KICA Amenities Task Force Holds First Meeting

On August 29, 2005 the Kiawah Island Amenity Task Force, consisting of Resort Managing Director Roger Warren, Developer Buddy Darby, Kiawah Island Real Estate Principal Pat McKinney, Resort Developer Jon Weitz, Mayor Bill Wert and the Association’s Property Owner Directors met to discuss the status of the recreational amenities on the island, future development and the need for additional recreational facilities to be considered in those plans. President Dodge spoke of the concerns of the membership regarding the current pool restrictions and the need for the Town, the Resort, the Developer and the Association to plan for future recreational amenities as the island continues to grow.

The charter of the Task Force is to consider the adequacy of recreational amenities for the Association's residential members and their guests for the next ten years, and to consider the needs of those persons other than Association residential members and their guests.

In the early years of Kiawah's development, the community pool concept was a benefit to members.  The sale of properties to a separate resort entity in the early 1990's created a competitive position not initially envisioned in the governance of the island community.  While this can create a healthy environment financially, it does present a different concept with regard to usage of amenities.

To provide the Task Force with needed research, the Property Owner Directors also met with the rental agencies in a separate session.  The purpose of that meeting was to get the views from those who were and were not affected by the lack of pool access for renters this year.  Statistics were reviewed regarding the percentage of Association members owning in regimes who rent their properties through independent agencies and the percentage of those rentals who do not have pool access.  The percentage of members in regimes without pool access is 21% of the total regime membership and 12% of the total Association membership.

On August 30, the Property Owner Directors met with regime presidents and managers.  They shared their views on the importance of the pool issue, with more emphasis on the total amenities packages available to members as well as guests and renters.  Stating that protection of the existing amenities is of utmost importance, they believed that a plan for improvements and expansions for the future must be made as a joint effort.  The land restrictions and economic values are, of course, two vital segments of this intricate situation.

On Wednesday, September 28, the Property Owner Directors met with Association members who indicated an interest in being included in a meeting to share their views regarding the recreational amenities here on the island.

The results of these various meetings will be shared with the full Task Force at its next meeting.  President Dodge will continue to report on this important topic in future issues of Digest to keep our members informed of any progress.