Guiding Principles         

Establishing a Planning Pattern for the Island

Approved by Board of Directors May 7, 2007

To view a printer-friendly version of this document, go here.

Background 

In 2006, the association was guided by cycle VI of its Long Range Plan and in 2007, this was replaced with the Operations Plan.  Both documents outline the mission and vision for the association.

Kiawah is a premier residential community that shares the island with a public resort with continuing development plans, a developer who owns the remaining undeveloped land and numerous individuals, including investors, guests, shareholders, owners and citizens.

In support of the strategic planning initiative, the board has approved the following set of guiding principles that not only are consistent with the current operations plan, but also consider the community as a whole rather than the association only.  They are established to facilitate a comprehensive, island-wide strategic planning process and to create a conceptual planning template consistent with the Board’s view to keep Kiawah Island a premier residential resort community.

Guiding Principles

1. Excellence. Guarantee the pursuit of excellence in all phases of the planning process and sustain the high value and national stature of the Kiawah brand.

2. Stewardship.  Encourage island citizens, owners, guests, investors and shareholders to be good stewards in meeting their responsibilities to each other and to the greater community that surrounds us. 

3. Synergy/Cooperation.  Work with the resort, town, developer and community association to meet mutual objectives embodied in these principles, seeking fair and workable solutions when objectives are not aligned.

4. Natural Habitat.  Preserve or enhance the island’s superior natural qualities, including woodland preservation, wildlife habitat and natural beauty and ambiance that enrich Island existence.

5. The Beach.  Recognize the attraction and importance of the Kiawah beach to everyone, including its varied dunes and maritime thicket environments.  Assure beach access to all.  Recognize the discipline required to manage the natural systems associated with the dunes and ocean.

6. Growth/Future Interests/Demography.  Identify the requirements of the island’s changing population—including citizens, owners, guests, investors and shareholders—and incorporate those interests into strategic planning.  Consider amenities and environment interests that would be desired at the time of the island’s build-out or sell-out.

7. Architectural Discipline. Achieve an uncommon and visually pleasing blend of natural beauty and manmade improvements.  Use environmentally sensitive design in architecture and landscaping.  Each facility improvement is treated not as an individual creation but as a part of the larger neighborhood and island site.

8. Secure and Safe Environment. Institutionalize a model for superior security and safety through service.  The resort, developer, town and association work together to protect the Island’s natural environment and assets so that citizens, owners, guests, investors and shareholders experience a seamless and personalized safety and security experience.

9.  Facilities, Land, Lakes and Infrastructure Assets. Manage and maintain manmade assets to high quality so the island’s natural aesthetic and wildlife populations -- and the people who enjoy them -- are protected and sustained.  When able, the infrastructure will facilitate keeping wildlife in close proximity to people and vice versa.  Manage the manmade land and lakes environments in harmony with nature, using maintenance practices that would cause the least imbalance to the natural systems that promote wildlife abundance.  Kiawah is where suburbia ends.

10. Pride in Community.  Maintain strong ties of neighborliness, congeniality and community spirit.  Demonstrate genuine respect for one another.  Promote goodwill seeking the best interests of the whole.  Communicate openly but with propriety.  Make the island’s heritage and history accessible to all.  Seek community involvement from all citizens, owners, guests, investors and shareholders, irrespective of the amount of time spent on the island or away.

12. Investment. Contribute positively to everyone’s investment in Kiawah.  Each part is connected integrally to the whole.

13. Health and Safety.  Encourage appropriate, accessible and high quality health care facilities, services, and information for members, guests, and visitors. Enhance safety policies, procedures and education to reduce injury from accidents and avoid toxic environmental exposures.

Conclusion

The above guiding principles reflect the current thinking of the board incorporating data from member surveys, demographics and input from the association staff.  They are offered for initial direction to the comprehensive planning process.  This process itself may influence or add to the guiding principles as it develops.