Slippery slope away from single family residential on SI?

Is this our future on SI?

Sullivan's Island voters have overwhelmingly voted--over and over and over again--for Sullivan's Island to remain a single-family residential community. And the Sullivan's Island Comprehensive Plan--the plan just updated by Town Council last summer--mandates a single-family residential community on Sullivan's Island.

Current ordinances do not allow for stand-alone accessory structures on a property without a principal structure on the property.

But now a small group of islanders wants Town Council to change that. These islanders want Town Council to allow them to build a stand-alone structure on the beachfront for their personal recreational use. 

Several different families would have an ownership interest in this recreation structure. The structure would have electricity and running water. There would be no principal, single-family structure on the property, as is now required under existing zoning ordinances.  The property in question is located at 3117 Marshall Boulevard. 

According to Town staff, the requested land use change would be significant for the Island and could potentially be a slippery slope for long-term unforeseen problems.

Zoning Administrator Joe Henderson concluded that, should the Town be inclined to allow stand-alone structures and/or other accessory uses on private property as a principal use, the following should be considered: 

1. The proposed land use change does not comply with the language and intent of the Town’s current zoning ordinances. Current zoning ordinances only allow one single-family detached dwelling per lot in the residential district, designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence by one family, either owner or renter occupied. 

2. The proposed land use change does not comport with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. Chapter 9, Land Use Element, of the Comprehensive Plan defines residential land as “locations intended for occupants to live together as a single housekeeping unit, with one residentially zoned parcel with only one dwelling unit on it.” (5-year Plan was reviewed and approved in 2013-2014). 

3. The proposed land use change would apply to all residentially-zoned properties on the island, whether currently vacant land or lots with an existing residential structure on it. 

4. Below are the are long-term unintended consequences that need to be considered should this land use change be allowed:

•  Parking on the property – how many and how would Town  regulate this?

•   Number of people gathering on the property and how Town would enforce any restrictions?

•  Identify accessory uses allowed on the property and what structures would be allowed: pools, tennis courts, pool cabanas, etc. 

•  How would the property’s use impact the land use, enjoyment, privacy and peace of neighboring residents, currently and long-term? 

• Long-term ownership of the property: potential private beach club or private “amenity center” within a residential block; 

•  Long-term maintenance of property and accessory structures on it 

•  Long-term impact to property values for neighborhood 

• Consideration of burden on Town to police the site for trespassing, noise, littering and other unwanted activity 

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The Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, July 8 at 6:30 to discuss this very important and precedent-setting issue. Please make every effort to attend!  And let the Planning Commission and Town Council know how you feel about this land use change on Sullivan's Island and the potential long-term consequences for the entire community.

In addition, contact Town Council and find out which of the 7 council members support changing the single-family residential ordinance to accommodate personal recreational structures. Are the positions of the 4 newly elected Town Council members and Mayor Pat O'Neil consistent with the promises made during the very recent mayoral and Town Council elections to protect and preserve the single-family residential nature of the island?
    
                                                     
"Changes occurring 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 Comprehensive Plan, pg 106 (see below)