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notices and information
Updates from Town Council
The following is a summary of announcements from the October 12, 2021, Town Council meeting. Watch the meeting here.
Special Funding Investment MUSC Emergency Center Facility
Town Council approved a philanthropic investment proposal of $1M distributed over five years for the new MUSC Sea Islands Emergency Center facility. The primary funding source will be the $880,000 the Town will receive through the American Rescue Plan and the remainder from the General Fund. The investment comes with a naming opportunity that Council selected as the Town of Kiawah Island Garden. The garden will be a high-traffic area that provides outdoor respite space and seating for visitors and family members. MUSC will collaborate with the Town on the garden's design, providing an opportunity to include local tastes, aesthetics, and cultural references.
Ordinances
Town Council approved the second and final reading of the following Ordinance changes:
- Text amendments to Ordinance 2021-11 Building and Building Codes, clarifying the definition of design professionals to architects and engineers licensed by the state.
- Amendments to Ordinance 2021-12 Burning of Combustible Materials, prohibiting the use of electric gills on balconies of multifamily structures. This change is based on recent data proving electric grills release grease-laden vapors that adhere to exterior walls and ceilings, producing a fire hazard. As a result, charcoal, propane, portable electric, and natural gas outdoor cooking devices will be strictly prohibited in multifamily buildings.
Appointments & Reappointments
Town Council appointed new members Kimberly Adele and Dylan Keith to the Arts and Cultural Events Council.
Town Council recommended to Charleston County Council the reappointment of Stephan Rolando to the St. Johns Fire District Commission.
Other Updates
Town Council discussed potential amendments to Ordinance 2021-10 regarding prohibited noise. No action was taken.
Town Council reviewed the Town's Wildlife office expansion plans drafted by Architect firm LS3P and approved staff requests to solicit construction bids. The expansion will convert one of the existing garage bays into a conditioned space that will hold two offices and covert the car wash area into outdoor secured storage.
Executive Session
Town Council entered an Executive Session concerning personnel and contractual matters related to the annual review of the Town Administrator. Town Council exited Executive Session and authorized the Mayor to negotiate the Town Administrator's contract.
Mark Clark Extension Comment Period Ending
SCDOT and Charleston County have announced their intent to move the Mark Clark Extension Project forward with the preferred Alternative G. Details on the public involvement process are provided here. Residents are encouraged to participate in this process and submit their comments during the comment period that runs through October 15, 2021.
St. John's Fire District Update
St. John's Fire District Chief Colleen Walz has retired after 35 years in the Fire Service. The Town is grateful for her service to the community and wishes her a happy retirement.
The district promoted Chief Ryan Kunitzer to the role of Fire Chief. Kunitzer has been with the district for eight years.
Cars on Kiawah
On October 16, 2021, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cars on Kiawah will host its fifth annual display of over 250 of the region's most outstanding automobiles in Ocean Park. Free admission. $20 cash parking. Food and beverage will be available for sale.
Every third week of October is Kiawah Native Plant Week! From October 17- 23, the Town and the Kiawah Conservancy will celebrate native plant week and promote the benefits of growing native.
Kiawah's Grow Native initiative is a community-wide effort to increase the use of native plants in landscaping projects across the island with an overall goal of improving the environment and wildlife habitat. Native plants provide high-quality food and shelter for 10 to 15 times as many wildlife species as non-native plants and sustain pollinators vital for fruit production. Maintaining natives requires very little fertilizer, pesticides, and irrigation, which protects water resources and water quality by minimizing stormwater runoff pollution. They are also more resistant to saltwater intrusion from flooding and storm surges.
Follow us on our social channels for #NativePlantWeek where we'll be showcasing Kiawah's native plants all week long.
The Cape - Pile Driving Notice
On October 4, site work and pile driving began in preparation for the construction of The Cape on Kiawah. Residents may experience pile driving vibrations and noise during the driving period, which is expected to last six weeks during daytime hours.
The Cape is a 14-acre oceanfront parcel in West Beach, adjacent to Timbers Kiawah that East West Partners is developing. The initial construction schedule consisted of a two-phase, five-year project; however, the developer reduced the schedule to begin both phases simultaneously, with a projected completion during winter 2023-2024.
November 1 – March 15 – Pets are allowed to be off-leash from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. everywhere on the beach except in the critical habitat area. Pets must be leashed from 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. Owners must remain with their pet, have the pet under control, and have a leash in their possession to leash their pet if requested by other beach patrons or by Beach Patrol. Violators could be ticketed. Electronic leashes are prohibited. More at www.kiawahisland.org/beaches.
COVID-19 Update
The most current CDC guidelines recommend that everyone wear a mask indoors in public if they are in a substantial or high transmission area. Charleston County is currently at a high level of transmission rates. More
All events have reduced capacity and limited tickets. Visit www.kiawahisland.org/events to access the calendar/ticket portal.
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Turtle Point Clubhouse | 4 p.m.
SOLD OUT
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
The Sandcastle | 5 - 7 p.m.
No Tickets Required
Limited Capacity
On October 10, Turtle Patrol inventoried the last sea turtle nest for the season in the Ocean Course area.
2021 Season Highlights
- 2021 Total Nests: 399 (2020 - 387)
- First Nest-laid: May 10 in Zone 7.
- Last Nest-laid: August 11, also in Zone 7.
- 423 nests were “in situ” (a nest that stayed where it was laid)
- 167 nests were relocated (due to being laid in a less than ideal location like below the high tide line)
- Our nesting turtles deposited close to 40,000 eggs on Kiawah's beach this summer.
Thank you to all our Turtle Patrol volunteers and our Permit Holder, Lynne Sager, for their successful 2021 season.
Previously Mentioned
Committee Meetings
CERT Team – October 20 | 3 p.m.
Ways and Means – October 25 | 3 p.m.
Town Council – November 2 | 2 p.m.
Planning Commission – November 3 | 3 p.m.
Arts and Cultural Events Council – November 4 | 2 p.m.
Public Works – November 8 | 10 a.m.
Public Safety – November 10 | 11:30 a.m.
Environmental – November 10 | 2 p.m.
Board of Zoning Appeals – November 15 | 3 p.m.
Ways and Means – November 29 | 3 p.m.
Procedures
- Town Council meetings are always live-streamed on the Town's YouTube channel. Other committees that conduct their meetings in person where the public can attend are not live-streamed.
- Agendas are available here and will reference the meeting's location. Dates, times, and locations sometimes change. Before planning to attend a meeting, check our website.
(843) 768-9166
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