Nov 27, 2023: County Public Works | "Health and Wellness Village" | Election Results | Johns Island History
Highlights
Wehope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for your active support for a better future for Johns Island. During this busy holiday season we will continue to call on you for this support for issues including the following:
At a public hearing before Charleston County Council about thirty residents spoke out against proposed zoning changes requested by Charleston County's Public Works Department. No one spoke in favor of the changes.
The Charleston County Planning Commission voted to disapprove the proposed "Health and Wellness Village" on Betsy Kerrison Parkway. It now goes to County Council.
The City of Charleston residents elected a new mayor and a representative for the new Johns Island City Council district.
On December 5ththe South Carolina Joint Bond Review Committee (JBRC) is expected to hear the request for $75M in matching funding for the permitting phase of the Mark Clark Extension.
Continue reading to learn about these and other activities that will impact Johns Island today and for years to come.
Updates
Charleston County Public Works Requested Zoning Changes
A Charleston County Council public hearing for various changes to the Zoning and Land Use Regulations (ZLDR) was held on November 14th. Most of the changes were welcome, but three changes for Charleston County Public Works (CCPW) were of concern. You can read more about these concerns in a previous Advocate newsletter here.
Aboutthirty residents spoke out against these proposed zoning changes. No one spoke in favor of the changes. There was also an editorial and a letter-to-the-editor that expressed similar concerns.
There is widespread public opposition to these changes, but it is not certain that County Council is listening.
*** Action Alert *** Please contact your councilmembernow to express your concerns. Your attendance is then needed at the County Council meeting on Thursday (Nov 30th @ 5:00pm). At this meeting please sign up and speak during the public comment period to tell Council what you think of these changes.
The issue will go to Council as follows:
Nov 30 (Thurs) @ 5:00 pm: Planning and Public Works Committee vote and County Council 1st reading.
Dec 12 (Tues) @ 6:30 pm: County Council 2nd reading.
Dec 21 (Thurs) @ 5:00 pm: County Council 3rd reading.
These meetings will be held at 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston. The meetings will also be live streamed here.
High Density Development on Betsy Kerrison Parkway
On November 13th the Charleston County Planning Commission followed the recommendation of staff to disapprove the proposed "Health and Wellness Village" on Betsy Kerrison Parkway. You can read more about the development in a previous Advocate newsletter here.
The County received 106 letters in opposition to the change and only 4 in support! The vast majority of the speakers spoke out against the proposed development.
The Planning Commission only makes recommendations. It is now up to County Council to make the final decision.
The proposed development is located in the Council district Jenny Honeycutt represents. We encourage you to contact her to express your concerns.
We are encouraged that Councilmember Joe Boykin said he will vote against this proposed development. Hopefully he and you can persuade the other Councilmembers to do the same.
The issue will go before Council as follows:
Dec 12 (Tues) @ 6:30 pm: County Council public hearing.
Dec 21 (Thurs) @ 5:00 pm: Planning and Public Works Committee vote and County Council 1st reading.
Jan 9 (Tues) @ 6:30 pm: County County 2nd reading.
Jan 30 (Tues) @ 6:30 pm: County Council 3rd reading.
These meetings will be held at 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston. The meetings will also be live streamed here.
Election Results
John Tecklenburg lost the mayoral election to William Cogswell. This Brian Hicks commentary explains some of the reasons this occurred and this editorial lists some of the challenges Cogswell will face.
Jim McBride won the District 3 council seat, which includes all of Johns Island within the City and a small portion of James Island. If you want to discuss a Johns Island issue with him you can contact him at 843-732-3128 or at James.K.McBride10@gmail.com.
Voters overwhelming supported the parks bond referendum. The projects include a recreation center and aquatic facility for Johns Island. It will be up to future Councilmember McBride to ensure these projects are at the top of the list to implement.
One of the things that was astonishing about this election was the number of people who showed up to vote but were turned away because they thought they lived in the City of Charleston but didn't. And there were others who thought they should be able to vote for mayor even if they did not live in the City of Charleston.
Johns Island is predominately (about 80%) unincorporated. The remainder (about 20%) lies within the City of Charleston, the Towns of Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island, and even a bit of the Town of Hollywood. We encourage you to know which jurisdiction you live in and to know who your local and state representatives are. You can go to our website here to find out more.
Johns Island History
This recent article in the New York Times about praise houses, including the Moving Star Hall on Johns Island, should remind all of us of the rich history of Johns Island. If you don't know this history we encourage you to read the following:
Nov 30 (Thurs) @ 5:00 pm: Charleston County Council ... Planning and Public Works Committee and 1st reading for Public Works ZLDR Changes.
Dec 5 (Tues): South Carolina Joint Bond Review Committee (JBRC) ... hear request for $75M in matching funding for the permitting phase of the Mark Clark Extension.
Dec 11 (Mon) @ 2:00 pm: Charleston County Planning Commission ... discuss and make recommendations on the Charleston County Comprehensive Plan Five-Year Review.
Dec 12 (Tues) @ 6:30 pm: Charleston County Council ... public hearing for Betsy Kerrison Parkway "medical village" and 2nd reading for Public Works ZLDR Changes
Dec 21 (Thurs) @ 5:00 pm: Charleston County Council ... Planning and Public Works Committee and 1st reading for Betsy Kerrison Parkway "medical village" and 3rd reading for Public Works ZLDR Changes. Upcoming activities for which dates have not yet been announced:
Charleston County Planning Commission
Orange Hill Planned Development amendments.
Charleston County Council
Presentation to the public of the Mark Clark Extension funding plan.
City of Charleston Planning Commission
Maybank Highway hotel Planned Development
Town of Seabrook Island Planning Commission
Bohicket Marina Expansion outside the Urban Growth Boundary
The Johns Island Advocate is a free biweekly email newsletter that seeks to inform Johns Islanders of significant meetings and events that will impact our Island today and in the future.
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