A 20% DECLINE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE, AND THAT WAS REALLY DUE TO SOME, UM, WEATHER RELATED, UH, ISSUES, WHICH IMPACTED THE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. WE COULDN'T GET THE DOORS OPEN, UH, THE, UH, WIFI WOULDN'T WORK AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND, UM, UH, STEPHANIE, UH, NAJI HAS A BIG JOB, AS YOU JUST SAW, AND SHE WORKED TIRE TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD GET BACK UP AND RUNNING, UH, WHICH WE DID EVENTUALLY.
SO I THINK WE SAW A DECREASE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE WEREN'T OPEN.
UM, WE DO VOLUNTEER WORK, UH, HELPING TO CLEAN UP THE GROUNDS, DO VEGETATION REMOVAL, UH, CLEAN UP THE BATTERIES, AND WE HAD OVER 300 AND, UH, 74 VOLUNTEER HOURS JUST DOING THAT KIND OF WORK.
UH, AND THIS, THIS LAST YEAR, IT INCLUDED 28, UH, 28 AIR FORCE, ROTC CADETS, UH, FROM BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL.
SO WE'RE INVOLVING THE, THE COMMUNITY IN THAT
[00:35:01]
WORK AS WELL.UM, WE DO EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH WITH A GOAL OF, UH, REACHING OUT TO THE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL.
THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR ERA IS IN THE FIFTH AND EIGHTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULA.
AND WE ARE WORKING WITH, UH, UH, TEACHERS, PARTICULARLY IN, UH, THOSE GRADES TO, UH, SEE IF WE CAN BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF, UH, OF THEIR CURRICULUM AND THEIR LEARNING.
WE ONLY HAD TWO SCHOOL GROUPS LAST YEAR.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SCHOOL AGE GROUP COMING IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND OUR, UM, UH, EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TEAM IS BUILDING A TRAVELING TRUNK THAT THEY'LL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SORT OF BRING, UH, FORT FREMONT TO THE SCHOOLS AND WORK WITH THE TEACHERS, UH, DOING THAT AS WELL.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO.
UM, MANY OF YOU WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE HARVEST FESTIVAL LAST NOVEMBER.
WE HAD OVER 300, UH, VISITORS COME TO THE HARVEST FESTIVAL.
WE DO SPECIFIC COMMUNITY GROUPS AS WELL.
AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE LISTED HERE.
WE ALSO ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN CELEBRATIONS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
LAST YEAR WE DID THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE, THE LANDS END, 4TH OF JULY PARADE AND THE CHRISTMAS PARADE.
SO WE WANNA BE OUT THERE, UH, AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
AM WE HAVE AN ACTIVE PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, WITH OVER 2000 FOLLOWERS.
AND, UH, WE'RE, UM, WE'RE LISTED AS ONE OF THE SITES TO SEE, UH, ON ST.
UM, WE'D LIKE TO GET THAT NUMBER HIGHER.
AND, UM, WE DO SOME MARKETING AS WELL.
YOU CAN SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE MARKETING.
AND WE WANNA SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE $12,000 WE GOT FROM THE ATEX.
UM, UH, THAT IS REALLY HELPING US WITH MARKETING.
WE'RE DOING SOME PAID ADVERTISING, UH, TO GET THE WORD ABOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY AND ABOUT FORT FREMONT.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, WORKED HARD TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AT THE FORT.
I THINK LAST YEAR I TOLD YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE ARTIFACTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE OR TO FABRICATE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A CART, WHICH WAS USED TO WHEEL PROJECTILE ROUND TO BREACH LOAD, UM, THE ROUND INTO THE, INTO THE GUN.
AND, UH, THAT SHOULD BE, UH, ON DISPLAY HERE SOON.
I THINK I MENTIONED LAST YEAR, WE HAVE A, A PROJECT KNOWN AS THE CARL PROJECT, NAMED IN HONOR OF CARL DOER.
UM, HE AND HIS WIFE OWN THE, UH, THE HOME THAT WAS THE FORMER HOSPITAL AT FORT FREMONT.
UH, CARL PASSED AWAY, BUT CECILE DOER IS STILL ACTIVE, UH, MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT.
UH, THIS REALLY HAS TWO COMPONENTS TO IT.
THE FIRST IS TO TAKE GUN POSITION ONE, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN TO THE FORT, THAT'S THE ONE TO THE RIGHT.
UM, AND TO ESSENTIALLY RECREATE WHAT IT WOULD'VE LOOKED LIKE WHEN THE FORT WAS IN OPERATION.
NOW, TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE FOR VISITORS TO GO IN THERE.
AND SO WE'VE COMMISSIONED AN ENGINEERING STUDY BY BENNETT ENGINEERING, UH, WHICH WE HAVE PAID FOR.
UH, AND, UH, THAT STUDY IS CLOSE TO BEING COMPLETE.
UH, THE SITE VISIT HAS BEEN COMPLETE, AND WE'RE WAITING FOR THE FINAL REPORT THAT WILL TELL US WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO MAKE PORTIONS, UH, UNDERNEATH GUN POSITION ONE SAFE.
AND THEN WE WILL RAISE THE MONEY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
OUR INTENT IS TO TAKE ONE OF THOSE ROOMS AND RECREATE WHAT WAS THE PLOTTING ROOM AT THE FORT, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY CALCULATED THE FIRE COMMANDS.
AND WE WILL, UH, REPLICAS OF THE ARTIFACTS, ARTIFACTS SO THAT THE VISITORS CAN SEE WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE.
THE SECOND PART OF THE CARL PROJECT TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE IS TO CREATE A DIGITAL SIMULATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF FORT FREMONT.
AND WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE, UH, CENTER FOR DIGITAL HISTORY IN THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT AT WEST POINT.
UH, THEY CREATE DIGITAL SIMULATIONS OF HISTORIC EVENTS, PRIMARILY HISTORIC BATTLES.
WE HAVE A GROUP OF CADETS AND FACULTY MEMBERS WHO WILL BE IN BEAUFORT THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST, UH, TO DO THAT, UH, PSYCH VISIT.
THEY'LL THEN TAKE THE PLANS, UH, WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE FORT, GO BACK TO WEST POINT, AND THEY WILL USE THAT INFORMATION TO SEND TO A, UM, A PERSON WHO DEVELOPS VIDEO GAMES, WHO WILL THEN DEVELOP THE VIDEO, THE DIGITAL SIMULATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE FORT.
LET ME POINT OUT THAT ON AUGUST 3RD, MARK, YOUR CALENDARS AUGUST 3RD, THOSE CADETS AND FACULTY MEMBERS WHO ARE COMING TO BEAUFORT WILL, UH, HAVE A PANEL DISCUSSION ON WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING AND WHAT THEIR PROJECT IS.
IT WILL BE AT THREE O'CLOCK AT ST.
MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON 11TH STREET IN PORT ROYAL, AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
AND, UH, SO IF YOU WANT TO GET A CHANCE TO SEE, UH, WEST POINT CADETS IN THE WILD, UH, SEE THEM ENGAGED IN LEARNING, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR THIS PROJECT.
[00:40:01]
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS EXCITING WAY IN WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO ENHANCE THE VISITORS EXPERIENCE.UM, THAT'S AUGUST 3RD, THREE O'CLOCK AT ST.
AND FINALLY, UH, TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORY OF THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT, WE HAVE A GROUP OF FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING ON DEVELOPING A BOOK, UH, TO TELL THE HISTORY OF FORT FREMONT.
WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA PRESS, UH, AND THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED, UH, IN, IN THIS PIECE.
AND, UH, OUR FIRST DRAFTS OF OUR CHAPTERS ARE DUE ON FRIDAY.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A SENSE FOR WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I, I HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS IS REALLY GONNA BE A VERY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE HIS, NOT ONLY THE HISTORY OF FORT FREMONT, BUT THE HISTORY OF, OF BEAUFORT AND THE ENTIRE, UH, PERIOD WHEN AMERICA TRANSITIONED INTO A GLOBAL POWER AT THE TURN OF THE 19TH TO 20TH CENTURY.
SO WE, UH, VALUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY.
WE EN VALUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS ON, UH, ST.
I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO DR. ADAMS AND THANK AND THANK HIM FOR HIS, UH, KIND WORDS.
AND WE WORK, UH, IN VERY CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOLKS AT PENN CENTER AS WELL.
AND PARTICULAR, UH, SHOUT OUT TO THE LAND PRESERVATION DIRECTOR, SE STEPHANIE NAT, WHO IS A GREAT PARTNER TO WORK WITH, AND SUBJECT TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
UH, THIS CONCLUDES MY BRIEF PRESENTATION, AND I HOPE IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, Y'ALL COME AND SEE IT.
AND THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT ENHANCING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS THE ESSENCE OF THE STATE ATEX.
MY QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH, UM, THIS CAME UP AT THE ATEX MEETING MM-HMM
THE FACT THAT WE NOW HAVE A COUNTY BUSINESS USE POLICY, AND SOME MOTOR COACHES THAT WERE USED WERE COMING TO FORT FREMONT, NO LONGER CAN, WELL, I ACTUALLY CAN, BUT THEY HAVE TO PAY A FEE.
BUT HAS THAT IMPACTED YOUR VISITORS? IT HAS, IT HAS IMPACTED, WE'VE, UH, UH, WE'VE, UH, WORKED WITH, UH, SEVERAL MOTOR COACH COMPANIES, AND WHEN WE TOLD THEM THAT THAT WAS THE REQUIREMENT, RIGHT, UH, THEY HAVE BACKED OUT.
SO WE ARE NOT SEEING, UH, THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND IT'S REALLY, I THINK IT'S ALL UP TO YOU.
IT'S A TRADE OFF BETWEEN HOW DO WE DRIVE, UH, TOURISTS, VISITORS TO BEAUFORT ON THE ONE HAND, AND YET, UM, USING PUBLIC PROPERTY FOR PROFIT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, AND I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOUR JUDGMENT IN TERMS OF THAT, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP, BECAUSE IT, IT IS HAVING A NEGATIVE EFFECT WITH MOTOR COACH COMPANIES THAT DON'T WANNA PAY.
AND I GET, I MEAN, I DON'T, THAT'S UP TO THEM, BUT I KNOW FORT FREMONT WAS, UH, SPECIFICALLY CITED.
WE WOULD WELCOME ANY, UH, I'LL LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? UM, FORESIGHT? I, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING Y'ALL DO.
UM, IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PLACE TO, TO VISIT.
AND, UM, WHEN I TOOK, UM, UH, THE COUNTY MANAGER AROUND, UM, WE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO GO INSIDE, UM,
SO
BUT, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A, WELL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT, MR. TOO.
THANKS TO ALL THE RED SHIRTS THAT CAME.
YEAH, IT IS A DOUBLE SHOUT OUT FOR WENDY.
[9. APPROVAL TO FUND DUE DILIGENCE AND NEGOTIATE TERMS OF ACQUISITIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED GREEN SPACE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS (SEA ISLAND PARKWAY TRACTS, CHELSEATRACTS) (FISCAL IMPACT: Sea Island Parkway Tracts- up to $30,000 due diligence, Chelsea Tracts- n/a. Green Space Program Fund Account #4706-10000054400) - Mike McShane, Chair of Green Space Advisory Committee & Mark Davis, Green Space Program Manager]
WE, WE ARE DOWN TO NUMBER 10.I'M MOVING THIS THING TOO FAST, HUH? OH, OH, OKAY.
UM, THIS IS, I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPROVAL TO FUND DUE DILIGENCE AND NEGOTIATION TERMS OF ACQUISITION FOR THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED GREEN SPACE PROGRAM APPLICATION, THE SEA ISLAND PARKWAY TRACKS, UH, AND THE CHELSEA TRACKS.
IT'S BEEN MOTION AND SECONDED.
I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU BACK THERE.
UH, IF I MAY, SIR, JUST FOR A MOMENT OF PERSONAL INDULGE ON THE CONVERSATION THAT IT WAS HELD EARLIER ABOUT THE COTTON HALL TRACK.
I WILL JUST PUBLICLY, I'LL OFFER, ONCE AGAIN IN MY OTHER CAPABILITIES, I'M HAPPY TO HELP FACILITATE SOME AND MAYBE EVEN HELP EXPEDITE THAT TIMEFRAME.
AS AN EXAMPLE, I WAS PART OF THE PROCESS, THE RIGHT TO GENERAL PERMIT FOR THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ON THAT, ON MANAGED TITLE IMPOUNDMENTS.
I REALIZED THAT, THAT THE COUNTY IS CONTRACTED WITH A WELL RESPECTED LAND MANAGER.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN, FOR INSTANCE, THE ACE BASIN AND TASK FORCE COULD WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
THAT'LL BRING SOME VISIBILITY THAT WILL HELP.
SO IT'S SIMPLY AN OFFER, WHETHER THE STAFF WANTS TO
[00:45:01]
ACCEPT IT OR NOT WILL BE THEIR CHOICE.THE OTHER THING THAT I CAN CERTAINLY HELP FACILITATE IS I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT COULD BE SOUGHT AFTER FOR SOME OF THE WATER CONTROL STRUCTURES THAT YOU WERE TOLD ABOUT.
I OWN 66 OF 'EM, SO I'M QUITE FAMILIAR WITH HOW LONG THEY LAST AND HOW COMPLICATED THEY CAN BE.
AND I'M JUST RIGHT UP THE ROAD, SO I'M HAPPY TO EVEN, AND THEN IN MY, AS MADAM CHAIRMAN KNOWS, MY ROLE AS A SENIOR LEADER AT DUCKS UNLIMITED WE'RE THE WETLANDS, WE'RE THE NATION'S LARGEST WETLANDS CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION CAN BRING SOME EXPERTISE THAT MIGHT BE OF SOME, SOME ASSISTANCE AS WELL.
BECAUSE THERE IS A CHALLENGE ON THE SHALLOWNESS OF THOSE IMPOUNDMENTS, WHICH COMES FROM MANY YEARS OF NOT HAVING THEM MANAGE PROPERLY, THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY ENHANCE SOME OF THE, THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE OF, OF SALT WATER FISHING IN THAT AREA.
SO IF, IF, IF THE ASSISTANT DIRE, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WOULD LIKE FOR SOME HELP ON THAT, I'M HAPPY TO HELP DO SO ON THAT.
APPRECIATE THE, UM, INVITATION.
WELL, TODAY WE'RE HERE, UM, IN MY CAPACITY AS CHAIRMAN OF YOUR GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND MR. AND MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GONNA ASK ON THE, UH, AMENDMENT, UH, ON THE MOTION, IF WE COULD TAKE EACH PROJECT SEPARATELY AND THEN COME BACK TO THE MOTION.
UM, WE WILL RIGHT NOW FOR DISCUSSION, BUT, UM, WE'LL DO JUST WHAT YOU JUST ASKED.
THE FIRST TRACK IS, UH, ON LADIES ISLAND AND IN AND IS THERE GOING TO BE A MAP, AN AERIAL PRESENTED? YES, IT'S ON THERE MAP.
AND I THINK THIS WAS ALSO DISTRIBUTED EARLIER, BUT THIS IS THE TRACK THAT'S ON LADIES ISLAND.
I'VE SEEN PARKWAY AND IT'S NEXT TO THE LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I THINK MR. BAREL, ME, I KNOW YOU'RE QUITE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING HERE.
YOU ALLOWED A LANDOWNER TO COME DIRECTLY TO GREEN SPACE.
SO THIS IS NOT THAT IT NECESSARILY CAME IN A RECOMMENDATION OF A CLASSIC CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION.
THIS CAME DIRECTLY BY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LANDOWNER AND YOUR GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE IN ITS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SCHOOL RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
AND ACTUALLY THE SCHOOL HAVING OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND THAT SURROUNDS THIS, IS THAT WE INVITED THE SCHOOL BOARD TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH US.
AND I THINK, AND I THINK, UH, CHAIRMAN GEIER, I BELIEVE I'M SAYING THAT COLONEL GEIER, UM, WOULD AGREE TO THIS.
THERE WAS HESITANCY ON THEIR PART IN THE BEGINNING.
I THINK THEY THOUGHT THAT WE WERE COMING TO THEM FOR THEM TO TAKE THAT PROJECT ON.
AND THEN I THINK WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OFF, WHEN WE SAID, NO, NO, FOR THE USES THAT WE COULD APPLY GREEN SPACE FOR, THIS WOULD COMPLIMENT WHAT YOU'RE ALREADY TRYING TO DO AT THE SCHOOL.
AND WE WOULD BE THE FUNDER OF IT.
YOU WOULD JUST END UP BEING POTENTIALLY THE OWNER.
SO WHETHER IT'S THE COUNTY OR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO BE THE OWNER SORT OF IS FRANKLY A DECISION THE COUNCIL WILL MAKE AT SOME POINT.
BUT WE COULD SEE HOW THIS COULD ENHANCE, PARTICULARLY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE LEVEL, HAVING THIS ABILITY TO HAVE AN ESSENCE, AN OUTDOOR LABORATORY.
AND I THINK THIS IS, UH, THE SYNERGY OF THIS HAS BECOME VERY EFFECTIVE NOW THAT THEY ARE EXCITED.
AND IN OUR RECENT GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE, NOT ONLY DID COLONEL GUYER CAM, BUT HE BROUGHT SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AND THERE WAS ENTHUSIASM IN THIS RECOMMENDATION THAT WE, THAT WE ASK FOR THE APPROVAL FOR THE DUE DILIGENCE UP TO THE COST THAT STAFF HAS, IS ESTIMATED TO BE, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE IDEA THAT THIS WOULD THEN COME BACK MOST LIKELY.
SO SORT OF LONG TERM WOULD BE THEIR OWNED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTLY OR THE COUNTY WITH A, WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL SO THEY CAN USE THIS, THIS PROPERTY IN THAT LIGHT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN? UH, ANY OTHER QUESTION FOR MR. MCSHANE? YES, GO AHEAD.
I, I JUST NOT A QUESTION, JUST TO THANK YOU.
UH, IT WAS A LOT OF WORK INTO IT, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE A I THINK THAT THE PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPOSED TO WORK AND GETTING THAT INDIVIDUAL A COME FORWARD'S GONNA BE A GREAT BENEFICIAL PROJECT.
THERE'S, THERE'S TREMENDOUS NATURAL RESOURCE VALUES ON ITS OWN, BUT THE FACT THAT IT'S COMPLIMENTED WITH THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOL, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND IF I WERE IN THE ABILITY TO SAY, WHEN IS AN IMPORTANT TIME TO TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE VALUE OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE.
SO THIS IS REALLY, UH, THE SYNERGY OF THIS THINK IS REALLY A TEMPLATE THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE REPLICATED ELSEWHERE.
[00:50:01]
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.SINCE I'M THE MAKER OF THE MOTION, I'LL AMEND THE MOTION TO SEPARATE THESE AND HAVE US MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CHELSEA, UH, WITH THE, UH, SEA AND PARKWAY TRACK DUE DILIGENCE.
AND SECOND, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER? EVERYBODY READY? THOSE ARE IN FAVOR.
PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING THEIR HAND.
AND THANK YOU MR. PASSMAN FOR DOING THAT BECAUSE THAT'LL HELP ACTUALLY QUALIFY SOME DISCUSSION THAT WE CAN HAVE NOW, WHICH IS, UH, KNOWN AS CHELSEA.
AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE, HAVE BECOME VERY FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE PUBLICITY THAT'S TAKEN PLACE.
I'M JOINED TODAY JUST TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT A FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BIG PLAYERS ON THIS.
DAVID BISHOPS WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.
I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION NEGOTIATED WITH A WILLING LANDOWNER ON A $34 MILLION VALUE FOR $32 MILLION.
AND THEY BORROWED 28 MILLION, BORROWED 28 MILLION TO DO THIS.
WHAT I HOPE THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL COME TO APPRECIATE THAT HOW CHELSEA GOES, EVERYTHING AROUND IT ERGO WILL GO NEXT.
AND THE FACT THAT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN ANNEXED INTO THE TOWN OF RIDGELAND AND HAVE, IN MY VIEW, A VERY NEFARIOUS ZONING ASPECT TO BEAUFORT COUNTY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S TECHNICALLY IN JASPER COUNTY, BUT ON THE LINE TO HAVE THAT IMPACT AT WHERE 4 62 AND ONE 70 INTERSECT, WHICH IS ALREADY UNDER GREAT PRESSURE NOT TO ADD ONE MORE UNIT.
AND SO I'VE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH THE, WITH REQUEST FROM THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE TO DO SOMETHING UNIQUE.
I'M GONNA ASK FOR DUE DILIGENCE APPROVAL, WHICH IN A PROJECT OUTSIDE THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT, MEANING WE DON'T PAY FOR THE SURVEYS APPRAISAL.
BUT I'M GONNA ASK THAT WE INVOKE A NEW TOOL.
AND THE IRONY OF BEING HERE TODAY IS IMMENSE BECAUSE COTTON HALL IS EXACTLY WHAT THE STATE DID FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE MADE A REIMBURSABLE GRANT SO THE COUNTY COULD CAPTURE THAT PROPERTY BEFORE YOU LOST IT.
AND THEN AS YOU WENT THROUGH, YOUR PROCESS REIMBURSED THE STATE, A PORTION OF WHAT THE STATE PUT.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT A REIMBURSABLE GRANT.
YOUR PURPOSE OF THIS WHOLE PROGRAM WAS TO ACCELERATE CONSERVATION IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.
THINK ABOUT WHAT THE PRESSURES HAVE OCCURRED JUST SIMPLY SINCE THE REFERENDUM PASSED IN 2022.
THINK ABOUT WHAT LAND VALUES HAVE DONE SINCE THE REFERENDUM PASSED.
OTHER MARKETS HAVE HAD LAND VALUES, DID NOT.
THE, THE COMMUNITIES OF BOTH JASPER AND BUFORD COUNTY WERE AS DILIGENT ON THIS PROSPECT OF BEING ANNEXED IN ORIGINALLY AS MUCH AS ANY PROJECT ACROSS THE STATE.
THEY SAW WHAT IT WOULD DO TO THEIR COMMUNITY WITH THE POTENTIAL ANNEXED AND HAVE A ZONING CHANGE.
THAT IS WHY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, BECAUSE THEY HAD CONFIDENCE IN TWO THINGS THAT OCCURRED.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S COMMITMENT AND BEAUFORT COUNTY WILLING TO PUT, UH, MONEY OUTSIDE ITS OWN COUNTY.
AND YOU DID THAT ONCE BEFORE ON GREGORY, WHICH IS JUST RIGHT UP RIVER FROM.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF CHELSEA, WHAT IT COULD HAVE HERE ON, AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I BELIEVE THE, UH, I GOT THE LOOK LIKE I GOT FROM MY DAUGHTERS.
DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG? WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SEVEN MILES JUST ON HAZARD CREEK, TWO AND A HALF MILES ALONG SNAKE ROAD AND, AND OVER A MILE ON 4 62 ITSELF, WHAT THOSE IMPACTS COULD BE.
AND THEN THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD DO WHEN YOU COME DOWN TO 4 62 AND ONE 70 IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
YOU WOULD BE THE STRUCTURE FOR WHAT YOU WOULD BE, YOU WOULD BE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT THERE.
YOU'RE ALSO GONNA BE PROTECTING OVER A MILE OF THE WATER CANAL.
THE BEAUFORT JASPER WATER SEWER
[00:55:01]
AUTHORITY MANAGES IS, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A QUALITY ASPECT.THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR THAT DEVELOPMENT HAS AN IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY AROUND, PARTICULARLY WHERE YOU'RE AT, YOUR DRINKING WATER ON THAT.
SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO GET ONE MORE STEP.
LAND TRUST WILL HOLD AN EASEMENT ON THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IS NOW THE
THERE'S AN APPLICATION IN FOR THE STATE BANK.
THERE'LL BE AN APPLICATION GOING TO JASPER COUNTY.
JASPER COUNTY IS PUTTING THEIR, THEIR, WHAT THEY VOTED ON RECENTLY, THEIR PROGRAM TOGETHER, THEIR ORDINANCE TIMEFRAME IS THEY'RE PASSING TO COUNCIL AND TO TAKE THEIR FIRST APPLICATIONS AND THEY'RE GONNA BOND THEIR, OR THEY GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA BOND THEIR, THEIR MONEY.
SO THEY'LL HAVE SOME CASH COMING UP.
BUT MEANWHILE, WE HAVE A PRIVATE ENTITY WHO'S WILLING TO GO OUT AND PUT $28 MILLION, BORROW 28 MILLION ON THE MARKET.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS SO INTERESTED IN THIS.
THEY'RE GONNA PUT MONEY INTO THIS JUST LIKE THEY DID GREGORY.
NOW THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY UP TO 50% OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT VALUE OF THIS PROPERTY THAT'S ESTIMATED THAT THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT VALUE IS AROUND 12 MILLION.
I'M GIVING THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE THIS, THIS IS GONNA COME TOGETHER HERE.
12 MILLION, WHICH MEANS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WILL LOOK AT PUTTING 6 MILLION, THE STATE, BEAUFORT COUNTY AND JASPER COUNTY, EACH WILL DO 2 MILLION.
YOU GET TO 12 MILLION, THEN YOU HAVE PERMANENT CERTAINTY ON WHAT COULD HAPPEN THERE.
AND MOST LIKELY, THAT WILL THEN REFLECT WHAT OTHER LAND USES BECOME BEYOND THAT TON HALL, BOWLING HALL, ET CETERA, ALL UP AND DOWN 4 62.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I'M ASKING FOR THIS COUNT, THIS COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND TO HIS COUNCIL TO NOT ONLY APPROVE THE DUE DILIGENCE AS WE NORMALLY WOULD.
I'M ASKING YOU TO SOLICIT COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TO MAKE A REIMBURSABLE GRANT TO THE NATURE TO OPEN SPACE, EXCUSE ME, OPEN LAND TRUST AS THE APPLICANT TO TAKE 6 MILLION, WHICH IS THE MOUNT DOD, HIGH CONFIDENCE, LOW RISK MONEY THAT WILL COME BACK.
IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT AN EIGHT TO 12 MONTH PROCESS.
SO IT WOULD BE AN EIGHT TO 12 MONTH TIME CYCLE TO GET THAT MONEY REIMBURSED.
I WOULD, I SUBMIT THAT THE LITTLE BIT OF INTEREST THAT YOU WOULD LOSE DURING THAT 12 MONTHS IS FAR LESS THAN WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO THE COUNTY TO LOSE THIS DEAL.
SO THIS WOULD BE UNIQUE, ASKING COUNSEL TO APPROVE THE DUE DILIGENCE, BUT A REIMBURSABLE GRANT OF 6 MILLION TO HELP REDUCE THE DEBT WHEN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY'S HOLDING $28 MILLION WORTH OF DEBT.
AND WE HAVE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT COMING THROUGH, WE NEED TO HELP THEM.
THIS BRINGS WHERE CONSERVATION GROUPS ARE WILLING TO PUT CAPITAL OUT THERE, MINIMIZING THE RISK.
THERE'S, I CAN'T SAY THERE'S NO RISK, BUT MINIMAL RISK HERE.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS MADE THIS A PRIORITY.
MARY RYAN, THAT YOU WERE JUST, AND WOULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF JUST FOR THE REST? YES.
UM, HI, I'M MARY RYAN KRIEGER.
I WORK FOR THE MARINE STATION, HAS MADE THIS A PRIORITY.
THIS MONEY IS IN DO OD AND I THINK THERE'S, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF DISCUSSION GOING ON, I'VE BEEN IN DC EVEN LAST WEEK, BUT WHERE GRANTS HAVE BEEN HELD, ET CETERA, OR GRANTS HAVE EVEN BEEN ELIMINATED, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE THE CASE IN DOD ON THIS.
YOU CAN SEE THE PROXIMITY TO THE AIR STATION JUST FROM WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS ACROSS THE BOARD.
YES, WE'RE GONNA LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF INTEREST IF WE DO THAT, BUT I GO BACK TO MY POINT, THE INTEREST THAT YOU LOSE IS MINIMAL COMPARED TO WHAT THE COST WILL BE TO LOSE THIS TRANSACTION AND BUILD CONFIDENCE IN A GROUP LIKE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OR OTHERS TO GO OUT LIKE THAT AND DO SOMETHING.
THIS, THIS MEANS THAT THERE'S TIMELINESS THAT THIS WAS BETTER VALUE TODAY THAN IT'LL BE A YEAR FROM NOW OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW.
AND IF, AND IF WE CAN HELP THEM DO THAT, I FEEL THAT THEY WILL BE THERE TO HELP US WHEN WE NEED HELP.
[01:00:02]
THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST ONE.SO IT IS A MODIFICATION THAT I'M ASKING FOR ON THE MOTION.
I HAVE A COMMENT FOR THIS MAKE, WE PUT THIS MOTION ON, ON THE FLOOR DISCUSSION FIRST.
WE SEPARATED THE TWO, WE SEPARATED THE TWO.
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA PUT THE MOTION TO FLOW AND WE CAN GO FROM THERE WITH THE AMENDMENTS, ET CETERA.
ET SO YOU WANT THE MOTION FOR THE REIMBURSABLE GRANT? I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION, PLEASE.
I, I'M RECOGNIZING MS. ALLEN REIMBURSEMENT PLUS THE DUE DILIGENCE, PLUS OUR STANDARD DUE DILIGENCE.
ANYBODY WANNA SECOND THAT? I SECOND THAT.
NOW WE NEED THE DISCUSSION PART OF IT.
YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT GIVEN THAT AMENDMENT? THIS WILL HAVE TO BE FORWARDED TO COUNCIL FOR COUNCIL DECISION.
MS. HOWARD, YOU WANT US? OH, YOU WANT US, NO, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR ON, ON SORT OF THE PATH FORWARD.
SO WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS THE DUE DILIGENCE.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING, UM, I'M ASKING IS WE'RE ADDING THIS TO THE DUE DILIGENCE FOR STAFF TO GO BACK AND WORK TO FACILITATE A REIMBURSABLE GRANT SO THAT WE CAN BRING THAT FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
YEAH, BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE, NONE OF THE DETAILS OF THAT HAVE BEEN WORKED.
SO THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GETTING.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S YOUR MOTION.
AND TO GIVE SOME CONFIDENCE TO YOUR STAFF.
I'VE ASKED, I'VE DIRECTED THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK TO FACILITATE INFORMATION HOW WE DO IT AT THE STATE LEVEL AND HAVE DONE THAT REIMBURSABLE GRANT SO THEY CAN HAVE, OKAY.
ANY MR. MS. I HAVE A COMMENT FOR MR. HAN.
SO THIS TIES RIGHT INTO WHAT, SO LOCOS TALKED ABOUT THE LAST TIME SOUTHERN LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL BOARD, THE MAYOR, THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TALKED ABOUT WE NEED TO USE GREEN SPACE TO PUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS UNDER CONSERVATION NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO THE MAYS OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TAKING A FIVE YEAR TENURE YEAR LOOK AND GETTING THINGS TAKEN CARE OF NOW, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GONNA BE MORE EXPENSIVE.
SO THIS IS ONE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT AND IT FEEDS INTO WHAT WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES AND, UM, THE COUNTY.
SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S FINE TO GO AHEAD AND, UM, REIMBURSE THE OPEN LAND TRUST, THE 6 MILLION.
SO TO BE CLEAR, YOU'LL BE OFFERING A GRANT.
THAT'LL REDUCE THE DEBT THAT, THAT YOUR PARTNERS ARE COLLABORATING ON BY THAT AMOUNT, WHICH IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT AT TODAY'S RATES.
AND THAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE WE HAD.
GREGORY, WE JUST GOT AHEAD OF OUR SALES IN GREGORY NECK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE WORK WAS BEING DONE AS WE BUILT THIS PROGRAM.
UM, I THINK WE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS OF THE AMOUNT MONEY THE COUNTY'S PUTTING OUT 6 MILLION, RIGHT? EIGHT BE TOTAL.
AND THEN WE'LL GET TO 6 MILLION BACK.
HOW DO WE GET THAT BACK? BECAUSE THAT'LL COME FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WHICH IS A PARTNER IN THIS WHOLE PROJECT.
IT'S JUST THAT YOU'RE HELPING MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF DEBT THAT THE APPLICANT AND THE PARTNER SERVICING YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? UM, AND JUST TO REITERATE, FROM THE PUBLIC, WE THINK, UM, COUNTY WILL BE 2 MILLION.
THAT'S THE APPLICATIONS GOING WILL BE GOING IN.
AND IS IT ORTHO? THEY'RE STILL WORKING? NO.
SO ONCE COUNTY PASSES ORDINANCE, BUT IT BE AT LEAST AT THE 2 MILLION.
WHICH THE APPLICATION FOR THE STATE BANK HAS, UH, IN JULY.
AND THEN THE STATE BANK WILL TAKE A VOTE ON THAT IN SEPTEMBER.
IT'LL BE, AT LEAST YOUR DUE DILIGENCE WILL COME BACK FOR THE GREEN SPACE GRANT GRANT OF 2 MILLION.
I WANNA SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
I, I BELIEVE, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, YOU'RE GONNA SET THE BAR PRETTY HIGH FOR OTHER COUNTIES TO FOLLOW, WHICH WE AS BUFORT LOOK FORWARD TO.
I MEAN, THAT THIS IS BIG TIME.
THE RISK TO SORT OF, UH, THEY'LL HAVE SETTING SAYING YOU HAVE SET ANYMORE ALREADY.
I THINK JUST, JUST NEW NUANCE TO IT.
I, I DON'T BELIEVE, AND I THINK, DAVID, YOU AFFIRMED THIS.
[01:05:01]
NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER COUNTY, FRANKLY.AND NOT JUST IN THE STATE, BUT IN THE REGION.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT NATIONALLY WHO'S PUT THAT KIND OF MONEY INTO A NEIGHBORING ACCOUNT.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR REFERENCE.
UM, BEFORE WE TAKE A MOTION, UH, MS. MARY RYAN, DO YOU CARE TO COMMENT MAKE? UM, I JUST WANNA EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I WAS GONNA SAY, I THINK MOST OF OUR REASONING BEHIND SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT HAS, HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID IN, IN TERMS OF SHARED RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS IT IS DIRECTLY UNDER OUR LOW LYING AIRSPACE.
SO IT WILL PROVIDE A BUFFER FOR OUR OPERATIONS.
OH, PRESERVE OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
WHICH FY YEAR WOULD THOSE DOLLARS COME FROM? BUT IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT LEADS TO THE HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT WE BRING.
WE WOULD ONLY BRING THESE, I THINK WHEN WE HAVE HIGH CONFIDENCE, AS I SAID, I CAN'T SAY ZERO RISK, BUT MINIMAL RISK.
UM, WE CALLING FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, COULD WE, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YES.
YOU'RE APPROVING THE DUE DILIGENCE YES.
TO GO TO AND YOU'RE DIRECTING STAFF TO BRING ALONG WITH THE DUE DILIGENCE WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH THAT, THIS GRANT, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, DOCUMENTATION YES.
IT WOULD COME BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE AND THEN GO TO COUNCIL.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE MOTION.
I WOULD PREFER BECAUSE OF YOUR SCHEDULE, SIR, IT CAN COME DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL ON JUNE, 2020 THIRD.
THEN THE REASON WHY THAT MAKES SENSE COMING COUNCIL, BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED AGAIN UNTIL WHEN SEPTEMBER 2ND.
IS GOING TO COUNCIL THIS RECOMMENDATION, YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, BECAUSE THERE'S NO COST.
DOES NOT HAVE TO GO TO COUNCIL.
ALL THAT HAS TO GO TO COUNCIL.
JUST IF YOU, YOU CAN GO DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL.
YOU JUST HAVEN'T SEEN THE DOCUMENTATION OR TERMS OR ANYTHING ELSE.
UH, SO IF YOU WANT TO REVIEW THAT AND SCRUTINIZE THAT AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, IT WOULD COME BACK TO HERE.
YOU COULD HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING BEFORE THAT COUNCIL MEETING, OR YOU CAN GO STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL.
IT'S YOUR CHOICE, BUT TYPICALLY IT COMES BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
UM, LET'S LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE COMING UP BECAUSE WE WILL NOT MEET AS THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
YEAH, I THINK WE GO STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL.
THE STAFF, THIS COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDED TO GO STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL TO COUNCIL AND THEY CAN, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO DO THAT AND THEN VOTE ON THAT.
AND THEN, UH, THAT CAN HAPPEN.
UH, YOU WANNA AMEND THE MOTION TO HAVE IT GO STRAIGHT TO IT.
I'LL AMEND MY MOTION, THEN IT GOES STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL.
THE MOTION TO, UH, TO HAVE THE, UM, GRANT, GRANT REIMBURSEMENT, GRANT REIMBURSEMENT GO DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? UM, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
IT IS UNANIMOUS NOW, THE MOTION AS AMENDED, UH, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE GOING STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL, UM, AT THIS TIME FOR THE REIMBURSABLE.
UM, THOSE IN FAVOR, THAT MOTION AS AMENDED, PLEASE INDICATE AND APPROVING THE DUE DILIGENCE.
YOU'RE APPROVING THE DUE DILIGENCE AND THE DUE DILIGENCE, SENDING IT TO COUNCIL ALL AT ONCE.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE MOTION THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
AND, UM, UM, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISE YOUR HAND.
YOU, UM, YOU, YOU CHALLENGE US EVERY TIME YOU COME.
I MAY THIS REMIND THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU HAVE, UH, THREE EXPIRING SEATS ON THE GREEN SPACE EFFECTIVE JUNE 30TH.
SO AT YOUR, WHICH YOU COULD TAKE UP AT YOUR NEXT MEETING IS APPOINTMENTS TO THAT GEO GEOGRAPHY SEAT, WHICH IS SORT OF THE THREE SEATS YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL DELEGATE, UH, DESIGNATED, EXCUSE ME.
AND YOUR DELEGATION DESIGNATED MR. MC MCMILLAN CURRENTLY SERVING IN THAT ROLE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, SENATOR DAVIS.
NOW, I WAS TRYING TO GET TO NUMBER 10.
QUICK, UH, JUST A TECHNICAL UPDATE.
WE'VE GOT SOME WIFI INTERFERENCE ON THE MICROPHONE, SO IF YOU COULD THE LITTLE, UH, BUTTON TO THE RIGHT ON YOUR MICROPHONES.
THEY KEEP TRYING TO SHUT THEMSELVES OFF TO RESET FOR THE INTERFERENCE.
SO, LONG STORY SHORT, IF YOU HIT THAT LITTLE BIT, JUST TURN EVERYTHING OFF.
IF THEY CUT BACK OFF, JUST HIT THAT BUTTON.
[01:10:01]
FLEW BACK.WHY IS I COMING BACK OFF HERS? WHY IS I COMING BACK ON? NO, I HIT THE RIGHT ON THE RIGHT.
UM, WELL, WE CAN MOVE THE AGENDA.
[10. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP FOR 11 ACRES LOCATED ON BURNT CHURCH ROAD (R600 039 000 1552 0000, R600 039 000 0056 0000, R600 039 000 0269 0000) FROM T3 HAMLET NEIGHBORHOOD (T3HN) AND T4 HAMLET CENTER (T4HC) TO T3 NEIGHBORHOOD (T3N)- (FISCAL IMPACT: n/a) - Robert Merchant, AICP, Director, Beaufort County Planning and Zoning]
ENTERTAIN NUMBER ON NUMBER 10.UH, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP FOR 11 ACRES LOCATED ON BURNT CHURCH ROAD, UM, FROM T THREE TO A HAMLET NEIGHBORHOOD AND T FOUR HAMLET CENTER TO A T THREE NE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? YES.
UM, SO I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION.
OKAY, MR. PASSMAN, I'LL SECOND THAT.
SO, UM, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TODAY IS A PROPOSED ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FOR 11 ACRES.
IT SITS ON THE EAST SIDE OF BURN CHURCH ROAD AT THE CORNER OF ALMER ROAD IN BURN CHURCH ROAD.
AND IT'S MADE UP OF THREE PARCELS.
UH, CURRENTLY TWO MOBILE HOME PARKS ARE LOCATED ON THAT SITE AND THE PROPERTY IS SPLIT ZONE.
SO THE FRONT PORTION THAT FRONTS ALONG BURN CHURCH ROAD IS ZONED T FOUR HAMLET CENTER.
AND THE REAR PORTION OF THE PROPERTY, I MEAN IF YOU TAKE THE WHOLE 11 ACRES, IS ZONED T THREE NEIGHBOR OR, UM, T THREE HAMLET NEIGHBORHOOD, AS YOU COULD SEE ON THE, THE MAP AT THE TOP.
SO THE APPLICANT, THEY ORIGINALLY CAME TO AN SRT MEETING, A STAFF REVIEW TEAM MEETING TO LOOK AT DEVELOPING THIS PROPERTY INTO A SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION.
AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SPLIT ZONING BECAUSE IT PUTS THE TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF STANDARDS ACROSS THE PROPERTY.
AND IN ADDITION, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE MAP CAREFULLY, THE, THE ZONING BOUNDARY DOES NOT FOLLOW THE CURRENT PARCEL BOUNDARIES.
UM, THEY FOLLOWED A FORMER PARCEL BOUNDARY THAT WAS DONE AWAY WITH, BUT THE ZONING LINES DON'T MOVE.
SO IT CREATED A, A, I GUESS A DOUBLY AWKWARD SITUATION FOR THE, THE APPLICANT.
SO WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS TO CHOOSE THE, BASICALLY SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE.
SO IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO DISTRICTS, THE T FOUR HAMLET NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER IS ON THE FRONT ON BURN CHURCH ROAD AND T THREE HAMLET NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN THE MIDDLE, THERE'S A DISTRICT CALLED T THREE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT'S, I WOULD SAY IT'S A GOOD HALFWAY POINT BETWEEN THOSE TWO DISTRICTS.
AND WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS TO REZONE THE ENTIRE PROPERTY THAT T THREE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN A WAY, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS DOWN ZONING THE FRONT PORTION AND UPZONING THE REAR PORTION.
AND THEY'VE PROVIDED THE APPLICATION TO BUILD A 50 LOT SUBDIVISION, UH, WITH LOTS, UM, AVERAGING ABOUT A HUNDRED, UH, 50 FEET BY A HUNDRED FEET.
SO YOU COULD SEE THAT IN THE PROPOSED.
HOWEVER, THIS IS SIMPLY A STRAIGHTFORWARD MAP AMENDMENT THAT THAT WAS PROVIDED AS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM TO SHOW THE, WHAT THEY INTENDED TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, IT'S REALLY, UM, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 40, UH, MOBILE HOMES IN THE TWO MOBILE HOME PARKS.
AND I'M NOT CERTAIN EXACTLY HOW MANY ARE OCCUPIED, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE OF WHAT IS THERE CURRENTLY AND WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED, IT'S, IT'S VERY SIMILAR.
HOWEVER, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE APPLICANTS, EVEN WITHOUT THIS REZONING, THEY COULD DEVELOP HIGHER DENSITY ALONG THE FRONT AND DO MULTIFAMILY AND THEN DEVELOP SINGLE FAMILY AT THE, UH, AT THE REAR PORTION OR EVEN DUPLEXES.
SO IT'S NOT THAT THE PROPERTY IS NOT DEVELOPABLE, BUT IT'S THEIR INTENT IN DOING A SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION IS FACILITATED BY MAKING THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT.
UH, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS STAFF, YOU KNOW, THIS DID NOT TRIGGER A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS BECAUSE WE GO BY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXISTING ZONING AND A PROPOSED ZONING.
IF IT TRIGGERS MORE THAN 50 PEAK HOUR TRIPS, THAT TRIGGERS A-A-T-I-A AND THIS, IN THIS CASE IT DID NOT.
UM, AND THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY SET, UH, SERVED BY SEWER AND WATER,
[01:15:01]
UM, STAFF.IT'S, AS FAR AS STAFF RECOMMENDATION, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
UM, THE PROPERTY IS SPLIT ZONED ALONG CURRENT PROPERTY LINES.
THE CURRENT ZONING DOES NOT ALLOW FOR CONSISTENT DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE PROPERTIES.
AND, UM, THE REZONING IS AN UPZONING OF SIX ACRES DOWN ZONING OF FIVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, STAFF MADE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THEIR APRIL 7TH MEETING, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
AND I WILL SAY IN THE DISCUSSION, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS THAT THIS WOULD RESULT IF THEY DEVELOP THE PROPERTY INTO DISPLACEMENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE, THE MOBILE HOME PARK.
AND SO THAT IS A CONSIDERATION.
THEY COULD DEVELOP THE PROPERTY WITH THE CURRENT ZONING.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THIS PARTICULAR ACTION MAY FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT QUICKER.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR, UM, THIS COMMITTEE TO KNOW IN MAKING ITS, UH, RECOMMENDATION.
WITH THAT, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
ANY QUESTION FROM YES, MS. WHAT IS A NON-CONFORMING MOBILE HOME PARK? WELL, THE, THE, SO MOBILE HOME PARKS ARE PERMITTED MM-HMM
SO THE TWO DISTRICTS WHERE THESE MOBILE HOME PARKS ARE CURRENTLY, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED, DON'T PERMIT MOBILE HOME PARKS.
SO THEY'RE PUT, PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN'T REALLY EXPAND BEYOND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.
MS. BROWN, UM, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE, THE ZONINGS CHANGED BECAUSE THEY NEED TO MATCH, RIGHT? LIKE THE TT R I'M SORRY, T FOUR HCT THREE HN, IT NEEDS TO BE, IT'S CHANGED T THREE NT THREE N TO SO IT MATCHES.
SO THERE'S NOT ALL THIS OTHER ZONING, IS THAT RIGHT? YES.
THEY'RE, THEY WANNA DO A CONSISTENT DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE PROPERTY.
WHAT YOU HAVE IS A, UM, A DOWN ZONING IN CERTAIN PARCEL AND THEN AN UPZONING IN THE OTHER.
UM, IS, IS, IS WHAT I'M HEARING.
SO IT'S CHOOSING, THERE'S A DISTRICT THAT'S IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CHOOSING.
ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERN? MY, I MY ONLY CONCERN, UH, NOT KNOWING, UM, AND THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION GOING BEFORE COUNSEL ANYWAY, SO NOT KNOWING, UH, THIS DISPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME.
I DON'T, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT HOMES AND YOU HAVE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A MOBILE HOME PARK, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE DEVELOPING CONTINUOUSLY SMALLER LOTS TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE 50, UH, UNITS THERE.
I MEAN, THEY'RE GONNA BE LESS THAN A THOU 10,000 SQUARE FEET PER LOT, UM MM-HMM
AND, AND SO THAT DISPLACEMENT OF THOSE FAMILIES, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FAMILIES, UH, THAT THAT WILL BE DISPLACED.
I MEAN, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THEM IN A TIME WHERE YOU HAVE AVAILABILITY HOMES, UM, NOT THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN RIGHT NOW.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED AT THIS TIME, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DISPLACING THOSE FAMILIES.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT IS STU SCHOOL CHILDREN OR WHOM, OR ELDERLY OR WHAT, BUT SOMEBODY'S STAYING THERE AT THOSE MOBILE HOMES AND STUFF.
AND IT'D BE GOOD TO KNOW THAT NUMBER BEFORE, UM, COUNCIL MEETING IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
I MEAN, JUST BY LOOKING AT THE MAP AND THE ADDRESSES, THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP.
I COUNTED 39, BUT THAT'S NOT A, YEAH.
THAT'S THERE NOW THERE MAY BE MORE THAN THAT.
'CAUSE IT'S THAT, THAT WILL HAVE TO BE, THEY HAVE TO FIND SOME PLACE TO STAY.
WELL, I MEAN, IF THAT'S, IF THE PROPERTY OWNER SELLS IT AND THEY WANNA REDEVELOP, THEN YES, THAT WOULD BE A CONSEQUENCE.
WHOSE DISTRICT IS THIS IN? MARK LAWSON'S? THIS IS MARK RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF MINE.
MARK, HAS HE HAD ANY INPUT? HAS HE MET WITH THESE PEOPLE? HE, DOES HE KNOW THESE FAMILIES THAT ARE GONNA BE DISPLACED? I'D HAVE TO ASK HIM.
WELL, I'M SAYING, IS THAT FEEDBACK YOU HAVE AT ALL NOW OR NO, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT, ROB? OKAY.
UM, I DIDN'T THINK THERE'S, YOU'RE SAYING 39 HOMES BACK THERE.
'CAUSE I THOUGHT ONLY LIKE FOUR OR FIVE.
WELL, THERE'S, UM, IT'S, IT'S SEVERAL ROWS OF MOBILE HOMES DEEP.
SO THERE'S A, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
[01:20:01]
MAP, THE, THE FRONT PORTION, THERE'S A MOBILE HOME PARK THERE, AND THEN THERE'S ONE IN THE BACK THAT COMES OFF OF, UM, IS THAT DEVON WOOD OR, UH, COMES OFF OF ULMER ROAD, I BELIEVE.UM, ARE THESE, DO YOU KNOW IF THESE MOBILE HOMES ARE OWNED BY THE OWNER OR ARE THEY RENTAL MOBILE HOMES? IT'S RENTAL.
THESE ARE TWO MOBILE HOME PARKS.
BY THE OWNER OR THE PROPOSED OWNER.
UM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
YEAH, I MEAN, I WOULD ASSUME IT IS BY THE PERSON WHO'S SELLING THE PROPERTY OR THEY'VE SOLD IT, BUT THAT I, I DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT INFORMATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTION FOR MR. MERCHANT? THE MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR IS TO, UM, WE HAVE TO GO AHEAD.
I'M, I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT WE RECOMMEND TO COUNSEL THAT WE GRANT THE REQUEST FOR REZONING FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
ONE, IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE CODE AND THE PURPOSES OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE.
TWO, IT IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH PROVISIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE OR OUR CODE OF ORDINANCE THREE.
IT DOES, IT DOES NOT ADDRESS A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED.
IT IS NOT REQUIRED BY CHANGE CONDITIONS.
IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH EXISTING AND PROPOSED USE OF LAND SURROUNDING.
IT WOULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT NEARBY LAND.
IT WOULD RESULT IN LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS.
IT WOULD NOT RESULT IN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND IT WOULD RESULT IN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ADEQUATELY SERVED BY THE PUBLIC FACILITIES.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? OKAY.
UM, THOSE IN FAVOR, THE MOTION THAT'S SET BEFORE US, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED, I'M GONNA SAY NO AT THIS TIME UNTIL WE GET THE FEEDBACK FROM MR. LAWSON AND HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE.
I KNOW THIS WILL GO FORWARD, SO I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
SO YOU, YOU'RE VOTING AGAINST IT.
AND, UM, ONE OF, UM, ABSTENTION, I'M, I'M ABSTAINING RIGHT NOW, SO IT PASSES MM-HMM
[11. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP FOR 86.56 ACRES LOCATED AT 98 JENNINGS ROAD (R100 028 000 0264 0000) FROM T2 RURAL (T2R) TO T3 HAMLET NEIGHBORHOOD (T3HN) AND T4 HAMLET County Council Agenda – Beaufort County, SCCENTER (T4HC) UTILIZING THE HAMLET PLACE TYPE OVERLAY (PTO) (FISCAL IMPACT: n/a) - Robert Merchant, AICP, Director, Beaufort County Planning and Zoning]
WE ARE AT NUMBER 11 AND, UM, I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE ZONING MAP FOR 86.56 ACRES LOCATED AT 98 JENNINGS ROAD.UM, FROM FROM T-R-T-R-T TWO R TO T THREE HAMLET NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, ANDT, RHN HAM, HAMLET NEIGHBORHOOD, AND TRTT FOUR HAMLET CENTER, UH, UTILIZING THE HAM HAMLET PLACE TYPE OVERLAY DISTRICT.
IT IS BEEN MOTION AND SECONDED, UH, MR. MERCHANT, YOU OWN OKAY.
SO I THINK SOME OF, MOST OF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS REZONING BECAUSE THEY CAME ABOUT A YEAR AGO WITH ITS, UH, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF REZONING AT THAT TIME.
WHAT THEY WERE PROPOSING TO DO, AND I GUESS I'LL BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.
THIS PROPERTY IS LO IT'S, UM, 86 ACRES LOCATED AT 98 JENNINGS ROAD.
SO THIS SITS IN THE BURTON AREA, BASICALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.
AND, UH, THE CURRENT ZONING OF THE PROPERTY IS T TWO RURAL.
SO IT'S THAT GOT GREEN THERE THAT IT'S SURROUNDED BY, UH, C3 EXCUSE.
UM, AND WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO IS TO USE THE PLACE TYPE OVERLAY, WHICH IS A PROVISION AND OUR CODE THAT ALLOWS THEM PROPERTY OF COUNTY THAT IS IDENTIFIED AS A LOCATION OF A PLACE TYPE, AN AREA WHERE THEY'RE, IT'S RECOMMENDING A HIGHER DENSITY, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A PLACE TYPE OVERLAY.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THERE IS A, IT'S A LITTLE MORE DETAILED THAN A STANDARD REZONING WHERE,
[01:25:01]
UM, THE APPLICANT BASICALLY PLANS THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS, LAYS OUT THE STREETS, AND THEN CHOOSES ZONING DISTRICTS BASED ON OUR TRANS ZONES.AND IN THAT SECTION OF OUR CODE THAT THAT DEALS WITH THE PLACE TYPE OVERLAY, THERE IS A PRESCRIPTION OR PERCENTAGE OF DIFFERENT DISTRICTS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE TYPE OF PLACE THAT, THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
SO THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO USE THE HAMLET PLACE TYPE PROVISION THIS TIME.
SO THIS, THE LAST TIME THAT THEY CAME THROUGH, WHICH WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, UH, THEY WERE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM T TWO RURAL TO C3 NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE MADE AT THE STAFF LEVEL AND, AND ALSO FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS THAT THE CONFERENCE OF PLAN IDENTIFIES THIS AS A PLACE TYPE.
AND SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THEY USE THAT.
UM, SO THIS WENT TO FIRST READING OF COUNTY COUNCIL WAS VOTED, YOU KNOW, WAS NOT PASSED AT THAT POINT.
AND SO I, I BELIEVE THIS WAS JUNE OF 2024.
SO THE APPLICANT HAS NOW COME BACK TO UTILIZE THE PLACE TYPE OVERLAY.
SO OUR ORDINANCE DOES SAY THAT IF COUNSEL VOTES SOMETHING DOWN, THAT THE APPLICANT CAN'T COME BACK FOR A YEAR WITH AN IDENTICAL PROPOSAL.
BUT STAFF, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL THAT IS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD BECAUSE THEY USE THAT PLACE TYPE OVERLAY.
UH, SO WHAT THIS WOULD RESULT IN IS, UM, THE ZONING THAT IS CLOSEST TO BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL ALONG JENNINGS ROADS.
THEY'RE PROPOSING A T FOUR HAMLET CENTER.
THE BALANCE OF THE PROPERTY WOULD BE T THREE HAMLET NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND AS YOU COULD SEE IN THE PACKETS CORRESPONDING WITH THAT, THEY'VE SUBMITTED, UH, A THOROUGHFARE PLAN, WHICH SHOWS THE, THE STREET NETWORK.
AND WHAT THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO DO IS IN THE T FOUR HAMLET CENTER TO DEVELOP TOWNHOUSES AND, UM, HIGHER DENSITY OR SMALLER LOT SINGLE FAMILY WITH THE BALANCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT T THREE HAMLET NEIGHBORHOOD BEING SINGLE FAMILY, UH, UH, DWELLINGS.
SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A COMBINATION OF, UH, DIFFERENT INTENSITIES OF DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT THE PLACE TYPE OVERLAY DISTRICT IS MEANT TO, UM, TO FACILITATE IT IS, YOU KNOW, ALSO WITH THAT, IT, IT FACILITATES A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, UH, DEVELOPMENT SO THAT THE HIGHER DENSITY, UM, LOTS, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE ADDRESSING THE STREET WITH SIDEWALKS AND, AND, AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A STEP UP FROM MORE OF A CON CONVENTIONAL SUBDIVISION.
UM, SO THAT IS WHAT IS BEING BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL AT THIS POINT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DISCUSS AND ALSO OUR TRANSPORTATION OR TRAFFIC ENGINEER, UM, KEVIN SULLIVAN IS HERE, OR TRA I'M SORRY, TRANSPORTATION PLANNER IS HERE.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, TO ADDRESS THE TIA, BUT THIS WAS BROUGHT UP IN A PUBLIC COMMENT AND I THINK THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND AND IT'S THAT THERE IS A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMING IN THIS AREA.
AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS ORDINANCE IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS.
UM, THERE IS, IS IN MY COUNTY, JUST LOOKING AT, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY AND ALSO IN, IN UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT COUNTY, THERE'S OVER 2300 MULTIFAMILY AND TOWNHOUSES, I WOULD SAY WITH WITHIN A ONE MILE RADIUS OF THAT INTERSECTION BETWEEN PARIS ISLAND GATEWAY AND ONE 70.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT COMING IN THAT AREA.
I THINK IF MOST OF YOU, IF YOU'VE BEEN DRIVE, DROVE IN FROM THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, YOU WOULD SEE THE MULTIFAMILY THAT'S OVER BY, UM, THE, UH, COPELAND FUNERAL HOME, THAT AREA.
UH, SO A LOT OF IT IS OVER IN THAT PORTION.
THERE ARE OVER ABOUT A THOUSAND MULTI-FAMILY UNITS BEING PROPOSED ALONG BROAD RIVER BOULEVARD, AND THAT IS CLOSER TO THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WELL THAT THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A COLLECTIVE, UM, INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.
AND SO WITH THAT, I WANTED TO, UM, KEVIN, DID YOU WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS? YEAH.
SO LIKE, UH, LIKE ROB WAS MENTIONING, UM, THE TIA, UM, HAS BEEN DONE.
[01:30:01]
A BARRAGE OF DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN PROPERLY ANALYZE WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE LAND USE LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT THE TRIP GENERATION LEVEL.UM, BUT ONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE APPROVED DEVELOPMENTS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IN A TYPICAL TIA, UM, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY, WHICH IS EXISTING CONDITIONS IF NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN.
AND THEN WE LOOK AT APPROVED DEVELOPMENTS AND THEN WE, ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, THEN WE PUT THE ACTUAL SITE TRIP GENERATIONS ON THAT AS WELL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST TO, YOU KNOW, UH, TO GO OVER WHAT ROB WAS SAYING, THERE IS A, UH, AN, AN ANTICIPATION, OR BETTER YET AN APPETITE FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT, UM, IN THE PARTICULAR AREA.
UM, OF COURSE THIS TIA LOOKED AT, UM, SOME, SOME CRITICAL INTERSECTIONS.
UM, UH, YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY HEARD THIS SPEECH BEFORE, UM, THE LEVEL OF SERVICES, UM, AT A COUPLE OF THEM WERE CONCERNING.
UM, BUT WE HAVE, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE TIA, UM, WITH RESPECT TO, UH, A COLLECTIVE, UM, PARSING OUT OF, UM, THE COST TO ACTUALLY, UH, FUND ONE OF THOSE ACTUAL, UM, TRAFFIC MITIGATION IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.
ANY QUESTION FOR MR. SULLIVAN? I, GO AHEAD.
WELL, I THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE FOR ROB.
HE'S NOT, HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
WAS THAT THE INITIAL MEETINGS WHEN THEY DID THEIR FIRST ROUND BACK IN JUNE, I GUESS A YEAR AGO? THAT WAS, UH, THAT WAS THIS YEAR.
IF, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE, THE TIA THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THIS YEAR THIS, SO THIS IS THE SECOND TIA THEY'VE DONE, CORRECT.
AND I I, I APPRECIATE THAT THEY TOOK, TOOK IT AND DID IT AGAIN, AGAIN, I GUESS IS THE RIGHT WORDS.
UM, AND THIS IS THE FINAL DRAFT.
UH, WILL THERE BE A FINAL TIA ARE THEY WAITING ON COMMENTS? THIS IS THE FINAL DRAFT? YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, UM, UM, UH, IT GIVES US A LOT MORE INFORMATION THAN THE FIRST ONE DID.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE, UH, SULLIVAN, UM, YOU, ME FOR HIM? YES.
I JUST, I HAVE ONE, MY LAST QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE TII HAVE A CONSTITUENT THAT WANTED ME TO ASK THIS QUESTION.
UM, IS THE TIA ONLY REQUIRED WHEN THERE IS A ZONING CHANGE? NO.
IF YOU HAVE 15 ACRES AND YOU WANNA OPEN A SMALL STORE, WOULD THAT BE ALLOWED IN A ZONING IF THE STORE GENERATES MORE TRAFFIC THAN THEIR HOUSES? THE, THE ORDINANCE IS BASED OFF OF THE TRIP GENERATION.
SO WE WOULD GO THROUGH, UM, THE ITE TRIP GENERATION AND SEE HOW MUCH TRIPS IT GENERATE.
UM, I'M PRETTY SURE, UM, THE STORE WOULD, I MEAN
SO THAT'S LIKE THE METRIC THAT WE WOULD USE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE HOW MANY TRIPS IT WOULD CREATE.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO A TIA FOR THIS IF THEY WANTED LIKE A STORE ON THE PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T GO OVER.
YEAH, NO, HE ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
WELL, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE GET INTO HYPOTHETICALS, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE UNDERLYING ZONING AND WHAT THE BUYER RIGHTS ARE.
THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES WHEN YOU GET INTO HYPOTHETICALS THAT IT'S HARD TO SAY YES OR NO, THAT SOMETHING WOULD BE REQUIRED.
SO IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC LOT THAT YOU WANT TO, UH, WANT FOR STAFF TO ADDRESS, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO WORK THE NUMBERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON THAT.
UM, IF NOT, WHATEVER THE PARAMETERS WE CAN WORK THROUGH.
UH, ANY HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO YOU WANT US TO, WOULD YOU ANSWER THE STUFF ABOUT THE ORDINANCE OR WOULD THAT BE ROB? YEAH, GO.
'CAUSE I IS OKAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT I ASKED.
I WANTED TO ASK MR. SULLIVAN A QUESTION, BUT I CAN ASK ROB THE SAME QUESTION.
NO, GO AHEAD AND ANSWER, ANSWER A QUESTION BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS GO.
UM, IN THE ORDINANCE ON THIRD PARAGRAPH DOWN, I THINK IT SAYS, STATES THAT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ENCOURAGES HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT AND WALKABLE URBAN NODES AS OPPOSED TO LOW DENSITY SPRAWL AND DESIGNATES THE SITE AS A LOCATION TO IMPLEMENT A HAMLET PLACE TYPE.
AND WHAT GOES ON THE NEXT ONE? SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS A LOW DENSITY? WHAT IS LOW DENSITY DENSITY SPRAWL? WHAT IS THAT? SO I THINK THAT THE COMP, THE, IT WOULD BE
[01:35:01]
COMPARING A, IF YOU SIMPLY HAD LOWER DENSITY, UH, RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OVER A LARGE AREA, OVERALL THE IMPACTS COULD BE GREATER ON, UH, OR ROADS BECAUSE THERE ARE, THIS WOULD BE COMPLETELY AUTO ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CONCERNS.UM, SO, AND IT WOULD ALSO, IF YOU HAVE HIGHER DENSITY NODES, THEN THAT ALLOWS FOR PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE IN BETWEEN THOSE.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF CHOOSING A MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT WHERE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, A KIND OF A WALKABLE COMMUNITY AND THEN MAYBE, UM, OPEN SPACE AND THEN ANOTHER WALKABLE COMMUNITY.
SO LIKE A LARGE PIECE OF LAND AND A FEW HOUSES, IS THAT ITY SPRAWL? IS THAT, YEAH.
I DON'T NEED, WE DON'T NEED TO GO INTO DETAILS.
UM, MY SECOND QUESTION IS NUMBER THREE, IT SAYS DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED.
HOW IS THIS DETERMINED? IT DOES ADDRESS A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED.
HOW IS THAT DETERMINED? WELL, IT'S A VERY BROAD CATEGORY.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE BASING THIS ON AS FAR AS THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN ENTERING INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH COUNCIL.
AND ACTUALLY THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WAS SUBMITTED LAST WEEK AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF, WE, WE GO THROUGH A CHECKING FOR COMPLETENESS, SO I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THE SPECIFICS, BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED INFORMATION TO US ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF PROVISIONS THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND SO THROUGH THAT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UM, PROPOSING TO OFFER WORKFORCE HOUSING, UH, UP TO 10 UNITS, UM, $2,500, UM, DOWN PAYMENTS OR CLOSING CREDIT ASSISTANCE AND, UH, MONEY TOWARD REHAB FOR, UM, EXISTING STRUCTURES IN THE AREA.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WOULD BE BETTER QUESTIONS ASKED TO THE APPLICANT OR THINGS THAT COULD BE WORKED THROUGH IF COUNSEL DECIDES TO, YOU KNOW, ENTER INTO THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
BUT, SO THAT'S WHY WE CHECK THAT BOX SIMPLY BECAUSE THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, IN PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BRA
ANY OTHER QUESTION, MR. TAB? SO, UM, I NOTICED THE TIA AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND YOU, IT SAYS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS NOTIFIED SINCE ISN'T NEAR BATTERY CREEK.
DID THEY HAVE ANY COMMENT? UM, I DON'T BELIEVE WE GOT ANY COMMENTS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THIS.
PARTICULAR THAT MEANS THEY'RE COPACETIC WITH IT THEN? YES.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICANT ACTUALLY SAID THAT, UM, THAT, UH, THIS HAVE IT THROUGH THIS, SO, YEAH.
AND DOES THE, DO WE HEAR FROM THE DEVELOPER OR NOT? THAT'S UP TO, DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS? I DON'T KNOW.
YEAH, WE CAN, I MEAN, WE WILL LET HIM, LET'S LET STAFF FINISH AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE DEVELOPER IF THE DEVELOPER IS HERE.
SO, UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ROB MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD SUBMITTED THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND I INQUIRED OF THE ATTORNEY IF YOU WANTED TO MATCH THEM UP LIKE WE'RE DOING
SO WE'LL JUST PROCEED ON OUR COURSE WITH THIS FROM HERE TO COUNSEL.
UH, AND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WILL PROCEED ON ITS NORMAL COURSE UNLESS THEY ASK US TO, UH, HOLD UP THE FIRST READ COUNCIL OR SECOND READ SOME POINT.
ANY, YEAH, I'LL, I'LL JUST SUMMARIZE OUR RECOMMENDATION AND THEN IF, AND THEN I'LL, I ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS.
UM, SO WE BASICALLY STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL UNDER THE CONDITIONS THAT THE APPLICANT WORK WITH COUNTY COUNCIL THROUGH A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SO CONDITIONED UPON THAT, UM, IN THAT PROCESS, WE WOULD NEED TO ENSURE, AND WE'RE JUST RECOMMENDING AS, AS COUNCIL CONSIDERS A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, ADEQUATE, AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE BEING OFFERED, UM, AND AT A COST ATTAINABLE TO NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE APPLICANT, YOU KNOW, SO BASICALLY THE, THEY MEET THE, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS FAR AS THE LOCATION OF THE SITE, IT MEETS OUR FUTURE LAND USE SCHOOLS.
IN ADDITION, THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PLACE TYPE OVERLAY.
UM, AND THEY'VE SUBMITTED THAT DRAFT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
[01:40:01]
LAST COMMENT HERE ABOUT THE ALTERATIONS TO STANDARDS ALLOWED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER ON AND AND STAFF HAS BEEN PRETTY ADAMANT THAT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, YOU CAN'T ALTER STANDARDS.
AND THAT LANGUAGE IS NOT IN THE CURRENT DRAFT THAT I, THAT I'VE SEEN.
WE'RE, WE'RE STILL MAKING THAT STATEMENT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S IMPORTANT IN MOVING FORWARD, UM, ABOUT, UH, IF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DOES, UH, MOVE FORWARD.
UM, SO STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.
IN ADDITION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, REVIEWED THIS AT THEIR MAY 5TH MEETING.
UM, AND AT THAT TIME, UH, THEY A MOTION TO, UM, UM, RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
THE DEVELOPMENT FAILED, UM, ONLY TWO, FOUR AND SIX, SIX OF THOSE.
AND THEN LATER ON IN THE MEETING, UM, THEY MADE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE APPLICATION BASED ON REVIEW STANDARDS, UM, 1, 4, 5, AND SEVEN NOT BEING MET.
AND THAT MOTION PASSED SEVEN ONE.
SO PLANNING COMMISSION BASICALLY RECOMMENDS TO NOT, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT, IF IT'S OKAY, MR. CHAIR, GO AHEAD.
THEY, UM, SAID, NUMBER 1, 1 4 5 7 MM-HMM
SO I, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR DOCUMENT.
NUMBER ONE IS CONSISTENT WITH AND FURTHERS THE GOAL, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
AND YOUR DOCUMENT SAYS, YES, A REZONING OF THIS PROPERTY IMPLEMENTING THE HAMLET PTO IS THE FUTURE LAND DESIGNATION OF THE PARCEL.
SO THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE? YES.
AND THEN NUMBER SEVEN WOULD RESULT IN A LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERN, AND YOU SAY, YES, THE RE REGULATING PLAN PLACES A HIGHER DENSITY ALONG JENNINGS ROAD, WHICH PLACES IT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY BATTERY CREEK.
SO YOU'RE RECOMMENDING ONE IN SEVEN ARE APPROPRIATE? YES.
I JUST WANT, 'CAUSE I, I WATCHED THE VIDEO OF IT.
AND THEN I LOOKED AT THIS AND THEY CONTRADICT YES.
SO I MEAN, WE'RE, UH, WE, WE RECOMMEND PROVIDE A REVIEW THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY MAKE THEIR OWN RECOMMENDATION BASED ON, OKAY.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTION FOR MR. MERCHANT? UM, THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE RIGHT NOW, UM, IS, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, TRAFFIC IMPACT.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA ALREADY COMPLAINING ABOUT TRAFFIC, PARTICULARLY THE, UM, OPENING AND CLOSING OF SCHOOLS AND TRYING TO GET AROUND AND NAVIGATE THOSE AREAS AND STUFF IN.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY CONCERN I, I REALLY HAVE.
UM, I DID READ THE, UM, COMMENTS THAT THE DEVELOPER USED MADE AND STUFF AND SAID THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS BELOW CAPACITY.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR THAT FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IF WE CAN, UH, ASK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THIS DEVELOPMENT MAY HAVE ON THEM.
UH, ARE THOSE SCHOOLS UNDER CAPACITATED AT THIS TIME? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
I I, I DON'T WANNA PUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THE SPOT, BUT CAN THEY SPEAK TO THE CAPACITY OF BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL AND BROAD RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF THEY'RE UNDER OR OVER OR? SO YOU'RE ON THE SPOT.
I'M CAROL CRUTCHFIELD, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, SO WE HAVE NOT BEEN APPROACHED BY THE DEVELOPERS, SO WE HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY INFORMATION, I WOULD SAY AT BATTERY CREEK.
THIS IS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
OUR DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE ON MASTER PLAN, WHICH OUTLINES ALL THOSE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
BATTERY CREEK IS BELOW CAPACITY.
BROAD RIVER IS RIGHT ABOUT WHERE WE LIKE IT IN OUR TARGET RANGE.
UM, ROBERT SMALLS, UH, LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, WHICH IS WHERE, UM, PART OF THOSE STUDENTS, AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE ZONE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY WOULD GO TO THAT, UM, THAT CAPACITY BUILDING.
SO THAT'S, AND, AND WE DO OWN THAT ROAD.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BASEMENTS ON THAT ROAD.
AGAIN, WE'VE NOT BEEN WHICH ROAD? JENNINGS ROAD.
OH, AGAIN, WE, WE'VE HAVE BEEN APPROACH.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
ROB MERCHANT, YOU FOR MR. MERCHANT? YES.
UH, MS. BROWN HAS ONE MORE, ONE MORE QUESTIONS.
[01:45:01]
'CAUSE I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.NUMBER THREE SAYS, DOES NOT ADDRESS A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED.
HOW DOES STAFF DEFINE A COMMUNITY NEED? ON PAGE 44, IT DOES SAYING DOES NOT ADDRESS A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED.
SO MY QUESTION, WHERE DOES IT TAKE FOUND, DOES STAFF TO FIND A COMMUNITY NEED, WHEN YOU SAY DOES NOT ADDRESS, WHAT ARE YOU READING FROM? THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
IT'S UNDERLYING DOES NOT ADDRESS.
I DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED.
I'M JUST WONDERING HOW KNEW HOW PAGE FIND THAT.
I HAVE, IT DOES ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE GOT PAULA LOOK AT PAGE 44.
I PAGE YEAH, SIR, I GET THE WRONG THING.
PAGE 42 IS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
PAGE 49 HAS HIS RECOMMENDATION AND OKAY.
I'M STARTING TO REZONING REQUEST.
UH, MR. MERCHANT, APPRECIATE YOU.
WELL, AT THIS TIME WE HEAR FROM THE DEVELOPERS.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO CALL ON, SO I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG THING.
AND, UH, AND YES, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS DILIGENTLY FOR, UH, FOR A GOOD WHILE NOW TO MAKE SURE WE BRING A GREAT PRODUCT.
SHE PULLS UP THE PRESENTATION HERE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR 98 INNINGS.
THIS PROPOSAL REPRESENTS MORE THAN CHANGE IN ZONING, IS A THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE TO VISION AND RESPONSIBILITY OUTLINED IN THE 2040 BEAUFORT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS THE COUNTY'S GUIDING DOCUMENT REFERRED TO AS THE PLAYBOOK FOR SHAPING OUR FUTURE.
THE PLAN CALLS FOR INTENTIONAL, INCLUSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
IT HOLDS BOTH STAFF AND LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALIGNING DECISIONS WITH THE LONG-TERM WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS REZONING REQUEST AND EMBRACES THAT VISION.
IT INTRODUCES THE HAM, A HAMLET PLACE TYPE OVERLAY THAT SUPPORTS WALKABLE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, AND DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE COUNTY STATED NEED FOR WORKFORCE AND MISSILE AND MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.
THE HOUSING TYPES THAT ARE, ARE INCREASINGLY VITAL FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, MILITARY FAMILIES, AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTS ALIKE.
THE PROPOSAL IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND DESIGNED TO PRESERVE NATURAL RESOURCES WHILE ENHANCING CONNECTIVITY AND LIVABILITY.
IT ALSO INCLUDES COMMITMENTS TO AFFORDABLE AND REINVESTMENT IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IS A COMPARISON WITH THE STAFF NOTES, NARRATIVES FROM US, AND ALSO IN HOW WE ARE ALIGNED WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
NUMBER ONE, IT CONSISTENTLY IS NO CONFLICT IDENTIFIED STATES COMPATIBLE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT CODE AND ADJACENT ZONING.
AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE, WE ARE, UM, IN USE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THIS REZONING IS REQUEST IS FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE 2040 BEFORD COUNTY PLAN THAT SERVES AS THE COUNTY STRATEGIC VISION OF POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR GROWTH.
THE PROPOSED HAMLET PLACE TYPE OVERLAY DIRECTLY REFLECTS THE PLAN'S CALL FOR WALKABLE MIXED USE COMMUNITIES, AND SUPPORTS THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION FOR THIS PARCEL.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS NOT MERELY ASPIRATIONAL, IT'S A GUIDING DOCUMENT.
IT REQUIRES THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS AND DECISION ALIGNS WITH ITS GOALS.
AND THIS APPLICATION DOES JUST THAT.
BY INCORPORATING DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES, CIVIC SPACE AND CONNECTIVITY, THE PROPOSAL EMBODIES THE PLAN'S INTENT TO CREATE VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.
NUMBER TWO, CONFLICT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT CODE ORDINANCES NO CONFLICT IDENTIFIED.
THIS REZONING REQUEST DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH PROVISIONS OF A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE OR THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
IN FACT, IT SUPPORTS THE PLAN'S DIRECTIVE TO ALIGN ZONING DECISIONS WITH THE COUNTY'S VISION.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ON PAGE 1 37 EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR COORDINATION BETWEEN STAFF DEPARTMENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT THE ZONING AND LAND USE DECISIONS REFLECT THE GOALS OF THE PLAN.
THE PROPOSED PLACE TYPE OVERLAY IS A TOOL SPECIFICALLY ENCOURAGED IN THE PLAN, AS STATED ON PAGE 1 63 TO IMPLEMENT THE WALKABLE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IN APPROPRIATE AREAS.
NUMBER THREE, THE DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED.
THIS APPLICATION ADDRESSES A CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED FOR DIVERSE AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IDENTIFIES THE LACK OF WORKFORCE.
ENTRY LEVEL HOUSING IS A CRITICAL ISSUE AS ON 1 54, 1 55.
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THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES A MIX OF HOUSING TYPES AND A COMMITMENT TO WORKFORCE HOUSING DIRECTLY SUPPORTING THE PLAN'S CALL FOR ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO AFFORDABILITY AND EXPANDING HOUSING CHOICES FOR MILITARY FAMILIES, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTS.THE REQUIRE CHANGE BY CONDITIONS, AND THAT WAS JUST BROUGHT UP WHILE NOT DRIVEN BY A SINGLE EVENT.
THIS REZONING IS PROACTIVE RESPONSE TO INVOLVING CONDITIONS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, NAMELY POPULATION GROWTH, HOUSING DEMAND, AND THE NEED FOR MORE EFFICIENT LAND USE.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ENCOURAGES ADAPTING ZONE TO MEET THESE CHANGES, AS STATED ON PAGE 1 54 AND SUPPORTS THE REDEVELOPMENT, UH, UNDER UTILIZE THE LAND TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH AND SUSTAINABLE AND AN INCLUSIVE MANNER.
IMPORTANTLY, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS IDEALLY LOCATED WITH THE MINUTES OF MAJOR EMPLOYMENT CENTERS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SHOPPING AREAS, AND MEDIA FACILITIES.
THE PROXIMITY MAKES THIS A STRATEGIC SITE FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT SUPPORTS THE COUNTY GOALS OF REDUCING VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, IMPROVING ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY AND PROMOTING EQUITABLE GROWTH.
THE REZONING ENABLES THE COUNTY TO RESPOND TO CURRENT AND FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS IN A LOCATION THAT IS ALREADY WELL INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY FABRIC.
YOU SEE THE MAP HERE WHERE IT'S LOCATED WITHIN A 15, WITH UNDER 15 MINUTES, YOU CAN GET TO BOTH MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AS WELL AS, LIKE YOU SAID, RESTAURANTS, HOUSING WITHIN A FIVE MINUTE RADIUS, YOU'RE AT YOUR SHOPPING CENTERS FROM UNI, BEAUFORT SHOPPING CENTERS, THE WALMART, AND UH, GROCERY STORES AND RESTAURANTS.
NUMBER FIVE, COMPATIBILITY WITH SURROUNDING USES, COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEARBY RESIDENTIAL AND SCHOOL USES.
THE PROPOSED ZONING IS COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING LAND USES AND ZONING DESIGNATIONS, INCLUDING NEARBY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUPPORTS THIS TYPE OF TRANSITION BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS THROUGH THE PLACE TYPE PLANNING, ENSURING THAT THE NEW DEVELOPMENT COMPLIMENTS THE CHARACTER AND FUNCTION OF ADJACENT AREAS WHILE ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY COHESION.
NUMBER SIX, ADV INVEST ADVERSE EFFECTS ON NEARBY LANDS.
TRAFFIC IMPACT NOTED MITIGATION PLANNED.
WE WERE THE FIRST ONES TO BE IMPLEMENTED INTO THE NEW ORDINANCE WITH THE TRAFFIC STUDY.
SO THAT TRAFFIC STUDY WAS NINE INTERSECTIONS THAT WERE STUDIED AND PROPOSED BY THE COUNTY THEMSELVES.
SO UNDER THAT, THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS DESIGNATED TO MINIMIZE ADVERSE IMPACTS ON NEARBY PROPERTIES.
THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS WAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY COUNTY STAFF, AS WELL AS SOUTH CAROLINA.
DOT CONCLUDED THAT THE OVERALL TRAFFIC IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED REZONING WOULD BE VERY MINIMAL.
WHILE MITIGATION IS RECOMMENDED AT ONE INTERSECTION DUE TO THE OTHER PROJECTS, THE SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTION FROM THIS PROJECT IS NOT SIGNIFICANT.
ADDITIONALLY, THE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS SUCH AS STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION, AND NATURAL BUFFERS THAT THESE MEASURES ALIGN WITH.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN EMPHASIZE ON PROTECTING NATURAL SYSTEMS AND MANAGING GROWTH RESPONSIBLY.
NUMBER SEVEN, LOGICAL AND OR ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
HIGHER DENSITY PLACE NEAR SCHOOL AND ROADS.
THE REZONING SUPPORTS A LOGICAL AND ORDER DEVELOPMENT PATTERN BY PLACING THE HIGHER DENSITY NEAR THE INFRASTRUCTURE SCHOOLS AND ROADWAYS.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROMOTES THIS APPROACH THROUGH AN ADV ADVOCACY FOR WALKABLE CONNECTED NEIGHBORHOODS AND A STRATEGIC USE OF THE PLACE TYPE GUIDE GROWTH.
THE PROPOSED LAYOUT REFLECTS THESE PRINCIPLES AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE COHESIVE COMMUNITY FABRIC.
NUMBER EIGHT, ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT MUST COMPLY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.
THE DEVELOPMENT WILL COMPLY WITH ALL COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT CIVIC AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AREAS.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROVIDE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PRIORITIZES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND RESILIENCE, CALLING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT PROTECTS WATER QUALITY, WETLANDS, AND WILDLIFE.
THIS PROPOSAL MEETS OR EXCEEDS THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
AND NUMBER NINE, THE ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES AGENCIES NOTED NO ISSUES RAISED.
THE SITE IS WELL POSITIONED TO BE ER SERVED BY EXISTING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING ROADS, WATER, AND SEWER.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA WHERE SERVICES CAN BE EFFICIENTLY, UH, UH, EFFICIENT, UM, EFFICIENTLY EXTENDED OR ALREADY EXIST.
THIS ENSURES THAT GROWTH IS FISCAL AND RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE.
THAT IS WILL SERVE LETTERS FROM, UH, BEAUFORT, JASPER WATER AND SEWER.
SO, AS DEMONSTRATED, THIS REZONING REQUEST HAS BEEN CAREFULLY EVALUATED AGAINST ALL NINE ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS, REVIEW CRITERIA, AND HAS BEEN
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SHOWN TO MEET OR EXCEED EACH ONE.IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE 2040 BEFORD COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ALIGNS WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, AND SUPPORTS THE COUNTY'S VISION IN SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE, AND WELL CONNECTED COMMUNITIES.
THE PROPOSAL INTRODUCES WALKABLE MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ADDRESSES THE COUNTY'S URGENT NEED FOR WORKFORCE AND MISS MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, WHILE PRESERVING ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY AND MINIMIZING TRAFFIC IMPACTS AS CONFIRMED BY THE APPROVED TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A MEANINGFUL COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABILITY, CIVIC SPACE, AND REINVESTMENT IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS ZONING MAP AMENDMENT, SO WE MAY MOVE FORWARD WITH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY TO DELIVER A PROJECT THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES, PRIORITIES, AND LONG-TERM VISION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
ANY QUESTIONING? I I HAVE A QUESTION.
GO AHEAD, MS. FOR, UM, MR. HARBERT, IF WE CAN ATTACH CONDITIONS TO MOVING IT FORWARD, SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS, MA'AM.
UM, I WOULD ASK THAT WE MOVE THIS FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL, THAT WE GRANT THE REQUEST FOR REZONING FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
WITH THE CONDITION THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DOES NOT ALTER THE DISTRICT STANDARDS AND THAT AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS OFFERED AS FOLLOWS.
ONE, IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE CODE AND THE PURPOSES OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE.
TWO, IT IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE AND OR OUR CODE OF ORDINANCE THREE, IT DOES ADDRESS A DIS, UH, A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED.
UM, MY PERSONAL OPINION IS IT IS REQUIRED BY THE CHANGE CONDITIONS AS STATED.
FIVE IS COMPATIBLE WITH EXISTING AND PROPOSED USE OF LAND SURROUNDING THIS LAND WOULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEARBY LAND, WOULD RESULT IN LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS, WOULD NOT RESULT IN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND WOULD RESULT IN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ADEQUATELY SERVED BY PUBLIC FACILITIES.
IS THERE A SECONDED MOTION? I'LL SECOND IT.
OH, YOU GONNA SECOND? GO AHEAD.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OH, I JUST WANNA SAY ONE THING.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TOGETHER FOR, TO GO THROUGH EVEN BEFORE THIS TIME.
SO WE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, RIGHT? AND THEN IT GOES TO THE NEXT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, OR DO WE WAIT ON THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT? I'M, I'M NOT CLEAR ON THAT.
IT LEADS TO THE NEXT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING FOR APPROVAL.
RIGHT? NOT NEXT WEEK, BUT IN THREE WEEKS IS WHEN TO GO FOR THE FIRST THREE WEEKS UNLESS WE RECEIVE A REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT TO DEFER AND NEGOTIATION.
BUT WE APPROVE IT TO, TO GO ON TO COUNTY COUNCIL, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS? YES.
TWO THINGS BEFORE IT COMES TO COUNTY COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE FOR THE, UM, DEVELOPER TO GET SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.
AND ALSO, UM, AS YOU, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, COUNCILMAN DAWSON IS NOT HERE TODAY.
AND, UM, BY GOING TO FIRST READING, HE, HE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKE COMMENTS AT THAT TIME.
BUT I, I WILL, I WILL VOTE FOR IT AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? AND ONE OTHER COMMENT, AND THAT IS, I WATCHED A PLANNING COMMISSION AND I WATCHED A PREVIOUS ONE, ONE PERSON SPOKE AGAINST THIS.
SO THERE IS NOT A MASSIVE COMMUNITY, UM, OUTRAGE ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THEY DIDN'T, PEOPLE DIDN'T COME, THEY DIDN'T TALK ABOUT AGAINST IT.
AND I KNOW MR. DAWSON HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS AND THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE THERE, I MEAN HANDFUL.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S COMMUNITY OUTRAGE.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHEN YOU SAY ONE PERSON SPOKE AGAINST IT, YOU MEANT FROM THE PUBLIC? OH YEAH.
ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? UM, I, I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT AND, UM, AND, UM, AND CONCERN, UM, YOU, YOU, YOU WENT FROM A 184 UNITS THE FIRST TIME TO 244.
AND SO YOU UPZONING AND YOU ADDING MORE UNITS, UM, ON THIS SITE.
THAT'S A CONCERN I HAD TO STUFF, BUT THAT'S ALRIGHT.
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THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISE YOUR HAND.I'M GORDON GERALD AT THIS TIME, OR GERALD? UM, SO IT PASSES.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO THAT WITHOUT A PROXY.
[12. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE PORT ROYAL SOUND FOUNDATION FOR SURFACE ELEVATION TABLE STATION COLLABORATION. (FISCAL IMPACT: None) - Stefanie Nagid, Director, Land Preservation]
NUMBER 1212.I NEED A MOTION, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE PORT WALL SOUND FOUNDATION WILL SURFACE EVALUATION TABLE STATION COLLABORATION.
IS THE PROPERTY MOTION TO SECOND STEP NOW? HE'S YOU.
SO, UH, I RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE ROYAL FOUNDATION, UM, TO, UH, BE A PART OF THE COLLABORATION WITH THEM ON THE INSTALLATION AND SCREEN SURFACE FUEL STATION.
UM, WHAT THIS IS JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND.
UM, SOUTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S PART OF MAINTAIN AN ARRAY OF ELEVATION STATIONS ALONG THE DO HAVE A DENSITY OF THESE STATIONS IN THE A BASIN, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY YET.
AND SO IN LATE 2024, THE SOUTHEAST COAST REGIONAL ASSOCIATION, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR, UM, FOR SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH NEW, THEY'RE CALLED SET STATIONS, SET, UH, ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST.
AND SO THE COURT ROYAL SOUND FOUNDATION WAS AWARDED FUNDING TO ESTABLISH 15 OF THESE, UH, IN OUR AREA.
SO THIS REQUEST, UM, HAS BEEN VETTED THROUGH NOT ONLY THE LAND PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO THE PLANNING ZONING DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, BUT THEIR STORMWATER FOLKS.
UM, SO THERE'S MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COLLABORATING WITH SOUND FOUNDATION FOR THESE STATIONS.
THEIR DOCUMENT, THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO MEASURE AND RECORD THE RELATIVE CHANGE IN THE ELEVATION OF SALT MARSH ACROSS THE WATER.
SHE WATERSHED AND IT BUILDS ON A DATA COLLECTION SET THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED OVER THE LAST, UM, 20 PLUS YEARS, UM, ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST.
SO THIS DATA IS GONNA ADD TO THE GLOBAL DATA SET AND BE USED BY RESEARCHERS IN OUR STATE, IN OUR COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD ON GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW, UM, THE MARSH CHANGES WITH SEA LEVEL RISE AND MARSH MIGRATION AND, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
THE, THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE TO PROVIDE ANY FUNDING, WE'RE JUST COLLABORATORS AT THIS AT THIS TIME.
IF THERE ARE ANY PROJECTS THAT DO COME FORWARD FROM THE MONITORING AND THE DATA COLLECTION, THEN THOSE WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD AS SEPARATE AGREEMENTS.
SO IF THE FOUNDATION NEEDS ANYTHING ADDITIONAL, UM, MONETARILY, THEN THAT WOULD BE A COMPLETELY SEPARATE, SEPARATE AGREEMENT.
UM, BUT THIS MOU AND OUR COLLABORATION DOES, UM, MEET WITH ADVANCING PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IN THE BEAUFORT COUNTIES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.
AND I THINK I WAS GONNA SAY, I THINK COURTNEY HERE IS HERE FROM PORT ROYAL SOUND FOUNDATION, IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS FOR THEM.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THIS.
JUST THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING IT.
IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AUTHORIZING THE RESOLUTION WITH ADMINISTRATOR TO WORK WITH THE FOUNDATION SERVICE ELEVATION STATION COLLABORATION BY RAISING THE HAND.
WE LOSING MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
[13. A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF STREET LIGHTS AT OYSTER FACTORY PARK. (FISCAL IMPACT: None to the County) - Stefanie Nagid, Director, Land Preservation]
FULL TIME.YEAH, WE GOT ONE, UH, TOOL MORE, UM, THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE INSTALLATION OF STREET LIGHTS AT THE FACTORY PARK.
UH, THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER REQUEST THAT RECENTLY CAME FORWARD, BUT FROM THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND CONSTANCE
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IS HERE FROM THEIR, UM, CAPITAL PROJECTS.UM, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
UM, THIS IS A PRETTY SIMPLE OYSTER FACTORY PARK IS A CO-OWNED PARK, UM, BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY.
AND THE OPEN LAND TRUST HAS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
UM, THERE ARE SIX, I BELIEVE SIX STREETLIGHTS THAT NEED TO BE INSTALLED OR THAT THE TOWN WANTS TO INSTALL ON THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SOME, UM, SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR VISITORS WHO USE THE PARK AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT IS OPEN AT NIGHT FOR VARIOUS EVENTS.
AND, UM, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE, THE BOAT LAUNCH AND THE, THE BOATING TRAFFIC THERE.
UM, SO AS PER OUR, UH, JOINT OWNERSHIP AGREEMENT, IN ORDER TO INSTALL OR CONSTRUCT ANYTHING ON THIS PROPERTY, UM, WE NEED COUNT, UH, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON NEEDS COUNCIL'S APPROVAL AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, I THINK IT'S GREAT THEY WANNA DO THIS.
I'VE BEEN THERE IN THE MM-HMM
SO I THINK IT'S GOOD ADDITION.
ALL THOSE FAVOR, THESE RAISING HAND OKAY.
[14. REAPPOINTMENT OF EVAN BROMLEY TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM WITH THE EXPIRATION DATE OF MAY 2028.]
THANK YOU.AND UM, THE LAST ITEM IS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF EVAN.
IS IT LEY FOR THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS FOR THREE YEAR TERMS WITH THE EXPIRATION? MAY 20, 28.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR TO INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, THERE'S NO FURTHER, NO OTHER FURTHER WITNESS.
UH, MR. MOORE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR US? NOTHING FURTHER.
WERE YOU ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF FRAN.