The committee interviewed Joe Croughwell, director of security, and discussed the matter at great length of having an off-island commercial pass office. The committee has significant reservations about the functionality of an off-island commercial pass office.
Maintaining the commercial pass center in the main KICA office is advantageous because of its proximity to other KICA resources located there. Additionally, the site is beneficial to the Town of Kiawah Island for issuing business licenses and collecting fees from contractors when they come to the municipal center to apply for a pass.
The major problems with the current system are: (1) limited parking for contractors at the Municipal Center when obtaining or renewing gate passes/business licenses, and (2) the large trucks (which do not have a gate pass or business license) and need to pull to the side of the road at the main gate are thereby obstructing traffic flow at Kiawah's entrance.
The issue of limited parking at the municipal center will be resolved in the next few months because the town has leased the unpaved overflow parking area adjacent to the current parking lot from KDP and has approved a contract to have this lot paved.
The number of large trucks without a pass which are parked at the main gate is relatively small, approximately eight to 12 per day. Nevertheless, these trucks pose a real safety hazard and this needs a solution.
Ideally KICA would construct a pass center on the west side of Kiawah Island Parkway (right-hand side as one comes on to Kiawah from the Betsy Kerrison Parkway). However, there is no property available for purchase or lease between the roundabout and Kiawah's main gate, now or in the foreseeable future.
Either recommendation would provide a safe location for the relatively few trucks that cannot get to the current pass office at the municipal center at this time.
Either choice will also provide major cost savings to the community association versus purchasing land and constructing a new building separate from current KICA operations.
Boat storage is clearly the most contentious issue. For reasons of convenience and ease of use, an on-island storage area is desired. The existing storage area has had such a long history that it has become the location preferred by most community members.
However, the economic and habitat value of on-island property is so great that it appears to preclude its use for boat storage. The likelihood of finding a new location for on-island property for boat storage is nil. The committee is not in favor of having boat storage at Rhett's Bluff (see below - Future Use of Rhett's Bluff).
Bobcat research performed on Kiawah has determined that the minimum area of undisturbed under story shrub habitat (or forest) required for a bobcat den site is two hectares (five acres). Rhett's Bluff (six acres) is the largest single piece of property owned by KICA. Unless the community association preserves additional areas of undeveloped land of this size in the future then the area within and around Rhett's Bluff Landing may be one of the very few sites suitable for bobcat dens remaining on Kiawah.
The significance of Rhett's Bluff for animal habitat cannot be overstated. The natural area of Rhett's Bluff Landing is contiguous with two additional undeveloped properties: 1) the KICA wetland, 2.79 acres, and 2) 77 New Settlement Road, 0.41 acre purchased by Rhett's Bluff residents and held under woodlands conservation by the Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy. (See Rhett's Bluff Exhibit 1.)
Rhett's Bluff is also an important amenity for the membership. It is one of only two KICA-owned accesses to the creeks (Eagle Point Landing is the other.) The soon-to-be implemented change for access to Rhett's Bluff (via decal-operated gate) will allow improved access to all members for enjoyment of the river. KICA must continue to operate the Rhett's Bluff Landing area as a fully-functioning boat launch.
However, the Environment/Services Committee is not in favor of developing boat storage facilities on this property because of its critical importance to the island's habitat.
The concept of constructing a second facility for storage of landscaping and maintenance equipment has been discussed.
We note that the KICA Major Repairs Committee has scheduled $200,000 for construction of this additional facility by year 2011.
It is the sense of the committee that the cost of land, construction, and upkeep of the facility will far exceed the benefits to the community association. Also, construction of another facility will necessitate additional loss of natural habitat on the island and will spread the negative impact of pollution and the storm water runoff that necessarily accompanies these facilities.
In view of the length of time remaining on KICA's lease with the Town of Kiawah Island for office space in the municipal building (17 years remaining, with additional 25 year renewal option), as well as the favorable terms of the lease, the committee does not feel there is a need to address this issue in the near future.
Major infrastructure items (roads, bridges, sewers, utilities, pond construction and dredging, etc.) were not addressed by our committee with the exception of the proposed East End (down island) maintenance facility for equipment storage (see above).
These items are beyond the scope of our committee's time and expertise. They have been, and continue to be, addressed in an excellent manner by the MRC.
The interested reader is referred to the appended reports from the MRC for additional information (See MMR Exhibits 1 - 3).