Darren "Troy" Mullinax Seeks Reelection to Town Council

Councilman Mullinax was first elected to Town Council in 2012 and was reelected in 2014.   He serves as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee and Council Liaison to the Neighborhood Council.   The Neighborhood Council is responsible for promoting crime watch and emergency preparedness, especially for hurricanes.   Troy has worked hard to recruit representatives of the neighborhoods in the Town and has had success, though some representatives participate more than others.   Troy and the Neighborhood Council play a key role in one of the Town's major annual events, "National Night Out."   It is always a great success.   If you haven't been, be sure to come.  The emphasis is on promoting neighborhood crime watch and building bridges between the Town's law enforcement and the community.

Troy and I do not always agree, but we both support one of the key goals of the Town--giving our former residents in the unincorporated area an opportunity to rejoin.   All members of Council have been aware of the Town's work to change annexation law in Columbia.   Troy has been supportive.  However, Town Council never voted on the matter until last spring.   Troy voted in favor of a resolution in support of the legislation needed to reunite the Town.   

Troy has also supported cooperation with James Island Public Service District to allow for a tax credit.  That is what allowed Town homeowners to have a more than 13% property tax cut in October.  He is committed to continued tax relief in coming years.

Troy supports the Town's low density development policy.   He supports the Island Sheriff's Patrol and supported working towards having a Deputy assigned to the Town full time.   He has supported the Town's efforts to build sidewalks and parks.   He understands the need to emphasize drainage.

Troy Mullinax is a sound choice for Town Council.   He has a record.  And when it is truly important, he has come through for our Town.

Alexandra Purro Seeks James Island Town Council Seat

Alexandra Purro is running for James Island Town Council.   She has worked with the Town of James Island for several years on the "Town Market."   She had organized a market as a private venture.  The Town Administrator, with my blessing,  approached Alexandra with a proposal to work together on a "Town Market."  Alexandra is not a Town employee.  She recruits and supervises the vendors at the market and collects their fees.

When I heard from the Town Clerk that Alexandra had expressed interest in running for Council, I was taken totally by surprise.   I had no idea she was interested in seeking elected office. Later, I learned that she had filed for office.  Next time I saw her, I wished her luck.

Soon, I heard concerns from members of Council that there could be a conflict of interest.  In my opinion, there is absolutely no conflict for her to run for Town Council.   However, if she wins, the Town Attorney would need to review our current arrangement. It seems obvious to me that if she was on Council she would have to recuse herself from voting on any Town expenditure that benefits the Town Market.  Currently, the market is held at Town Hall and the Town pays for a jump castle and movies are shown using equipment purchased by the Town.

Early in the campaign, my wife, James Island Public Service District Vice-Chair Kathy Woolsey, told me that she was going to support Alexandra for Council.   Her explanation was that we need more diversity on Town Council.   I told Kathy that was fine, but I was more concerned about Alexandra's positions on the major issues facing the Town.

I have met with Alexandra since.   She explained that she would like to run the James Island Market on a volunteer basis.  Apparently, she has not been taking home a big profit because her expenses are about equal to the fees she collects from the vendors.  I would be open to that approach, but it would be a major change and would require a vote by Council.  The Town would take a larger role in the market, with the vendor fees going to the Town and all expenditures run through the Town's budget.  However, these considerations are only relevant if she wins.

I also asked her about the major issues facing our Town.  I asked about our effort to reunite the Town.  She supports that.  I asked if she supported cooperating with the James Island Public Service District to allow a tax credit.  She said that she did.  She supported the Island Sheriff's Patrol and thought experimenting with having a Sheriff's Deputy assigned to the Town full time was a good idea.  She suggested that should be a first step and we should move towards more full-time and fewer part time deputies.  She supported the Town's low density development policy.   She supports sidewalks.  She understands the need to focus on drainage issues. 

My impression, however, is that her real passion is to spearhead events and festivals. The Town has always depended on members of Council pitching in and helping with citizen groups and organizing various activities and events.   So she would fit in well.

My view is the Alexandra Purro would be a sound choice for Town Council.   

Reelect Josh Stokes for James Island Town Council

Please vote to reelect Councilman Josh Stokes to James Island Town Council.   Councilman Stokes is young, smart, and committed to the Island and its people.   His legal background has been a great help to me and the rest of Council.  Josh developed the concept for the legislation that will allow us to reunite the Town.  The new bill based on modification of contiguity passed the South Carolina House unanimously last spring and goes before the South Carolina Senate in January. 

Josh supports the Town's low density development policy.  By allowing our former residents to annex to the Town, more of the Island will be protected from high density development.

Josh also chairs the Town's Drainage Committee.  This committee includes all of Town Council and ex-officio representatives from the City of Charleston, Charleston County, and our state representatives.   Josh is working to continue the Town's progress in improving drainage to help protect our residents from flooding.

As chair of the Children's Committee, he has put together several of the Town's annual events--most recently, the annual Lights Out Halloween Festival, but also the Easter Egg Roll and the Christmas Tree Lighting.  It is these types of events that build our Island community.

Josh is also a strong supporter of cooperation between the Town and the James Island Public Service District, which led to this year' tax credit plan resulting in a more than 13% property tax cut for Town homeowners.   He is committed to continued property tax relief.

Josh and I don't always agree, but we can usually find a way to work together for the good of the Town.   Please return Josh Stokes to Town Council so that we can continue to keep our taxes low while improving our quality of life.

Reelect Leonard Blank to James Island Town Council

Please reelect Leonard Blank to James Island Town Council.   Leonard's long experience with the Town always provides guidance to me, the staff, and the rest of Council.   He was Chairman of the Town's Planning Commission from 2002 to 2004 and then began serving on Town Council in 2006.   After serving with me on the Free James Island committee in 2011, he returned to Council in 2012.   He serves as Mayor Pro-tem and is Chair of the Town's Land Use Committee, serving as Council liaison to the Town's Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.

Leonard played a key role in developing the Town's low density approach to planning and zoning in 2002.  He understands what the Town can and cannot do under the laws of South Carolina.   He has always worked to protect the Island from over development.

Leonard and I don't always see eye-to-eye, but we both share a key Town goal to give our former residents in the unincorporated area the opportunity to rejoin the Town.   Today, approximately 1/4 of James Island is under Town jurisdiction and protected from over development.   Approximately 1/4 of James Island is unincorporated.  There is potential for major developments in "the County," but worse, developers continue to annex to the City of Charleston to allow for even denser development.   Councilman Leonard Blank understands that our best opportunity to protect James Island is to reunite the Town.

Leonard was also a strong supporter of cooperation between the Town and the James Island Public Service District that allowed for our new tax credit which reduced property tax for Town homeowners by more than 13% on our October bills.   He is committed to continued tax relief for residents of the Town.

Leonard understands the need to focus on drainage.  He has supported the Town's effort to restrict "fill and build."  Leonard has supported the Town's program to extend sidewalks.   He has supported Town Parks.

Please return Leonard Blank to Town Council so that we can continue to work together to keep our taxes low while improving the quality of life on James Island.

Camp and Folly Beautification Project

The Town is asking Charleston County Council to sell the old subway property at the corner of Camp and Folly to Corkey's for the appraised value of $500,000.   In exchange for our support, Corkey's has agreed to sell an easement on 30% of the property to the Town for $100,000. 

The net cost for Corkey's will be $400,000, so they are paying 80% of the appraised value and will be able to use 70% of the property.   In effect, the Town is paying 20% of the cost in exchange for permanent use of 30% of the property.

The County insisted on one buyer, so that is why Corkey's is paying the County for the property and then the Town is buying the easement from Corkey's.   The reason for the easement is that the property is too small to subdivide according to Town ordinances.  Everything the Town wants to do can be done with an easement.

Corkey's plan is to put a parking lot on the 70% of the property that they will retain.  They will pay to construct the parking lot.  The Town has insisted that their parking lot be "open" as a condition of our request to County Council.  That means there will be no signs stating that parking is for Corkey's customers only, others will be towed, etc. This is consistent with the Rethink Folly Road plan which encourages an open parking policy for all businesses along Folly Road. While it is likely that the parking will mostly be used by Corkey's customers during its business hours, in the evening and on Saturday afternoon and Sundays all spots will be available for the general public. 

The Town's plan for the 30% of the property we will obtain include a bus shelter, signage, a bike rack, a multi-use path, a bench, trees and other landscaping. The  purpose is to beautify this corner in the center of the commercial core of our Town.  The proposed bus shelter has been coordinated with CARTA and it will involve moving the current stop approximately 30 feet from its location in front of Pizza Hut.

We understand that a big developer is ready to outbid Corkey's and the Town.   I am skeptical that will work out.   I hope County Council agrees to the Town's proposal that Corkey's buy the property.  The partnership with the Town, including a Town financial contribution, is important for this sale.   If County Council does not accept this proposal, then County staff will recommend that they sell the property using a sealed bid. My greatest fear is that the property will remain vacant with a derelict building while some speculator waits for top dollar. 

If County Council accepts our proposal, the Town will be purchasing our 30% share of the parcel using some of our hospitality tax money.  That money cannot be used for most general government purposes. We cannot use those monies for drainage maintenance or law enforcement in our neighborhoods.  The Town can use these funds for Rethink Folly Road improvements because Folly Road is used by tourists--to access Folly Beach.

Unfortunately, there has been much misinformation spread about this proposal. The Town has not described this small spot of green on Folly Road as a park. The Town is not going to spend $100,000 per year, this is a one time expense.  The Town is not going to pay to construct a parking lot for Corkey's.  The Town is not paying Corkey's to use their new parking lot after hours.  The Town is not asking CARTA to remove the bus stop near Bi-Lo at Riverpoint Road.   

What the Town is doing is working to remove an abandoned building from the center of the Town and we believe that when our residents drive by they will instead see a small spot of green that will make all of us proud.

Rezoning on Dills Bluff?

At the July meeting of the James Island Public Service District Commission, Chairman Alan Laughlin proposed moving the JIPSD headquarters from its current location on Signal Point Road to Dills Bluff Road.  That would include both their administrative and industrial activities such as parking, cleaning, and maintenance of the District's fleet of garbage and sewer trucks.  The Chairman gave a long presentation regarding a 2014 plan that had been rejected by the Commissioners after an outcry by residents of Whitehouse Plantation, the neighborhood adjacent to the District's property behind the Camp Road Shopping Center. 

Most Commissioner's spoke against the proposal, reminding the Chair of the public outcry the last time the District proposed parking garbage trucks next to a residential neighborhood. Vice Chair Kathy Woolsey said that the first step would be for the Chairman go to the Town and ask to rezone the property to industrial.  The Chair's proposal never came to a vote.  The Chairman asked the Commissioners to give him an opportunity to share his proposal to the community.  The proposal to move from Signal Point Road to Dills Bluff as well as ordinances that would instead begin the process of selling the property were postponed until the August meeting on a 5 to 2 vote.   Vice Chair Woolsey and Commissioner Brown Crouch voted against the motion to postpone because they were ready to vote against the Chair's proposal and to move forward with selling the property. 

The Chairman said he was completely against selling the property.  Commissioners Engelman and Platt also spoke against selling the property, with Commissioner Platt proposing that the District move the administrative offices to Dills Bluff.  Those Commissioners in favor of selling the property argued that the District cannot afford to move its Administrative Offices and needs the funds from the sale of the property for other more important capital expenses such as renovation of the fire station on Harbor View Road.   Nearly all of the property is zoned single family residential.  If it is sold, then no more than 15 single family homes could be put in the area. 

The Town and District have begun monthly meetings between the Mayor and Chair.  At our meeting in August, I explained to the Chairman that his proposal to move their garbage and sewer operations to Dills Bluff would require that their property be rezoned to industrial.  I explained that I don't believe that there are any members of Town Council willing to vote for such a drastic rezoning.  I said that I would support rezoning at least some of the property to office residential to allow the District to move its administrative offices to Dills Bluff Road. 

The Chairman then discussed the matter with the Town's Planning Director.   She explained that moving the garbage truck operations would require a rezoning to industrial.   The Chairman said that she was wrong and that he would challenge her ruling.   Any such challenge would go to the Town's Board of Zoning Appeals.   The BZA ruling could then be appealed to circuit court.   While the District has every right to file an appeal of the Planning Director's opinion, I would think that it would only go forward with a favorable vote by the Commissioners.   I think that there is only one Commissioner, the Chair Alan Laughlin, that would support seeking a rezoning from the Town.

Stop Development on James Island? How?

The Town of James Island is almost entirely zoned single family residential with a density of three units per acre.   There is no vacant land in the Town zoned for apartments.   The only areas zoned multifamily have had apartment complexes on them before the Town was formed the first time--in 1992. 

The commercially-zoned properties in the Town do allow for apartments, but only four units per acre.  There are very few vacant commercial lots in the Town.  Nearly all of the commercial lots in the Town are along Folly Road and have businesses on them.

In fact, there isn't very much vacant land in the Town at all.   The Town is almost entirely "built out" made up of single family residential neighborhoods.

In last the ten years, there have been three small subdivisions built in the Town with 44 new homes.  Since the Town is made up of slightly more than 4000 households, that is an increase of about 1%.

When I see candidates for Town Council centering their campaigns on stopping excessive development on James Island, I am puzzled.  What developments in the Town of James Island are they complaining about?   Town Council can prevent rezoning of single family areas to commercial or multi-family.   But no one on Town Council has supported that.  And it hasn't happened. 

Of course, we see new apartment complexes and residential neighborhoods being constructed on James Island nearly every day.  It occurs on the approximately 50% of James Island that has been annexed by the City of Charleston.

James Island Town Council has no authority over development in the City of Charleston.  The City does not ask the permission of the Town's Mayor or Council before they allow developers to build.   The laws of the South Carolina do not require them to ask our permission.  County Council has no authority over the City of Charleston either.  County Council only governs development in the unincorporated area.

Former Mayor Riley supported dense infill development on James Island. Since he has left, City policy has improved, but there is a legacy of City zoning that allows for dense development.  Nothing requires a municipality to zone for dense development, but once you have zoned a property multi-family or commercial, reversing course is difficult. You can expect a legal challenge from the owners and they have a very good chance of winning in South Carolina.   Still, most City areas are zoned for their least dense single family residential--five units per acre.  Unfortunately, that is substantially more dense than in the Town.

In my view, what the Town needs to do is continue to work to change annexation laws in Columbia so that the voters in the 25% of James Island that is unincorporated and was in the Town in 2011 can rejoin.   The Town's density requirements will then apply on approximately 50% of James Island, rather than the County's slightly higher density or the City's substantially higher density.  The way to stop the City from annexing even more of James Island is to reunite the Town.

So, when a candidate for James Island Town Council tells you they will stop excessive development on James Island, ask them, how?   Do they think this excessive development is in the Town?   Do they support reuniting the Town and stopping the continued expansion of the City of Charleston on James Island?   Do they think they will make the City of Charleston change its development policies?  How?  Beg and Plead?  Cry?  Speak firmly?  Throw tantrums?   

The one member of Charleston City Council who lives on James Island fully understands the need to stop excessive development.   I have always been willing to work with her.   But she is just one member of City Council.   How can Town officials be most effective?    My observation over the years is that having Town officials insult City officials has been counter-productive.   The City of Charleston did modify their zoning on James Island so that commercial properties no longer automatically allow for large apartment complexes. 

I certainly hope that no candidate for James Island Town Council is so cynical that they hope that voters will be confused and think that these developments are occurring in the Town of James Island and that all that must be done is to elect new members of Council.    To me, that seems like exploiting voter ignorance. 

I certainly am open to new ideas.   Exactly how can a member of Town Council stop excessive development in the City of Charleston or the unincorporated area?   How can property owners in the unincorporated area be stopped from annexing to the City of Charleston to allow even more density than in unincorporated Charleston County?   Shouldn't candidates let the voters in on their plan?