[00:00:01]
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
WE ARE GONNA START THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE MEETING FOR YES, UH, AUGUST, ME, SEPTEMBER THE SECOND.
[1. CALL TO ORDER:]
RESOURCE COMMITTEE FOR ALL SEPTEMBER THE SECOND.I'M STILL IN AUGUST, I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT, UM, AT THREE O'CLOCK.
AND IF YOU WOULD RISE WITH ME AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEASURE OF LIGI TO THE FLAG.
PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE, THE FLAG.
OH, Y'ALL SOUND LIKE A GOOD CHOIR OUT THERE.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.UM, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT G ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER DOES NOT PERMIT A MOTION FOR DISCUSSION.
WE ALREADY ADOPTED A DEFERRAL OF THIS ZONING AMENDMENT, SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS ON THE AGENDA AS IT IS.
THEREFORE, I AMEND THE AGENDA TO HAVE ITEM EIGHT G REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.
AND FOR NOW, YOU SAID ROBERT RULES OF ORDER.
UM, BUT, UM, WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH THE CHAIR? UM, AS HAVING IT ON THERE? THE CHAIR CAN HAVE IT ON THERE IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC ACTION TO BE TAKEN, NOT A DISCUSSION.
AN ACTION ROBERT'S RULE SAID YOU ACT, YOU DENY, OR YOU AMEND SOMETHING, AND YOU HAVE A DEBATE ABOUT THAT.
UM, THIS IS NOT ABOUT, IS THE DECISION TO DEFER.
THAT'S WHAT WE DISCUSSING THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE TO DEFER.
AND WE ARE ASKING THE STAFF TO, UM, UM, EXPLAIN EXACTLY TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, WHY WE MADE THAT DECISION TO DEFER.
WHAT IS THE ACTION? THAT'S NOT AN ACTION, IT'S A DISCUSSION.
UH, NO, A DISCUSSION ONLY TAKES PLACE IF THERE IS AN ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND THERE IS NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN HERE.
IS IS THE CHAIR SAYING YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO SAY, I WANT TO REMOVE THAT ACTION, PRIOR ACTION, THAT WOULD BE AN ACTION.
NO, I, I WANT THESE, THE, THE, THE STAFF TO EXPLAIN TO THIS COMMITTEE HERE AS WELL AS TO THE PUBLIC WHY, UH, A DEFERRED WAS GRANTED.
AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL NOW.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE IT IS.
UM, UH, BRIAN, WOULD YOU WANNA SPEAK TOWARD THAT? WELL, WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE, UH, DISCUSSION ITEM, UH, CERTAINLY ADDRESS WHAT THE, UH, CHAIR HAS ASKED ME TO EXPRESS TO THE, UH, THE PUBLIC.
DISCUSSION ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ROUTINE.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE REGULAR COURSE OF, UH, PRACTICE HERE FOR, UH, COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN ACTION.
YOU'RE JUST HAVING THE DISCUSSION TO GATHER THOUGHTS AND VOICE THE CONCERNS.
BUT HERE IT'S PURELY THE, UH, INTENT OF THE CHAIR, UH, OF THE COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL THAT THE PUBLIC KNOW WHY THE ITEM WAS DEFERRED.
THAT'S SO FORTH BEING ON THERE, BUT IT IS JUST GONNA BE ME MADE.
AND, UH, ONE MINUTE STATEMENT EXPLAINING WHAT'S OCCURRED AND KIND OF THE TIMELINE, IF YOU WILL.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE IT, THEN WE'LL GO A PUBLIC COMMENT AND LET THE PEOPLE THAT PLAN
[00:05:01]
THEIR SCHEDULES TO SPEAK HERE WILL ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK THAT.UM, MR. THE AUTHOR OF THE MOTION, UM, UM, WILL REQUIRE A TWO THIRD VOTE.
UM, AM I NOT RIGHT? TAKE SOMETHING OFF THE MAJORITY.
UM, AND YOU WANT TO, YOU GOT A SECOND? UH, SO YOU WANNA HOLD FORTH YOUR MOTION? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, WE WILL NOW, UM, HAVE A, UM, ROLL CALL.
A ROLL CALL ON THIS ACTION RIGHT HERE TO REMOVE ACT ITEM G FROM, UM, THE AMEN.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION BEFORE THAT VOTE, SIR? I ASK A QUESTION.
IS THERE A WAY TO KEEP THIS MATTER ON THE AGENDA? IS THERE A WAY FOR THAT TO OCCUR SO THAT MR. HOLBERT CAN MAKE THAT PRESENTATION? YES, THERE IS.
DO REMOVE WHAT WE DO, REMOVE IT AS AN AGENDA ITEM, AND PLACE IT AS AN ITEM BY ITSELF.
SO CAN WE TAKE THAT ACTION TO PREVENT ALL OF THIS NOISE IF WE JUST WANNA HAVE HIM MAKE PRESENTATION? CAN WE JUST CHANGE THIS SOMEHOW AS, UH, WITH AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION, MR. PASSMAN? WELL, YOU STILL HAVE TO REMOVE IT AS AN AGENDA ITEM AND THEN CHANGE IT TO A DISCUSSION ITEM OUTSIDE THE AGENDA ITEMS. OKAY.
I, I'M, I'M AGREEABLE TO THAT.
SO LONG AS WE HAVE A WAY, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE SO THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL, UH, WHATEVER IT TAKES.
SO, SHOULD MR. PASSMAN, DO WE NOW HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS TO REMOVE IT AND THEN REINSTATE IT AS AN AGENDA ITEM? CORRECT.
I THINK YOU CAN DO, UM, WHAT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MATTER WHAT, WHAT, SARAH, THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UH, PLEASE.
YOU CAN, I THINK YOU'LL HAVE THEM GO AHEAD.
COMMITTEE, VICE CHAIR BROWN? YES.
UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE AGENDA AT THIS TIME.
UM, THERE'S THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
UM, YOU STILL NEED TO VOTE ON APPROVING.
YOU STILL NEED TO VOTE ON APPROVING THE AGENDA.
I'M MOVING TOO FAST, HUH? UH, KEEP ME SLOW DOWN BECAUSE I WILL DO THAT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
AND AT THIS TIME, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND THOSE IN OPPOSITION AND THOSE ABSTAINING.
I'M NOT TOO SURE HOW MR. RE YEAH.
I'M, I'M VOTING, I'M CONFUSED.
I DON'T DUNNO WHAT WE'RE TALKING.
WELL, DID YOU VOTE? UH OH, YOU ABSTAIN? YES.
UM, NOW CAN WE GET TO THE, UM, THE APPROVAL
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes from June 2, 2025]
OF THE MINUTES FOR JUNE THE SECOND 2025? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JUNE 2ND, 2025.IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
IS PROPERTY MOTION IS SECONDED TO APPROVE THE JUNE 2ND, 20, 25 MINUTES? UM, IF, CAN WE PASS THIS WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION? SEEING NONE? OBJECTION.
[6. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – 15 MINUTES TOTAL]
PUBLIC COMMENT.YOU WANT ME TO READ THOSE, UH, OR DO YOU WANNA READ THEM? NO, YOU CAN READ THE NATASHA ROBINSON.
UM, I THINK EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH KNOWS.
UM, I, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL.
UM, AT THE PUBLIC COMMENT, EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK SHALL LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL, ADDRESS THE CHAIR, AND IN SPEAK, AND AVOID DISRESPECT TO COUNCIL OR ANY PERSONALITIES, CONFIDE THEMSELVES TO
[00:10:01]
QUESTIONS, UH, UNDER THE JUDICIARY OF THIS COUNCIL.AND BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL FOR THOSE OF THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE WATCHING ON TELEVISION.
UM, AT THIS TIME, WE'LL INTER, WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST SPEAKER, UH, HERE.
UM, AND WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO IS THAT WE ARE GONNA OPEN UP, UM, 15 MINUTES, UH, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT INITIALLY, AND THEN AT THE END, UH, WE ALLOW YOU FOR 45 MINUTES, UM, FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO WE EXTENDING PUBLIC, WE ARE ADDING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE END, AND WE EXTENDING THAT TO 45 MINUTES.
SO, MR. ROBINSON, GOOD EVENING TO THE BOARD, TO ST.
HELENA ISLAND AND ALL OF THE SUPPORTERS THEREOF.
I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS UNETHICAL PRACTICES AND PROPAGANDA IN THIS FIGHT FOR ST.
NOW, UM, EACH SIDE IS ALLOWED TO VOICE AND TO DO WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO DO TO FIGHT TO SHOW WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ST.
NOW, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FROM ST.
HELENA ISLAND, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY VESTED INTEREST OTHER THAN A WAY THAT THEY CAN MAKE MONEY OR PROFIT FROM IT, EVEN THOUGH THE PEOPLE THERE DO NOT WANT IT.
WHEN YOU STEP OUT AND YOU DO THINGS LIKE YOU GET A PETITION, AND THEN YOU GO TO A FESTIVAL IN YY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND GO INTO A GROUP OF CHILDREN, AND THERE ARE VIDEOS AND PICTURES, I'M PRETTY SURE Y'ALL DON'T WANT ME TO PUT 'EM UP, BUT OF MR. ROY BROWN IN THE MIDDLE OF 12, 13, 14-YEAR-OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN, HAVING THEM TO SIGN A PETITION TO GO AGAINST THE CPO ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND FOR THIS FIGHT ON ST.
NOW, I DON'T MIND A GOOD FIGHT, BUT WHEN YOU GO THAT LOW, BE THAT FAR BELOW THE BELT, THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT IS SOMEBODY WHO CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
NOT THEIR WORD, THEIR WAYS, OR THEIR DEED.
NOW, BY GOD, HELP ME, BECAUSE AS HIM BEING AN ELDER, YOU LOOK AT THEM IN A CERTAIN LIGHT, BECAUSE I GREW UP IN A GULLAH GEECHEE COMMUNITY WHERE THE ELDERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.
THEY ARE THE SOURCE OF THE WISDOM AND THE TEACHINGS THAT WE COME UP UNDER.
SO WHEN YOU SEE A ELDER TO GO AND COMMIT SOMETHING SO LOW, AND I'M SORRY, I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL.
I DO WANT TO CRY, TO DO SOMETHING SO LOW AND SO CROOKED, THAT SHOWS YOU HOW BAD THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET IN TO DRIVE WHAT IT IS THEY WANT.
I JUST ASK Y'ALL TO STAY RIGHTEOUS, TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR WHO.
THOSE OF US WHO ARE BORN, BRED AND RAISED ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND, I GOT MY GREAT-GRANDMA, MY GREAT GRANDDADDY, MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDDADDY'S BLOOD THAT I WALK ON EVERY DAY.
AND I DON'T WANT NOBODY TO COME AND RUIN IT.
OUR WAY OF LIFE HAS BEEN THERE, AND WE WANNA KEEP IT.
THAT'S WHAT HAS BROUGHT PEOPLE HERE.
AND SO WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO COME AND DESTROY IT AND RECREATE SOMETHING THAT IS ALL OVER EVERYWHERE ELSE THAT THEY RUN FROM TO COME HERE.
PLEASE, PLEASE UPHOLD THE CPOI SAY THIS FOR ME, MY CHILD, HIS CHILDREN TO COME.
MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS AND EVERYTHING THEY STOOD AND FOUGHT FOR.
YOU CAN'T BE SEE SOMETHING THAT'S SO CROOKED.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO SEE A CROOKED LINE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT'S CROOKED? UNLESS YOU LOOKING WITH CROOKED EYES TO SEE IT STRAIGHT, PLEASE.
I LIVE IN PORT ROYAL AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH HERE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, I WAS HERE WHEN THE CPO WAS TURNED INTO LAW.
AND THERE WAS A BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE IN SHELDON AS WELL AS A BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE IN ST.
HELENA WHO WORKED VERY HARD, NOT ONLY ON THE COMP PLAN, BUT ALSO ON THE AMENDMENT TO IMPLEMENT IT, WHICH IS, IS WHAT ENSHRINES THE CPO.
NONE OF YOU WERE ON COUNCIL UNLESS YOU WERE MR. DAWSON.
WERE YOU ON COUNCIL IN 1999? IT PASSED IN 19 99, 9.
WE WANTED IT THE SAME THING IN SHELDON,
[00:15:01]
BUT WE COULD ONLY GET THE VOTES FOR THEM TO DO ONE PLACE.HELENA, WHICH IS CERTAINLY BETTER THAN NONE.
IT'S THESE LAWS ARE PASSED FOR A REASON.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE PLANS AND PLANNING.
WELL, AS YOU KNOW, BY STATE LAW, THE COMP PLAN HAS TO BE CONSISTENTLY UPDATED, AS DOES THE ORDINANCES.
BUT AT THE TIME OF THIS PARTICULAR, IN 1999, THERE WAS A BIG EMPHASIS, AT LEAST NORTH OF ABROAD, ON PRESERVING THE REAL RURAL AREAS.
AND THAT WHEN ENACTMENT OF THE GROWTH BOUNDARIES, UH, THERE ALSO WERE, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU REMEMBER, BUT THERE WERE TWO STUDIES ON THE COST OF GROWTH.
ONE COVERED SOUTH OF THE BROAD, THE OTHER COVERED NORTH OF THE BROAD, THE COST OF GROWTH.
WELL, I THINK THOSE STUDIES WERE DONE BY CLEMSON.
UM, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBERS THAT THEY CALCULATED THE COST OF GROWTH TO BE, BUT IT WAS OVER A BILLION DOLLARS FOR EACH ONE.
AND IN THAT STUDY, THEY DID NOT COUNT MAINTENANCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU BUILD THIS MANY SCHOOLS, NOW YOU'VE GOTTA HIRE TEACHERS.
NOW YOU'VE GOTTA MAINTAIN 'EM.
SO IT WAS A REAL BARE BONES, IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE.
AND THAT HELPED STOP THE ZONING WARS WHERE EVERYBODY WAS GRABBING EVERYBODY ELSE'S LAND.
OKAY? WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TAKE A PROP, TAKE LAND THAT IS ZONED A CERTAIN WAY FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON FOR A CULTURE.
AND I'LL TELL YOU QUICKLY WHAT THAT IS.
HELENA, AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE AT SHELDON GOT TO WATCH WHAT HAPPENED ON HILTON HEAD.
THEY GOT TO SEE THAT, OKAY, NOW THE TAXES TOO ARE HIGH.
THEY CAN'T KEEP THEIR PROPERTY.
SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAMEL'S NOSE GETS UNDER THE TENT.
UM, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE RESPECT THE ZONING OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE FOR GENERATIONS.
COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALSO ALL OF THE SENTEL NALAN FAMILY WERE THERE OF THE DAY.
I'M GLADI FOR DAY ONE MORE AGAIN, I HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR SPEAK.
THERE'S A LITTLE CONFUSION IN THE BACK ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO I SIGNED UP TWICE, BUT I'M GOING TO SPEAK NOW, AND IF Y'ALL DON'T CALL ON ME AGAIN LATER, I GOT MY CHANCE.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHY SIGN TWICE IS BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT YOU'RE COVERING TODAY ON THE AGENDA THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS HEARD ON.
ONE OF WHICH ARE SACRED BURIAL AREAS ON ST.
THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION THAT I FOUNDED IN GULLAH GEECHEE LEGACY ARE SUPPORTING THE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED THIS TIME.
WE RECEIVED IT THIS TIME HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY TO THE TUNE OF $75,000, BUT IT NEEDED MATCH.
SO MY ORGANIZATION IS WILLING TO MATCH WITH $15,000 OF IN-KIND SERVICE TO HELP WITH THE PROTECTION OF OUR SACRED BURIAL AREAS.
IN PARTICULAR, THOSE WITHIN THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT OF ST.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I SERVE ON IS THE SOUTH ATLANTIC SALT MARSH INITIATIVE, WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH OVER 300 PARTNERS TO MAINTAIN 1 MILLION ACRES OF SALT MARSH AND ENSURE THAT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS WHERE THIS MARSH WILL BE ABLE TO MIGRATE IN THE FUTURE.
IT ALSO PROTECTS US AS HUMANS FROM THE FLOODING BECAUSE WE HAVE SEA LEVEL RISE ISSUES HERE.
AND WHEN WE BUILD GOLF COURSES NEAR SUCH AREAS, GOLF COURSES REQUIRE CHEMICALS TO BE CREATED AND TO BE MAINTAINED.
THAT NOW ALLOWS WHEN IT RAINS FOR THAT TO RUN OFF INTO THE ESTUARIES AND NOT ONLY KILL THE MARSH, BUT ALSO POTENTIALLY KILL SEAFOOD AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE THERE.
THIS AREA IS SACRED, NOT JUST 'CAUSE THEY, WE THING FOR
THAT WAS WHERE OUR ANCESTORS LIE AT REST.
THAT'S WHERE MY FATHER AND OTHERS AND MY BROTHER LIE AT REST.
SO IT IS OF UTMOST CONCERN FOR ME THAT THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT BE PROTECTED.
AND BECAUSE THIS IS A NATURAL NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETING, I TOOK THE TIME THIS MORNING TO ACTUALLY WRITE A PAPER TO HELP YOU, TO OVERSTAND
[00:20:01]
HOW THIS WILL IMPACT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AS WELL AS OUR CULTURAL RESOURCES.BECAUSE IN THREE YEARS TIME, I WOKE THIS MORNING AND ASKED, GOD, WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SAY? AND AT THIS POINT, YESTERDAY, I WROTE A BLOG.
I'LL SEND YOU THAT BLOG ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS SPEAKING FROM THE GRAVE TO SAY, PROTECT ST.
HELENA AND KEEP THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT INTACT.
BUT THIS MORNING, GOD SAID, DO WHAT YOU DO AROUND THE WORLD.
AND THAT IS SHOW PEOPLE HOW OUR CULTURE IS INEXTRICABLY TIED TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF ST.
SO I STAND UPON YOU TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE CPO INTACT, NO CARVE OUTS AND NO NEGOTIATIONS ON KEEPING IT PROTECTED.
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.
I AM JERMAINE SIMMONS AND MY DAUGHTER OF BENJAMIN CORNBREAD SIMMONS INE SIMMONS.
I TRACED MY GENERATION, MY LINEAGE, BACK TO THE 16TH CENTURY WHERE MY PEOPLE WERE HERE.
AND I MATTER WHAT MY PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH MATTERS.
I FEEL TO MYSELF, THIS ISLAND THAT WE CALL RURAL IS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO CALL RURAL NO MORE.
THERE IS PEOPLE COMING FROM OTHER PLACES BUYING PROPERTY UNSEEN.
I WATCHED THE PLACES WHERE WE GREW UP, RUN AROUND, PLAY BOWING ARROWS AND MAKE OUR OWN AND GET BULL GRAVES AND ALL THIS STUFF.
YOU HAVE TO WAIT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR JUST TO GO HOME.
YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR EVERYTHING.
ALL THE THINGS THAT THE, THE DISASTER OF A HERITAGE.
ALL MY LIFE, ALL MY DAYS, I'VE SEEN THESE THINGS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND, HOW CAN YOU CALL IT A RURAL PLACE WHEN IT'S INDATED WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT OUR CULTURE, THAT DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT US.
ALL THEY KNOW IS WE CAN GET ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SIGN HERE AND ENOUGH PEOPLE HERE AND MAKE RULES TO CHANGE THE HEIRS PROPERTY.
OR WHERE ONLY ONE PERSON GOT TO BE NOTIFIED OR TO SIGN OR WHATEVER RULES THEY THEY GOT COMING UP.
I KNOW IT'S HURTING BECAUSE THE WAY I WROTE RAISE UP.
MY KIDS CAN'T RAISE UP LIKE THAT.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE FREEDOM THAT THEY HAD WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
AND WHEN MY PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY ELSE, PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, THAT'S NOT HARMONIOUS.
IT IS RUINING THE WHO WE ARE WHEN ALL OF OUR STUFF GOT TO CHANGE.
OH, YOU CAN'T DRIVE ON THIS SIDE BECAUSE, OR YOU CAN COME ON THROUGH BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER TO Y'ALL THAT THIS SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT FOR US.
THIS HERITAGE IS IMPORTANT TO US.
WE HAD TO MOVE THE GULLAH FESTIVAL ALL THE WAY AROUND.
WE DON'T PROMOTE THE THINGS THAT ARE FOR US.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR OUR KIDS.
NO MOVIE THEATERS, NO PLAY PLACE, NO NOTHING FOR OUR YOUTH.
AND THIS IS WHO'S GONNA TAKE OVER YOUR JOBS.
THEY'RE GONNA TAKE OVER YOUR JOBS.
AND IF THEY GOT THE MINDSET OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S COME HERE AND NOT THE MINDSET OF THE PEOPLE THAT BINYA, THERE'S A PROBLEM.
AND YOU WONDER WHAT GOING ON WITH THE CRIME.
'CAUSE THERE'S NOTHING NOTHING FOR THEM.
WE GOTTA GO ALL THE WAY TO POPPO HILTON HAY.
YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY WERE WHERE WE WERE.
THEY DON'T GOT NO RIGHTS TO THEIR OWN PROPERTY.
AND I WANT THEM TO BE THE WAY THEY WERE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, ALEXANDRA AND I BOUGHT A HOME IN 2020 AND COFFIN BOUGHT A LOT IN COFFIN POINT IN 2020 AND BUILT A HOME.
I MEAN, YOU MUST HAVE TO EAT THIS THING.
UM, ALEXANDRA AND I BOUGHT A LOT ON COFFIN POINT ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND IN 2020 AND BUILT A HOME.
WE DID OUR HOMEWORK AND WE ACTUALLY WENT TO THE PENN CENTER
[00:25:01]
AND HAD A CONVERSATION TO UNDERSTAND THE CPO AND HOW ST.ALLEN HIGHLAND WORKED BEFORE WE PURCHASED HERE AND WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
AND I THINK WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MAYBE ARE IN OUR SITUATION WERE LOOKING FOR WAS A PEACEFUL, QUIET BEACH.
A PLACE WHERE WE COULD HAVE OUR FRIENDS COME AND ENJOY THE CULTURE OF ST.
HELENA ISLAND AND FOR FREMONT AND THE PENN CENTER.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE GET TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BY LIVING HERE.
AND I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT I'M UP HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR EXACTLY THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHY THAT WAS CARVED OUT.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS CHANGED THAT WOULD CAUSE US TO WANT TO REVISIT THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE CPO.
AND MAYBE, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT YET.
AND I THINK IT, AS THE COUNCIL DELIBERATES THIS AND TRIES TO THINK THIS THROUGH, I WOULD ASK THEM TO REALLY THINK HARD ABOUT WHAT'S DIFFERENT, WHAT HAS CHANGED, WHAT WOULD BE THE DRIVING FORCE THAT WOULD CAUSE US TO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENT DECISION TODAY THAN WAS MADE WHEN THE CPO WAS PUT IN PLACE.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL GIVE THE KIND OF CONSIDERATION THAT I THINK YOU WILL AND UNDERSTAND THAT I THINK THERE'S A WIDE, WIDE GROUP OF DIVERSITY NOW ON ST.
HELEN, WHICH WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.
AND EVERYBODY I TALK TO IS QUITE EXCITED ABOUT THE CPO AND EXCITED ABOUT THE LIFESTYLE AND THINGS THAT IT BRINGS TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OWNERS IN THIS AREA.
BEFORE WE, UM, BEFORE WE MOVE THE AGENDA, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP, UM, ANDY, UH, GOER, UH, TO COME FORTH.
WHO, WHO'S THAT? ANDY, RIGHT? WHO'S THAT? UH, AN ATTORNEY.
AND I DON'T LIKE TOO MANY ATTORNEYS.
UM, SO, UM, MR. GOER IS JUST THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT HE, HE'S PROBABLY, UM, UM, COST A LOT OF MONEY, SO I, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING HIM TO COME HERE AND, UM, I MEAN NOW TO SPEAK INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL THE END.
GLOVER, I APPRECIATE YOU'RE THE LAST ONE.
I REPRESENT THE OPEN LAND TRUST AND APPEAR TODAY TO EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE ZONING AMENDMENT BEING REQUESTED TO FACILITATE THE COUNTY'S ENTRY INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP A GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY ON PINE ISLAND.
THE PROPOSED PINE ISLAND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FAILS TO MEET THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA LAW AND VIOLATES BEAUFORT COUNTY'S CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY.
THE REZONING AND THE AGREEMENT SHOULD BE REJECTED AS IT ONE INCLUDES USES.
EXPL EXPLICITLY PROHIBITED BY THE CP O2 FAILS TO DEMONSTRATE CONSISTENCY WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
AND THREE, REPRESENTS AN IMPERMISSIBLE ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT VALIDLY ENACTED ZONING PROTECTIONS THROUGH CONTRACT.
FIRST POINT, THE AGREEMENT VIOLATES THE STATE LAW'S REQUIREMENT FOR CONSISTENCY WITH DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
SOUTH CAROLINA LAW UNEQUIVOCALLY REQUIRES THAT A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZED DEVELOPMENT MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
THE CPO, UH, CONSTITUTES A VALID LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION THAT EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS GOLF COURSES ON ST.
THE ATTEMPTED SIMULTANEOUSLY REMOVAL OF THE PROPERTY FROM THE CPO ZONE DOES NOT CURE THIS FUNDAMENTAL INCONSISTENCY AT THE TIME OF THE AGREEMENT CONSIDERATION.
THE CPO REMAINS THE APPLICABLE DEVELOPMENT REGULATION AND THE AGREEMENT AND THE ATTEMPTED REZONING CONNECTED TO IT FAILS THE STATUTORY CONSISTENCY REQUIREMENT.
THIS ALSO SETS A NEGATIVE PRECEDENT BECAUSE AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, UH, MENTIONED, WHAT'S THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY? WHAT'S A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR? AND IF IT CAN BE SET ASIDE EVERY TIME AN APPLICANT COMES TO COUNSEL, THEN WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE USE OF HAVING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? WHAT'S THE USE OF HAVING A ZONING ORDINANCE? SECONDLY, THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE THREATENS THE VALIDITY OF THE CPO AS A WHOLE.
THE CPO WAS ENACTED FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE STUDY, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICES LOW COUNTRY GULLAH CULTURE SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY, WHICH THE COUNTY FULLY INCORPORATED INTO ITS ORDINANCE BY REFERENCE.
THE ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIES GOLF COURSES
[00:30:01]
AS INCOMPATIBLE USES THAT THREATEN GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE AND THE RURAL NATURE OF ST.THE COUNTY SHOULD NOT CHANGE ITS AREA ZONING.
THE CPO THAT HAS BEEN SO CAREFULLY ADOPTED OVER TIME AFTER BROAD PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND APPROVAL BY THE RESIDENTS TO ACCOMMODATE THE LATEST APPLICATION OF ONE PROPERTY OWNER FOR THEIR GAIN.
THE OPEN LAND TRUST RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS YOU DENY THE ZONING REQUEST AND TO ENTER INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE AGENDA AT THIS TIME, AND NEXT ON THE AGENDA
[7. ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT]
IS NUMBER ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, THE, UM, COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT.BUT, UH, WITH CHUCK BEING BEHIND THE SEATS, HE ASKED ME TO GO AHEAD AND COME UP AND JUST INTRODUCE THE ITEM THAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT FOR, UM, THE A CA REPORT FOR TODAY.
OH, IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S CHUCK'S ITEM, BUT IT, OR, BUT I'M GIVING A PRESENTATION.
OH, I, I LIKE, I LIKE LOOKING AT YOU BETTER,
I'LL TAKE A COMPLIMENT WHERE I CAN GET IT.
UM, STEPHANIE, GO AHEAD TO THE MIC.
SO TODAY, UH, I AM PRESENTING A, UM, GIS MAP THAT IS ON THE COUNTY'S ONLINE SITE.
AND, UH, IT'S BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR WORKING WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, THE OPEN LAND TRUST, OUR GIS DEPARTMENT, OUR PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.
AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS PUT TOGETHER ALL OF THE CONSERVATION LANDS IN THE COUNTY INTO ONE LOCATION SO EVERYBODY CAN VIEW IT.
AND, UH, I WAS GONNA WALK US THROUGH ONLINE HOW TO GET TO THE MAP AND SHOW YOU WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE THERE.
SO ON THE, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY'S WEBSITE UNDER, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY SC.GOV, YOU END UP WITH THIS PAGE, THE HOMEPAGE, IF YOU GO TO ONLINE SERVICES, AND THEN THE GIS MAPPING, IT'S GONNA TAKE YOU TO THE COUNTY'S ONLINE GIS MAPPING SITE.
AND IF NOBODY HAS USED THIS BEFORE, IT IS QUITE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT, UM, PARCELS MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES.
HOW DO I MOVE? CAN I JUST MOVE THAT? OKAY.
UM, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT STUFF ON THIS WEBSITE WITH THE DIFFERENT LAYERS, JUST FROM THE MAIN, THE MAIN PAGE.
BUT IF YOU GO TO THIS LITTLE, UM, GLOBE ICON WHERE IT SAYS, UM, OTHER WEB MAPS AND YOU CLICK ON THAT, IT GIVES YOU OTHER AREAS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT.
SO CITY OF BUFORT ZONING MAP IS ON HERE, THE COUNTY'S ZONING MAP, UM, WHICH GIVES YOU INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENT ZONINGS ON YOUR PROPERTIES.
ELEVATION MAP ALSO HAS CONTOURS, BUT TODAY I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS MAP RIGHT HERE, THE NATURAL RESOURCES MAP.
SO WHEN YOU CLICK ON THAT, IT'S GONNA BRING UP A NEW MAP OF JUST THOSE, UM, RESOURCES RELATED TO CONSERVATION OR, UH, USE OF THE NATURAL, NATURAL RESOURCES ON, ON, UH, WITHIN BUFORT COUNTY.
SO THE INITIAL LEGEND HERE JUST SHOWS YOU THE COUNTY BOUNDARY MARINE ACCESS POINTS.
WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT FISHING BLUFFS, BOAT LANDINGS, PIERS AND PUBLIC ACCESS POINTS, UH, THAT ARE WITHIN THE COUNTY AND MAINTAINED AND MANAGED BY COUNTY.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, SCENIC ROADS.
AND THEN WE HAVE THIS, THESE OTHER TWO HERE.
THE LANDS PRIVATELY HELD AND LANDS PUBLICLY HELD.
ARE THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR OTHER, UM, CONSERVATION, PRIVATELY PROTECTED CONSERVATION LANDS THAT WERE ACQUIRED THROUGH THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM, WHICH ARE IN PINK, OR THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM, WHICH ARE IN YELLOW.
SO AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY'S BEEN, UM, WORKING FOR LAND CONSERVATION SINCE ABOUT THE YEAR 2000 WITH ACQUISITIONS TOWARDS THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM.
AND THEN NOW THAT THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM, UH, FUNDING HAS, UM, UH, IS BEING COMPLETED, UH, THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM PICKED UP AND HAS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, UH, TO GO TOWARDS PURCHASES OF LAND.
AND MR. MCSHANE HAS, UM, PRESENTED SEVERAL OF THOSE HERE.
YOU ALSO HAVE LANDS PUBLICLY HELD, WHICH IS ANOTHER SEPARATE FILE OF THOSE LANDS THAT ARE OWNED OR CO-OWNED BY, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, AND THOSE ARE ALSO THROUGH THE RURAL AND CRITICAL OR GREEN SPACE.
[00:35:01]
AS OPEN ACCESS, WHICH ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC RESTRICTED ACCESS, WHICH ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF THEM.BUT THOSE ARE ONES WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT OR SOME KIND OF, UM, FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF THE PROPERTIES, THE PORT ROYAL SOUND FOUNDATION, UM, CO-OWNS WITH US, IS A RESTRICTED ACCESS PROPERTY.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO WITH THEM, UH, OR THERE'S PROPERTIES THAT ARE CLOSED.
UH, THERE'S A NUMBER OF CLOSED PROPERTIES FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
WE ALSO HAVE, IF YOU CLICK OVER HERE ON THIS LAYERS LIST, ADDITIONAL LAYERS WITHIN THIS MAP.
SO SOME ADDITIONAL LAYERS ONCE THIS COMES UP IS THE COORDINATION WITH THE OPEN LAND TRUST IN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.
UH, THE OPEN LAND TRUST LAYER ON THIS LIST HAS ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT THEY EITHER OWN OR MANAGE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON.
AND THEN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY MANAGES CONSERVATION LANDS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.
SO THE, SO BEAUFORT COUNTY OURSELVES, WE MAINLY FOCUS ON BEAUFORT COUNTY OR IMMEDIATELY NEARBY COUNTIES.
UH, THE OPEN LAND TRUST DOES HAVE A FIVE COUNTY REGION.
AND THEN OF COURSE, TNC LOOKS AT PROPERTIES ALL OVER THE STATE.
SO IF YOU COME TO THIS, YOU'LL SEE, UM, SEVERAL OTHER, OTHER THINGS ON THIS, INCLUDING ROAD CLASSIFICATIONS.
IF YOU ZOOM IN CLOSE ENOUGH, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE SPECIFIC PARCEL LINES AND SOILS DATA.
UH, BUT DOWN HERE, THE OPEN LAND TRUST PORTFOLIO IN THE SC CONSERVED LANDS IS FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.
SO WHEN THESE ARE OPENED, YOU CAN SEE THE MULTITUDE OF PROPERTIES WITHIN THE COUNTY, ADJACENT TO THE COUNTY, AND THEN ACROSS THE STATE, AS YOU ZOOM IN AND OUT, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE PURCHASED OR THAT ARE, UM, CONSERVED.
SO THE OPEN LAND TRUST PROPERTIES ARE EITHER UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT OR OWNED BY OPEN LAND TRUST.
AND THEN THE INFORMATION FROM TNC SHOWS, WHETHER IT'S EITHER A PRIVATELY HELD PROPERTY, STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OR SOME OTHER MANAGED LANDS.
AND HERE THOSE OTHER MANAGED LANDS ARE, UM, PLACES LIKE, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MARINE BASE AND SUCH.
NOW, IF YOU WANTED TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THESE PROPERTIES, YOU CAN CLICK ON THEM.
SO LIKE, I'M GOING OVER HERE TO THIS GREEN POLYGON, AND YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT POLYGON AND IT'LL PULL UP THE INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PROPERTY.
SO THAT GREEN POLYGON IS WID IN POINT.
IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, IT IS, UM, OWNED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE OPEN LAND TRUST.
AND THEN IT GIVES YOU THE PARCEL NUMBER, AND THEN IT ALSO TELLS YOU WHETHER IT'S DEVELOPED OR UNDEVELOPED.
SO WI POINT IS A DEVELOPED PARK, UM, AND THEN THE MORE INFORMATION LINK TAKES YOU TO AN ADDITIONAL WEBSITE.
SO IF IT'S AN OPEN LAND TRUST PROPERTY, IT'LL GO TO THE OPEN LAND TRUST SITE.
IF IT'S ONE OF OUR, UM, WHAT WE CALL PASSIVE PARK OR PRESERVE PROPERTIES, IT'LL GO TO THE LAND PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT WEBSITE, UM, OR TO THE GREEN SPACE PRO WEBSITE.
FOR INSTANCE, THE YELLOW, LARGE YELLOW PROPERTY THERE IS THAT GREGORY NECK PARCEL THAT WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED, UM, THROUGH THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM.
AND SO THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
SO WE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THESE LAYERS TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE SO THAT THE PUBLIC HAS AN EASY ACCESS, UM, AND BE ABLE TO FIND THESE PROPERTIES AND, UM, SEE WHERE THEY ALL ARE AND HOW EVERYTHING CONNECTS TOGETHER.
UM, ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS OF STEPHANIE? COMMENT AS USUAL.
I, I JUST MAKE A COMMENT, STEPHANIE, THAT, UM, I WAS ABLE TO, UM, I DON'T KNOW, LUCKED UP OR WHATEVER, GOT ON THE, THE SITE AND I SAW WID POINT THAT IS OPEN AND I THINK YOU'RE USING A CONTRACTOR RIGHT NOW TO, TO ADVERTISE OUR PARKS.
ANYWAY, I THOUGHT I READ IT THAT WAY AND STUFF, BUT, UH, MAY HAVE BEEN READING IT WRONG, BUT I WAS JUST ELATED TO SEE, UH, A GENTLEMAN IN A WHEELCHAIR GOING THROUGH OUR PARKS.
SO IT'S, AND IT WASN'T A CONCRETE, SO, UM, UM, YOU GOT PARKS OPEN TO, FOR THE HANDICAP AS WELL AS ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO WALK THE TRAIL.
SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.
UM, WE ARE MOVING THE AGENDA, UH, AT THIS TIME.
UM, WE ARE ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
[8.a. Approval to fund due diligence and negotiate terms of acquisitions for the following proposed Green Space Program applications: Turner Tract, Campbell Tracts, Simmons Tracts (FISCAL IMPACT: Green Space Program Fund Account #4706-10-0000-54400: 1. For Turner Tract - $25,000 2. For Campbell Tracts - $25,000 3. For Simmons Tracts - $25,000) - Mr. Mike McShane, Chair of Green Space Advisory Committee & Mr. Mark Davis, Green Space Program Manager (15 minutes)]
IS TO APPROVE APPROVAL TO FUND DUE DILIGENCE AND, UH, NEGOTIATE TERMS OF ACQUISITION FOR THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED GREEN SPACE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS.[00:40:01]
THE TURNER TRACK, THE CAMPBELL TRACK, AND THE SIMMONS TRACK, AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PUT THAT ON THE, ON THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.UH, MRS. UH, TABAC MADE THE MOTION, MR. MR. DAWSON AND SHE SECONDED? YES.
UM, AT THIS TIME WE'LL CALL ON MR. SHANE AND MARK TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION ON THAT YOU GOTTA NAVIGATE
I SEEM TO FIND GREEN SPACE PROGRAMS SEEM TO BE POPULAR TODAY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF CHARLESTON COUNTY, BUT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS YOUR GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND MR. CHAIRMAN WITH PERMISSION.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SHOW GREENSPACE JUST DEVELOPED A ITS OWN WEBSITE.
IT IS BEAUFORT COUNTY GREENSPACE PROGRAM.COM.
SO IT'S NOT.GOV, IT'S DOT COM.
AND IF YOU WOULD, IF YOU, UH, IF YOU'LL SCROLL DOWN FOR ME, IT'S A NICE HIGHLIGHT RIGHT THERE.
YOU'LL SEE THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE'VE, THROUGH YOUR ORDINANCE WERE TO FOCUS ON THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT PURCHASE OF LANDS, WHICH YOU HAVE DONE.
FARM LAND PRESERVATION, WHICH WE HAVE DONE ONE NATURAL SCENIC CORRIDOR, WHICH I HAVE ONE THAT I'LL BRING TO YOU TODAY.
AND THEN ONE WE'VE NOT DONE YET IS THE EXISTING PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT BUY DOWN, BUT WE HAVE THAT, THAT, UH, LATITUDE IN THAT.
YEAH, THAT, THAT WEBSITE, I INVITE EVERYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN IT.
IT'LL BE KEPT, UH, DYNAMIC THERE FOR, UH, JUST LIKE THE SPREADSHEET THAT WE'LL SEND OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THIS WILL HAVE SHOW WHERE WE ARE ON THAT.
SO I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT AND THANK AND APPLAUD YOUR STAFF WHO REALLY PUT THIS TOGETHER ON THAT.
SO IT'S GOOD WORK ON THEIR END TO DO.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, ON THE, ON THE ITEM EIGHT A, THERE ARE THE THREE TRACKS THAT YOU MENTIONED.
I THINK WE HAVE A MAP THAT WE COULD JUST SHOW AS I GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THOSE.
THIS IS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
UH, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ON THIS TRACK, WHICH, UH, WHICH WILL FOLLOW FOR THE NEXT TWO AS WELL, IS THE, THE INITIAL REQUEST FOR DUE DILIGENCE.
THIS COMES AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM YOUR GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE TO SPEND UP TO $25,000 TO WORK WITH THE APPLICANT ON, UH, COMING BACK WITH A FINAL RECOMMENDATION AT SOME POINT HERE IN THE FUTURE ON THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT BE SPECIFIC TO THAT PROJECT, SIR, MR. MACHINE, FOR PEOPLE WHO, UH, MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE IMAGE, COULD YOU GIVE THEM JUST A BRIEF IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE, WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GEOGRAPHICALLY? UH, YES.
AND, AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO REFER JUST BECAUSE I SURE.
MAKE SURE I, UH, BUT OFF SEASIDE ROAD, UH, OVER, UH, NOT FAR FROM STATION CREEK IS, UH, IS, I BELIEVE IS WHAT I RECALL IT ALWAYS BEING CALLED, IS JUST 128 ACRES.
THIS WILL BE PRIVATELY HELD, BUT WITH AN EASEMENT HELD BY OPEN LAND TRUST.
AND WHAT YOU SEE AROUND IT, THE GREEN HASH MARK PROPERTIES, OTHER PROPERTIES THAT ARE ALREADY UNDER PRIVATELY OWNED, BUT UNDER, UH, CONSERVATION PROTECTION AT THIS POINT.
AND WHAT YOU'RE CREATING IS SORT OF THIS CONTINUOUS SYNERGY, UH, HAVING A NEIGHBORHOOD OF CONSERVATION IN THAT, IN THAT VICINITY.
AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF GREEN SPACE HAS MADE THAT OBSERVATION EARLIER.
MR. SHANE, I WOULD JUST, UH, COMMENT THAT, UM, WHEN I TOOK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, ROB ST.
HENER, WHEN HE GOT TO THAT AREA, HE SAID, IT'S SO PEACEFUL HERE.
THE NEXT TRACK IS THE CAMPBELL TRACK.
THIS IS IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY, AND YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE, WHERE THE INTERSECTION OF TRASH PARKWAY HIGHWAY 21 AND 17.
AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HISTORICALLY REFERRED TO THAT AS THE FLYOVER OF 21 AND 17.
AND I'LL POINT OUT THAT MANY YEARS AGO, AND WHEN I SERVED ON THE DNR BOARD, WE WERE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH DOT ABOUT THAT WHOLE INTERSECTION.
AND THE PLAN ORIGINALLY WAS TO HAVE A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND TO GREAT CREDIT TO DOT AND THEIR ENGINEERING FIRM AT OUR REQUEST.
THEY FIGURED OUT A WAY TO DO IT TO WHERE IT PRESERVED ALL OF THOSE LIVE OAK TREES THAT YOU REALLY SEE RIGHT THERE.
AND TO ME, AND ADMIT AND DISCLOSE THAT I HAD, THAT I'M INTERESTED IN PROPERTIES IN AND AROUND THAT AREA WAS, THAT'S THE ENTRANCE INTO BEAUFORT.
YOU'RE RIGHT THERE ON THE EDGE OF THE
[00:45:01]
ACE BASIN, YOUR ENTRANCE THERE.AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS SORT OF BEEN INCUMBENT ICONIC AND FRANKLY, A MODEL THAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE LOOKED TO AS THEY LOOK AT ROAD DEVELOPMENT IS THE ABILITY WHERE YOU DO NOT HAVE TO NECESSARILY ALWAYS DO THE CLASSIC INTERSECTION WITH A LIGHT AND TAKE ALL THE LIVE OAKS, ET CETERA, IN THAT AREA DOWN.
SO IT'S BECOME A SIGNATURE OF BUFORT COUNTY IN THAT AREA TO, TO REALLY BREAK CREDIT TO, TO, UH, BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE FOR DOING THAT.
AND THIS WOULD PROTECT THE, UH, ABOUT 30, ALMOST A LITTLE OVER 35 ACRES RIGHT THERE UNDER OUR CORRIDOR PROTECTION.
I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT IT'S ONE OF THE, THE, UH, THE CATEGORIES THAT WE LOOK FOR.
SO THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE THAT WOULD BE UNDER THE CORRIDOR PROTECTION.
THERE AGAIN, IT WOULD BE PRIVATELY HELD, BUT IT WOULD BE WITH THE RIGHT EASEMENT ON TOP OF THAT.
AND MR. CHAIRMAN, THE THIRD ONE, MR. MCCAIN, BEFORE YOU GO TO THE THIRD ONE.
I, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU, I, I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR, UH, COMMITTEE EFFORTS OF PRESERVING, UH, THAT SPACE OF PROPERTY THERE, WHICH IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE WETLANDS THAT LEADS OUT INTO THE, UH, WELL, UH, THE, WHAT RIVER IS THAT? PO WHAT RIVER IS THAT? POAL PO YEAH.
AND SO HAVING, HAVING PRESERVED THAT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA RIGHT OFF, UH, HIGHWAY 17 AND 21, UH, RUN IT OFF INTO THE, INTO THE WATERWAYS.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE CORRECT, MR. DAWSON.
'CAUSE REALLY THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY DESIRABLE PLACE TO DO DEVELOPMENT AT THAT INTERSECTION WOULD BE WHERE THIS IS.
AND SO WE'VE NOW TAKEN THAT OFF OR IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH A PRIVATE LANDOWNER, REMEMBERING THIS IS WORKING WITH A WILLY LANDOWNER ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS TO NEGOTIATE THIS OUTCOME.
AND THIS IS, UH, UH, WHAT WE PRESENT FOR CONSIDERATION.
I THINK IT'S GREAT YOU HAVE ONE UP IN THE NORTH, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT IN THE SOUTH AND WE WERE CONCERN AND WE CONTINUE, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE SOUTH.
I KNOW IT'S COMING, BUT I'M JUST SAYING IT'S NICE TO SEE NORTH AND EAST.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THESE COME FORWARD.
THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON, IN, IN, FRANKLY, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T NECESSARILY SCRIPT HOW APPLICATIONS COME IN, BUT IT IS WORK WELL WITH OUR PARTNERS ABOUT TRYING TO KEEP AN EQUITABLE CONSIDERATION OF THE FOUR REGIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY ON THAT.
AND SO THEN WE GO TO THE THIRD TRACK WITH, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION OF DUE DILIGENCE.
AND THIS IS ON HILTON HEAD, AND I COMPLIMENT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD FOR ON THE NINE AND A HALF ACRES THAT THEY'RE GONNA PARTNER WITH GREEN SPACE ON THE PURCHASE OF THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THIS, IN THIS TRACK.
THE VALUE OF THIS TRACK IS ONE, ITS UNIQUE SIZE AND ITS LOCATION ON WATERFRONT WHERE THE FAMILY REALLY WANTS TO JUST KEEP IT FROM BEING DEVELOPED IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO, EVEN THOUGH IT'LL BE PRIVATELY HELD UNDER A CONSERVATION EASEMENT, THERE'S THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE THIS 10 AC, ALMOST 10 ACRES GET CLEARLY COULD BE FRACTIONALIZED AND BECOME HIGHER DENSITY AT SOME POINT THERE.
SO, AND IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD BARGAIN.
AND THE FACT THAT THE TOWN OF HILTON HAD, WHICH I FREELY ADMIT, HAS NOT HAD IN EARLY DAYS WAS MY BIGGEST WRESTLING MATCH, UH, WITH GREENSPACE, HAS BECOME A REALLY VERY COLLABORATIVE PARTNER WITH US.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF, IF IT'S YOUR, UH, LIKE THAT, WE WOULD, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM GREENSPACE IS TO APPROVE THESE THREE TRACKS FOR DUE DILIGENCE TO COME BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE WITH A RECOMMENDATION IN THE FUTURE.
AND LET ME YIELD TO MR. UM, MCKELLAN FIRST BECAUSE HE'S CHAIR, HE'S NOT CHAIRING, BUT HE'S A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU MR. MCSHANE, FOR MAKING A PRESENTATION.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT, UM, WE, UH, FUND THE AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED, UH, UH, FOR DUE DILIGENCE AND TO NEGOTIATE TERMS OF ACQUISITIONS FOR THE PROJECTS AS DESCRIBED BY MR. SHAN.
UM, CAN WE DO THIS WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION? YES, WE HOPE SO.
UH, THERE'S, I DON'T SEE ANY OBJECTION, SO, UM, IT PASSES.
YOU STILL UP MR. I AM STILL HERE, SIR.
I'M GONNA BE HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
NOT TOO LONG THOUGH, BUT GO AHEAD.
I'VE STILL GOT TWO, TWO REALLY EXCITING ONES UP HERE.
[8.b. A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds to the Town of Bluffton for their procurement of fee simple real property located in Bluffton, known as the Buckwalter PUD Tracts – Parcel 5A and Parcel 5B (PIN# R610 030 000 0138 0000, R610 030 000 1971 0000), not to exceed the requested amount ($2,143,678) (FISCAL IMPACT: ($2,143,678) from the Green Space Program Fund Account #4706-10-0000-54400 (Land Acquisition)) - Mike McShane, Chairman of the Green Space Advisory Committee (10 minutes)]
AND WE'LL PUT A MOTION ON OR? YES.I'LL MAKE, UH, THE MOTION FOR ITEM EIGHT B.
[00:50:01]
MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.UH, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE CAME BEFORE AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GRANTED DUE DILIGENCE.
WE'RE COMING BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO PROCEED FOR YOU AS A COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND TO COUNSEL LATER THIS MONTH TO PROCEED WITH, UH, AUTHORIZING, UH, FUNDS FROM GREENSPACE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF TWO TRACKS.
AND I WANNA BE REAL CLEAR, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME, SOMETIMES IT GETS A LITTLE CONFUSION BECAUSE OF SOME COMMON NAMES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARCEL FIVE A AND PARCEL FIVE B.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A COINCIDENTAL COMMON ROAD CALLED FIVE B
THAT IT, THAT IS, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
THIS IS WORKING WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
UH, FELICIA ROTH IS HERE, I GOTTA COMPLIMENT.
THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON HAS REALLY BEEN COLLABORATIVE AS A PARTNER.
THEY'VE MOVED FORWARD ON DOING WITH OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY, UH, ARTFUL IN THEIR NEGOTIATIONS.
AND I THINK, FELICIA, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT SORT OF PHASE TWO WILL COME.
SO IF YOU SEE ON THIS MAP, YOU SEE THERE'S, THERE'S A TRACK, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S IN BETWEEN FIVE A PARCEL, FIVE A AND PARCEL FIVE B.
THAT'S 55 ACRES WE CALL, WE'RE GONNA CALL THAT SIMPLY PARCEL FIVE C.
THE OWNERS OF PARCEL FIVE C HAVE AGREED AND THE TOWN HAS CONTRACTED TO ACQUIRE THAT.
WE'LL COME FORWARD AS A SECONDARY INDEPENDENT PROJECT OF THIS THANK YOU.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TWO, THERE'LL BE TOTAL OF TWO PROJECTS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE OF THE TWO, WE'RE NOW A 200 AND NEARLY 200, 2 40 HERE.
BUT WITH THE, WITH THE THREE, WITH WITH THE THREE, IT IS GOING BE JUST UNDER 300 ACRES.
THAT WILL BE UNDER WITH THE RIGHT GRANT RESTRICTIONS, COLLABORATION FROM OUR SOUTH CAROLINA PARKS AND RECREATION AND TOURISM AGENCY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE TOWN ABOUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE BEST STRATEGY TO TAKE THIS INTO A PUBLIC, INTO THE PUBLIC TRUST AS A PARK.
AND TO BE CLEAR, THAT DOES NOT PROHIBIT FUTURE ROAD WORK THAT DOES THAT, BUT I THINK IT TAKES OFF THE TABLE WHY THERE WOULD EVEN BE A NEED CONSIDERING FOR ANY ROAD WORK.
IT CERTAINLY ELIMINATES THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY RESIDENTIAL OR TYPE OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THAT WILL BE THE TOTAL OF THE THREE.
SO, SO THE IMPORTANCE WAS THAT NOT ONLY DO YOU GET THE, THE PARCEL FIVE A AND FIVE B IS THE SECONDARY PART WHICH WILL COME FORWARD FAIRLY RAPIDLY, WILL BE PARCEL FIVE C, THEN YOU HAVE THIS CONTINUUM, UH, CONNECTION THROUGH THAT, THAT WILL ELIMINATE ALL OF THAT POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON I HAVE A QUESTION.
THE FIVE, THE FIVE C? YES MA'AM.
IT'S OWNED BY WHO IS THAT THE FOOTHILLS? THERE'S A COLLECTION.
PARCEL FIVE A AND PARCEL FIVE B WERE OWNED BY THE FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY.
FIVE C WAS HELD BY A CONSORTIUM OF NUMBER INDIVIDUALS THERE.
AND IF I MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS WAS HANDED ME JUST THE PAST.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT FIVE C YOU WANT THAT BACK? OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ONE TO SHOW ON THE SCREEN.
AND WHAT'S MR. MACHINE AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THE FIVE C? IT'S PRETTY GOOD.
WE WILL BE COMING BACK FORWARD WITH A SIMILAR REQUEST.
BUT THE TOWN WAS SO COMMITTED, THEY'VE ALREADY GONE TO CONTRACT WITH THE OWNERS OF THAT.
AND SO THEY'LL BE DOING, SO WE MAY WE'LL BE LOOKING TO QUICKLY COME BACK TO SUPPORT THEM ON THE ACTUAL ACQUISITION OF ALL THREE TRACKS.
THE REQUEST DATE IS TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNSEL FOR THE ACQUISITION, THE, THE RELEASE OF THE MONEY FROM GREEN SPACE FOR THE TOWN'S ACQUISITION OF PARCELS FIVE A AND FIVE B.
TO BE CLEAR, WE'LL COME BACK THROUGH A SECOND THANK PROCESS TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR PARCEL FIVE C.
THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.
HAD GREEN SPACE NON-EXISTENT, RIGHT? I KNOW, CORRECT.
HAD BEAUFORT COUNTY NOT IMPLEMENTED A GREEN SPACE PROGRAM, THERE WOULD NOT EVEN BE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT TRYING TO PRESERVE NEARLY 300 ACRES IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
THEY WOULD'VE HAD DIFFICULTY TRYING TO DO THIS ON THEIR OWN.
UM, THERE'S A MOTION ON RADIO ON THE FLOOR, RIGHT? CORRECT.
UM, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, UM, WE'LL APPROVE THIS MOTION WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION.
SENIOR CHAIRMAN, THAT MOTION INCLUDE THE AMOUNT OF THE $2,143,678.
[00:55:01]
YES.IS THE OFFER OF THE MOTION? YES.
[8.c. A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds to contribute to the procurement by The Open Space Institute on behalf of the applicant, The Open Land Trust, for the acquisition of fee simple real property located in Beaufort County, known as the Buckfield Tracts - Phase I (Pin# R700-005-000-0004-0000, R700-005-000-0002-0000, R700-005-000-001C-0000, R700-005-000-0001-0004, R700-005-000-0005-0000, R700-001-000-0013-0000, R710-001-000-0020-0000, R710-001-000-0013-0000), not to exceed the requested amount ($7,000,000) (FISCAL IMPACT: $7,000 from the Green Space Program Fund Account #4706 (fund balance as of August 25, 2025 - $108,091,063)) - Mike McShane, Chairman of the Green Space Advisory Committee (15 minutes)]
C STILL HERE, MR. CHAIRMAN.UM, YOU'RE NOT AWARE, HUH? THERE'S A RESOLUTION.
I WAS GONNA MAKE THIS MOTION, MOTION FOR THIS RESOLUTION FOR THE BUCKFIELD TRACKS IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7 MILLION.
AND JUST AS A NOTE, WHAT'S ON HERE IS NOT WHAT'S IN HERE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
IT, I DON'T DUNNO WHY IT DIFFER.
THE BUCKFIELD TRACK, THIS IS NORTHERN BUFORT COUNTY.
THIS IS REALLY AT THE, OF THE TRICOUNTY AREA OF HAMPTON, JASPER AND BUFORT COUNTY.
WE'RE TALKING SIMPLY ABOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY SIDE.
OWNED, OWNED BY UH, AN INDIVIDUAL CONSERVATION STARTED TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE OWNER IN 2015.
I WAS PART OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS IN MY CAPACITY ON THE DNR BOARD.
IN 10 YEARS, WE CAME TO WHERE WE FINALLY HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTIES.
THIS WILL ULTIMATELY GO TO THE FORESTRY COMMISSION TO BE MANAGED AS A STATE FOREST, WHICH WILL PRODUCE PUBLIC ACCESS, RECREATIONAL USE UNDER THEIR FOREST.
UNDER THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION'S PLAN.
HAD GREENVILLE NOT EXISTED, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS DEAL BECAUSE TOMORROW, ALBEIT THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK, WHERE WE'LL BE MAKING A SIMILAR GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE, YOU ARE THE DOMINANT PLAYER OF THIS TRACK IN THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SIDE.
BUT BY DOING SO, ENABLED NOT ONLY THE WHOLE DEAL, BUT THAT INCLUDES LATER, UH, PHASES IN JASPER AND HAMPTON COUNTIES.
THE DELTA IS A, UH, EPA GRANT THAT THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION HAS.
THEY HAVE IT THAT GRANTS IN HAND.
SO WE, WE HAVE HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT THIS THEN WILL TRANSITION RARELY RAPIDLY TO THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION AND BECOME THAT THAT PLAYS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROLE.
DESPITE THE NEWS HERE, WHICH IS STILL ALARMING THAT MILLS HAVE SHUT DOWN.
WE STILL HAVE AREAS WHERE THE STATE STILL WANTS TO DEMONSTRATE GOOD FORESTRY PRACTICES ON THAT.
IT PLAYS A ROLE IN RESILIENCE.
IT PLAYS A ROLE IN RECREATIONAL USE.
THIS IS STILL A VERY FINE MOVE.
AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GREEN SPACE.
I UNDER, I KNOW THIS OWNER AS OTHERS DO.
AND WE WOULD NOT BE AT THE TABLE TODAY HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GREEN SPACE.
MS. MIGUEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO ME? THIS IS TRANSFORMATIVE WHAT OCCURRED IN THAT AREA OF THE COUNT OF NORTHERN COUNTY? YEAH, JUST ONE COMMENT.
THIS IS ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE REGIONAL APPROACH WHERE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE COUNTY INVOLVED IN IT.
WE'RE PROVIDING THE LEAD, BUT WE'RE BRINGING IN, UH, JASPER AND, UH, AND HAMPTON, I THINK IT IS.
AND, UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL TO REACH OUTSIDE OF WHERE WE ARE TO, TO GET INVOLVED IN GOING OVER THE BORDER WITH OUR OWN FUNDING.
BUT THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM, WAS TO ENSURE WE PROTECTED THE OUTLYING AREAS THAT AFFECTED DEVELOPMENT HERE.
AND A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE HAS TO DO WITH PROTECTING THE HEADQUARTERS OF SOME OF THE RIVERS THAT ARE FEEDING INTO OUR COUNTY.
SO REACHING ACROSS THE BORDER, WHILE UNUSUAL IS A VERY GOOD THING FOR US, AND OTHER OF THE 45 COUNTIES IN THE STATE ARE LOOKING AT THAT AS SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO MIRROR BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS WE'VE HAD UNDER CHAIRMAN EXCHANGE'S LEADERSHIP.
SO THIS HAS WORKED OUT VERY WELL FOR US.
EVEN THOUGH WE TEND TO BE CROSSING THE BORDER, IT'S STILL A GOOD CROSSING FOR US TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM.
SO THIS PROJECT, TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE ASKING THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO FUND $7 MILLION AS THE VICE CHAIRMAN POINTED OUT TOWARD THE OVERALL ACQUISITION OF THE 1,658 OR SO ACRES ON THAT.
THE STATE WILL PLAY A ROLE AND THE FEDS WILL PLAY A ROLE THAT THEN TRANSITIONS OWNERSHIP WILL GO FROM OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE, WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR LARGER NATIONAL PARTNERS, JUST LIKE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY DID RECENTLY ON A TRACK OF GREAT INTEREST AND THEN TRANSITION OWNERSHIP TO THE STATE THROUGH THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION.
MR. MCCAIN, AGAIN, I MIRROR MY COLLEAGUES THOUGHTS AND THANK YOU.
YOU, HOW HAS THIS SUCCESS HELPED YOU LEVERAGE MONEY? I, I GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU'VE SAID TO US EVERY TIME, AND I HOPE YOU BRING
[01:00:01]
IT UP NOW TO BRING IN MORE MONEY, TO GET MORE PROPERTY TO PROTECT.OUR SUCCESS GENERALLY IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE, WE, SO RIGHT NOW, SPEAKING OF GREEN SPACE, BEAUFORT COUNTY SEEDS FUNDING, THAT MAKES IT VERY ATTRACTIVE FOR THE STATE TO THEN PUT IN.
AND I KNOW SOMEBODY AT THE, THEN YOU THEN LOOK AT THEM WHEN WE GO TO THE FEDS, THEY LOOK AT THAT AS THAT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE LEVERAGING THEIR OWN DOLLARS INTO THAT.
I DON'T WANNA SAY TOO MUCH 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT OUR FRIENDS OF GEORGIA AND NORTH CAROLINA UNDERSTANDING HOW WE DO IT BECAUSE THEY HADN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET.
ALRIGHT, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT NO, NO, NO.
BUT YOUR POINT IS, AND ON THIS TRACK, EVERYTHING WE'RE PUTTING IN HERE IS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
BUT WHAT THAT ENABLES IS THE FACT THE STATE NOW WILL COME IN, THE FEDS WILL COME IN, WHICH WILL HELP ON THE HAMPTON JASPER SIDE.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL PROJECT, IT IS ALL THREE COUNTIES ARE GONNA HAVE A PARTICIPATION.
IF, IF I MIGHT, MIKE, I I COMMEND YOU ON, UH, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, ACQUIRING THIS, THESE PROPERTIES FOR, UH, CONSERVATION PRESERVATION AND EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE, UM, IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE, UH, PUBLIC ACCESS FOR RECREATION.
I'M, I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF NOT ONLY PRESERVATION, BUT PUBLIC ACCESS ALSO.
SO I COMMEND TO YOU WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, SIR.
THERE, THERE'S A BALANCE BETWEEN PUBLIC ACCESS AND PUBLIC BENEFIT.
AND WHAT WE TRY TO DO, THERE ARE TIMES YOU WANT FULL PUBLIC ACCESS, THEREFORE IT'S REALLY GONNA REQUIRE FEE.
THERE ARE TIMES YOU DON'T WANT TO OWN IT ALL.
YOU DON'T WANT THE OPERATING EXPENSE TO GO THROUGH STEPHANIE
WE BALANCE THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU CREATE, WHEN THIS IS ACQUIRED AND YOU LOOK AT THE PRIVATE LANDS THAT ARE SURROUNDED, THAT ARE PROTECTED, YOU NOW HAVE AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM THAT PLAYS INTO THE ROLE OF MANAGING ALL THAT WATER THAT TYPICALLY FLOWS DOWN.
AND IF YOU WERE AROUND THERE THIS WEEKEND, YOU WOULD'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT
AND, AND THEN NOT TO MENTION THE FACT YOU JUST PRODUCED A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR, WHICH I STILL THINK IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I THINK YOU'VE SHOWN THAT TIME AFTER TIME ABOUT THE VALUE OF WHAT WILDLIFE MEAN, NOT JUST FROM A RECREATIONAL STANDPOINT, BUT REALLY PART OF OUR WHOLE CULTURE IN THIS COMMUNITY ON THAT.
AND SO THIS, WE'RE REALLY AT A POINT BETWEEN THIS GREGORY NECK, CHELSEA PROJECTS LIKE THAT, THAT WE'RE GONNA CONNECT THE SAVANNAH RIVER TO THE ACE BASIN.
THAT'LL BE ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE FEATURES OF ANY PART OF THE STATE, FRANKLY, ANY PART OF THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST HAVE ONE OFF, OFF.
I, I DON'T MEAN TO, UH, TRICK YOU WITH THE QUESTION, BUT SINCE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SUCCESS, I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN SAY APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH DENSITY YOU HAVE PREVENTED FROM OCCURRING WITH REGARD TO ROOFTOPS BY ALL OF THE PROPERTY WE HAVE, WE HAVE PURCHASED OR, OR GIVEN EASEMENTS TO WHAT WE INTEND TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
AND MARK, MAYBE YOU HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT.
I CAN HELP, BUT I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PUT SOMETHING.
WHAT'S IT, REMIND ME WHAT THE ZONING IS IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTY, THREE UNITS TO THE ACRE.
SO 1600 UNITS, 1600 ACRES, THREE.
NOT ALL OF IT CLEARLY WOULD, BUT, BUT EVEN IF YOU JUST ACCEPTED, LET'S SAY OVER HALF OF IT AND THREE UNITS THROUGH THE ACRE, THE MATH VERY QUICKLY ADDS UP.
I THINK THE INTEREST IS, AN EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER PROJECT IS CHELSEA, JASPER COUNTY, BUT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN 4,000 UNITS, 4,000 UNITS EASILY.
THAT ALL WOULD JUMP IN RIGHT THERE AT 4 62 AND ONE 70.
UH, AND YOU AS A COUNTY WOULD BE THE ONE HAVING TO COVER THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON ALL OF THAT.
IT IS, THIS IS TRULY AN ADAGE THAT MAYBE GETS USED A LITTLE AS SMART GROWTH, BUT THIS IS REALLY SMART CONSERVATION BECAUSE YOU'RE HELPING DIRECT IT IN AREAS THAT REALLY HAVE BENEFITS BEYOND JUST THE FACT THEY'RE NOT ROOFTOPS.
YOU'RE TAKING, YOU'RE PUTTING, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PUTTING MONEY IN AREAS THAT REALLY CAN ABSORB A LOT OF THE DIFFERENCES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN OUR, IN OUR WEATHER, OUR CLIMATE, SEA LEVEL RISES, ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE TAKEN CONSIDERATION FROM A LAND MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT.
YOU ALSO, I THINK THERE'S AN ELEMENT HERE THAT PEOPLE ENJOY
[01:05:01]
THE OUTDOOR ASPECT THAT'S A BIG PART OF OUR LIFE STYLE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.AND YOU'RE NOW ALLOWING AND ENSURING THAT THEY HAS ACCESS TO THAT.
SO SOME OF IT HAD BEEN PRIVATELY OWNED AND, AND DIDN'T ALLOW ANY PUBLIC ACCESS.
BUT YOU GET TO OTHER TRACKS LIKE THIS ONE WILL NOW HAVE THE PUBLIC BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND YOU CREATE ITS OWN ECONOMY BY HAVING PEOPLE GO UP IN THAT AREA AND SPEND SOME TIME THERE.
YOUR TRAIL SYSTEM IS REALLY KIND OF MAGNIFICENT.
AND REGRETTABLY, MY HOME COUNTY REALLY HASN'T BUILT THAT KIND OF TRAIL SYSTEM, UH, LIKE YOU HAVE HERE AND PEOPLE FOUGHT TO THE WATERWAYS IS AN EXAMPLE OR SOMETHING ELSE.
SO OUR GROWTH AND RECREATIONAL USE OF THE WATERWAYS CONTINUES TO OUTPACE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENT? UM, ACHE WILL ACHE.
WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS MOTION AND MOVE IT FORWARD.
UM, CAN I DO THIS WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION? YES.
SEEING NO OBJECTION, THIS MOTION PASSES.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU BROUGHT TO US TWO PARCEL.
I LOVE REALLY, I I LOVE 'EM ALL, BUT, UM, BECAUSE IT'S CONNECTED TO THE FORESTRY COMMISSION, UH, THAT OPENS THAT THOSE TWO PARCEL ONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE.
UM, SO WE, THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK I, I, I WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, YESTERDAY I HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE MY WIFE, UM, IN THE DONNELLEY, UM, THE DONNELLEY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA AND STUFF.
WE WERE LOOKING FOR ALLIGATORS.
THEY'RE POLITICAL ALLIGATORS AND THEY'RE REAL ALLIGATORS.
BUT IT WAS, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY AND STUFF.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS NAVIGATING, UM, DRIVING WHEN A CAR IS COMING AND YOU'RE TRYING TO GET BY A SMALL NARROW ROAD.
IF I MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST VERY QUICKLY MM-HMM
YOU JUST, UH, THE DONNELLEY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE THAT SORT OF INITIATED 1989, THE CONCEPT THAT WE COULD HAVE AN ECOSYSTEM LIKE THE ACE SPACE ACE OF COURSE, BEING THE ACRONYM FOR THE THREE RIVERS.
AND SOMEONE SAID THE OTHER DAY, IT'S NOT A SHEOO, IT'S NOT COME BA IT'S NOT A DISPATCH.
YOU HADN'T HAVE BEEN AROUND A WHILE.
THAT THEN, UH, REALLY CREATED A PRIORITY AMONGST PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO ON A VOLUNTARY WILLING BASIS TO NEGOTIATE THE CONSERVATION OUTCOME.
MANY OF 'EM WERE FULLY DONATED.
THAT BECAME A MODEL THAT REALLY DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE, AT LEAST ON THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD.
AND, AND BY DOING SO, IT'S NOW WHAT I THINK IN THE 35 YEARS OF THAT, UH, TO THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO COMMUTE FROM HERE UP TO CHARLESTON MM-HMM
TO, TO, UH, THOSE WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THOSE AREAS OR, OR RECREATE, UH, REALLY USE IT FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
THE BENEFIT OF WHAT'S OCCURRED THERE NOW.
SO YOU CLOSING IN ON 400,000 ACRES IN THE A BASIN UNDER PROTECTION.
AND MOST OF THAT IS PRIVATELY HELD.
MOST LANDS ARE PRIVATELY HELD.
AND, AND TO SEE LANDOWNERS WILLINGLY DO THIS, BENEFITS US ALL.
AND, AND I THINK FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
SOME ARE EASY TO MEASURE, OTHERS ARE A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED TO MEASURE, BUT THERE ARE BENEFITS TO THAT.
SO FROM AN AIR QUALITY STANDPOINT TO WATER QUALITY AND WATER QUANTITY ISSUES.
AND THIS COUNTY TOOK THAT LEAD IN WHAT YEAR DID RURAL CRITICAL LANDS? 2000.
SO IN YOUR 20 PLUS YEARS, YOU'VE SORT OF TAKEN THE LEAD.
YOU DATED EXACTLY WHEN THE STATE THEN MODELED THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK.
THAT WAS STILL A FEW YEARS BEHIND THAT MM-HMM
FOR JUST 20 YEARS AT THE STATE.
AND THE STATE JUST PUT RECORD FUNDING INTO THE CONSERVATION BANK BECAUSE THE STATE, AND I WILL SHARE WITH COUNCIL THE SPREADSHEET, WHICH YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY SEE OTHER THAN A LOT OF LINES HAS 48 PROJECTS THAT THE STATE BANK IS GONNA BE LOOKING AT OF TOMORROW MM-HMM.
SOME OF THEM ARE JOINT PROJECTS, BUT IT'S ACROSS THE STATE THAT WE'RE SEEING THIS, THAT IT'S REALLY, UH, COMPELLING FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE CITIZENS THAT SUPPORT THIS.
AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD BE MAYBE ONE SIDE OF THE POLITICAL REALM VERSUS IS NOT, THIS IS UNIVERSALLY, UH, ACCEPTED
[01:10:01]
AS A GOOD PRACTICE POLICY YEAH.IS TO INVEST IN CONSERVATION AND YOUR COUNTY.
OH, IT WAS A PLEASURE SEEING YOU.
[8.d. Discussion on declaring the Corners Community of St. Helena Island (FISCAL IMPACT: n/a) -]
ITEM TO ITEM D AND THIS IS A DISCUSSION OF CLEARING THE CORONERS COMMUNITY ON C HOLLAND.HOW, UM, IS THAT GONNA BE LED BY ROB OR IS IT CHRISTIAN? ROB.
AND THIS IS SOME WORK THAT, UM, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE CPO HAS BEEN WORKING ON, UM, FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND STUFF.
AND I THINK YOU COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO THIS BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT PART OF THIS COMES FROM OUR WORK ON WITH, ON THE ISLAND OF ST.
HELENA, BOTH IN THE CORONERS COMMUNITY AND WITH THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED VERY EARLY ON, ACTUALLY, WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, AND WE USED TO HAVE A HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLANNER, IAN HILL, THAT THE TERM FROGMORE, YOU KNOW, SOUTH CAROLINA IS ACTUALLY A MISNOMER.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT DATES BACK TO, UH, THE ORIGINAL MAIL DELIVERY ON ST.
HELEN ISLAND WAS SENT TO AN AREA OF THE ISLAND CALLED FROGMORE.
BUT THAT AREA IS ACTUALLY ON SEASIDE ROAD, NOT IN THE INTERSECTION OF 21.
AND, UH, MARTIN LUTHER KING, UH, JUNIOR BOULEVARD.
SO THE IDEA IS THAT THIS COMMUNITY KIND OF ASSUMED A NAME BECAUSE OF MAIL DELIVERY AND WHERE, UM, THE POST OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE ISLAND.
UH, AND IT'S KIND OF STUCK WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT MANY PEOPLE WHO'VE LIVED ON THE ISLANDS, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT WHERE THE TRUE FROGMORE COMMUNITY IS LOCATED.
AND SO THIS, THIS REQUEST CAME FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT COMMITTEE, UM, TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT WOULD, UM, BASICALLY CLARIFY THAT IT IS NOT FROGMORE, BUT THE CORONER'S COMMUNITY.
AND SO IN THIS PROCLAMATION, THERE IS A MAP THAT DEFINES THE AREA.
UM, AND SO THAT, THAT'S KIND OF A, A REAL QUICK, I GUESS, ELEVATOR PITCH, UH, EXPLANATION.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN GO IN MUCH GREATER DETAIL IN SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY AND, AND POST OFFICES AND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS OF HOW THIS HAPPENED.
BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S AN INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY TO CLARIFY WHAT THE REAL NAME OF THE, THE QUARTER'S COMMUNITY IS.
AND, UM, IF I MAY, UH, WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON QUEEN QU TO COME TO, UM, ADD TO WHAT MR. MERCHANT HAS JUST SAID.
UM, QUEEN QUT HAS CHAIRED THAT COMMITTEE AND, UM, THE COMMITTEE IS MAKING A, A STRONG RECOMMENDATION.
SO JUST CLARIFY THE CORNERS COMMUNITY AND THE ISSUE THE CENTER ABSOLUTELY.
UM, I CHAIRED NOT ONLY THE C THE INAUGURAL CPO, BUT ALSO THE INITIAL CORNERS COMMUNITY PRESERVATION DISTRICT WHERE WE HAD A PUBLIC MARKET DISTRICT.
AND NOW I CHAIR THE CPO AGAIN.
SO I THINK I KNOW A LITTLE BIT, BUT THIS YEAR, AND ALSO MY FAMILY, DIFFERENT FROGMORE FOR TRUE.
SO BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY FROM FROGMORE ON SEASIDE ROAD, ALL OF US WHO ARE NATIVES TO THAT SECTION OF ST.
HELENA ISLAND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ANNOYED TO SEE OUR FROGMORE FROG ON T-SHIRTS AND PLANES AND EVERYTHING ELSE AT THE LADIES ISLAND AIRPORT.
WE WERE LIKE, YOUR PLANE NEED TO LAND OVER HERE ON SEASIDE.
SO THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING THING FOR YEARS.
UM, MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM ST.
HELENA, OUR ORIGINAL POST OFFICE THAT IS NOW PART OF WHAT IS THE RESTAURANT THAT IS FOOLISH FROG, WHICH IS VERY FOOLISH 'CAUSE WE HAVE SEA LEVEL RODS THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE, THERE WAS A FROG.
PERIODICALLY, THE HEADLINE OF THE NEWS WAS, SMILEY IS MISSING.
WHO HAS SMILEY? AND SO THEN PEOPLE WOULD DO PRANKS.
SO WE ALL LOVE THE FROG MORE FROGS.
AND I DID RESEARCH MANY YEARS AGO BECAUSE I WAS CURIOUS, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD AS A CHILD WHEN I WOULD ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS, WHY IS IT FROG MORE? THEY WOULD SAY, 'CAUSE OF THE FROGS.
AND I SAID, THAT CANNOT BE THE ONLY REASON.
SO THE RESEARCH WAS DONE, AND SURE ENOUGH, COME TO FIND OUT, IT CAME FROM A GENTLEMAN FROM ENGLAND.
HE IS FROM A HAMLET CALLED FROGMORE, WHICH I'VE GONE TO VISIT IN ENGLAND BECAUSE I'M FROM FROGMORE.
I WANTED TO SEE THEIR FROGMORE.
[01:15:01]
THEN PEOPLE STARTED KEEP SAYING THOUGH, BUT OH, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER HERE.I THOUGHT, I'VE DRIVEN THROUGH FROGMORE.
I SAID, WERE YOU ON SEASIDE ROAD? THEY SAY, NO.
I SAID, SO YOU DIDN'T DRIVE THROUGH FROGMORE, SO YOU DROVE THROUGH THE CORNERS COMMUNITY.
AND WE THOUGHT THAT THE DELINEATION BY THE COUNTY SAYING WE HAD THE CORNERS, COMMUNITY PRESERVATION DISTRICT WAS GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT.
'CAUSE PEOPLE TEND TO LOVE OUR FROG, BUT WE WANT OUR FROG TO HOP IN THE REAL FROG MORE ON SEASIDE.
AND WE WANT PEOPLE AT THE CORNERS DISTRICT TO COME SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES.
IT IS THE CORNERS OF WHERE YOU CONNECT FULLER PLANTATION, ALL RIGHT.
INDIAN HILL, THEY CONNECT THERE AND THEN YOU START TO PROCEED DOWN TO WHERE THE PENN CENTER NATIONAL LANDMARK HISTORIC DISTRICT IS AFTER THE CAUSEWAY WHERE EBENEZER IS.
SO WE WANTED PEOPLE TO BE VERY CLEAR.
SO WE THOUGHT, WELL, ONE MORE LEVEL UP.
IF WE COME TO THE COUNTY AND HAVE A RESOLUTION, OUR PROCLAMATION DONE OFFICIALLY ON THE RECORD, WE WOULD HOPE THAT THIS WOULD NOW HELP CLARIFY FOR PEOPLE WHO TO COME HERE, THE ONE WHAT BEEN HERE.
AND ALSO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, HOPEFULLY THERE WOULD BE SIGNAGE THAT SAYS, WELCOME TO THE CORONER'S DISTRICT AND BY Y'ALL, OR THANKS FOR COMING TO THE CORONER'S DISTRICT, WHATEVER, SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD KNOW WHEN THEY COME IN AND OUT OF IT.
BUT IF YOU LOOK ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN WE WORKED ON HIGHWAY 21 TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING WIDENED TO FIVE LANES, WE ACTUALLY HAD THEM PUT A SANDY AREA THERE.
THAT WAS INTENTIONAL TO DEMARCATE WHEN YOU ENTER THAT CORNERS COMMUNITY DISTRICT.
AND SO NOW WE WANT TO GO ONE MORE LEVEL.
AND SO SINCE SEVERAL OF MY CPO MEMBERS WERE VERY UPSET, I DIDN'T WANT THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE TO GO ANY HIGHER.
I'M GLAD THAT WE ALL UNANIMOUSLY VOTED ON THE RESOLUTION AND THAT YOU'RE HEARING IT TODAY.
SO WE PRAY THAT YOU ALL WILL GO AHEAD AND OFFICIALLY PASS IT FOR THE RECORD.
AND I THINK FROGMORE APPRECIATE THAT TOO.
FROGMORE STEW IS THAT WE'RE ORIGINATING AS WELL.
SO FROGMORE STEW, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE FROGS IN IT, OR UNLESS Y'ALL COOKING IT WRONG, FROGMORE STEW ORIGINATED IN FROGMORE, SOUTH CAROLINA ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND IF BE TEA FROM WE.
AND THEN OTHER REST OF PEOPLE ARE CALLING 'EM LOW COUNTRY BOIL BECAUSE IT'S SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE LOW COUNTRY.
NOW I'M BEING TOLD IT'S CALLED SOMETHING ELSE.
SOMEBODY JUST TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY, NAMED IT SOMETHING ELSE NOW.
UH, SO I WASN'T GONNA NAME THE NAME.
BUT YES, FROGMORE IS WHERE THAT DISH ORIGINATED, AND IT IS FROGMORE.
ANY, ANY QUESTION, COMMENTS? CAN I, UM, I NEED TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION, UH, TO COUNCIL A MOTION.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THERE WILL BE A PROCLAMATION PRESENTED AT THE NEXT COUNCIL.
THERE'S NO NEED TO MOVE A MOTION.
[8.e. A Resolution Authorizing the County Administrator to Accept a Historic Preservation Grant Award From The National Park Service (Cemetery Surveys) (FISCAL IMPACT: Beaufort County received a grant of $75,000 to be applied to the Beaufort County Planning & Zoning Department Grants Revenue Fund. The grant match is $15,000 of in-kind administrative work completed by Kristen Forbus of Beaufort County and $15,000 of in-kind administrative work completed by Queen Quet Marquetta Goodwine (agreement included in packet). No request from the Council to appropriate or authorize any additional funds.) - Kristen Forbus, Long Range Planner]
E.UM, THERE'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ACCEPT A HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GRANT AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, CEMETERIES SURVEYS, ET CETERA.
UM, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT, AND WE CAN GET INTO DISCUSSION.
CHRISTIAN IS ALREADY HERE TO, TO DISCUSS.
SO, SORRY, I'M KIND OF LOSING MY VOICE.
UM, SO WE WERE REWARD REWARDED, UM, $75,000 FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, UM, TO UPDATE OUR, THIS IS THE 1999, UM, ST.
UM, SO $15,000 OF IN KIND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK WILL BE DONE WITH ME REPRESENTING THE COUNTY.
AND THEN THE OTHER 15,000 WILL BE WITH QUEEN QUET IN KIND DOING ADMINISTRATIVE WORK AS WELL.
UH, ANY QUESTION OF KRISTEN THAT THINK I ASK? I HAVE QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UM, BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS, TRYING TO GET A GRANT.
UM, IT SAYS HERE THAT 15,000 IN KIND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK MM-HMM
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN KIND, THEY'RE GIVING THE TIME AND SERVICE.
ARE YOU GIVING YOUR TIME AND SERVICE? YES.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT ON BEAUFORT COUNTY TIME OR YOUR TIME? YES.
I'LL JUST BE REPRESENTING THE COUNTY WITH THAT MATCH.
UM, I, I'M SO GLAD YOU GOT THIS GRANT.
[01:20:01]
IS SO IMPORTANT TO GET THESE CEMETERIES.ANY OTHER QUESTION, COMMENTS? ALSO, UM, GO AHEAD.
UH, THE CEMETERIES, DOES THAT ALSO INCLUDE THE ONES IN OVER ON DUSKY ISLAND? THIS ONE WILL JUST BE, UM, FOR ST.
HELENA SINCE WE ARE UPDATING THE 1999 ST.
SO CAN WE EVENTUALLY DO ONE OVER ON DSKY? THAT COULD BE SOMETHING I LOOK INTO, WE CAN LOOK INTO.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE $15,000 INKIND MATCH ON FUTURE COUNTY TIME IS ONLY APPLIED TO KRISTEN QUEEN
CORRECT? SHE'S VOLUNTEERING ME UNDERSTAND THAT SHE'S VOLUNTEERING HER TIME.
NOW, I, I, UH, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT 25 WAS FOR HELE SPECIFICALLY TO DEAL WITH WHAT HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY DURING 1999.
SO 20, IT'S, WHENEVER I TALK TO SOME CONSULTANTS, I GOT A ESTIMATION OF AROUND 25,000 WILL BE NEEDED TO UPDATE THE CEMETERY, UM, SURVEY.
AND THEN THE REST OF THE 50,000 WILL BE USED TO DO SOME GROUND PENETRATING RADAR WORK TO, UM, SET SOME BOUNDARIES AROUND THOSE THAT ARE CONSIDERED AT RISKS, UM, BURIAL SITES ON ST.
THE 50, IS THAT NOT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY OR IS IT JUST FOR IT'S JUST FOR THE, IT'S STILL JUST FOR, UM, ST.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? UM, CAN WE, UM, CAN WE DISCUSS THIS AT A LATER DATE? CAN I DISCUSS IT WITH A LATER DATE WITH YOU AS FAR AS THE FUS ISLAND CEMETERIES GO, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT OVER, YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE OF OR NOT, BUT IT'S VERY, I I WOULD, I WOULD CONCLUDE THAT IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT ALL OVER BEFORD COUNTY.
NO, I'M JUST SAYING, AND I WOULD THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING.
CAN WE DO IT FOR BIGGER AS WELL? MM-HMM
CHAIRMAN, DO WE NEED ANY ACTION ON THIS? YES, YES, YES, YES.
TO RECEIVE IT, TO RECEIVE THE FRIDAY, OH, PASS IT UP TO COUNTY COUNCIL TO RECEIVE THE MONEY AND STUFF.
UM, WE HAVE, WHAT I MEANT WAS WE HAVE TO VOTE TO MOVE IT YES.
I JUST WANTED TO ANSWER COUNCILWOMAN BROWN ALSO.
THE BUSKE AND THE OTHER BURIAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY THE SIGNIFICANT GULLAH GEECHEE BURIAL AREAS ARE DEFINITELY IMPORTANT TO US.
AND SO OUR SUCCESS WITH THIS WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THIS, TO GET OTHER FUNDS AND TO EXPAND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
HELEN'S A STARTING POINT BECAUSE THE 19 99 1 WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN UPDATED 20 YEARS AGO ALMOST.
IT'S LIKE EVERY TIME THE BALL WOULD MOVE AND THEY SAID, WE CAN'T DO IT NOW.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO SEEK OUTSIDE FUNDING.
SO I'D LOVE TO TALK WITH YOU MORE ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE THERE ARE ALSO SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH OUTSIDE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, IN FACT, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON ALL THE GULLAH GEECHEE SACRED BURIAL AREAS.
SO THEY ARE WILLING TO COME IN AND ALSO DO SOME ADDITIONAL INKIN WORK IN VARIOUS AREAS WE IDENTIFY.
SO I DEFINITELY WANTED TO JUST PUT THAT ON RECORD, MY FRIENDS ON HILL HEAD.
TRUST ME, WE AIN'T LEAVING THEM OUT.
UM, CAN WE APPROVE THIS WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION, SOMEONE? YES.
OKAY, THEN IT IS APPROVED WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION.
[8.f. Text Amendments To The Community Development Code (CDC): Division 5.10 (Historic Preservation), Section 7.2.120 (Certificate Of Appropriateness), Section 7.3.80 (Historic Designation), Section 7.4.50 (Public Hearing Scheduling And Notice), And Section 7.5.40 (Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB)). (FISCAL IMPACT: n/a) - Kristen Forbus, Long Range Planner]
UH, YOU GOT ONE MORE? YES.SO THESE TWO ITEMS ARE SORT OF RELATED AND I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, UM, I THINK YOU'VE ALL MET KRISTEN, BUT, UH, KRISTEN HAS BEEN STAFFING THE WORK OF THE CULTURE PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE ISSUE OF CEMETERIES HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT ON THAT ISLAND.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT GOT THIS PROJECT STARTED.
UM, BUT IN EXPLORING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTS, WE STARTED WORKING WITH THE STATE AND WE KIND OF LEARNED SOME THINGS ABOUT OUR OWN HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE THAT NEEDED UPDATED.
SO THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE TWO.
UM, AND, AND SO THE, WHAT CRYSTAL WILL BE PRESENTING ARE UPDATES TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR WHAT IS CALLED A CERTIFIED LOCAL COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL MAKE US ELIGIBLE FOR MORE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
IN ADDITION, THIS INCLUDES STANDARDS FOR BUFFERS AND CEMETERIES, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE.
AND THEY APPLY BOTH TO CEMETERIES WITH VERY CLEARLY ESTABLISHED BOUNDARIES.
AND THEN THOSE WITH NOT CLEARLY, WITH A LITTLE MORE LEEWAY GIVEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT ENCROACHMENT.
SO THIS, THERE'S A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE TWO, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN THESE CHANGES THAT APPLY COUNTYWIDE AND I THINK WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR PRESERVING
[01:25:01]
THE HISTORIC RESERVATION.IS YOUR INTRODUCTION KRISTEN, THE DETAILS YOU WANT TO ADD A LITTLE MORE OR, UM, YEAH.
SO THIS IS, UM, WITH THE CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, UM, THAT IS RAN.
WE HAVE MOTION AND SECOND TO DO THIS.
I THOUGHT WE PUT THAT ON THE TABLE ALREADY.
WE DIDN'T NO, NOT FOR THE NEXT ONE.
UH, PLEASE DO, UM, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
SO, UM, THIS IS WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
SO CURRENTLY OUR, UM, OUR HISTORIC ORDINANCE DOES NOT MEET THE QUALIFICATION STANDARDS OF THE PROGRAM.
SO BEAUFORT COUNTY WILL NEED TO ESTABLISH ITS OWN, UM, LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGNATION PROCESS.
SO THIS IS BASICALLY ALL OF THAT REALLY OBNOXIOUS TINY WORK, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT THROUGH, UM, THE PROCESS.
A LOT OF THIS WAS DONE, UM, WITH HORRY COUNTY SINCE THEY I THINK ARE THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE THAT IS ACL G.
UM, SO A LOT OF IT CAME FROM THEM.
AND THEN I ALSO WORKED A LOT WITH BRAD SA SAS, UM, WITH THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COVERED ALL OF OUR BASES WITH THIS.
UM, AND THEN, LIKE ROB SAID, IN ADDITION, WE ARE, UH, WE ADDED AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ENACT A 25 FOOT AND A 50 FOOT BUFFER, UM, AROUND BURIAL SITES, DEPENDENT ON IF THEY HAVE DEMARCATION AND BOUNDARIES.
DO WE NEED A MOTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO FULL COUNSEL? I THINK WE GOT THE MOTION ON THE TABLE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OF HER? I THINK SHE'S DONE A LOT OF COG.
WHAT IS A C? AND THEN TOM, TOM, SICK.
SO THAT'S A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ACRONYM WAS.
UM, I, I NEED, I NEED A CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION ITSELF.
SO MRS. HOW IS GOING TO RE, UH, STATE THE MOTION? THIS IS SECOND.
'CAUSE WE, THE FIRST MOTION WAS JUST TO OPEN UP DISCUSSIONS.
SO, UH, I MOVE THAT WE GRANT THE REQUEST FOR THE TAX AMENDMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IT IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH ANY PROVISION OF THIS DEVELOPMENT CODE OR THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
IT IS REQUIRED BY CHANGE CONDITIONS.
IT DOES ADDRESS A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED.
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE ZONES IN THIS DEVELOPMENT CODE, OR WOULD IMPROVE COMPATIBILITY AMONG USES AND ENSURE EFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY.
IT WOULD RESULT IN A LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERN.
IT WOULD NOT RESULT IN ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO WATER, AIR, NOISE, STORM, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, WILDLIFE, VEGETATION, WETLANDS, AND THE OTHER NATURAL FUNCTIONINGS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND TOM, YOU SECOND THAT? YES.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? CAN WE VOTE ON THIS, UH, WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION, THEN MOVE IT FORWARD.
[8.g. Discussion of the Deferral of The Zoning Map Amendment Application for 437 Acres Located On Dulamo Road and St. Helenaville Road (R300 012 000 0254 0000; R300 012 000 0255 0000; R300 012 000 0001 0000; R300 007 000 0002 0000; R300 011 000 0275 0000) For The Removal of the Property From The Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) District (FISCAL IMPACT: n/a) - Robert Merchant, Planning Director]
NUMBER JG, UH, DISCUSSION OF THE DEFERRAL OF THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT APPLICATION FOR 437 ACRES LOCATED ON THE LAMMORE ROAD AND THE ST.AND, UH, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE DISCUSSION.
UM, CAN WE, UM, APPROVE THAT WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION? DO YOU WANT TO BE OBJECT STATE? UH, YES SIR.
I'M GIVING YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
THE, UH, CHAIR OF, UH, THIS COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIR OF COUNSEL HAD ASKED THAT I COME UP TO EXPLAIN WHY THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT WAS DEFERRED FROM TODAY'S HEARING.
SO THE PUBLIC WOULD BE AWARE OF THAT.
AND LET ME JUST PREFACE IT BY SAYING THAT, UH, ON MAY 5TH OF THIS YEAR, THE PLANNING COMMISSION ENTERTAINED THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT AND THEY VOTED SEVEN TO ONE TO DENY RECOMMENDING DENIAL TO, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL.
IT WAS THEN SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD AT THE JUNE 2ND, UH, NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE.
BUT A REQUEST CAME IN FROM THE APPLICANT PRIOR TO THAT MEETING.
YOU'RE TALKING TO THE MICROPHONE STILL.
AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT GRANTED THAT REQUEST TO DEFER IT, UH, FOR GOOD CAUSE.
SO WHEN HE GRANTED THAT REQUEST TO DEFER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO SCHEDULE IT FOR TODAY'S HEARING SO THAT IT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE MARRIED UP WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND THEY WOULD BOTH BE HEARD AT THE, AT THIS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETING TO TODAY WAS THE PLAN.
THIS SUMMER, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL AND UH, COUNCIL, UH, VOTED
[01:30:01]
TO APPROVE CHANGING THAT PLAN, AND THEY DECIDED THEY WANTED THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO BE HEARD AT THE FULL COUNTY COUNCIL.SO THAT'S WHY THEY DIDN'T GET MARRIED UP AT THIS, UH, SEPTEMBER 2ND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE.
BUT THEN THE PLAN BECAME THAT WE WOULD STILL HEAR THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT AT THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, AND THEN THEY WOULD GET MARRIED UP ON SEPTEMBER 22ND AT THE FIRST READING OF EACH ORDINANCE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS SUBMITTED AND THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST HEARING.
AND THEN IF THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A SECOND HEARING, IF IT'S GONNA PROGRESS ON THAT WOULD BE OCTOBER 27TH.
LAST WEEK, I THINK, OR THE WEEK BEFORE, WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT AGAIN TO DEFER THE, UH, ZONING MAP AMENDMENT SO THAT IT WOULD NOT BE HEARD BY THIS COMMITTEE PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DISCUSSION.
SO HE WANTED THE FIRST READING OF THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT TO BE EITHER WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT OR AFTERWARDS.
HE DIDN'T WANT THIS TO OCCUR PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR DENIED THAT REQUEST.
HE DIDN'T FIND THAT THERE WAS A GOOD CAUSE IT HAD ALREADY BEEN DEFERRED FOR THREE MONTHS, AND HE THOUGHT THERE WAS NO HARM IN HAVING TO COME FORTH.
IT WAS PROPERTY TO COME FORTH.
THE APPLICANT RENEWED THAT REQUEST TO THE CHAIR OF, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL.
IT WAS FORWARDED TO, UH, THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE.
AND AFTER A DISCUSSION, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD GRANT THE DEFERRAL, UH, AT THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
AND THUS THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY.
THE FIRST CONSIDERATION OF THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT WILL BE IN FRONT OF FULL COUNCIL AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, ALONG WITH THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SO SEPTEMBER 22ND WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND WE ARE CURRENTLY IN DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE APPLICANT OF, OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE PROGRESSING IN THE NORMAL COURSE.
AND, UH, I CAN'T SAY THAT WE'LL HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL BY THEN, BUT DISCUSSIONS HAVE OCCURRED AND WE ARE LETTING THE PROCESS WORK.
ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE SOME ONE QUESTION I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CHAIR WHY SHE MOVED THE MEETING FROM BUCKWALTER REC CENTER TO BUR WELLS.
THAT'S, THAT'S NOT GERMANE TO THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
COULD, UH, YOU'RE REFERRING TO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS HERE.
COULD YOU TELL ME IF THERE'S BEEN ANY OFFICIAL ACTION TAKEN ON EITHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING HERE? WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING HERE, BUT THERE HAS BEEN OFFICIAL ACTION TAKEN ON THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN AS MUCH AS COUNTY COUNSEL VOTED TO HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OUR OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL ENTER DISCUSSIONS.
AND HAS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BEEN VOTED ON BY ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER BODY IN THE, IN, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY? NO, SIR.
COUNTY COUNCIL DECIDED THAT THEY, AND THEY ALONE AT THIS TIME WOULD HAVE THE MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THEY WON'T BE REFERRED TO, UH, THE COMMITTEE, A COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
WHAT DID THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTE ON? THEY VOTED ON THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT.
ORDINANCE, UH, THE APPLICATION FOR ZONING MAP AMENDMENT.
THAT'S WHAT OCCURRED ON MAY 5TH.
AND WHAT WAS THE ACTION TAKEN THERE? THEY VOTED TO DENY THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT BY SEVEN TO ONE VOTE.
ANY OTHER REQUESTED COMMENTS TO THAT'S, THAT'S IT FOR ME.
UM, WE ARE MOVING THE AGENDA AT THIS TIME.
WE DOWN TO THE FINAL ITEM NUMBER NINE.
I'D STILL LIKE TO, I'M MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'D STILL LIKE TO ASK CHAIRMAN WHY SHE MOVED THE MEETING FROM BUCKWALTER TO BUR HOUSE.
WELL, I WANT YOU TO SAY IT TO THE PUBLIC.
I WAS REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN GLOVER BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'LL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THAT MEETING THAT LIVE IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE'VE MOVED MEETINGS TO SOUTH, REMEMBER THE HILTON HEAD BRIDGE MEETINGS? OKAY.
YOU ALWAYS SAID ALL THAT, BUT I REQUEST WANTED ME, YOU WANTED ME TO SAY IT TO THE PUBLIC.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE MOVED MEETINGS TO SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY, SUCH AS WHEN WE HAD DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE HILTON HEAD BRIDGE TO ACCOMMODATE THE PUBLIC FROM HILTON HEAD.
SINCE I'VE BEEN CHAIRMAN ALSO, WE'VE HAD OTHER MEETINGS.
WE WILL STILL HAVE A MEETING AT TER AT THE, AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE HAD SAID WE WANTED TO DO MEETINGS ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
UM, BUT IT WAS MY DECISION BASED ON HIS REQUEST THAT WE MOVE IT TO, TO BURTON WELLS.
WE COULD NOT GET THE SHERIFF'S BUILDING.
WE COULD NOT GET THE COURTHOUSE.
BUT THAT WAY PEOPLE IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY WHO SEEM TO HAVE MORE INTEREST IN THE PINE ISLAND ISSUE THAN PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY, IT WOULD ACCOMMODATE THEIR INTERESTS TO GO TO, UM, BURTON WELLS.
[01:35:05]
BUT YOU ARE DOING A HUGE DISSERVICE TO THE DIS DISTRICT'S 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 11.DO HAVE A CON DO WANNA COME TO THEY CAN COME TO THAT MEETING.
AND WE ALSO WILL HAVE A MEETING PROBABLY IN OCTOBER AT, AT THEIR, IN THOSE IN THE BLACK AREA.
ONE SHOULD BE NORTH OF BROAD AND ONE SHOULD BE SOUTH OF THE BROAD.
THERE MAY NOT BE A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS MEETING, THIS MEETING WILL BE TELEVISED TOO, WON'T IT? YES, IT WILL.
UH, IT IS LIKE WE TELE TELECAST TELEVISED ALL OF OUR MEETINGS.
AND I WANTED TO SAY IT TO THE CHAIRMAN.
I THINK THE PUBLIC HERE, UM, ON THIS SIDE APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO TRAVEL.
[9. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – 45 MINUTES TOTAL]
THE AGENDA TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.UH, LET ME ME READ, READ MY FIRST.
UM, AGAIN, UM, FOR THOSE WHO MAY WERE NOT HERE EARLIER AT THE PUBLIC COMMENT, EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK SHALL LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL, ADDRESS THE CHAIR.
AND IN SPEAKING, AVOID DISRESPECT TO COUNSEL OR ANY PERSONALITIES CONFINE THEMSELVES TO THE QUESTIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF COUNCIL.
BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL TO THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE WATCHING ON TV.
AND AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, UM, SENATOR CAMPSEN, SENATOR CAMPSEN, AND THE CHAIR.
UM, I'M TAKE THE LIBERTY BECAUSE THIS IS SENATOR TO ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK.
UM, HAVE Y'ALL RECEIVED THE LETTER MM-HMM.
THAT I SENT BY EMAIL TODAY? THANK YOU.
UH, I'VE JUST GOT IT, BUT I HADN'T READ IT, BUT YES, I SCANNED IT, BUT YES, SIR.
WELL, I'M GONNA READ IT AND THEN I'LL MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AND HAVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MAY HAVE, ADDRESS ANY ISSUES.
BUT THIS IS ADDRESSED TO COUNCILMAN YORK GLOVER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THIS COMMITTEE.
DEAR CHAIRMAN GLOVER, AS THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR THAT REPRESENTS ST.
HELENA ISLAND, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO A PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT APPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WOULD CARVE PINE ISLAND OUT OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S CURRENT CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY ZONE STANDARDS.
I REPRESENT ONE HALF OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S COAST FROM BULLS BAY IN CHARLESTON COUNTY TO PORT ROYAL SOUND IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AS A FIFTH GENERATION LOW COUNTRY NATIVE, AN AVID OUTDOORSMAN.
I KNOW THIS COAST, LIKE THE BACK OF MY HAND, ST.
HELENA ISLAND IS UNQUESTIONABLY SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOST CULTURALLY RICH.
AND CONSEQUENTLY, CONSEQUENTLY ITS MOST CULTURALLY, UH, VULNERABLE SEA ISLAND.
IT IS AT THE HEART OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE THAT IS SUFFERING GENTRIFICATION EVERYWHERE ELSE ALONG THE COAST FROM ST.
HELENA WHERE FREED SLAVES SETTLED DURING AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR TO THE PENN CENTER WHERE GENERATIONS RECEIVED THE EDUCATION THEY HAD SO LONG BEEN DENIED TO HISTORIC AND BOUNTIFUL PORT ROYAL AND ST.
HELENA SOUNDS THAT SUPPLIED THEIR SUBSTANCE TO MARTIN LUTHER KING'S COVERT MEETINGS AT THE PENN CENTER DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
THE HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE IS INEXTRICABLY INTERTWINED WITH ST.
THE PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT APPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS A THREAT TO THIS RICH AND IRREPLACEABLE CULTURAL HERITAGE.
I ANNOUNCED AT THE PENN CENTER'S HUNDRED 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION EL CELEBRATION IN TWO 2022 THAT REPRESENTING MICHAEL RIVERS AND I SECURED ALMOST $2 MILLION FOR PENN CENTER RENOVATIONS TO FURTHER ITS IMPORTANT WORK.
I SUBSEQUENTLY SECURED $1 MILLION APPROPRIATION FOR A GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURAL CENTER AND MARKET ON ST.
HELENA TO PRESERVE AND SHOWCASE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE.
RETREATING FROM CPO PROTECTIONS AT THIS JUNCTURE WOULD BE AT ODDS WITH THESE STATE APPROPRIATIONS DESIGNED TO PRESERVE ST.
HELENA'S RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE AND HISTORY.
THE CURRENT CPO HAS PROTECTED ST.
[01:40:01]
GENTRIFICATION EXPERIENCED EVERYWHERE ELSE ALONG OUR COAST.MOST OF IT IN MY DISTRICT, IN ITS WISDOM COUNTY COUNCIL PLOTTED A DIFFERENT COURSE FOR ST.
A PATH THAT VALUES AND PRESERVES ITS IMMEASURABLY RICH HISTORY, CULTURE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
I EMPLOY THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE AND COUNTY COUNCIL AT LARGE TO STAY THE COURSE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND, AND ONE OTHER, ONE OTHER ISSUE.
I, AS I WAS DRIVING HERE FROM BENNETT POINT, UM, IT'S 10 MILES AWAY FROM MY PLACE AT BENNETT POINT, BUT IT TAKES AN AN HOUR OVER AN HOUR TO DRIVE
IF WE HAD BRIDGES ACROSS THESE INLETS IN IN SOUTHERN, IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE, WE'D LOOK LIKE CHARLESTON AND MYRTLE BEACH.
UM, ONE OTHER THING THAT THAT COMES TO MY MIND THOUGH, AS I WAS THINKING DRIVING, IF YOU DO GRANT THIS EXCEPTION, IF YOU ACCEPT THIS APPLICATION, WHICH CREATES AN EXCEPTION TO THE OVERLAY DISTRICT, WHAT WILL BE THE LIMITING PRINCIPLE GOING FORWARD? WHAT ARE, WHAT IS THE CRITERIA? HOW CAN YOU REJECT SOMEONE ELSE'S REQUEST? WHAT WILL BE YOUR LIMITING PRINCIPLE? I, IN MY VIEW, I THINK THERE WOULD BE NO LIMITING PRINCIPLE, WHICH MEANS THAT OTHER DEVELOPERS WOULD STEP FORWARD WANTING TO DO SIMILAR THINGS, AND THE CULTURAL OVERLAY DISTRICT WOULD REALLY GO AWAY.
NOW I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, THE SENATORS HERE, UM, AND IT IS UNUSUAL TO HAVE A SENATOR.
UM, SO IF, UH, ANYBODY HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE SENATOR, I'D BE, WE CAN ENTERTAIN, UH, THOSE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND STUFF.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, UH, WE WOULD JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MM-HMM
UM, NUMBER ONE, I, I LISTENED TO MIKE MCSHANE, WHO'S MY GOOD FRIEND AND ALLY IN CONSERVATION.
UM, IN FACT, I AUTHORED THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION BANK ACT THAT HAS PROTECTED ALMOST 500,000 ACRES IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND THERE'S NO COUNTY IN THE STATE.
'CAUSE I KEEP TRACK OF THIS 'CAUSE, BUT THERE'S NO COUNTY IN THE STATE THAT HAS DONE MORE FOR CONSERVATION TO AUGMENT CONSERVATION, TO AUGMENT THAT FUNDING.
'CAUSE I, I WAS PROUD TO HAVE CO-SPONSORED TOM DAVIS'S BILL THAT CREATED THE SALES TAX REVENUE FOR CONSERVATION.
THERE'S NO OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA WHO IS AS COMMITTED AND, AND PUTS THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS WHEN IT COMES TO CONSERVATION.
AND I THINK NOT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO RETREAT FROM THAT COMMITMENT.
AND SINCE NO ONE'S GONNA ASK QUESTIONS, I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE, I'M A SENATOR.
I'M GONNA SPEAK A LITTLE LONGER.
UM, BUT I'M GONNA END WITH A QUOTE.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES REGARDING CONSERVATION WAS FROM JOHN SAWHILL, WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.
HE WAS A, HE WAS THE, HE WAS THE, ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF NYU AND, AND ALSO OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY SUBSEQUENTLY IN LIFE.
AND JOHN SAWHILL SAID THIS, AND I'VE TAKEN IT TO HEART, IS SOMETHING THAT HAS REALLY MOTIVATED ME WHEN IT COMES TO MY PASSION FOR CONSERVATION.
JOHN SAWHILL SAID THIS, A SOCIETY IS DEFINED NOT ONLY BY WHAT IT CREATES, BUT ALSO BY WHAT IT REFUSES TO DESTROY.
AND I WOULD IMPLORE COUNTY COUNCIL TO TAKE HEED OF SAUL HILL'S, WORDS OF WISDOM, AND DON'T DESTROY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR, THUS FAR ON BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC ST.
[01:45:01]
THANK YOU SENATOR FOR TAKING TIME TO COME DOWN.WE APPRECIATE YOU VISITING BEAUFORT.
UM, THE NEXT PERSON ON THIS LIST IS JARED MADISON.
HISTORY SUGGESTS THAT WE SHOULD TEACH OUR CHILDREN FIRST ABOVE ALL TO SEEK OUT WEALTH, POWER AND CALLOUSNESS.
HERE HE CAN DO WHAT YOU PLEASE.
WE MAKE JESUS A LIAR BY OUR PROFOUND EFFORTS.
BUT BECAUSE IT SEEMS SEEKING FIRST, THE KINGDOM OF GOD ONLY EQUATES TO BEING EXPLOITED.
I MUST ADMIT THE PERCEIVED AUTHORITY AND ESSENCE OF DOMINION IS QUITE CAPTIVATING.
BUT ONE MUST FIRST CONSIDER THE PSYCHE OF A PERSON OF THIS CONSCIOUSNESS, THE MIND OF THE GODLESS, IMPERIALIST WITH BOUNDARIES AND SITE DESIGN SETS YOUTH LIMITATIONS WERE CLEARLY DEFINED.
CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY THREE SEEMINGLY BENIGN WORDS, REFERENCING A QUITE EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE ORDINANCE.
LET'S BREAK DOWN THESE WORDS TO COME TO A MORE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR INDEPENDENT, THEREFORE, SUBSEQUENT CORRELATING, MEANING CULTURAL, DENOTING, OR DERIVING FROM OR DISTINCTIVE OF THE WAYS OF LIVING.
BUILT BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE PROTECTION, THE PROCESS OF KEEPING SOMETHING OR SOMEONE SAFE, SAFE, FREE FROM RISK.
RISK IS THE PROBABILITY OF A NEGATIVE OUTCOME OR DECISION TO OF EVENT, OVERLAY, TO LAY, SPREAD OR APPLY SOMETHING OVER OR ACROSS.
THEREFORE, WE CAN SURMISE AND COMBINE THE WORDS CULTURAL PROTECTION, OVERLAY MEANING TO KEEP SAFE, THE DISTINCTIVE WAYS OF LIVING, BUILT BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM THE PROBABILITY OF A NEGATIVE OUTCOME OR EVENT ACROSS THE DIVINE AREA.
SO NOW LET'S SAYS, LET US CONSIDER FOR THE PURPOSE THE MIND OF THE PINE ISLAND INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS WHO HERE HAS CHILDREN? ANY OF YOU HAVE DAUGHTERS? IMAGINE RAISING YOUR DAUGHTER AND PUTTING ALL YOUR LOVE AND WISDOM INTO HER WITH THE HOPES THAT SHE WILL LIVE A LONG, SUCCESSFUL LIFE AND BE A GOOD PERSON.
NOW IMAGINE SHE GOES OFF ON HER OWN TO COLLEGE.
BUT YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB AT PARENTING AND YOU'RE CONFIDENT IN YOUR DAUGHTER AND SOCIETY AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN PLACE TO KEEP HER SAFE.
NOW IMAGINE ONE DAY, AN OLDER MAN IN HIS FIFTIES SEES HER BEAUTY AND IS BLOWN AWAY.
HE MAKES A PASS AT HER AND SHE DENIES HIM.
NOW, IMAGINE THAT MAN DOES NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
HE'S SPILLED A VERY SUCCESSFUL LIFE.
AND TO THE POINT HE NEVER HEARS THAT WORD, IT UPSETS HIM THAT SHE HAS DENIED HIS OFFER BECAUSE ABOVE ALL ELSE, THIS MAN SEEKS POWER AND AUTHORITY.
HE FOLLOWS HER HOME ONE NIGHT AND FORCIBLY GARNERS HER COMPLIANCE.
THE MAN DOESN'T CARE ABOUT WHAT HE HAS DONE IS ILLEGAL, OR THAT THERE WERE LAWS IN PLACE TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM OCCURRING, OR THE PAIN HE'S CAUSED BY HIS ACTION BECAUSE HE HAS GOOD LAWYERS AND HE'S GOT AWAY WITH THIS BEFORE.
AND FURTHERMORE, A P BELIEVES IT'S HIS ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS.
HIS MONEY, POWER, AND PRESTIGE HAVE MADE HIM INVINCIBLE TO THE RULES OF MERE MEN BECAUSE OF HIS AUTHORITY.
EVIDENCE IS LOSS AND NO TRIALS IS CONDUCTED.
NO JUSTICE IS SERVED TO THIS MAN, AND HE CONTINUES TO LIVE HIS LIFE AND CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING OTHER YOUNG INNOCENT WOMEN.
NOW IMAGINE AS A PARENT HOW THIS EXPERIENCE WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL.
IN THIS STORY, THE GULLAH GEECHEE PEOPLE, AND AS LAND ON ST.
HELENA REPRESENT THE YOUNG GIRL THEY'RE DEVELOPING, THEIR INVESTORS REPRESENT THE OLD MAN.
YOU SEE, THEY KNOW THERE WERE LAWS IN PLACE TO PROTECT A DISTINCTIVE CULTURE, AND THEY STILL ATTEMPTED TO CARRY OUT THEIR PLAN.
THEY KNEW THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE AREA DIDN'T WANT WHAT THEY WERE OFFERING, JUST LIKE THE YOUNG GIRL IN THE STORY, BUT THEY PURSUED IT ANYWAY.
THEY HEARD THE PLEADING CRIES FOR DELIVERANCE AND LAUGHED IN THE FACE OF INNOCENCE.
THIS MOVE, LIKE ALL ATTACKS ON GRACE, SEEK TO BIND YOU TO THE CHANGE OF HOPELESSNESS.
IT IS, IS THE ATTEND HERE TO MAKE THE AREA MORE PROSPEROUS, TO BRING IN MORE JOBS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
HINT HERE TO WIPE AWAY THE UNPLEASANT REMINDER OF A DISTASTEFUL TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY REMINDING THE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES THAT THE TIME HAS NOT RESTED THE SHACKLES OF INJUSTICE THAT BOUND THEIR ANCESTORS.
I'M THERESA WHITE, FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE PAN AFRICAN FAMILY EMPOWERMENT AND LAND PRESERVATION NETWORK, WHICH IS BOTH BEST KNOWN BY OUR HELP SAVE GULLAH GEECHEE LAND CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS CELEBRATING ITS 10TH YEAR THIS YEAR.
YOU ARE, UH, HAVE ALL RECEIVED, UH, A COPY OF MY LETTER TO PINE ISLAND DEVELOPER, LVO TRIANO WOULD, WHICH OUT LINES MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND YOU MAY HAVE ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ MY VOICES, UM, EXCUSE ME, VOICES OFF ED AND THE ISLAND NEWS ON THE 27TH, WHICH ALSO TALKED ABOUT MY CONCERNS.
BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT SINCE YOU'VE ALREADY READ THOSE THINGS, IS IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, UH, A NUMBER OF STEPS HAVE BEEN SKIPPED IN THIS PROCESS.
AND I'M NOT, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT WHY THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE IT, IT GIVES THE PUBLIC THE PERCEPTION THAT THE FIX IS ALREADY IN TO GIVE,
[01:50:01]
UH, TO, TO GRANT AN EXCEPTION WAS FROM THE CPO.SO THE 18 YES HOLE GOLF COURSE CAN'T BE BUILT.
FIRST OF ALL, THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT PROCESS WAS NOT PASSED.
THE, THE, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME TO THIS COMMITTEE BEFORE IT WENT TO COUNTY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE.
AND YOU HAD TO DO, YOU SUPPOSED TO DO THAT BEFORE YOU SET UP, UH, NEGOTIATIONS WITH HIS ATTORNEY ON THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SO YOU ACTUALLY DID IT OUTTA SEQUENCE FOR A REASON THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ANYBODY WHO THINKS THAT IS BEING FAIR AND SQUARE TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
UM, SO WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE PREVIOUS ILLUSION OF TRANSPARENCY, WHICH WAS CREATED WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WAS POLISHED ON OFF EVERYBODY TO SEE AND WHEN IT WAS DISCUSSED AND DISSECTED AT LENGTH DURING THE MAY 5TH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HAS NOW DISAPPEARED.
AND, UM, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHY AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY WAS CALLED IN TO ASSESS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WHEN YOU HAVE A PERFECTLY COMPETENT COUNTY ATTORNEY WHO'S ALREADY EXPERIENCED IN WORKING WITH DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WHEN HE WAS THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR TOWN OF HILTON, HAD ALLEN.
AND, UH, ONE OTHER THING IS, UM, WE WANT TO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE COUNTY COUNCIL DO SOMETHING TO RE RESTORE PUBLIC FAITH IN THIS PROCESS BEING IMPARTIAL BY OPENING UP THE NEGOTIATION SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN IT INSTEAD OF DOING EVERYTHING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND AS AND THAT'S RIGHT, THEY ARE ENTITLED TO UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA STATE LAW.
DAVID MITCHELL, WE HAVE SPEAKING CHAIRMAN COMMISSION.
THANK YOU CHAIRMAN COMMISSION.
WE'VE BEEN INUNDATED WITH THEM.
I, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE PENN CENTER.
AND 163 YEARS IS A LOT TO TAKE IN.
AS SENATOR KASON ALLUDED TO, UM, DR.
KING'S RELEVANCE AND THE PENN CENTER AND THE THING THAT STRUCK ME DRIVING EVERY DAY FROM ATLANTA AND SITTING HERE, LISTEN TO ALL THIS, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THE PENN CENTER BUILT, UH, A TREAT HOUSE FOR THE KING FOR DR. KING.
HE WAS ASSASSINATED PRIOR TO EVER EVER HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
WE'VE MAINTAINED THEIR TREAT HOUSE.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM CAN GO TO THE RETREAT HOUSE.
EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO AT THE PENN CENTER.
26 YEARS AGO, THE CPO WAS PASSED.
I HEAR EVERYONE TALK ABOUT FAMILY, FAMILY, FAMILY, FAMILY, A LOT.
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK AROUND, THERE'S AN ASPECT OF WHO BELONGS, WHO DOESN'T BELONG.
ONCE YOU PAY YOUR TAXES, YOU AS MS. POUTY KNOW THAT YOU NOW HAVE CONTRIBUTED.
ONCE YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH IT, THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DEFEND IT, THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DRIVE ALL OVER CREATION, THE ASPECT OF WHERE YOU HOST MEETINGS, WHERE YOU DON'T HOST MEETINGS, WHO YOU INVITE, WHO YOU DON'T INVITE.
THIS THING HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR THREE YEARS.
WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THIS SUBJECT.
WE KNOW WE ARE IN THIS CONVERSATION.
THE PENN CENTER HAS STOOD ITS GROUND FOR 163 YEARS, WHICH I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS, I DIDN'T SAY, IS THE OLDEST INSTITUTION IN THIS ROOM.
THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR DUTY.
THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR HONOR.
AND MOST FATHERS, SOMETHING BE SAID FOR COURAGE.
AND I THINK SO OFTEN COURAGE IS THE WORD THAT'S BEING ABSENT IN THIS CONVERSATION.
YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO IT.
26 YEARS AGO, YOU'VE HAD THE COURAGE TO REINFORCE IT.
TWO YEARS AGO, I CONTIN, I BESEECH YOU HOLD THAT COURAGE, HOLD THE LIGHT, LEAD US FORWARD AND PUT THIS THING TO REST.
I'M WITH THE GULLAH GEECHEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
RECENTLY I READ WITH INTEREST A, AN OP-ED IN THE ISLAND PACKET WITH COMMENTARY AND ALSO COUNCILMAN GLOVER'S PLATFORM HAS DISTRICT THREE'S REPRESENTATIVE.
[01:55:01]
TO RESPOND BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION AROUND PINE ISLAND HAS DRIFTED INTO A DANGEROUS PLACE.ONE WHERE THE ENTIRE BURDEN OF SOLVING LONGSTANDING SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, IT'S BEING SHIFTED INTO ONTO A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT RATHER THAN WHERE IT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS WITH ELECTED LEADERSHIP.
THE OP-ED OFFER AUTHOR ARGUES THAT A PRIVATE DEVELOPER SHOULD UNDERWRITE HEIRS PROPERTY REFORM, ESTABLISH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS, FUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, AND GUARANTEE THE PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.
THESE ARE NOT DEVELOPER RESPONSIBILITIES.
THEY ARE THE VERY CORE OF WHAT COUNCILMAN GLOVER HAS.
THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES FOR ST.
HELENA ISLAND, LADIES ISLAND AND BEAUFORT PLEDGED TO DO IN HIS OWN PLATFORM, EXPAND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPROVE HEALTHCARE AND HOUSING PROTECT, PROTECT PROPERTY VALUES, SUPPORT RECREATION AND YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND PROMOTE CULTURAL GROWTH.
THESE ARE THE PROMISES COUNCILMAN GLOVER WAS ELECTED TO FULFILL.
IF THEY REMAIN UNFILLED, IS IT FAIR OR EVEN LOGICAL TO DEMAND THAT A SINGLE LANDOWNER NOW ASSUME THE MANTLE OF THE GOVERNMENT? THE AU ED AUTHOR CALLS FOR MILLIONS TO BE DIVERTED INTO HEIRS, PROPERTY, TRANSPORTATION, AND NONPROFIT PROGRAMMING.
BUT THESE ARE PRECISELY THE AREAS WHERE YOUR OFFICE AND BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL HOLD BOTH THE BUDGETARY AUTHORITY AND STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY.
SO THE QUESTIONS BECOME, WHY HAVE YOU NOT ESTABLISHED A TAX RELEASE FUND FOR HEIRS PROPERTY OWNERS ALREADY AN ACTION RECOMMENDED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WHY HAS RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM ST.
HELENA NOT MATERIALIZED UNDER YOUR WATCH? ANOTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WHY ARE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE STILL WAITING FOR THE TECHNICAL TRAINING AND WORKFORCE PIPELINES? YOUR PART, YOUR PLATFORM PROMISE.
THIS IS WHAT IS BEING DEMONSTRATED AT THE 8 0 8 C ISLAND PARKWAY.
MEANWHILE, THE PINE ISLAND PROPOSES BEING POSITIONED AS THOUGH IT ALONE CAN REMEDY DECADES OF INACTION THAT IS NEITHER FAIR TO THE PROPERTY OWNER NOR HONEST TO THE PEOPLE OF ST.
DEVELOPERS CAN AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF NEGOTIATION.
YOUR ROLE SHOULD BE TO FACILITATE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF.
YET YOU HAVE COUNCILMAN GLOVER, SEEMINGLY FLORIDA ATTEMPTING TO FIND COMMON GROUND FOR OVER THREE YEARS.
WILLING CONTRIBUTIONS BY DEVELOPER SHOULD NEVER BE TREATED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP.
THIS RESULTS IN THE PEOPLE BEING DOUBLY CHEATED.
FIRST BY UNMET CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND SECOND, BY THE EROSION OF TRUST THAT COMES WHEN ELECTED OFFICIALS DEFLECT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
THANK YOU MS. HEMINGWAY, ONTO OUTSIDERS.
YOUR OVER TIME, YOUR OWN PLATFORM SPEAKS OF BALANCING DEVELOPMENT.
HES THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF YOURWAY.
YOUR RECORD REFLECT, APPRECIATED YOU WITH, UM, OPPORTUNITY DECLINED.
GIVE YOUR CONCLUSIVE FINDING THIS TIME TO AND A STEADY EROSION OF CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP.
MS. HEMINGWAY IS SUPPOSED TO SAFEGUARD MS. HEM BOTH CULTURE, INTEGRITY AND ECONOMIC.
YOU VOTER, THEY'RE REFUSING TO NEGOTIATE.
MS. HENRY, YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER.
WHY NOT ASK WOULD THE PODIUM WHAT HAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE YEARS OF AUTHORITY? PLEASE CUT OFF BUDGET, ACCESS AND INFLUENCE.
YOU ALREADY OWE IT'S TIME TO RETHINK THE TRUE COST MR. BROWN, BUT OF LEADERSHIP THAT FAILS TO DELIVER ON HIS COMMITMENTS.
HELENA DESERVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND VISION FROM THEIR ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER.
PASSING THE BUCK TO A DEVELOPER, MS. HEMINGWAY IS NOT LEADERSHIP.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
WELL, YOU SHOULD RESPECT THIS CHAIR.
WELL, SHE TOOK SOMEONE ELSE'S TIME AFTER WE WON'T HAVE 15 PEOPLE.
AND I'M SURE THAT'S THE SAME RESPECT, OTHERS THAT YOU ALLOWED TO GO OVER TIME THAT YOU, THEY GAVE THAT TO YOU ALSO.
I ONLY HAVE PERMITTED THE, THE THE CHAIR.
UH, GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THIS YOU REALLY HAVE A TOUGH, UH, JOB TO DO AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, BUT WE GOTTA QUIT MEETING LIKE THIS.
AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS WAS
[02:00:01]
A CLOSING DATE AND A DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT WITH OTHER DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS.YOU WERE IN THE SUP BEFORE THE INVESTOR BOUGHT THE PROPERTY.
HE CONSULTED WITH HIS LAWYERS, SEVERAL LAWYERS.
HE CONSULTED WITH MR. GREENWAY.
HE CONSULTED WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND HE WAS TOLD IN ADVANCE THERE WAS A RESTRICTION ON THE PROPERTY, BUT HE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY ANYWAY.
AND THEN HE BROUGHT TO, BROUGHT TO THE COMMUNITY GOLF COURSE OR 160 60 HOMES.
WELL, WE DIDN'T FALL FOR THAT.
WE SAID WE STUCK BY THE LAW THAT SAID NO GOLF AND NO GATE AS FAR AS AN INDUCEMENT.
UH, THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE FIRST APPLICATION AND THE SECOND APPLICATION, MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS $2.5 MILLION.
WELL, WE DIDN'T GO FOR THAT EITHER.
WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 OR $10 MILLION TO SELL OUR HERITAGE.
WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT.
THE GOVERNMENT, OKAY, WHETHER IT'S FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF A TRANSACTION.
YOU'RE HEARING THAT ON THE NEWS NOW ABOUT INTEL, UH, BEING INVESTED.
UH, GOVERNMENT INVESTED IN INTEL AND ON UH, ON TELEVISION, ON THE CABLE CHANNELS.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND THEY'RE CALLING THAT COMMUNISM.
THAT IS NOT A GOOD AREA TO GO INTO BY HAVING THE GOVERNMENT PICKING WINNERS OR LOSERS.
SO SOCIALISM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE WANT THAT.
AND THAT'S A TERM THAT'S BEING USED WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS BAILING OUT.
AND I USE THAT WORD, BAILING OUT AN INVESTOR.
I ASK THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
YOU NOT, NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY ON CENTER HILL ISLAND, BUT ALL OVER BEAUFORT COUNTY AS AS WELL AS SOUTH CAROLINA.
YOU WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THE, UH, CARVING OUT THE CPO FOR AN INVESTOR.
THERE IS THE, OF COURSE, THE 1999 AND 2001, 2023 ZONING LAW.
IF SOMEONE CAME IN AN APPLICATION AND SAYS, UM, YOU KNOW, ROBERT SMALLS ATE A LOT OF PANCAKE, HE ATE A LOT OF FISH AND WE WANT TO CHANGE HIS HOUSE INTO A RESTAURANT.
I THINK YOU GUYS WOULD RE VOTE THAT DOWN IMMEDIATELY.
PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UH, AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND UH, CHAIR, UH, WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS.
UM, I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER THAT SAID LVO TROPICANA WAS A GREAT STRATEGIST.
AND, UM, THE WAY THINGS LOOK, HE IS, UM, IN THE PLANS THAT HE'S CAUSED YOU TO SECOND GUESS THE LAW.
MY PRAYER FOR COUNSEL, THIS COMMITTEE IS NOT TO GIVE IN, STAND FOR WHAT'S RIGHT, STAY THE COURSE, UPHOLD THE LAW, MAINTAIN THE CPO.
AND I SAW SOME THINGS HERE THIS AFTERNOON THAT, UM, CAUSED ME TO KIND OF THINK, AND THE SCRIPTURE CAME TO ME.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL BECOME CONNECTED AGAIN AND STAY THE COURSE.
UM, UH, NEXT IS ALL, ALL THIS PERSON HAS IS THEIR FIRST NAME.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS CHANCE TO SPEAK.
UM, THIS IS GONNA BE KIND OF QUICK.
UM, IT IS SAID THAT, UH, MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED AND GO INTO CAPTIVITY FOR THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
SO I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TRUTH AND FACTS AND NOT TO PLAY ON THE PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS.
WHAT'S FUNNY IS THAT I'VE WITNESSED PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO START A DETAILING BUSINESS OR REOPEN A BUSINESS ON THEIR PROPERTY ON ST.
HELENA BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THAT YOU CAN DO UNDER THE CPO ARE THINGS LIKE FISHING, CRABBING, WOODWORKING, LAWN CARE, HOUSEKEEPING, CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT, LANDSCAPING, CULINARY ARTS, HERITAGE, TOURISM, ART, MUSIC AND STORYTELLING.
UM, BUT APPARENTLY DETAILING DOESN'T FALL UNDER THAT.
UM, ALL OTHER DEVELOPERS THAT COME IN, THEY WANT MORE, MORE DENSITY,
[02:05:01]
MORE EVERYTHING AND NEVER ASK THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY WANT, BUT NOT THIS DEVELOPER.YOU HAVE A DEVELOPER THAT HAS ACTUALLY CAME IN, STOPPED WHAT HE CAN ALREADY DO THAT THE CPO ALLOWS, WHICH IS BILLED A HUNDRED PLUS HOMES.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE IS LOOKING AT THAT FACT THAT IT'S OKAY FOR HIM TO DO THAT NOW.
AND HAVE YOU ASKED YOURSELF WHY HASN'T HE DONE THAT YET? WHY IS HE STILL COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO TRY TO MAKE A CHANGE THAT WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE, NOT JUST HIM, IT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, THE DEVELOPERS AND BEAUFORT COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
SO I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM IN THAT.
UM, ANOTHER THING THAT I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO YEARS.
I'VE WATCHED AND HELPED ASK THE COMMUNITY FOR TWO PLUS FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.
LET ME GET IT CORRECT WHAT THEY WANT, WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THE DEVELOPER HAS TAKEN THAT INFORMATION, REVAMPED THE PLAN, AND CAME BACK WITH THE DOWN ZONING PLAN, WHICH ACTS AS FOR LESS, THAT THOSE ARE THE FACTS.
UM, AND IT ALSO, I JUST WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF HOW DOES THE DOWNS ONLY PLAN BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY? IT WILL BRING MILLIONS OF INVESTMENT INTO THE COM INTO THE COMMUNITY.
IT WILL HELP TO PRESERVE AND BEAUTIFY AND ECONOMICALLY EMPOWER AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY, CREATING RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH WITHOUT DESTROYING THE WATERWAYS.
THE GULLAH PEOPLE, I THINK THEY ARE FIGHTING.
THEY'RE, WHAT THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR IS GENTRIFICATION AND THEY DON'T KNOW IT YET.
BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR IS TO STAY IN THE POSITION THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.
HELENA GET WHAT THEY THINK THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR, THEY'RE GOING TO GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY DON'T WANT, WHICH IS A FULL RESIDENTIAL BUILD OUT.
AND THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THE DOWN ZONING PLAN.
I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'LL BE BENEFICIAL TO EVERYONE THAT IS CONCERNED.
I, UH, SOMETIMES TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND ASK THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY SEE LIFE IN THE FUTURE.
AND I PUT TO THEM A SHORT QUIZ OF 147 HOUSES ON A RIVER BANK.
THE AFRICAN AMERICANS CALLED THEIR HOME FOR FISHING AND SHRIMPING.
AND THEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT 40 HOMES ON A RIVER BANK WITH A GOLF COURSE.
BUT YOUNG PEOPLE GOT SENSE, THEY CAN COUNT.
THEY SAID 147 HOMES ON THE RIVER WITH SEPTIC TANKS WERE DESTROYED.
ELNA ISLAND, THEY SAID 40 HOMES WITH NON-RESIDENTIAL PEOPLE ON A GOLF COURSE MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
DON'T TAKE NO RUCKUS SCIENTISTS TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
SO IF YOU EDUCATE PEOPLE, PEOPLE GET EXCITED AND GET MAD ABOUT IT.
I'VE BEEN IN THE POST OFFICE FOR 40 YEARS AND FOR THEM THAT DON'T KNOW ME, THIS IS WHAT I DID IN THE POST OFFICE, I NEGOTIATED.
AND IF YOU NEGOTIATE FOR WHAT YOU WANT, YOU CAN GET IT.
BUT IF, IF YOU FIGHT FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU THINK YOU DON'T WANT, THAT'S WHAT YOU GOING TO GET.
THE CPO WAS GOOD AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS DESIGNED.
AND I UNDERSTAND PRESERVATION IS THE, IS THE MAIN CHARACTER, BUT THAT IS FINE.
BUT THE PEOPLE NOW, WHO ARE THEY PRESERVING IT FOR? ARE THEY PRESERVING IT FOR THE GULL OF PEOPLE WHO CLAIMS THAT THEY'RE PRESERVING IT FOR THEM OR THEY PRESERVING IT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
I SEE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE.
I SEE THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE NOT DESERVING ANYTHING FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS ON ST.
I SEE A YOUNG MAN THAT CAME TO BUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA AND DISRUPT, DISRUPT THE ANTIDOTE.
AND YOU CAN'T TAKE IT AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
BY PUTTING ONE AGAINST THE OTHER ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND, PEOPLE NEEDS, NEEDS A VERY, VERY NEEDY PLACE.
I DO THE RED CROSS VERY SELDOM I GO TO THE HOUSE ON ST.
AND THE, AND THE PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY ARE DOING FINE
[02:10:01]
HAVE HOUSE INSURANCE.I VERY SELDOM GO TO ANY HOUSE ON ST.
HELEN ISLAND AND A TREE FELL IN THE HOUSE.
DO THEY HAVE HOUSE INSURANCE? BENEFITS FROM THIS PROJECT WOULD HELP THEM ON ST.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN THEIR HEAD.
I BENEFITS FROM THIS PROJECT WOULD BENEFIT THE PEOPLE ON SENT HELENA ISLAND, STICK TO YOUR GUNS, NEGOTIATE, DO WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING.
OUR CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING TOO MUCH FOR US TO NOT TO OBSERVE OR TO GET FUNDS THAT WHEN WE CAN GET FUNDS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I LISTEN TO THE SENATOR, I LISTEN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I TALK TO A BUNCH OF SENATORS.
MR. BROWN, MR. BROWN, THANK YOU.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO GET THIS OUT.
LET'S DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN.
UM, UH, LET'S, LET'S BE RESPECTFUL, UH, WHETHER, WHETHER, UM, I AGREE OR DISAGREE, UH, LET'S BE RESPECTFUL AND HEAR EVERYBODY OUT.
THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL'S EFFORTS ON OUR COMMUNITY'S BEHALF.
I WAS BORN IN 1966 AND GREW UP ON ST.
IT IS HOME WHERE MY PARENTS ARE BURIED AND THE PLACE I WISH MY OWN ASHES TO BE SPREAD ONE DAY.
IT IS ALSO WHERE MY FAMILY HAS PUT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON ALMOST A THOUSAND ACRES TO PRESERVE IT AS FIELDS AND PONDS AND WOODLANDS.
DRIVE AROUND BEAUFORT AND PORT ROYAL, AND YOU'LL SEE BLOCKS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS REPLACING OAK TREES DRIVE TO BLUFFTON OR HILTON HEAD, AND YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD TOGETHER.
ON YOUR RETURN TRIP, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT TAKES FIVE BRIDGES TO REACH ST.
DRIVING THROUGH DOWNTOWN BEAUFORT, YOU'LL SEE A PLACE WHERE THE ENTIRE TOWN IS ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER, WHERE THE UNIQUENESS OF ITS ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORY IS PRESERVED BECAUSE IT IS SO SPECIAL.
SOME MAY REMEMBER THE EARLY 1990S WHEN THE DOT WANTED TO FIVE LANE, THE CHOW AND CREEK BRIDGE AND THE ROUTE ACROSS ST.
HELENA CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH JOE SHERMAN AND JOE STEVENS AND GLORIA POTS.
A GROUP, NOT UNLIKE THE COALITION, GATHERED HERE TODAY, SEEKING TO PRESERVE WHAT IS PRECIOUS AND UNSPOILED AND WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS IT THAT HAS AROUSED SUCH STRONG EMOTIONS? THREE MINUTES IS NOT ENOUGH TO EVEN BEGIN.
BUT LET ME SAY, THERE IS NO SILENT MAJORITY SUPPORTING THIS GOLF COURSE.
THOSE WORDS ARE PATRONIZING AND INSULTING, AND WHILE SAYING HELL ON HIS CULTURE IS ROOTED IN HISTORY TO SURELY NOT IMMUNE FROM WORLDLY ILLS.
MAYBE THE MOST DIFFICULT OF THOSE ILLS IS THAT THE WORLD WANTS A PIECE OF IT.
A DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD A PRIVATE GOLF COURSE ON AN ISLAND.
A DEVELOPER DRAWN TO THIS PLACE FOR THE VERY REASON WE ARE FIGHTING FOR IT.
A DEVELOPER WHO THREATENS TO BUILD 160 HOMES IF THE COUNTY DOES NOT GRANT HIM HIS GOLF COURSE, A MENTOR IN MEDICINE WANTS TOLD ME, DON'T JUST STAND THERE, DO NOTHING.
SOMETIMES THE HARDEST AND WISEST THING TO DO IS NOTHING.
AND YET, COUNTY COUNCIL, THAT IS WHAT SO MANY HERE TODAY ARE ASKING OF YOU.
IF SO, WHERE DOES IT END? WITH MORE GATED COMMUNITIES, WITH MORE GOLF COURSES SPILLING HERBICIDES INTO OUR PRISTINE WATERS WITH SALT WATER INTRUSION INTO OUR WELLS, DUE TO THE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER THAT EVEN SO-CALLED GREEN GOLF COURSES DISPROPORTIONATELY CONSUME.
MY PLEA TO COUNTY COUNSEL IS THAT YOUR LEGACY BE ONE OF PRESERVATION.
IT DOESN'T JUST HAVE TO BE BUILDINGS.
IN DOWNTOWN BEAUFORT, THE DEVELOPER FRAMES THIS AS A TAIL'S EYE WIN HEADS YOU LOSE SITUATION.
FOR SURELY 59 HOUSES IS BETTER THAN 160.
THAT MISSES THE POINT ALTOGETHER.
THE PRECEDENT SET BY THIS RULING WILL REVERBERATE FAR BEYOND PINE ISLAND.
YEARS AGO, CITIZENS WITH GREAT FORESIGHT LAID OUT A VISION TO PRESERVE THE RURAL NATURE OF ST.
HELENA ISLAND, SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDING ANY NEW GOLF COURSES OR GATED COMMUNITIES.
MANY OF THOSE FOLKS ARE NOW DECEASED.
PLEASE CARRY THE TORCH, PASS THE BATON, DEFEND THE CPO AND LET IT BE REMEMBERED THAT YOU DID YOUR PART, THAT YOU DID NOT CHANGE THE RULES, BUT THAT YOU STOOD FIRM IN PROTECTING THIS MOST PRECIOUS PART OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND INDEED OF THE WORLD.
UH, FOR OVER 65 YEARS, I'VE LIVED ON THIS WONDERFUL ST.
I GREW UP ON A SMALL FAMILY FARM WHERE THERE WAS ALWAYS THE ONGOING PRACTICE OF CONSERVATION.
I WAS TAUGHT TO TAKE CARE OF THE LAND AND THE WATERS AND WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUTH.
THE LESSONS I'VE LEARNED INSPIRED ME TO JOIN SEVERAL
[02:15:01]
CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, THE OPEN LAND TRUST, UH, NATURE CONSERVANCY, AND USDA AND OTHERS.BUT TODAY, I'M NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF EVERY ORGANIZATION.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, A LANDOWNER RESIDENT AND SMALL FARMER.
ON, ON OUT DURING THE MID 1990, I BELIEVE IT WAS, BUFORT COUNTY CAME AND SAID THEY WANTED TO FOLLOW A STATE MANDATE TO DEVELOP A CONSERVATION PLAN.
I RECALL THE FIRST MEETING THAT THEY HAD AND THE PLAN FROM BUFORT COUNTY CAME WITH THESE ELABORATE PLANS AND LOOKED FAMILIAR LIKE HILTON HEAD ON MYLE BEACH.
SO WE SAID WE DIDN'T WANT IT, AND WE REQUESTED TIME TO DEVELOP OUR OWN PLAN.
AND WHAT HAPPENED OUT OF THAT? THE COMMITTEE WORKED LONG HOURS AND WE CAME UP WITH A DISTRICT THAT THEY DID NOT EVEN HAVE.
IT'S CALLED A RURAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT.
AND THAT WAS THE CORE OF OUR CPO PLAN.
AND THIS WAS CRITICAL BECAUSE I JUST REVIEWED A SURVEY AND WE, UH, OUR ORGANIZATION WOULD TRACK THE NUMBER OF FARMERS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND A FARMER DEFINED BY USDA AS ANYBODY WHO CAN, UH, GENERATE A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THERE WERE 40 FARMERS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED.
AND GUESS WHAT? THERE WERE ONLY FOUR ON, ON, UH, SOUTH OF ABROAD AND ONE WAS A, UH, TREE FARM.
DID I TELL YOU WHAT DEVELOPMENT DOES? AGAIN, REACTION TO THIS MANT, THE CPO AND THE DEVELOPER ASKING US TO CUT OFF PARTS OF THE CPO, BUT SAID, HOW LONG IS A LIVING ECOSYSTEM WHEN YOU TRY TO CUT OFF THE WATER, THE LAND, THE AIR, THE WIND PART OF THAT DIED IS WHAT HAPPENED.
THE ENTIRE ISLAND DIED AND THE PART ISLAND WILL BE ALSO BE BORN IN THE MORGAN RIVER AND YOU KNOW, THE MORGAN RIVER LEADS INTO THE EAST BASIN.
SO JUST IMAGINE THAT WITH ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRING, UH, THEY'RE ALSO GONNA BRING SOME STUFF THAT REALLY INTERFERE WITH THE EIGHTH BASIN.
AND I, I JUST WANNA COMMEND AGAIN THIS ORGANIZATION, THIS COUNTY COUNCIL AND, AND, AND THE PEOPLE HERE.
YOU HAVE THIS CPO THAT'S NOT NO OTHER IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING THERE IS NONE OTHER LIKE THIS IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO YOU GOT SOMETHING SPECIAL, YOU GOTTA STICK TO YOUR GUN.
AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME AND I I'M SAYING THEY TALK ABOUT GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND ALL THAT.
YOU HAVE GENERATIONAL WEALTH, MR. MAG, YOU HAVE YOUR LAND AND YOU HAVE YOUR THANK YOU, AND YOU HAVE YOUR LAND AND YOU HAVE THE CULTURE.
SO HOLD ONTO THAT AND FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU GOT.
UH, I MISS, I MISS, I MISS, I MUST APOLOGIZE.
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO FIGHT THIS SAME BATTLE? I MEAN, HOW MANY FIGHTS FOR THE APPLE DO YOU GET? IF I WAS TRYING TO DEVELOP THIS ISLAND AND I'VE BEEN TURNED DOWN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT I STILL BE GETTING ANOTHER SHOT, ANOTHER SHOT, ANOTHER SHOT.
LET'S JUST SETTLE DATE NOW LET'S MEET EVERY THIRD.
I MEAN, IT'S IN THE, IN THE GULF COAST.
THEY, I HEAR ALL THIS TALK ABOUT IT'S NOT GONNA HURT THE ENVIRONMENT.
I FISH, I HUNT, I CRAB PICK OYSTERS.
AND I KNOW THE DEVELOPER, THEY KNOW THAT TOO.
BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK THAT PEOPLE HOPING PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GOING TO HAVE RUNOFF THE WATER HAVE TO, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA USE HERBICIDE PESTICIDE.
HOW, HOW WOULD YOU TREAT A GREEN WITHOUT THAT STUFF? ALL THAT, THAT'S ALL CHEMICALS.
AND THEY DON'T BELONG IN THE WATER.
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE BOTTOM FEEDERS AROUND HERE.
NOW THAT WE USED TO HAVE CATFISHES, ALL THAT STUFF THAT THAT WAY BACK, WE HAD ALL THAT MUST.
IT KILLED OFF ALL THOSE THAT THAT'S RIGHT IN OUR AREA.
SO ALL THIS, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA HURT THE ENVIRONMENT.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
AND, UH, I JUST WANT THIS BOARD CONGRESS COUNCILMAN TO UPHOLD THE CPO.
IT WASN'T PUT IN PLACE TO BE NEGOTIATED.
AND I FEEL LIKE RIGHT NOW IT'S BEING NEGOTIATED.
IT'S NOT, IT WAS PUT IN PLACE.
IT WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR THE REASON THAT IT'S THE PURPOSE IT SERVES RIGHT NOW.
SO WHY HAVE ONE PERSON, ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S NOT FROM HERE, EVERYBODY THAT'S FOR THIS GOLF COURSE, THEY'RE NOT FROM HERE.
[02:20:02]
WHEN WE GO TO COMBAT, WE DIG IN.SO THEY COULD COME EVERY WEEK.
WHEN I'M HERE, I'M DIGGING IN.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, IT'S CRAZY TO BE HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION WEEK AFTER WEEK.
THE SAME NARRATIVES BEING SAID EVERY WEEK.
WHAT'S CHANGING? SO WHEN IT'S GONNA BE A DEFINITE NO, NO MEANS NO.
IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WE, WE GET, WE GET 10 NOS, BUT WE WAITING ON FOR ONE YES.
GONNA CHANGE, GONNA CHANGE THE THING.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THE IT'S BEEN VOTED DOWN A NO.
SO HOW MANY MORE TIMES YOU HAVE TO HAVE? NO, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO ASK.
HOW MANY NOS DO WE HAVE TO GET BEFORE I, I'M QUITE SURE Y'ALL GOT OTHER PRESSING ISSUES TO HANDLE ON TOO.
ARE THERE THE SAME CPO MEETING EVERY TIME? IF Y'ALL DON'T HAVE NOTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SEE.
UM, JUST WANNA LET COUNCIL KNOW AT THIS TIME, UM, THERE ARE THREE OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD TO, TO FINISH THIS UP AT THIS TIME? YES.
OKAY, THEN UM, A MOTION TO EXTEND.
OH, I NEED A MOTION TO EXTEND.
OH, THREE MORE THAT WANNA SPEAK? YES.
I'LL MAKE, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO DO I GET A SECOND? SECOND.
THESE ARE GOLF COURSES THAT ARE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO IF YOU WOULD TAKE ONE AND PASS IT TO THE NEXT SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE IT.
FRUIT THAT WE DON'T NEED A GOLF COURSE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, ESPECIALLY ON ST.
WE HAVE THE SIGNATURES, AS I STATED BEFORE, 25,000 IN COUNTING.
HELENA, EVERYONE AND SIGN THAT PETITION TO KEEP ST.
REMEMBER COUNSEL, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T REPRESENT ST.
HELENA PER SE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE, I'M SHOWING YOUR AREA WHO HAS PROPERTY ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND AND WOULD WANT IT TO REMAIN AS IT IS.
REMEMBER I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE THREE PS AND SAID I WOULD KISS EVERY ONE OF YOUR FEET GOING, LEMME HAVE TO GET DOWN HERE AND DO THAT.
BUT IF PEOPLE KISS A PIG AND IT'LL PROTECT SAINT HELENA, HELL, I'M WILLING TO DO IT.
PEOPLE CAME UP HERE TODAY AND SPEAK ABOUT JOBS AND EVEN LAST WEEK, WE DON'T NEED NO BACK OF THE WOODS JOB.
I TEACH YOU HOW TO OPEN OYSTER STUFF.
WE GOT SOMEBODY WHO HAS FUNDING MR. RAW REYNOLDS GREEN, WHO JUST GOT FUNDING.
THANK GOD FOR HER TO PREPARE HER BUILDING SO THAT WE CAN, PEOPLE CAN COME AND LEARN THOSE THINGS AND WE INVITE YOU TO COME AND LEARN THOSE THINGS AS IT AS WELL.
I'M THE DOCENT AT FORD FREMONT.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE THESE DIRTY TACTICS.
SO, UM, WE ONLY WELCOME IN AREAS.
WELL, WE CLEANING SOMEONE HOUSE OR COOKING THEIR FOOD, THAT'S OFFENSIVE TO US.
WE SAW OUR PARENTS HAD TO DO THAT.
AND WE DON'T DESERVE THOSE TYPE OF JOBS.
IF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME UP HERE TODAY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND THOSE THAT CAME UP HERE TODAY, THEY'RE NOT FROM ST.
THEY ARE NOT INCLUDING THE YOUNG MAN WHO SAID HE WAS A REAL ESTATE GUY ON LAST WEEK.
SO I TAKE THAT AS A SLAP IN THE FACE.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE BEING BROUGHT AND IT'S NOT A GOOD THING.
HOW IF YOU WENT TO HILTON HEAD, NOW THEY HAVE IT LABELED GULLAH COMMUNITIES.
IS THAT WHAT WE ARE GONNA RESORT TO? THAT'S NOT GOOD.
I STILL WANNA BE ABLE TO, IF I GO TO MY NEIGHBOR HOUSE AND THEY GET SHRIMP, THEY SHARING IT WITH ME.
IF THEY GET FISH, THEY SHARING IT WITH ME.
IF YOU NEED MONEY, LET ME PAY YOU.
[02:25:01]
MINUTE.AND UM, WAS HE IN THE OTHER ROOM? HE'S IN THE OTHER ROOM.
HE LEFT WHILE, WHILE HE'S COMING.
BUT I, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING.
HELEN ISLAND OVER ON CLUB BRIDGE ROAD.
UM, MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME TO BEAUFORT COUNTY IN 19 60, 59, 60.
AND UM, YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK ABOUT, I, I WORK ON WORKED RETIRED LANDSCAPER ON REPP ISLAND.
I KNOW A LOT ABOUT GOLF COURSES.
I INTERACTED WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A HIGH END GOLF COURSE WITHOUT PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES.
NOW IT, THEY MIGHT NOT RUN IT INTO THE CREEK, BUT WON'T IT GO INTO THE AQUIFER? WON'T THAT GO ON OUT TO EVERYWHERE? AND, OKAY, SO THERE'S 500 ACRES ON PINE ISLAND.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, 160 HOUSES WOULDN'T MAKE THAT BIG OF AN IMPACT, BUT A GOLF COURSE WOULD.
AND IT WOULD BE BRINGING PEOPLE, MORE PEOPLE TO THAT GOLF COURSE TO PLAY GOLF.
AND Y'ALL KNOW WHAT WE DID DEAL WITH, WITH TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT? AND WHAT ABOUT THE RUNOFF INTO THE DITCHES THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE THAT TRAFFIC DOES, DOESN'T THAT DISTURB OUR NATURAL RESOURCES? I MEAN, I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT NATURAL RESOURCES DOING INVOLVED IN THIS EXCEPT FOR MAYBE YOU CARE ABOUT THAT NATURAL RESOURCE.
SO I'M HOPING YOU DO, AND I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THIS COUNCIL MEMBER DOESN'T CARE ABOUT WHAT THE PUBLIC SAYS AND GOT UP AND LEFT.
I DON'T KNOW WHO SHE REPRESENTS, BUT I THINK THEY OUGHT TO KNOW IF SHE AIN'T REPRESENTING US.
I THINK SHE HAD SOME CANAL IS WHY SHE LEFT.
WHAT ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES? IS MY PROPERTY TAXES GONNA GROW UP? GO UP WHEN I GOT, WE GOT A RESORT.
I MEAN, BECAUSE DIDN'T THAT, WHAT, ISN'T THAT WHAT HAPPENED ON HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON THAT RAN OUT? ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEIR TAXES BECAUSE ALL THESE HIGH END GOLF COURSES CAME ON.
SO IT'S A HISTORICAL, NATURAL RESOURCE.
UM, THAT'S, THAT, THAT, THAT'S IT.
UM, DENNIS ROSS WASN'T IN THE OTHER ROOM.
AND I, I I WANT TO JUST SAY THIS TO, UH, PUBLICLY, UM, QUEEN QUIT.
I HAVE YOU HERE, BUT I THINK YOU'VE SPOKEN SO YOU ARE FINE.
SO I DIDN'T INCLUDE YOU IN THE THREE.
UM, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANKS FOR WATCHING BEAUFORT COUNTY TV.