The Town of James Island is mostly "built out." Most large undeveloped parcels on James Island were annexed into the City of Charleston years ago. Town zoning regulations, including tree controls, do not apply in the City of Charleston.
The Town of James Island has 7 parcels of property larger than 5 acres that could be developed. The largest is 12 acres. There is one that is 9 acres and another that is 8 acres. Two are 7 and two are 6 acres. These "large" undeveloped parcels add up to 56 acres.
All of the parcels are zoned single family residential. This allows for single family homes on 1/3 acre lots. While some of the large lots (like 6 acres) already have a home on them and owners who don't want to sell, that could change. At most, these "large lots" will eventually allow 168 new homes. (I favor putting the new Town park on one of these parcels. Anyone want to sell?)
There are currently 4,614 residential parcels in the Town. The total land area of these existing residences is 1,892 acres. That is 74% of the Town's area.
There are 214 acres, or 9% of the Town's total area, that cannot be developed. It is either all marsh or under conservation easement. (There is a 30 acre parcel in Lighthouse Point that is under conservation easement.)
There are 179 acres used for government, religious, recreational and educational purposes. That is 7%, including 3% for the governmental facilities at Fort Johnson. Commercial uses are 67 acres, or 3% of the total.
While the largest vacant parcel in the Town is 12 acres and there are only 7 greater than 5 acres, the total vacant land open to residential development in the Town is 192 acres. (Most of it is in parcels smaller than 5 acres.) That is 7% of the total land area of the Town. When these areas are built out, that would be about 576 homes.
However, these additional single family homes that might be built in the Town are a tiny fraction of the new housing units, including multi-family units, that are slated for development on James Island. How is that possible? The most rapid population growth in Charleston County over the next 25 years is projected in areas of James Island under City of Charleston jurisdiction.
Part of James Island remains in unincorporated Charleston County. Nearly all of it was in the Town of James Island before it was closed down in 2011. The Town lost about 1/3 of its population and 1/2 of its territory. The Town is committed to regaining the people and territory we lost, but until that happens, contiguous property owners outside of the Town can annex into the City of Charleston.
Will that area be developed under City of Charleston regulations? The City's most restrictive single family zoning is approximately 5 units per acre. They also have a variety of denser options for single family development. And they regularly include "gathering places" and other types of apartment complexes.
How much of the territory on James Island will return to the Town with single family 1/3 acre development? How much will be lost to the City of Charleston?
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Stricter Tree Controls: What Do You Think?.
On Thursday, August 8th, at 6:00 PM, the James Island Planning Commission will consider changing the definition of grand tree to all trees other than pines, sweet gums, and Chinese tallow with diameter 18 inches or greater. While the Planning Commission voted 4 to 1 to recommend no change to the grand tree definition at its May meeting, they must comment on the amendment passed by Council in June.
I think the Planning Commission should recommend to Council a compromise:
Rather than excluding Chinese tallow trees as part of the grand tree definition, I think the Planning Commission should add a separate sentence referring to trees that are exotic plant pests:
These trees are mostly from Asia and are spreading into the wild, replacing our native trees. James Islanders will still be free to plant these trees and keep them in their yards, but the Town won't prohibit homeowners from removing them, or require them to pay fees or mitigation. Rather than listing them all as exceptions to the definition of grand tree, a separate sentence applying to both grand and protected tree is more appropriate.
The Planning Commission has already recommended that the Town define protected trees as all trees with diameter greater than 8 inches. The regulations are consistent with Charleston County and the City of Charleston and require that trees be kept or planted on new multifamily and commercial development. These protected tree regulations do not apply to individual homeowners like the grand tree controls.
What do you think?
Will you support my proposed compromise?
Would you prefer that the grand tree definition remain unchanged-- all oak species with diameter 24 inches or greater?
Or do you favor the stricter controls being pushed by Save Harbor View Road and Nix-526 such as requiring Town permission to cut or significantly prune any tree with diameter greater than 18 inches?
Please let the Town know. You can attend the Planning Commission meeting on August 8th at 6:00 PM here at Town Hall and speak out.
If you would prefer, you can call Town Hall at 795-4141 and ask to give your views on tree control.
Or send an email to treecontrols@jamesislandsc.us . Write what you think, but also give your address, so we will know if you are a resident of the Town of James Island.
The Town will share the reesults with the Planning Commissioners and the members of Town Council.
I urge you to call or email in support the Mayor's Compromise. Thank you.
I think the Planning Commission should recommend to Council a compromise:
Grand Tree
Any tree other than pine and sweet gum measuring 24 inches or greater diameter breast height (DBH.)The 24 inch size is the same as Charleston County and so is what applied to our homeowners before the Town was formed. The City of Charleston also has the same 24 inch size for grand tree, but excludes sweet gums as well as pines. Sweet gums are "gumball trees." The spiky gumballs are painful to step on and difficult to deal with. Pine trees are included because of concern that they will fall onto houses in a Hurricane.
Rather than excluding Chinese tallow trees as part of the grand tree definition, I think the Planning Commission should add a separate sentence referring to trees that are exotic plant pests:
No tree species identified by the South Carolina Exotic Plant Pest Council as a Severe, Significant, Emerging, or Alert Threat will be included as a protected or grand tree.What is on this list of exotic plant pest trees? The list includes: Tree of Heaven, Chinaberry, Princess Tree, Chinese Tallow Tree, Mimosa, and Chinese Parasol Tree.
These trees are mostly from Asia and are spreading into the wild, replacing our native trees. James Islanders will still be free to plant these trees and keep them in their yards, but the Town won't prohibit homeowners from removing them, or require them to pay fees or mitigation. Rather than listing them all as exceptions to the definition of grand tree, a separate sentence applying to both grand and protected tree is more appropriate.
The Planning Commission has already recommended that the Town define protected trees as all trees with diameter greater than 8 inches. The regulations are consistent with Charleston County and the City of Charleston and require that trees be kept or planted on new multifamily and commercial development. These protected tree regulations do not apply to individual homeowners like the grand tree controls.
What do you think?
Will you support my proposed compromise?
Would you prefer that the grand tree definition remain unchanged-- all oak species with diameter 24 inches or greater?
Or do you favor the stricter controls being pushed by Save Harbor View Road and Nix-526 such as requiring Town permission to cut or significantly prune any tree with diameter greater than 18 inches?
Please let the Town know. You can attend the Planning Commission meeting on August 8th at 6:00 PM here at Town Hall and speak out.
If you would prefer, you can call Town Hall at 795-4141 and ask to give your views on tree control.
Or send an email to treecontrols@jamesislandsc.us . Write what you think, but also give your address, so we will know if you are a resident of the Town of James Island.
The Town will share the reesults with the Planning Commissioners and the members of Town Council.
I urge you to call or email in support the Mayor's Compromise. Thank you.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Workshop on Proposed Park Site
Councilman Mary Beth Berry, the chairman of the Town's Environmental and Beautification Committee, and I have agreed to bring forward a proposed site for a new Town park. The location is at the end of Bradham Road. Bradham Road is off Riverland Drive near Central Park Road.
The parcel is approximately 11 acres high ground and 11 acres marsh. It is long and narrow. On the north side is a long and narrow lake. The parcel has frontage on the Stono River.. It is under City of Charleston jurisdiction. The parcel is outlined in red.
There will be a workshop on Thursday, July 25th at 6:00 PM at Town Hall. The property owners will be there to answer questions from Council about the parcel. There will also be an opportunity for members of the public to make comments.
The funds to pay for a park will come from the Town's Greenbelt allocation. The Town's allocation is approximately $1.1 million. These are funds that come from the 1/2 sales tax.
Final approval of any new park will occur at a future Town Council meeting. The workshop is only for information purposes.
The parcel is approximately 11 acres high ground and 11 acres marsh. It is long and narrow. On the north side is a long and narrow lake. The parcel has frontage on the Stono River.. It is under City of Charleston jurisdiction. The parcel is outlined in red.
The funds to pay for a park will come from the Town's Greenbelt allocation. The Town's allocation is approximately $1.1 million. These are funds that come from the 1/2 sales tax.
Final approval of any new park will occur at a future Town Council meeting. The workshop is only for information purposes.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Town Administrator Wanted
Town Administrator
Town of James Island, SC
The Town of James Island invites qualified and experienced candidates to submit resumes for the Town Administrator position. James Island is a predominately residential community with a population of 11,500 in the Charleston, SC area. Our budget is approximately $2 million and we have 8 full time employees. Town services include Public Works, Planning, Code Enforcement, Building Inspection, Finance and Administration. Other services are provided by Charleston County and the James Island Public Service District.
Please submit your resume to: Frances Simmons, Town Clerk at townclerk@jamesislandsc.us. We prefer that all resume materials be submitted via email. Current salary for this position is $65,000 a year; however, salary offered will depend on qualifications and experience. Position will remain open until filled.
Town of James Island, SC
The Town of James Island invites qualified and experienced candidates to submit resumes for the Town Administrator position. James Island is a predominately residential community with a population of 11,500 in the Charleston, SC area. Our budget is approximately $2 million and we have 8 full time employees. Town services include Public Works, Planning, Code Enforcement, Building Inspection, Finance and Administration. Other services are provided by Charleston County and the James Island Public Service District.
Please submit your resume to: Frances Simmons, Town Clerk at townclerk@jamesislandsc.us. We prefer that all resume materials be submitted via email. Current salary for this position is $65,000 a year; however, salary offered will depend on qualifications and experience. Position will remain open until filled.
Town Council Summary
7-18-2013 Town Council Meeting Summary
Town of James Island Town Council met on July 18, 2013 at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers. Following is a summary of that meeting:
1. Held a public hearing on amendments to Chapter 10 (Non Conformities), Chapter 11 (Violations, Penalities and Enforcement), Chapter 12 (Definitions) of the Town's Zoning and Land Development Regulations.
2. Finance Clerk reported that the Town's net asset position at the end of June was approximately $725,000; 71% of total projected revenues were collected and; that total expenditures for the year were 31% of the budgeted amount.
3. Town Administrator reported (a) preliminary plans for a sidewalk system along Camp Road have been completed; still under staff review, (b) Folly Road Overlay District proposal has been approved by Planning Commission; next step is to schedule a workshop with property owners along Folly Road, (c) Greenbelt Park workshop regarding a potential site has been scheduled for July 25 at 6:00 pm, (d) Clearwater Subdivision lake level continues to improve; drainage structure working as expected, (e) Over 40 applications received for the Town Administrator position; vacancy is listed on the MASC web site; "open until filled" and (f) conference room has been completed.
4. First reading of Zoning and Land Development Amendment Ordinances, Chapters 10 (Non Conformities), 11 (Violations, Penalties and Enforcement) and 12 (Definitions) were approved.
5. Resolutions approved included: Harborview Road Citizen Concerns (12' center lane, wildlife protection fencing and barriers and bike lanes to the Connector) and, authorization to purchase an emergency generator for Town Hall.
Meeting adjourned at about 8:00 pm.
Who is the Town's Planning Director?
Throughout the Town's Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Ordinance, there is mention of the responsibilities of the Town's Planning Director. Who is the Town's Planning Director? The Town Administrator holds that position and takes those responsibilities. Currently, that is Hal Mason.
When the Town first reopened, the Town's intergovernmental agreement with Charleston County made Charleston County's Planning Director also the Planning Director for the Town. This is true of several other small municipalities in Charleston County. Dan Pennick serves the Planning Director for Charleston County and served in that role for the Town. The Charleston County Planning Department applied the Town's Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Ordinance with the help of the James Island Planning Commission and James Island Board of Zoning Appeals. The James Island Planning Commission and James Island Board of Zoning Appears were appointed by Town Council in August.
After Hal Mason arrived in September, I appointed him to be Planning Director. The Charleston County Planning Department continued to provide the needed staff support. However, actions requiring the approval of the Planning Director were approved by Hal Mason rather than Dan Pennick.
In March, the Town hired Kristen Crane as a Planner. She began training with the Charleston County Planning Department. The Town Administrator also provided training, as did Councilman Leonard Blank, Chairman of the Town's Land Use Committee and former Chairman of the Town's Planning Commission. As Kristen Crane has obtained more experience and training, she has been given progressively more responsibility. The role of the Charleston County Planning Department staff has been reduced. Actions that require the approval of the Planning Director are still approved by Hal Mason, the Town Administrator.
Hal Mason resigned as Town Administrator on June 20, 2012. He provided two months notice and remains in that position until he leaves at the end of August. He will serve as Planning Director until that time. When he leaves, by the Town's intergovernmental agreement with Charleston County, Dan Pennick, Planning Director for Charleston County, will again be Planning Director for the Town.
What will happen next? I may appoint the new Town Administrator to serve as Planning Director again, depending on his or her experience and training. However, I expect that the Town's Planner, Kristen Crane, will continue to obtain more training and experience, be given more responsibility, growing into role of Planning Director for the Town.
Councilman Kernodle claimed that it was foolish for the Town to pass Chapter 11 of the Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Ordinance because it describes responsibilities for the Planning Director and we don't know who will serve as Planning Director after Hal Mason leaves the position. Of course, even if the Town approves no changes to Chapter 11, the existing version of the ordinance also describes responsibilities of the Planning Director, as do many of the other Chapters. That the position of Planning Director might be vacant at some point in the future is no reason to delay approving Chapter 11 or revisions to any other Chapter of the Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Ordinance. Fortunately, other members of Council voted to approve the revisions recommended by the Planning Commission.
When the Town first reopened, the Town's intergovernmental agreement with Charleston County made Charleston County's Planning Director also the Planning Director for the Town. This is true of several other small municipalities in Charleston County. Dan Pennick serves the Planning Director for Charleston County and served in that role for the Town. The Charleston County Planning Department applied the Town's Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Ordinance with the help of the James Island Planning Commission and James Island Board of Zoning Appeals. The James Island Planning Commission and James Island Board of Zoning Appears were appointed by Town Council in August.
After Hal Mason arrived in September, I appointed him to be Planning Director. The Charleston County Planning Department continued to provide the needed staff support. However, actions requiring the approval of the Planning Director were approved by Hal Mason rather than Dan Pennick.
In March, the Town hired Kristen Crane as a Planner. She began training with the Charleston County Planning Department. The Town Administrator also provided training, as did Councilman Leonard Blank, Chairman of the Town's Land Use Committee and former Chairman of the Town's Planning Commission. As Kristen Crane has obtained more experience and training, she has been given progressively more responsibility. The role of the Charleston County Planning Department staff has been reduced. Actions that require the approval of the Planning Director are still approved by Hal Mason, the Town Administrator.
Hal Mason resigned as Town Administrator on June 20, 2012. He provided two months notice and remains in that position until he leaves at the end of August. He will serve as Planning Director until that time. When he leaves, by the Town's intergovernmental agreement with Charleston County, Dan Pennick, Planning Director for Charleston County, will again be Planning Director for the Town.
What will happen next? I may appoint the new Town Administrator to serve as Planning Director again, depending on his or her experience and training. However, I expect that the Town's Planner, Kristen Crane, will continue to obtain more training and experience, be given more responsibility, growing into role of Planning Director for the Town.
Councilman Kernodle claimed that it was foolish for the Town to pass Chapter 11 of the Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Ordinance because it describes responsibilities for the Planning Director and we don't know who will serve as Planning Director after Hal Mason leaves the position. Of course, even if the Town approves no changes to Chapter 11, the existing version of the ordinance also describes responsibilities of the Planning Director, as do many of the other Chapters. That the position of Planning Director might be vacant at some point in the future is no reason to delay approving Chapter 11 or revisions to any other Chapter of the Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Ordinance. Fortunately, other members of Council voted to approve the revisions recommended by the Planning Commission.
Who is the Town's Director of Building Services?
The Town's Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance includes several mentions of the position of "Director of Building Services" in Chapter 10. As part of the Town's intergovernmental agreement with Charleston County, Charleston County's Director of Building Services also serves as the Town's Director of Building Services. The person who holds that position is Carl Simmons.
Since the Town reopened in August, Charleston County Building Services has provided all Building Services for the Town. This involves collecting building permit fees, sending building inspectors to make sure new construction and repairs follow the Building Code, and also includes Flood Plain Management and Hazard Mitigation. The Town receives 10 percent of all building permit fees. Many of the smaller municipalities in Charleston County have a similar arrangement.
In April, the Town hired Berry Rudisill as Building Inspector. He has been training with Charleston County Building Services. We expect that he will become certified soon, and begin inspecting new residential construction and repairs in the Town of James Island. The Town will continue our relationship with Charleston County and depend on building inspectors from the County for some purposes. We will adjust our agreement with the County so that the Town collects a larger proportion of the building permit fees for inspections handled by the Town's building inspector.
I expect Berry Rudisill to continue his training, education and certification, expanding the inspections he is able to do for the Town. Still, it is my expectation that the Director of Building Services for Charleston County will continue to hold that position with the Town for some time.
Since the Town reopened in August, Charleston County Building Services has provided all Building Services for the Town. This involves collecting building permit fees, sending building inspectors to make sure new construction and repairs follow the Building Code, and also includes Flood Plain Management and Hazard Mitigation. The Town receives 10 percent of all building permit fees. Many of the smaller municipalities in Charleston County have a similar arrangement.
In April, the Town hired Berry Rudisill as Building Inspector. He has been training with Charleston County Building Services. We expect that he will become certified soon, and begin inspecting new residential construction and repairs in the Town of James Island. The Town will continue our relationship with Charleston County and depend on building inspectors from the County for some purposes. We will adjust our agreement with the County so that the Town collects a larger proportion of the building permit fees for inspections handled by the Town's building inspector.
I expect Berry Rudisill to continue his training, education and certification, expanding the inspections he is able to do for the Town. Still, it is my expectation that the Director of Building Services for Charleston County will continue to hold that position with the Town for some time.
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