OWNA Charleston

Sector 5 Mayor’s Meeting 4/12/24

Location: St. Andrews School for Math and Science

Neighborhoods in attendance:

• Byrnes Downs: Brent Bentrim, Mary Porter, Stephanie Amerman, Walty Fiesel
• Citadel Woods: Cynthia Nolen
• The Crescent: Ernie Ravenel
• Croghan Landing: Jay Stevens
• Farmfield/Parkwood: Taylor Nilan
• Old Windermere: Ron Sassard, Sharon Phillips
• South Windermere: Michael Cooper

Mayor’s Opening Remarks: We’ve got the half cent transportation sales tax referendum coming up on this ballot in November. To me, it’s very critical that we pay a lot of attention to this. This is the funding for our infrastructure for the next 25 years. If 526 is not approved via this referendum, it’s officially dead.

BYRNES DOWNS: Brent Bentrim, Mary Porter, Stephanie Amerman, Walty Fiesel

1. Vehicles are being prioritized over pedestrian and bike safety. Last year, there were more pedestrian deaths than actual homicides. We feel a bit better about the Avondale realignment after the Planning Department’s mock-up of Nicholson.

Traffic & Transportation Response: Charleston County’s plan to improve the Avondale intersections will improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as traffic flow along Savannah Highway. Support of this plan will go a long way with improvements to safety in the area. https://www.savannahhighway.com/

2. It seems as though everyone’s talking about Stormwater mitigation, but we don’t see results on the ground. For example, sidewalks and repairs are never graded back correctly after repairs, or if someone worked in the easement. Yesterday we noticed somebody grading down the sidewalks.

[Via Mary Porter] 3 weeks ago, we had a major rain. At corner of Littleton, Nicholson and Sothel, the recurring sewage overflow occurred again. That’s a health/safety issue. I’massuming CWS is on that, but I don’t know the city’s relationship with CWS. The manhole will be flowing up with sewage.

Mayor’s Response: It’s a bit of a holistic approach but with very targeted action. There’s been a lot of data collected, policy directives, studies… where we are right now between a proposed City water plan and the Army Corps of Engineers– we’re mapping out and ground truthing existing conditions and then we are putting in place engineering plan drawings in where there have not been to address issue. We’ll be moving to more construction. That is our full focus at this point.

In terms of resiliency, regarding sea level rise, we need to look at what the next 20-30 years is going to do. Sometimes policy can be in direct contrast to things like affordability, so we need to figure out how to balance that. It’s one thing to talk about resilience and retreating from low-lying areas and building on high ground and putting in additional stormwater policies. We’re already facing an affordability crisis.

We’re taking a very aggressive approach on this.

Stormwater Response: The City stormwater department rehabilitated the marsh outfall for the Byrnes Downs neighborhood. Flooding will occur if rain falls during high tide at the low-lying area around the intersection of Lyttleton and Nicholson, but it should now drain out quickly as the tide falls. The City does coordinate with CWS on project work. CWS is currently starting construction of the West Ashley Sewer Tunnel Extension which is a major sewer tunnel project (around $80M) to increase sewer capacity through the area.That should provide further improvements to sanitary sewer overflows in the neighborhood. If you do see any improperly repaired or graded work, please contact the City Citizen Services Desk.We can have a stormwater inspector review the issue and see if corrections need to be made.

Charleston Water Systems Response: CWS has resolved the decades of frequent and persistent sewer overflows following heavy rains at Lyttleton and Nicholson (and a few nearby locations and neighborhoods) via the installation of a brand-new West Ashley Sewer Tunnel in late 2019, which is operating perfectly. It’s 3 times larger than the old tunnel, which was also falling apart, so it’s full solved the issue as designed.

Current overflows at Lyttleton and surrounding areas during/following heavy rain events may seem VERY similar to days of old, but they are caused by a completely different issue. Non- flushable wipes are now building up on our bar screens at the drop shaft where the wastewater enters the new tunnel (Croghan Shaft, and the end of the Greenway). They accumulate in our system by getting snagged in our sewer mains – then get dislodged all at once by heavy rain events that bring extraneous flow into our system (rain and groundwater entering the sanitary sewer system). We do our very best to proactively clean these screens and try to keep up with the incredible volume of non-flushables, but we’ve been overwhelmed/losing the battle on rare occasion.

A solution is in the works, as we’ll implement new tactics when our West Ashely Sewer Tunnel Extension project in completed about 3 years from this summer. Until then, we’ll continue to do our best to fight the non-flushables. It’s a top priority, and one overflow is too many, so we ask for patience and understanding while we do all we can to rectify the problem in the short and long term.

SOUTH WINDERMERE: Michael Cooper, South Windermere: Regarding affordability issues, when the City lets people build multifamily big complexes, they can get a variance for having so many units of affordable/workforce housing. But the City doesn’t make them actually rent to workforce housing tenants. They can do a fee in lieu.

Mayor’s response: I think you make a good point. Most developers take the fee in lieu instead of workforce housing. The theory is that this should balance out, but it doesn’t. We haven’t been able to come close to the affordable housing we need. We have to get a lot more aggressive about it locally and regionally. We need to make it more attainable because that’s what a lot of the entry level jobs are. We are looking at specific policies to make a potential option on a specific project that would be geared toward entry level positions at the City.

Housing & Community Development Department Response: Persons that opt-in to the Mixed-Use Workforce (MU II) Housing Zoning can pay a fee-in-lieu or build the required units on site. In the past, developers overwhelmingly chose the fee-in-lieu. The City of Charleston revisited the fee structure and made it more stringent. Additionally, the city added a blended option whereby developers could pay a lesser stringent fee and build some units on site. We should also advise that the funding secured from the fee-in-lieu payment, which totaled approximately $12M, enabled the City of Charleston to acquire land and construct additional housing throughout the City of Charleston, reaching persons earning varied levels of the affordability spectrum.

CITADEL WOODS: Cynthia Nolen

1. Charleston Water Systems is going to put in a big sewer line. What is that going to do in terms of access to the Greenway?

Charleston Water System Response: Charleston Water System (CWS) is about to begin a major sewer project to install a new 20,000-ft. sewer tunnel 120 feet under the Greenway, which it owns, from Stinson Rd. to Albermarle Rd. This tunnel will replace the two existing sewer mains that currently run the length of the Greenway, proactively adding reliability and environmental protection to this sensitive area, as well as planning to accommodate future growth in West Ashely.

This work will require temporary adjustments to the walking/bike path – likely moving it 10-20 feet to either side in specific locations where their work will be concentrated – near Albermarle Rd., Coburg Rd., and Arlington Rd. This work may also require very brief closures of these small sections of the Greenway at times for up to two weeks for safety purposes, which will always be announced in advance.

CWS is actively preparing community outreach/education materials to explain the project, scope of work, and impacts to the Greenway and surrounding communities and they will share these will all communities along the Greenway when finalized. Construction activity may begin as early asJuly, but the start may be delayed until September – as they are finalizing the entire scope ofwork in April/May and will have more specific details then. This project will take up to two 2 years once it has begun.

THE CRESCENT: Ernie Ravenel

1. We have a problem in the neighborhood with people building ADUs and then using them for STRs.

Mayor’s Response: There is a holistic zoning re-write going on. Short term rentals and Accessory Dwelling Units will be a big part of that. I think a lot of these loopholes will be closed. The proposal/path we’re moving down is that the consultants right now seems to be based on a previous comprehensive plan that the City issued in 2021 using “elevation-based zoning”. There are serious considerations with that. It’s only been done in Norfolk, and it was just recently implemented.

Livability Response: We have 2 staff who just focus on STRs. We contract with a company that scrapes the internet to look for illegal listings. It’s not an easy process to go through. If you’re advertising without a permit, that’s a violation. You can call me if you feel there is an STR in your neighborhood.

2. Crescent has the same drainage issues, but residents refused to give easements, so we’ve done our own cleanouts.

CROGHANS LANDING: Jay Stevens

1. Parking and the cleanout along the Greenway: We have a retention pond along the front of the neighborhood that floods out. We have a retention pond that drains into the ditch that goes along the Greenway to a creek. We need a cleanout from our culvert to the creek.

Stormwater Response: We reviewed the plat for the neighborhood and neither the pipe nor pond appear to have a public drainage easement associated with it to allow the City to maintain it. We can have an engineer look into the issue to see what options there are.

2. This time of year we also have issues with people parking on our common grounds on the Greenway access points. People want and should have access to it , but they often park on the sprinkler heads. Traffic & Transportation did put up signs for “no parking”. If we can get the same intensity on parking illegally in front of a “no parking sign”, we’d appreciate that.

Traffic & Transportation Response: The City’s Parking Enforcement team can respond to illegally parked vehicles when notified. Please call their dispatch number at (843) 579-6099. The Parking Enforcement Division has also been notified of this and will monitor. https://www.charleston-sc.gov/2008/Parking-Enforcement-Division

FARMFIELD/PARKWOOD: Taylor Nilan

1. Thank you to the police for the help with Krispy Kreme’s traffic.

2. Intersection safety when you’re turning left into the neighborhood: There’s been some bad accidents there and people can’t really see the signals.

Traffic & Transportation Response: The traffic signals for this location have been reviewed and meet requirements for traffic signal visibility. If there are specific visibility issues that you are experiencing, please contact Traffic and Transportation.

3. Speeding in the neighborhood: We’ve been noticing a lot of test drives from the auto sales. There was a traffic study on Farmfield. I thought we would have permanent signs with your speed on them, but they were apparently temporary.

Traffic & Transportation Response: Traffic and Transportation installs speed feedback signs as part of our Traffic Calming Program. These signs rotate throughout the City and are only placed on a temporary basis.

CPD Response: We will monitor the area to determine if more focused enforcement efforts are needed.

OLD WINDERMERE: RON SASSARD, SHARON PHILLIPS

1. At some point someone poured concrete into the pipe up from the Osaka outfall so it’s 85% blocked. The state does seem to be committed to fixing it, but they may need to use backhoes. It impacts South Windermere, too, at Ackerman. Rep. Stavrinakis, Cm. Appel, and Senator Senn have been helpful. We were told that money would be spent within the neighborhood. It’s the same problem where ditches overflow, and the water runs through yards and collects at lowest point. I just want to say that money will be spent on that. I’d like to sit down with Matt and the engineers.

Mayor’s Response: That’s where we are now, and I think we’re going to need to ground truth/pull original records. We have a lot of deferred maintenance we’re having to work through. The number one refrain from every neighborhood that we need to deal with people’s ditches in front of their house.

Stormwater Response: The City is currently working through its “conflict” design for areas where water/sewer/stormwater infrastructure overlap with CWS. Once we have preliminary design approval on an approach for these issues we will do another coordination meeting with the neighborhood for the project work. We agree that the DOT repairs to the drainage system on Wesley will be important for further reducing flooding in the area.

2. Character protection for homes: We thought we were close to launching something, but it seems like it’s been put on hold. We’d like to know when we think that could move forward and what’s needed in terms of City review. There is a two-story addition in theneighborhood larger than the actual house. We don’t understand how this is permitted. They want to use it as a STR. That’s not helping affordability.

Mayor’s Response: I’m happy to sit down on that. I think we’ve talked about that in the past. We have a long history of that here. At the same time, you have to balance property rights and affordability. I think there’s a balance there. I’m glad to get involved with that.

Planning Division Response: Staff will continue to work on the proposed plan with Mayor’s office and community to reach a good character protection plan.

SOUTH WINDERMERE: Michael Cooper:

1. Ackerman Blvd: We had a meeting with several people from the City and Cm. Appel, trying to take a global view of that street/area with the County Library. In our neighborhood, that’s the lowest spot, and it floods a lot. We want to make sure that we’re looking at stormwater and making upgrades to that road.

Stormwater Response: The City is currently working with CWS to design the water/sewer/stormwater conflict areas on William Ackerman. After the City gets a general design approach that will work for CWS, we will do a coordination meeting with South Windermere to look at options to further reduce road flooding (in addition to the drainage improvements along the road).

2. Powerline undergrounding. Where are we on the list?

Mayor’s Response: The good news is that in 3 years we’re about to renegotiate our 30-year franchise agreement with Dominion. Part of that conversation is going to be implementing more aggressive undergrounding. It will require some legal tweaks. It’s only been one neighborhood a year. The two things we’re looking at doing is doing more than one a year and reducing the scope down to street by street.

Parks Department Response: The City’s new undergrounding system allows us to focus on smaller, linear projects as opposed to entire neighborhoods. Per the City’s agreement with Dominion, there are a limited number of projects we can have in construction at a given time, but our goal is to bring a list of potential projects to Council on a semi-annual basis. The City uses a matrix system to prioritize potential undergrounding project areas. The matrix is scored based on tree canopy coverage, logistical difficulty, interest-level from residents, and other factors. Streets in South Windermere and other neighborhoods in the area will be considered as we move forward.

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