Groundhog Day on SI

Sullivan’s Island has its own unique version of Groundhog Day: No matter what the question is, the answer from many public officials is “more density.” This time it’s about increasing the number of eating establishments in the commercial district. 

Is this something that islanders are clamoring for? For that matter, is this something that other SI restaurant owners are clamoring for?  Who, exactly, would benefit?

According to the November minutes, the Planning Commission began a review of the current zoning ordinance in an effort to clarify Town ordinances as they apply to one existing eating establishment, Café Medley. One of the provisions in the new amendment  would increase the number of eating establishments allowed on SI. So how is it that a supposed need to clarify Town ordinances as they apply to one existing business necessitates a provision increasing the overall number of eating establishments allowed on SI?

Many islanders are concerned about the impact to SI residential neighborhoods. Twelve islanders in the surrounding neighborhood submitted a letter to the Planning Commission in December, expressing concerns about parking, traffic, and other possible unintended consequences.  In addition, a number of islanders got wind of what was going on and attended the December Planning Commission meeting to comment on the proposed amendment. 

Further discussion was deferred pending a ruling by the SC Ethics Commission on a potential conflict of interest by Commissioner Rusty Bennett (Rusty has an ownership interest in Poe's.  Some on the Planning Commission thought that could be a conflict of interest in discussions about other eating establishments.)

In an informal opinion (attached below), the Ethics Commission stated that there may in fact be a conflict of interest and that the question must be answered by the Ethics Commission in a formal opinion.  The next meeting of the SC Ethics Commission is March 19 in Columbia.

Several questions come to mind:

• How many additional eating establishments would be allowed under the new ordinance?  
• Is there a plan for additional parking?
• Is there a possibility that properties currently zoned residential would be converted to parking?
• Have all potential conflicts of interest by Town Council members been addressed?
• What about the increased stress on SI infrastructure--police, fire and water/sewer?
• Will Town Council make an effort to engage islanders and consider feedback prior to a vote on the amendment?

 So—just one month after acknowledging island-wide opposition to multi-family rezoning, due to islanders' concerns about potential  increases in traffic, congestion and parking issues, the Planning Commission introduced yet another amendment that would increase traffic, congestion and parking issues. Seems that Groundhog Day never ends on Sullivan’s Island.

The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12 at 6:30 pm at Town Hall. 

"Changes in the community should be given careful attention in order to assure that there is not a loss in the character or charm of Sullivan’s Island. It is this ambiance that has drawn people to live here since the 18th century…The main vision of the Comprehensive Plan is to preserve the residential character of the Island and the commercial area in a condition very similar to how they currently appear, working to preserve the memory of Sullivan’s Island from the past two centuries." (Sullivan’s Island 2013 Comprehensive Plan, pg. 93)