10-13 Community Meeting: Unified Development Ordinance and Local Infrastructure Planning
Merged machine transcription (ASR) from two Plaud recorders. D1 = device 1, D2 = device 2 (starts at 0:22:30). Times are device-1 time; trimmed at 1:41:28.

[0:00:38] Speaker 1 (D1): Whoever comes out to contain that information and don't disseminate it to everybody else. Patrolling them as to what happened. So yes, they need to.
[0:00:49] Speaker 2 (D1): Yeah, I think they're actually confused. Yeah, I think they're actually confused. If they found that not to have been what happened, they wouldn't have passed it on. I don't know that either.
[0:01:33] Speaker 1 (D1): Yeah, I'm just concerned about the communication with this department of a series of things you know.
[0:01:41] Speaker 2 (D1): Controls myself, and I would apologize very deeply for that. But I'm just concerned to think that someone exposed themselves. Yes, no, I'm not concerned. Yes, and without having this whole file, there's several reasons that they don't have it all. But without knowing the actual reason, I can't even why they.
[0:02:03] Speaker 3 (D1): You Need to come go ahead.
[0:02:33] Speaker 4 (D1): So I'm going to say this going back to the cameras. We're getting ready to launch our new crime center, which is going to include a special camera. So what we're doing is some of the cameras are being repaired. Some of them are being replaced. You notice on the Del High and I think that's Green Ridge, there's a new pole there. Sooner or later, that camera's going to be placed on that pole. Because we operate with Dominion. We have to do it, but even though we have a camera here, the men are not put fire power to it. So underneath the fire, but I put power to it. So there, there are a couple of cameras that's going to be moved around. And here's the thing that I will say to you, Mike, I like that. By law, we can't tell you pretty much what's happening. You see, you see, you see. If you don't, we won't go around announcing. Well, there's a camera here. There's a camera here. Cause the reason about is.
[0:03:32] Speaker 4 (D1): It will alert the wrong people who are attempting to do wrong. They'll never find us, and so that's what you're going to start seeing in the future. Okay, as well as Dominion, it's going to start changing out some of the lights. Those lights, I don't know right now, but I'll give you a heads up. We may start working in this area. Constable forces here who knows no information at all. But anyway, that's that's what's happening with the lights. We'll, I mean. No, if we know that they have, we would. We just not going to mount that camera. Are they removing someone that's already there? There's a clock.
[0:04:17] Speaker 1 (D1): Camera on the corner of Greenridge and Del High. Are they removing it? No, they're putting a new.
[0:04:21] Speaker 4 (D1): They're putting a new. You know, there's a new pole there. Right, there's a new pole there, and so when the man comes, right, they'll put that that camera onto the new pole.
[0:04:31] Speaker 2 (D1): They Finally, they finally stripped the old poles where we had new poles put in yesterday. They took down the cable that they had to the old poles. So I know, but I saw them doing it on on Green Ridge as well. So now they get their posts up there. Did we have to call the meeting about that? Yeah,
[0:05:01] Speaker 5 (D1): There's a whole area where power company comes and.
[0:05:08] Speaker 4 (D1): Moves the lines, and then Comcast and Knowledge or whoever comes and they have to move their lines before then they come back to both poles. Okay, so they're all moved. Yeah, yeah. So they'll come back in. This pole has a plethora of people who's running through it, not just you know electrical, as Comcast and some everybody.
[0:05:32] Speaker 5 (D1): Any Other questions for Dr. I'm gonna go ahead and cut her loose. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Hello, everyone.
[0:05:38] Speaker 2 (D1): Hello. So I just got an email. Give.
[0:05:45] Speaker 5 (D1): A brief summary on the bond point, PTO, and answering some some questions we had.
[0:05:54] Speaker 2 (D1): We got it. All right. So I can't hear you. Can't hear you. Okay,
[0:06:15] Speaker 5 (D1): So fellow, so I sent out an email giving a brief summary of Module One draft of the UPO based on what I how I understood and I read it, and now.
[0:06:31] Speaker 5 (D1): Some questions based on the summary, the brief summary that I gave, and the UTO itself, the lead business performance in his group here this evening, asked me to come up with some questions. I was asking who received my email. Okay, so we still have a problem with the emails going out, and I want you to receive my emails. I do send out emails probably once a month, so I'm going to sit around the sheet again and ask that you print it like an. I know you all know your emails, and we need you to provide it. I just want to make sure I stay in communication with you, and that you have a way to communicate with me as well. Other than that, I don't think I have anything else. There's one question. Yes, yes. The pumps. The pumps. I have finally been told that we have the money to start the pumps. I heard that. I understand. Let me just.
[0:07:31] Speaker 5 (D1): What happens is that we didn't have the money. That we had the money, as I explained it before, we had the money, and everything was in was in order. And unfortunately, because of the length of time that was between the time I was elected, when I was elected last year in May, I met with the team, North Charleston, in June. We went over the projects that needed to be completed at the pond and the rainstorm or on.
[0:08:01] Speaker 5 (D1): Was part of that project. Those two major problems. We understood that the drainage had smaller pipes are doing much larger pipes. We understood that the ponds needed to be repaired and attention needs to be brought to it. That was supposed to get started August first, and then I was told November, and then I was told January 2026. Here's what happened. So I said, "Look."
[0:08:31] Speaker 5 (D1): So they're saying that.
[0:08:32] Speaker 2 (D1): When they sent out the bid, that the bid came at a higher than they anticipated. Because I'm just gonna tell you,
[0:08:39] Speaker 5 (D1): Because they waited so long. Now I can tell that the money is definitely there. I spoke to Mr. Mike Dean. I call him Mike Dean. I don't know how to pronounce his last name. That we're gonna get started on the project right away. So I'm anticipating by the first.
[0:09:00] Speaker 5 (D1): That those bids are out, they already know how much it's going to cost. That we should be working on those pumps, and that the drainage on on Otranto Road was still three hundred three hundred and thirty thousand dollars short on that. But I was told by the mayor they were coming up with the money that we can get started on that as well. But it's not been ignored. I know this has been a long time coming. I understand it's been a long time coming, but I have not sat on the wayside. I have been talking.
[0:09:32] Speaker 5 (D1): To make sure this takes place, so believe me, as I call them on deaf ears, we're going to get it done.
[0:09:37] Speaker 2 (D1): Well, big changes, changes to the land, fights of the fights, and we need to be involved in something. Yes, ma'am. I agree. Yes,
[0:09:46] Speaker 5 (D1): I think that's the most important thing today. Yes, ma'am. I agree. And that's why, and I'm communicating with you all. I'm talking. I want to make sure.
[0:10:02] Speaker 2 (D1): You can reach out to us before then,
[0:10:04] Speaker 5 (D1): And I want to make sure I have your email so I can communicate with you and let you know what's going on. If you have a question, I might take your question, send it off an email, and get an answer for you.
[0:10:13] Speaker 6 (D1): There's a plan, and I'm sure what we're trying to look at is that they're sort of put.
[0:10:27] Speaker 5 (D1): Different boxes.
[0:10:35] Speaker 6 (D1): Any other questions?
[0:11:20] Speaker 5 (D1): And let me also say I have been speaking with Charleston. I was representing as well. I was I have been speaking with the Charleston County elected officials and I represent them in regards to getting additional sidewalks and money for additional sidewalks along the hospital road. They are in favor of it. We're definitely looking at it. You know, it's a lot to be done, and District Three is trying to get it done. One of the major parts of that on my list.
[0:11:52] Speaker 5 (D1): The lake and the drainage of the pond. Those are three major issues that we are working on, and I'm telling you, I'm not going to rest until it's done. I promise you that we're going to get it done. They said never make promises, but I promise you, we are working on it to make sure those projects are completed.
[0:12:11] Speaker 2 (D1): And they turned it down. How about the fountain? Do you want to think about.
[0:12:15] Speaker 4 (D1): The fountain? No, I just know that the bidding went out today for the ponds, and I kind of think that's going to be. In that package as well, as far as the funds are concerned.
[0:12:25] Speaker 2 (D1): Yeah. In the backyard. I'm sorry. Forget it. The unit in the backyard. You said yes. The house along that line. They built another building in the backyard to operate a business. They were supposed to take that. You know, think about it. No, what's? They were supposed to take that. Yeah. I guess he's stealing.
[0:13:10] Speaker 3 (D1): It. There's been.
[0:13:29] Speaker 5 (D1): Issues with that building, and the mayor has gotten involved in that situation now. That issue is out of my hands, and that was in the hands of the planning commission, and then it went to the legal team, and now it's in the hands of the mayor. But I'm aware of the situation. From what I've been told. From what I've been told, there's no issue. Like I said, the mayor is involved in that, so I would encourage you to reach out to the mayor. What does that mean? Well, they said there was no violations in regards to that building. That's why. That's why I have been informed. I've had several meetings. I've had several meetings. There's been several complaints.
[0:14:10] Speaker 2 (D1): Yeah. How did you get permission to build it? I'm. I'm not complaining. I know, but I'm not paying for. To be honest, so the sense of where.
[0:14:21] Speaker 5 (D1): I'm not being that way. I don't have any idea. I just know that they. I was told I brought the issue to the ears of the people that needed to hear. They told me there was not a concern. I took it to the legal team. I said, " Is there a problem?" They looked at the package and said they don't see a problem. So now the mayor has been involved. I believe some of the constituents have reached out to the mayor. He has.
[0:14:47] Speaker 2 (D1): Gotten involved in this, Issue.
[0:14:52] Speaker 1 (D1): But I guess when we managed his own post - divorce settlement a month and a half, two months ago, we were told that the building was approved and signed off by the person that inspected it, and they made an error as far as how high it was supposed to be. And once the city signed off, is what we were told. Once the city gives it permission to. Complete the job. It's like it's not a do - over. He got permission to do something that was not supposed to happen. It was a mistake on their end, but at that point, it's nothing we can do about it. So that was already addressed. But that was without understanding when we met with these elderly people. That it's it's clear because they made the error. And again, like I said,
[0:15:44] Speaker 5 (D1): The mayor is involved in the situation.
[0:15:48] Speaker 5 (D1): The mayor is involved, and I and I encourage you to reach out to the mayor if you have questions about that. The city is involved in.
[0:15:58] Speaker 1 (D1): The situation. Okay. Yeah. So, so I think it's not. This is just my personal opinion. I've lived here 30 years. If I got permission to do something, and my house caught fire and we hadn't told the guy, and so we had every step of the way, code permitting and zoning and all that, I had to sign off on. So I'm three years out. If someone says, "Oh, by the way, you know, you allowed them to do this, but they signed off on it," it's really unfair to the owner and collector. I don't even know the man. I just know he's a neighbor, and that's my subdivision. That's not fear. I wouldn't expect for you guys to come back and say, "Hey, they made a mistake that you still have to tear down." That's not fear to the homeowner, in my opinion. But I understand. I don't live near him.
[0:16:47] Speaker 1 (D1): But that's just my understanding of what just has transpired. He didn't do anything wrong, to my understanding. He did every step as he was supposed to do, and they made the error in approving. I don't know how you find that, but it's not. I've heard differently,
[0:17:04] Speaker 5 (D1): But I have no firsthand information. That's true. You know, sometimes, sometimes you have to get, you know, if you feel that the city is not doing what it should be doing, then sometimes you have to step outside. Sit in and talk to legal, give legal advice. But as of now, I've spoken to the legal team and I've spoken to the mayor because the concerns were brought to my attention, and they're telling me there's an issue.
[0:17:36] Speaker 2 (D1): Well, originally that it was to not disbarred, and then in that meeting we went to, they said it wasn't, it wasn't approved, but it was a lie. Then we would would rematch in that. And again, and and all that fight too, that wasn't even hearing. And I I've heard all this,
[0:17:54] Speaker 5 (D1): I've heard all this before. And again, I have spoken with the legal team, and they told me there is not a case. So we still have.
[0:18:17] Speaker 5 (D1): I will get the information that you requested. Please make sure I get your your email address so I can send the information to you. And Police Officer Brown said that the issue came up where she needed to go pick up her son, so she would not be here this evening. So if you had any concerns.
[0:18:51] Speaker 2 (D1): Are they here like this evening? I don't believe so.
[0:18:56] Speaker 6 (D1): Were they were they invited with you? I'm not concerned about the intersection on either side of the street within the plaza. I copied an email for this evening.
[0:19:21] Speaker 2 (D1): Yeah, that was that was last month when I made that request, and that's true. But I can I can make another request. There's there's many thousands.
[0:19:29] Speaker 6 (D1): Of cars, and keep.
[0:19:34] Speaker 2 (D1): In mind that studies were done years ago,
[0:19:42] Speaker 5 (D1): And this this this didn't happen like last year or two years or three years ago. This was ten years ago for developers developers to be in that.
[0:19:51] Speaker 5 (D1): Mr. Ryan, I'm going to say in front of in front of everyone. Can we go ahead and reach out to the developers? They can be here at our next meeting in November. Sure, that's no problem. Okay. So I'm saying probably we're going to reach out to them to make sure they can be here next month.
[0:20:05] Speaker 2 (D1): And if there's a problem with their schedule to be here on a particular meeting night, I will schedule the weekend that they are available. And send an email and let you all know something.
[0:20:16] Speaker 1 (D1): So she's talking about the sufficiency to put the 40.
[0:20:22] Speaker 5 (D1): There's Several. And I'm not in this company, but there are several developments that take place. And I'll just there's somewhere there's going to be 39 new homes. We have the land site.
[0:20:34] Speaker 4 (D1): I don't have it. It's on my work phone.
[0:20:35] Speaker 5 (D1): And then there's a development where they're going to have like 40 units.
[0:20:40] Speaker 2 (D1): Yes. And we are talking to.
[0:20:44] Speaker 5 (D1): I am talking to Tulsa County about the safety in the district. In regards to a possible roundabout somewhere near a round on Tranquil Road, you know, with properties to slow down the traffic, so they are interested in looking at where that can possibly go.
[0:21:02] Speaker 1 (D1): So we are in conversation about that. So are you aware that we had two incidents in this in September on Tranquil Road where cars have lost total control, speeding down there. They took our guy's mailbox by the, Or whatever, and then they ran into the townhouse, going towards Riverdale. All within a week and a half. I'm aware of the mailbox, but I'm not aware of the townhouse. So the townhouse is on the trail if you're coming, if you're going to Riverdale from Deerwood. It's on the pillow's old townhouse up the lake. Inside, I mean, took out the shed and swam into the townhouse where they had tow the people had tow the boat.
[0:21:51] Speaker 1 (D1): No longer able to say it. It is definitely a safety issue.
[0:21:54] Speaker 5 (D1): On Charles Road. To say the least, and it's been for quite some time. We just want to address that issue. But it is — it is an issue. I mean, people have lost their lives since I started those counts. Not only here, but here in Cleveland,
[0:22:09] Speaker 2 (D1): Also Charles Road, where someone was actually hit and killed by a vehicle crossing the street by the.
[0:22:15] Speaker 5 (D1): Same store that you're talking about. So traffic is a, Speed times speed and times don't matter. Placing officers out there is not really helping the problem, so we're going to have to do something a little bit different. Which is why we're thinking about around about another safety check, even a even a traffic light. Perhaps we're just trying to think of ways that can reduce accidents in our in our district, specifically on.
[0:22:50] Speaker 6 (D1): We're talking. We're talking. There's no place for them. Well.
[0:22:57] Speaker 5 (D1): I, I'm not even there, so that's why, that's why we're talking to Southside Department.
[0:23:02] Speaker 2 (D1): Of Transportation, cause that's what they do, and talking to kind of council, like getting the money to make sure it happens. So I'm letting the experts take care of it.
[0:23:11] Speaker 1 (D1): We're talking. I don't know why we're not getting money from all these construction people that are building all these schools.
[0:23:23] Speaker 1 (D2): And I believe the art charge comes from the government.
[0:23:27] Speaker 5 (D2): Tim. Very hard to have keys, but they're not necessarily.
[0:23:32] Speaker 5 (D1): Tim . There are impact fees, but they're not necessarily for infrastructure. The city, our own impact fees, don't really exist. So it's more water, sewer. Those are the types of, But we don't charge them in tax fees. So they're not looking. This is this is. So they're not paying enterprise fees. Not to the city. We collect it and we get distributed back to the utilities that charge us, such as water and sewer, etc. What about size lots when they when they build a new subdivision? That is a requirement of the zoning subdivision.
[0:24:18] Speaker 5 (D1): Regulations do require that sidewalks are installed on both sides of the street. The only time that that doesn't happen is if it's impractical to install that narrow right of way. Periodically, you know, gets denied. The streets aren't ours to control. SCDOT controls the vast majority of right of ways in the state of South Carolina, and Put a sidewalk in their right of way. It's generally their responsibility to maintain that sidewalk. Many times they will say no. If it's on a cross section that includes ditches, it would require the installation of pipes to make a sidewalk possible. They will say no. We do have within our ordinance a the ability to collect a fee and lieu of that sidewalk, and those sidewalk fees.
[0:25:17] Speaker 5 (D1): Can then be applied to places where it's necessary for the install. That was just recently reinstated, so there's not really funds that exist within that account as we speak. But over time, we'll have the ability to utilize those funds when we identify those areas that need sidewalks. As of right now, with the cost of construction being what it is. Is very difficult to get a significant stretch of sidewalk, so we have to work in conjunction with CDBG funds, Charleston County, etc., to implement our sidewalk plans. And we have worked for the past number of years with prior council members to identify locations for future sidewalks, so that there are plans in place to work through. But there's limited funding to address that, and as.
[0:26:16] Speaker 5 (D1): So, do you think that you guys absolutely have.
[0:26:18] Speaker 1 (D1): Spoken to DOT and they said no, or you're just saying that should be the process in the state?
[0:26:34] Speaker 5 (D1): They are required to contact and reach out and ask for an encroachment permit. There are instances where those get denied based on various reasons.
[0:26:44] Speaker 1 (D1): So, how do we find out? Or it's been denied or never submitted. I mean, just saying it should happen and not having documentation that proves it doesn't.
[0:26:53] Speaker 5 (D1): Have that documentation. And if it's denied, the developer is required to pay into the sidewalk fund. So you have that documentation? That's in the planning zone. Okay. Can you have that information available for for maintaining? I can see if that can be shared. Yes.
[0:27:16] Speaker 1 (D1): Yeah, Wouldn't.
[0:27:20] Speaker 5 (D2): Yeah, but it'd be nice to not cave for a FOIA. If we're here in good will to communicate with them,
[0:27:25] Speaker 2 (D2): They can bring us the documentation.
[0:27:30] Speaker 5 (D2): I have spoken with South China proper transportation. They have not told me, so there's not been a different conversation. But we're in communication without a delegation.
[0:27:40] Speaker 5 (D2): So I'm not saying no. I'm just saying I wasn't planning on coming back next month. But you can get the information.
[0:27:53] Speaker 5 (D2): That'll be great.
[0:27:56] Speaker 5 (D2): So, do we know that the D. O. T. is on traffic study of all that?
[0:28:00] Speaker 5 (D2): Is the D. O. T. on a traffic study of all that?
[0:28:04] Speaker 2 (D2): I'm sure they have. I know that I'm sure they have.
[0:28:09] Speaker 5 (D2): We have questions deep into the areas. I know that I'm trying to say. What road is that? Yes. I'm just wondering. I'm an ex-D. O. T. employee, and I've never seen. Yeah. I mean,
[0:28:26] Speaker 1 (D2): Just another thing, like money. You know,
[0:28:31] Speaker 1 (D2): We don't see it feasible to come into a transfer. I know some people want to do this,
[0:28:36] Speaker 1 (D2): Except that some of our yes,
[0:28:39] Speaker 1 (D2): But we have to collect the money. So we'll put some of our assets. That doesn't help our community at all.
[0:28:44] Speaker 5 (D2): And we've got to get the money.
[0:28:46] Speaker 1 (D2): We don't decide that we're going to send it out.
[0:29:08] Speaker 5 (D2): These are my conversations that are not these are my conversations that are not.
[0:29:14] Speaker 7 (D2): I can't see things.
[0:29:21] Speaker 2 (D1): Okay, and you don't call me. You don't have to wait till you get here.
[0:29:29] Speaker 5 (D1): You can call me and get me a call. Ask me questions or say whatever you need to say, and I can turn on my. All the time. All the time. If anyone's calling, all right. Questions go over. Something I think y'all going to be interested in from.
[0:29:46] Speaker 4 (D1): The UDO. I just happened to print out two copies with two hundred and forty.
[0:29:55] Speaker 2 (D1): Three pages, so it does take some reading and some digestion. Yes. So I am going to turn it over.
[0:30:07] Speaker 5 (D1): You are reading. I am going to take your left knee. So first, can everybody hear me? I can be loud. I need to be. I prefer not to.
[0:30:21] Speaker 5 (D1): All right. So, for those who don't know who I am, my name is Tim McCall, and I'm the director of planning and zoning for the city of Charles. We were asked by the leadership here to come in and do. Presentation on what the new site development entails. I'm assuming it might be the wrong thing to do. That some of you may have seen some of the videos and other various outreach, or you signed up and gone to northcharleston. com to take a look at the city's website as it relates to this project that we are currently working on. So, what brought us to the project? We know for fact.
[0:31:21] Speaker 5 (D1): By 2045, there will be another 270,000 people in this region—not necessarily here in North Charleston, but spread across the Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston County region. With probably a majority of that stretch concentrated here, what that means is there's going to be 140,000 jobs created for that 270,000 people. There are going to be 135,000 new commuters.
[0:31:51] Speaker 5 (D1): As well as 100,000 new households. So, what does that mean? That means we need tools to be able to manage that growth, and a unified development ordinance or an updated zoning ordinance is one tool that we need to have in our toolbox to be able to manage this growth and direct it in places where it belongs. On the other kind of addresses is you know most of the new residents are going to move in this general area.
[0:32:22] Speaker 5 (D1): We're not. It's the UDO is not going to cause the growth, but it'll give us tools to be able to address it. This ordinance will provide us with ways to deal with that growth for current residents as well as those future residents that are coming here. And again, we need ways to make the city strong. And this one tool that we will be able to utilize. This a direct result of multiple planning efforts that we've gone through over the years, including Pride North Charleston Housing for Future, Reality Check Two Point Zero, which is where a lot of those numbers that you just heard came out of, Lowcountry Rapid Transit, and the COB studies that they are currently working on. Those in Phase One and Two are working on Phase.
[0:33:19] Speaker 5 (D1): Right now, we are actively working on a Safe Streets for All study that is looking comprehensively across the city at our street network and ways to make it safer for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and anybody who's using those those roads. And what that does, we need a way to implement some of those ideas.
[0:33:48] Speaker 5 (D1): Plans that come out of our comprehensive plan, and UDO will be one of those tools that we use. A comprehensive plan is the community vision that articulates how the city wants to grow. We did a big push in 2020, and then we did a review in 2025. I actually did this, Jim, and talked to some of you who are not really that much involved. One of the recommendations about that compliance plan is the UDO. UDO is developing rules. It directs how development can occur, what types of development can occur, and where that development—not where, but tangible results—is developed. Kind of drop some of these. The UDO has someone you know has indicated.
[0:34:48] Speaker 5 (D1): It's not going to stop growth. You know, we're not going to stop the people who are coming. It's not going to provide funding for future developments. It's not going to override economic conditions. So, if there's an economic boom or an economic bust, that is not going to change. You know, New York is not going to change that. Those things are outside the control of the policy document.
[0:35:18] Speaker 5 (D2): So we've gone through multiple rounds.
[0:35:22] Speaker 5 (D2): We developed this framework, and as Brian Dunaway pointed out, the first module, which includes the districts and the uses, will be going live on Friday on OneMoreCharleston. com. You will be able to review that document. You'll be able to provide input on that document. We're bringing it out in three different modules.
[0:35:48] Speaker 5 (D2): First one, as I said, is open for public input Friday.
[0:35:54] Speaker 5 (D2): So we're hoping that people take the time to take a look at it and participate online. There are ways that you'll be able to submit the documents to the team as it relates to document delivery.
[0:36:09] Speaker 5 (D2): The next module will be in January.
[0:36:18] Speaker 5 (D2): Shortly thereafter, we'll have a final module, and then hopefully by July of 2027, we should have a final draft ready to be presented.
[0:36:31] Speaker 5 (D2): So there are a number of goals that came out of our conference and plan, and through those goals and community efforts, we're trying to implement those. We'll be having Teddy and the folks I work with. Support making sure that growth where it belongs and where it belongs sustainability of the facility growth promote eco development reduce flooding and stormwater management and the ways that we can cause development to improve the drainage as they come in.
[0:37:13] Speaker 5 (D2): Create opportunities such as development.
[0:37:17] Speaker 5 (D1): The council board is supposed to adopt to follow. Creates flexibility in where businesses and other things can develop in close proximity. So people aren't forced to drive. We heard a lot over the last couple of months. Kicked off in June. We have a number of, Public outreach events. Most recently, on October first, we had a public outreach event. We had a virtual event on October seven, doing some questions and answers. And when we get to the end of here, we're gonna we're gonna have some questions, and hopefully, you all will answer for us. That's the goal. So, again, you know, there's a lot of things that come out of this.
[0:38:15] Speaker 5 (D1): Comprehensive plan implementation is part of what we are supposed to do for identifying compatible land uses, housing choice affordability, and we all know for a fact that housing choice affordability is a major concern within the region. You know, housing prices have been exploding over the last you know six years, and many people are being priced out of their homes. One of the best ways to address that is to build more homes. Supply and demand does work. Contexts. Neighborhoods being able to make sure that the new houses that are going in are sensitive to the houses that exist in that neighborhood. We want to improve the quality of the built environment. We want to address resiliency and scalability, but we also want to provide for a predictable administrative process. Make sure that people know what the outcomes are going to be. So those are all parts and parts of.
[0:39:15] Speaker 5 (D1): So, if ever looked at a current zoning ordinance, it looks like page number one over here. It's a list of words, and it makes difficult for most average citizens to be able to interpret exactly what it is. It's also pyramid shaped, so it builds on itself. So, if it's allowed on one, it's allowed on two, it's allowed on three, so on and so forth. So. If it's not listed in that district, you have to go back and fight. It's very hard. Brother and I actually was allowed to do that, and also refers to other parts of the ordinance that makes it very difficult to keep that context appropriate. So, important aspect of cleaning that up, 50-year-old ordinance, cleaning that up, and just kind of get rid of that problem and replace it with a whole new one.
[0:40:14] Speaker 5 (D1): Limiting that those contacts, those connections, were lost. The new ordinance is going to look more like item number two here. So the intent is to have an ordinance that is more user friendly, more available to the general public to be able to use. As I said, to create some more administrative predictability, so that developers know exactly what to expect when they come in there. Read our ordinances and don't have to rely on staff interpretations. But what does that really mean? That is kind of what we're trying to do: is make sure that everybody is on the same page. A use table can be very useful in making it easier to determine. Say I have this property tonight; it's vacant, and I'm the owner.
[0:41:12] Speaker 5 (D1): I can go to the future use table, say, okay, in zone B T. What uses am I able to, permitted to build on that lot? And it makes a lot easier than having to go through 500 sections and try to determine. And having the call center staff and say, I really want to do a coffee shop on this lot. Can I do it? It's not clearly stated in the ordinance, and that's what we're trying to get.
[0:41:43] Speaker 5 (D1): Timeline: We are about there, a little bit further on than that. Module one, as I said, being released to the general public on November 16th, we will go live, and we're hoping that we get some good. Based on the comments today, hoping that we get some comments from this neighborhood.
[0:42:15] Speaker 5 (D1): So, as as I said, it's been a couple of districts. We're completely changing the style of zoning ordinance that we're using. We're not going to use pluvial zoning, which is just based on separation of uses. We're going to go to a land-based code in areas where it's appropriate. Transit-oriented, constant design elements implemented, and there's going to be more options. One of the biggest issues for housing is the fact that we have two flavors: we have small and large, and we think that there are a lot more options in between, just single-family or large-scale apartments. Recently, they've been called missing middle housing. Those are the duplexes, the townhomes, those things that fit into neighborhood-scale developments that look like single-family homes but operate as multiple units.
[0:43:14] Speaker 5 (D1): The ability to have those types of housing units built within existing neighborhoods will facilitate more units being built, which will something that we strongly believe is important to the health and strength of the city of North Charleston. Is everybody can find housing that fits into their budget. It makes life, So it is a priority for us to be able to make that happen. I do want to let you all know that we have implemented a new answer plan. We are going to be at Hornstock and Park Circle, to chat. It doesn't have to be about BDO issues. It can be about current zoning issues. It can be about other things going on within the city. Ask us some questions.
[0:44:13] Speaker 5 (D2): I believe I'm going to be there. Other issues,
[0:44:16] Speaker 5 (D2): I'm assuming.
[0:44:18] Speaker 5 (D2): They might come, but plan on being there to answer any questions the general public can do. Show up. We do have flyers over there. We are also doing for those who are on the morning people or coffee people.
[0:44:30] Speaker 5 (D2): Ask to plan their time.
[0:44:32] Speaker 5 (D2): We're going to be at the Central Road Library here on the 28th of October, and that'll be on the prows. So we hope to get some good turnout.
[0:44:47] Speaker 5 (D2): To road, we had a number of people show up, and some really, really good conversations about expectations as well as other various issues that are facing my parents on the standpoint.
[0:45:03] Speaker 5 (D2): If not, you can make those. There are other ways to contact my department. The best way to do it is at one more text dot com.
[0:45:12] Speaker 5 (D2): You can reach us at i w my department.
[0:45:20] Speaker 5 (D2): Talk at events such as this. Just make sure to slash it loose as good as it does, and we'll answer these questions as best we can. So again, this is going to be a question and answer situation.
[0:45:39] Speaker 5 (D2): We do have the lab here with us, probably a few others. Then our public engagement lead for the UDL project.
[0:45:49] Speaker 5 (D2): We put studio as primary piece of this project to put together a museum for New York City. So,
[0:46:00] Speaker 5 (D2): Tika, do you have anything that you want to say before I dive in?
[0:46:18] Speaker 2 (D1): Greetings, everybody. Greetings, everybody. Greetings.
[0:46:23] Speaker 7 (D1): So, we just talked about making it all awesome. This is the fun part. So, you heard Tim share all the things and updates about video, how it impacts you. Obviously, the business out there. We're having several mini meetings and opportunities for us to come back if we need to. If we have additional questions, but right now we're going to turn this into an opportunity for you to share your thoughts. So, and, The questions are also creating a way to reflect off of what's shared with you, and so and Jack is going to take notes. So, so you know that we heard you, and if for some reason we don't have an answer, we'll get back to you. Okay? Sound good? Okay. All right. So the first question is, what is most important to you when you consider future housing in existing neighborhoods? So I'm going to read through if documents accept the options here, and you let me know if anything stands out to you, like maybe.
[0:47:17] Speaker 7 (D1): Top three are the things that you want the city to consider. As not only thinking of this community, but when you think about the whole city of North Charleston, regardless of where we live, we still move through the north, the middle area, and the south area of the city. Regardless of how it is, it's going to impact us in some way. So you can think of it from a in your community, local, or you can think of it from the city as a whole. So, what is most important to you when you consider future housing? Affordable housing options, housing options at a range of price points, housing options that meet needs of people at stages of life. For example, young professionals, families, empty nesters, and seniors. Housing options that accommodate a variety of households: singles, roommates, families, multi-generational homes. The difference in the two of that is that if you're someone who lives, you know, you have your own or you're sharing.
[0:48:16] Speaker 7 (D1): So there's two different types here, and then thoughtful architectural design that complements the surrounding neighborhood that you currently live in, and then also building height and scale that are compatible with the surrounding context. Does anything come up for you when you think of this? Is what I want the city to focus on if they're going to focus on housing? Because at the end of the day, we know y'all are very blessed. Actually, Eontego used to live in this neighborhood. My daughter was like two. She's now. Almost 19. That gives you reference to how long that was. So you all have, you all live in a neighborhood where you have homes, and then obviously you have makeshifts at the beginning. But when you think about that, you understand our world is changing. We do need multiple, and as Tim has said before, we can't stop the growth, but we do need your feedback. Or if you have to in some way control that or try, these are some things we want you to consider.
[0:49:12] Speaker 7 (D1): When it comes to housing, so is there anything that stands out for you?
[0:49:57] Speaker 7 (D2): So what I'm hearing you say is that you understand growth is happening, you understand housing has to be very diverse. However, please consider the current value of the homes here and don't allow things that are going to devalue them.
[0:50:13] Speaker 2 (D2): Okay. Now that you said that,
[0:50:16] Speaker 5 (D2): Tim, what did you say about.
[0:50:23] Speaker 5 (D2): Well, there's a couple of different phrases that I threw out there. I talked about TOD, which is transportation-oriented design, which we would be targeting areas along those avenues, specifically the station areas that we'll identify for the overall project.
[0:50:48] Speaker 5 (D2): Those are areas that would be appropriate.
[0:50:51] Speaker 5 (D2): Denser or walkable neighborhoods,
[0:50:54] Speaker 5 (D2): And conversely, making sure that those neighborhoods that aren't within that radius are protected.
[0:51:03] Speaker 5 (D2): So, looking at massive scale, things that we can impose restrictions on,
[0:51:10] Speaker 5 (D2): So that we don't have a five-story apartment building next to a single-family home. There are ways that you can force development.
[0:51:21] Speaker 5 (D2): To create stepbacks so that it becomes more context sensitive.
[0:51:26] Speaker 5 (D1): If you are looking at infill development, and you look left, you look right, you have single-family homes on either side. It doesn't make sense to go vertical and have a huge house towering over the next. We we we take that to heart. And therein lies the problem with our current ordinance: is it's either single-family homes or multi-family homes, and, What we're trying to implement is a finer gradation that will allow us to be more contact sensitive, while still allowing for some density, some growth in neighborhoods that can handle it. What prevents that? What prevents that now? Because it sounds like you're trying to move towards we don't have any requirements. We have a height restriction in our what?
[0:52:26] Speaker 5 (D1): Yes, it's already in the document. I've already seen parts of it. It's it's in there. Right now, we don't restrict heights in single-family residential. So you own a house that's 18 feet tall, right? We have a ranch built 1956. Your neighbor sells out, decides to build a 42 foot tall house right next door, and there's nothing that the city can do about it because we. Don't have that restriction, so that is an important aspect of what we're trying to implement with the new zoning ordinance: to take character and context seriously, because there are concerned neighbors that understand that development's coming and we have it has to be compact. That's not what I'm talking about, sir. Okay, I'm talking about you're saying if you want to treat the mid-range.
[0:53:25] Speaker 5 (D1): The mid range. What's perming that? We need to use R two zoning. Are you going to come out and support R two zoning so that somebody can put townhouses or something else next door? That's the problem because we have to take into account what is allowed within an overall zoning district, so that if we want somebody to build duplexes.
[0:53:54] Speaker 5 (D1): But everybody knows that what's also possible within that district is a five-story apartment complex. It's unlikely it's going to happen on a single-family lot. I mean, they're not going to be able to accommodate that. However, it is a permitted use, and that is why we, as staff, will sometimes recommend denial, so it doesn't happen, so those duplexes don't get built, or the neighbors come out. A mass, and say no. We don't want that here because somebody could put apartments, whatever they are, you know, even though they might be needed in the neighborhood. And then, being responsible, the planning commission recommends denial, and city council then listens and denies that request. So then, those missing middle housing types do not get built.
[0:54:53] Speaker 5 (D1): Because it's no longer viable, because it can't get the zoning. So that's the answer for that.
[0:55:00] Speaker 1 (D1): Tim, how long have you been in that position in the year and now? Since 2024. Okay, so I've looked at 30 years, and I can promise you all the different meetings I've seen. Your office allow one zoning go from what's supposed to be a single family to a multi - family family. You guys, you guys repeat. In our community, where I'm not sure if you're familiar with our neighborhood, you guys have a lot—hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of townhouses, single-family, multifamily—in the past five years. In our community, over and over, it's just a matter of someone coming to your department and asking to switch it from one zoning to another, up and down Ortrand Road. Can I let me—I listen to you.
[0:55:51] Speaker 1 (D1): I look at 30 years. I want you to see the real enterprise up and down Old Central Road. Single-family homes in the past 30 years, you guys have allowed to turn into businesses. There's at least eight to 10 houses, and no community discussion. I walk up and down this neighborhood in the morning and at night, and I look for signs. And all of a sudden, that lady, that old lady, died, and now they are allowed to have a business over and over. In our community, so the things that you're talking about there, you guys have already taken over our community and allowed what's happening to happen. So to me, this was like putting a horse, you know, putting a carriage before the horse. You know, I understand this is just the standard, you know, hey, we come into the community and we do these powerpoints, but you guys have totally, totally got no infrastructure in our community and added all these hundreds and thousands of salamanders.
[0:56:50] Speaker 1 (D1): Old Toronto, Greenwood. I mean, Greenwood used to be nothing but woods when I moved here 30 years ago. I understand development. I went to the D.O.T. I went through a time period. I understand, but once upon a time there were requirements, there were infrastructures, but they had to come in and make the community better than it was. Now I don't know who's making the decision, but you say you're the head of planning, and and if you say you don't know about it, I don't know why you wouldn't know. If you're the director, you've been the director that long, but in the past.
[0:57:20] Speaker 1 (D2): Last five years, y'all have come and pissed on our community. So all this right here, y'all done what y'all can do in our community. This is going to affect other communities long term,
[0:57:29] Speaker 5 (D2): And that's just my right mind.
[0:57:33] Speaker 5 (D2): Sorry for that, but it's the truth.
[0:57:51] Speaker 5 (D2): Specifically,
[0:57:52] Speaker 5 (D2): Part of my parcel prior to remediation.
[0:57:57] Speaker 2 (D2): I can't. What year? How many years?
[0:58:03] Speaker 1 (D2): Two. Do you live in our community?
[0:58:04] Speaker 5 (D2): I do not. I'm still.
[0:58:07] Speaker 5 (D2): Happening in your community. I personally know my know my anyone is.
[0:58:19] Speaker 5 (D1): That's my personal outsider. I don't. I live in a community that doesn't have that, so I would embrace having that opportunity to have something close to my house that was safe for my children to walk to, to people to utilize so that they don't have to get in the car and go grocery shopping or go get. I have. I have a question. Do you ask? How I would feel about it. I'm not saying that I would impose that directly on all of you. I'm saying, you want what my view? How I would feel? Somebody develops something next to my neighborhood. I'd say thank you.
[0:59:03] Speaker 7 (D1): That was one question. One question. One question. One second, please. I want to create order because I also want to be conscious of y'all's time. I'm going to get to your question, but I want to explain this process because I think if y'all hold this for a second, we have a space for that. So I don't want. The questions would be all over the place. I really want to be as organized and conscious of y'all's time as possible. It's already almost full, so if y'all don't mind, please don't. I'm not saying that I don't want to hear your questions. Just I want to do it for an organized fashion. If y'all don't mind, because y'all also we already lost some people, so if we can just if you can answer this regard, right.
[0:59:42] Speaker 5 (D1): That's fine. Right. Is my concern with the transitional zone or variations in variability?
[0:59:52] Speaker 7 (D1): Right. What I'm saying is that we're not because I'm questioning for what? Right. No, I've seen a lot. But what I'm saying is that I'm not believing that. But I'd like to do it in an organized style. So you asked us.
[1:00:05] Speaker 5 (D1): To to talk about these bullet points. Right. And it's honored it's honored for us to commit to bullet points when there is missing concern for what the.
[1:00:12] Speaker 7 (D1): Community really. Okay. So that other other, but what? But for this question, we have a couple more, and I don't want to lose anybody. So, if it's not there, and you feel like it's important for future housing, to this, to this. So we're looking at what types of homes. I understand what you were saying. Hopefully, all the speakers, but housing. If we can focus just housing at this moment, is there anything else you'd like to add, or what you you or don't want to see the types of housing that you want us to add to this piece?
[1:00:46] Speaker 7 (D1): Anything else? Okay.
[1:00:47] Speaker 2 (D1): Okay. Okay. Okay.
[1:01:14] Speaker 5 (D2): Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
[1:01:34] Speaker 5 (D2): I just want to make sure we made it.
[1:01:36] Speaker 7 (D2): So Tim said it's so single family, but it's a different size. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Got it.
[1:01:43] Speaker 5 (D2): Got it. Okay. We made it. Thank you. Yeah. And that's very important. Okay.
[1:01:50] Speaker 7 (D2): Where do you see opportunities for future housing? Now that doesn't have to be here. If you feel like we don't want no more, you know, then you can say that. But if there's any. Other places in North Charleston, y'all say,
[1:02:07] Speaker 7 (D2): "Build no there, build no there." Please don't build it more here. Or you'll say, "Our neighborhood, that area is okay to build.
[1:02:33] Speaker 2 (D2): Just waiting to see what's going to be important. Oh, and we got that animal completely across the way, and that's going to force this type of culture and environment,
[1:02:48] Speaker 5 (D2): But environment is no longer.
[1:02:51] Speaker 2 (D2): It is, but it's going to.
[1:02:59] Speaker 2 (D1): This building, you're taking down the trees and our backyard wood. No matter how many times we have to sit and complain and protest with that dead wood, the word never seems to be heard more clearly. It's not all the homes that need to be saved, and the firewood. I say no.
[1:03:36] Speaker 5 (D2): And from that.
[1:03:38] Speaker 5 (D1): And From that, we've identified projects. We have projects that they actually back, and there it always comes down to and being able to make those. We are aware.
[1:04:17] Speaker 5 (D2): You're the first time.
[1:04:18] Speaker 2 (D2): Why do you allow? He said, Not you. Why does love allow loss?
[1:04:29] Speaker 5 (D1): You're The first. Wow! Okay, that was just a little bit of wetting and starting to get the water to start to get in there.
[1:05:09] Speaker 5 (D1): That on its own, because that's just a little lie. But I'm telling you, to the end, take a right. There's a whole other view. They built now, some of them will sell, but the resale knows what ended up being here before that. You got housing now. I mean, if somebody would take a look at before, this is not.
[1:05:42] Speaker 5 (D1): I just drive. I just don't build Anything.
[1:06:11] Speaker 2 (D1): So , If you raise your tax, the minimum requirement for those payments next to increase to stop the.
[1:06:31] Speaker 5 (D1): Three deals. Rule number one: Don't let them catch you in a trap. And the other responsibility. When did the movement? So, when the monetized farm are offices in the areas that are designated as traditional neighborhood development in the company's plan, those areas can go down to forty-five dollars. That is to have big lots in existing prior operations. Many of those lots in.
[1:07:15] Speaker 5 (D1): Southland City Union High, etc. They were all developed and planned legally prior to the incorporation of the city, and they were incorporated into the city when the city was incorporated in 1972. So we had to accommodate those existing subdivisions. That is why you have those areas.
[1:07:46] Speaker 5 (D2): They're allowed to go down to 45 months old because they're predated.
[1:07:54] Speaker 2 (D2): So new bills, you can pick it back up on that. Well,
[1:07:58] Speaker 5 (D2): yes. If they're existing moms, they'll what?
[1:08:03] Speaker 5 (D2): Out here, lots that were previously vacant. Some of those big lots. Those should be. And I can't speak to each lot individually.
[1:08:16] Speaker 5 (D1): It should be what? Six thousand square feet. I can't say this one is six thousand. This one is, you know, eight thousand. I'm saying those are what the requirements are. I cannot speak to specifics. Every single acre that is, I don't keep that in my mind. So what's between our.
[1:08:48] Speaker 5 (D1): Like there's a whole day which is R1 zoning that allows mobile homes, and that is permitted in certain areas that are designated by council and neighbors to allow that zoning. There's R3, there's mobile home. That doesn't exist and doesn't get assigned very often unless you have three acres. We don't use that one. Whatever is existing R3.
[1:09:21] Speaker 5 (D2): Minimum R two. R two is where your multifamily,
[1:09:26] Speaker 5 (D2): Which includes duplexes,
[1:09:28] Speaker 5 (D2): Townhomes, the garden apartments, and large scale.
[1:09:36] Speaker 5 (D2): That's what we work with. We have to solve for it, and I think that that's where we struggle right now.
[1:09:48] Speaker 2 (D2): Where do you propose them then?
[1:09:51] Speaker 5 (D2): Okay. So we're one dot.
[1:09:53] Speaker 2 (D2): This is the one.
[1:09:54] Speaker 5 (D2): That will have more flexibility and openness.
[1:09:56] Speaker 2 (D2): Is it like a one dot two, one dot four?
[1:09:59] Speaker 7 (D2): I want to go to the slide that you had where you broke down what it would look like across. Like there was that diagram.
[1:10:16] Speaker 5 (D2): Yeah,
[1:10:18] Speaker 5 (D1): So. It's kind of covered up here, but we can see there are house scale neighborhoods, neighborhood scale, community scale, and there are multiple gradations within. So each, so R H A R H T R H C R H C. So it gives us the ability to apply the zoning fine grain, so that you're not getting the department.
[1:10:50] Speaker 5 (D2): That's what we're trying to do, and there's going to be a little bit different than what we've been working with the last. Okay. So that's probably the safest way to say it. But the last 50 years has resulted in a lot.
[1:11:25] Speaker 5 (D1): The way that we currently operate. Who drove here alone? We're all tied. We contribute to it every day when we go to and from work. Being able to have options for people who want to, where they work, so that maybe they can walk or ride a bike. It's something that we think is a viable and important part of development. We've been missing, and that is for us to implement for the next 50 years of development.
[1:12:23] Speaker 2 (D1): Maybe something you're saying you would like, you know, for things to be accessible, like you know, somewhere.
[1:12:35] Speaker 5 (D1): But it also can actually have sidebars,
[1:12:38] Speaker 8 (D1): Like the other stuff that we were talking about. Yes. And there is some type of thing that you can do to prevent that.
[1:12:54] Speaker 5 (D1): And That should be all. But the song that I'm not going to say that. I'm not going to say that. What I can say is it's legally difficult to deny.
[1:13:25] Speaker 5 (D1): The state of South Carolina prevents local municipalities from requiring encumbrance. We can't say no. You have to build that first, because the state has the authority. So we have to do our best to accommodate that, to prove that we do that. If a new development generates more than, Daily average trips at peak hours. They have to do a traffic study. That traffic study is done by engineers that we keep on the team. So they're not paid by the developer. They're paid by the city. Well, they're paid by the developer through the city, but we keep them on the team so that when they come up, they're looking at, from the city's perspective, not necessarily.
[1:14:24] Speaker 5 (D1): To keep it as cheap as possible, it identifies ways to mitigate some of the traffic that is generated by development. Is it infallible? Is it perfect? Does it always do the job? No, it doesn't. I can't stand up here and say, "Yeah, it's working." We do a nice job. It doesn't always work. We also can't build new land.
[1:14:54] Speaker 5 (D1): You build another lane, people come to fill the choice. So we're lucky in fact. Yeah, so you can't build right. Not very well right now with what we currently have. And this is one thought. It's a completely different thing. Like there's a lot of stuff here to talk about.
[1:15:23] Speaker 5 (D1): That is the definition. That's what and intent is. Part of their provisions and this that will protect us from destruction of data. It is an issue that we've identified that we need to address. But y'all have. There, there is a section in here. They are defined.
[1:15:53] Speaker 5 (D1): What most people are most concerned about are the giants. I didn't hear about all. Is there one we can land now? Not that we know of. None on town at a time. We have no permits. We have no applications. We have nothing in the system as of right now for a new bill for 16 megawatt that goes up to 128 megawatt.
[1:16:23] Speaker 5 (D1): There's nothing in our system as we speak today. I tried.
[1:16:28] Speaker 6 (D1): To look and find my specific name and position. Is it broken down like that? Have you broken it down?
[1:16:43] Speaker 5 (D1): It's not in our system. So we have maps.
[1:16:50] Speaker 5 (D2): Where is that? I know. And that show ideas of what you think could happen in each district. We spent a lot of time defining character areas,
[1:17:02] Speaker 5 (D2): Looking at the city as to how it's developed over the last 50 years, and what we've done is mapped those character areas out,
[1:17:13] Speaker 5 (D2): And we utilize that as we go through the process.
[1:17:21] Speaker 5 (D2): So right now we're just looking at the districts and uses to keep that that conversation separate.
[1:17:30] Speaker 5 (D2): To make sure that the types of districts and the types of uses where they're allowed make sense before we start applying it. It's going to create some a little bit of disconnect.
[1:17:43] Speaker 5 (D2): It's hard for me too to look at just this in isolation and not go.
[1:17:52] Speaker 5 (D2): Or how are we going to map this? What's the appropriate location for that? But I'm doing the same thing you all are doing as I review this.
[1:18:02] Speaker 5 (D1): So I I do the same thing. I want.
[1:18:07] Speaker 7 (D1): To add to your question and ask. So if you sign up for the, if you put your email down, we will add you. We you will be invited to that. So we invite you. So one of the things I should say is that I think sometimes people feel like if we come to a meeting, they don't need to come to a public meeting. Like oh, I don't need to come to that. They already came. But there, this does fill the gap in between the meetings. So that January meeting is going to be very important. That's the next touchpoint for the public meeting for exactly what you just asked that Tim said. So we are like, come come now. This the time to look at it, get feedback. So that is open to the public for you to give your thoughts to for anybody here. So just want to make sure you do that. Nothing is done until everything is like. This the next time for the community to give feedback. This the next time. So everything, and then in between, we try to get to as many meetings we can to let people know what's happening.
[1:19:01] Speaker 7 (D1): I'm gonna take an adjustment for those, but normally what I would have, I just want to say this because the walls are too far back. So I would have my chart paper out and I would be writing out responses. I'm gonna be slowly writing out responses, and you can see what is being said. So we did get your note. I got my note. I know Dad got some too. So the next question is: As North Charleston plans for the future. What you see as the most important opportunity for the city or the areas you know best over the next ten years? So when you think of not right now, I mean, I know y'all listen. These are our concerns right now. But if you can think of the future in ten years out, what do you want them to consider? And what do you think is like the most important thing? Like in ten years, we want to see this, or ten years, we don't want to see that. Like, what would you, if you could think out?
[1:19:56] Speaker 7 (D1): And obviously, that's a lot. I know. I was like thinking of 10 years, but more green space.
[1:20:02] Speaker 8 (D1): Because I'm sorry. More green space. More green space. And less traffic. And less. I.
[1:20:09] Speaker 7 (D1): Heard more green space,
[1:20:15] Speaker 8 (D1): Less traffic. And some method for people that are in the backside of the neighborhood to get up to the frontside neighborhood to get to bus stops. Right now, there's nothing. I mean, it makes it's ludicrous to me to put a bus route in from coming from Somerville down Latson and all the way downtown. But who's going to walk from anywhere.
[1:20:39] Speaker 3 (D1): From the new development?
[1:20:42] Speaker 8 (D1): Yeah, to the rivers. Who's who's going to walk? The sidewalks isn't even sidewalks isn't even the issue. It's it's it's you have a whole lot of other stuff. You know, he. It's too far. There's too transportation. There's people in various stages of life, medical issues, etc., etc. I walk here this this evening. I'm one of the few, and the other lady over there, I see her walking all the time, also. But what about everybody else? Now, I do have a kind of a, an example. In the Philippines, when I used to live in the.
[1:21:24] Speaker 8 (D1): Neighborhoods, they had tricycles, Honda nineties with a little sidecar on there. You get on there and you just wave to a guy and he comes over and gets you, gives you a couple of pesos. He takes you up to MacArthur Highway, and then you could take a jeepney or you could go to the Mangayte Bay, so you could take a jeepney wherever, or you can catch a bus to go to Manila or Baguio City or wherever. But they had these, they had some kind of transportation. Now you could do golf carts. I don't know. I'm just putting out there.
[1:21:51] Speaker 5 (D1): Other mobility.
[1:21:55] Speaker 5 (D1): Computers, electronics, those kinds of things are being utilized by by those who may not be digital, and those are things that we need to account for. We don't misunderstand when I say we know that our pedestrian infrastructure is fine, and we know that we need to add more of this. However. It's something that takes time. It does take time, and we're working through that. And it's it's here. It's outside. It's you know in the middle part. It's all parts of the city need the group meetings. We're on all city. You know, and there are things that it takes time for us to implement those.
[1:22:56] Speaker 5 (D1): We're going to prioritize those areas that we need most. So we're doing our best to implement those studies, toxic sites, and implement the infrastructure and those recommendations that come out. I'm part of the Safety for All site that's looking at the safety of our road network, our pedestrian network, etc. There's a whole lot there. I invested Austin.
[1:23:31] Speaker 5 (D1): State of South Carolina, and in the top ten, it needs to be addressed. Things have been implemented on an LED-driven basis. You know that's designed to provide safety for pedestrians and for drivers and people that keep the traffic moving. The concept of a priority lane.
[1:24:02] Speaker 5 (D1): That is inherently dangerous. It's called suicide in many movies, you know. And so, therein lies the problem. We have to weigh convenience for safety, and those are things that, in time, hopefully, as we implement those changes, people will get used to them. However, we also kind of build a bunch of businesses that actually start to evolve the medium because it's not.
[1:24:33] Speaker 5 (D1): That was the that was dot. I'm just saying when when it got there was a bunch of things that happened. Yeah. Yeah. It's the way things go. It happens. Because of how certain areas got turned around, some certain areas did. All the lawyers' buildings got turned. There were lawyers kind of got screwed because there's a couple of strip mall sections.
[1:25:04] Speaker 5 (D1): I'll work on the cross gallery. Yeah, I have to go down that way. I and I understand, and and that part of the purpose in it. I we're not uncomfortable. I'm not here to be uncomfortable in front of all of you because I'm. You know.
[1:25:35] Speaker 5 (D2): Because I did force CF. Why is this? I have been doing a lot of interaction.
[1:25:47] Speaker 5 (D2): Worked on myself. Worked on how I do this. Try to listen before I speak.
[1:25:53] Speaker 5 (D2): I know that sometimes I get ready,
[1:25:57] Speaker 5 (D2): But I'm not doing it to speak over anybody.
[1:26:00] Speaker 5 (D2): I am listening, and we do want to hear from you. So if there are ideas that seem crazy,
[1:26:16] Speaker 5 (D2): Someplace else, you know, maybe we can learn something that was here,
[1:26:21] Speaker 5 (D2): That mirrors that option that was available wherever it was.
[1:26:27] Speaker 5 (D2): Those are things that those are crazy options that maybe aren't as crazy as somebody might think, and there are ways that we can make things better by looking at how things.
[1:26:53] Speaker 7 (D2): What challenges or concerns should the city address to help ensure future growth strengthens the quality of life for current and future residents? So when you think of the challenges or concerns, here's our areas. This is the space that I was telling you about. It's intentional. The questions are intentional. But if there are anything that comes up that you want the city to Make sure that the challenges are concerns.
[1:27:21] Speaker 7 (D2): So when you think of the future city, here's the things that are coming up for us. You know,
[1:27:26] Speaker 7 (D2): Here's our concerns for not only us, and I like to say like generations and future generations. And you know, when my daughter's older and her,
[1:27:33] Speaker 5 (D2): And she's older and older,
[1:27:34] Speaker 7 (D2): You know, and Perkins, what do you want to think about? If you could think about, if you could tell the city, or you could say, my voice was heard years ago, and they, I see that change. I was a part of that.
[1:27:46] Speaker 7 (D2): What would you like the city to consider when it comes to challenging new zones?
[1:27:50] Speaker 7 (D2): Implementing an impact fee for large development.
[1:27:54] Speaker 5 (D2): Implement an impact fee for large developments that benefits the communities that are being impacted.
[1:28:04] Speaker 9 (D2): Any development,
[1:28:05] Speaker 5 (D2): Not just large. Okay. Yeah.
[1:28:08] Speaker 9 (D2): I don't want to see that cow pasture down there turn into seven thousand homes.
[1:28:13] Speaker 2 (D2): The cows are kind of fun.
[1:28:15] Speaker 9 (D2): Yeah, but one day they won't be.
[1:28:16] Speaker 5 (D2): I know.
[1:28:19] Speaker 9 (D2): I don't want to deal with the small little neighborhoods that y'all are building on the edge of our neighborhood with overpopulated houses that don't have parking spaces and they block the roads by parking in the street.
[1:28:36] Speaker 9 (D1): We can't fit a fire truck down the street, and it'll take that happening to make a change. Which one?
[1:28:44] Speaker 7 (D1): I said a lot. I don't want to see.
[1:28:57] Speaker 9 (D1): Overpopulated areas. Like these tiny houses that they built over off of Tranco and Deerwood in the, Forty something that they're going to build on the other corner across from that. I don't want to see a hundred cars parked in the street. If they're going to build houses there, they should mimic our neighborhood with larger lots and big enough parking in the driveway.
[1:29:21] Speaker 8 (D1): We don't use the driveways now. They're parked in the grass. They are a lot.
[1:29:28] Speaker 9 (D1): Not in my yard though.
[1:29:30] Speaker 8 (D1): Not in my yard either. I got four damn garages. A couple airplanes. I used to have airplanes.
[1:29:37] Speaker 9 (D1): Oh, you got rid of them.
[1:29:40] Speaker 8 (D1): I actually got six garages, two hundred two each. Dang! What?
[1:29:46] Speaker 10 (D1): Garages for putting.
[1:29:53] Speaker 8 (D1): Stuff in. Cars, trucks, boats.
[1:30:41] Speaker 1 (D2): You know, one,
[1:30:43] Speaker 1 (D2): A lot.
[1:30:45] Speaker 5 (D2): You know, we got at the beginning of Greenwood.
[1:30:50] Speaker 5 (D2): We got, you know, we got there already.
[1:30:54] Speaker 5 (D2): Because we,
[1:30:56] Speaker 5 (D2): Because we heard at first that that new one there at Deerwood and Franklin was going to be lovely.
[1:31:18] Speaker 5 (D2): But we also can.
[1:31:49] Speaker 5 (D1): We can get those things, and allow people to live in mixed-income areas. That is what is going to last. We concentrate poverty in one spot. Study after study, experiment after experiment, has shown that every single time you do that, you isolate those people, it brings.
[1:32:30] Speaker 5 (D2): So that you can get to the grocery store and purchase food for the people who live in your house. Maybe you have to have a couple of permits to make that happen, and that is a very real reality for more people in this city than most folks realize. More than 51% of the households in this city.
[1:33:01] Speaker 5 (D2): By their rent, they pay more than one third of their income to cover their housing costs, which leaves them less to feed their families,
[1:33:12] Speaker 5 (D2): Pay their insurance,
[1:33:14] Speaker 5 (D2): And do the other things that they have to do to live and be comfortable. So we do need to provide those housing options for everybody.
[1:33:26] Speaker 5 (D2): I understand.
[1:33:33] Speaker 5 (D2): And it is not the intent for us to cause.
[1:33:38] Speaker 5 (D2): In the best of our language,
[1:33:39] Speaker 5 (D2): We want people to have options.
[1:33:43] Speaker 5 (D2): We want people to feel like they are, you know, their needs.
[1:33:48] Speaker 5 (D2): But we.
[1:34:25] Speaker 2 (D1): 嗯。
[1:34:55] Speaker 2 (D1): So roots that are like internal, approaching with a new ring, like a small, harder thing, where I'm on a living part of us. Um, there.
[1:35:32] Speaker 6 (D1): Very well. I'm just kind of trying to kind of communicate my intentions. It doesn't take much to get it out. Just when you all commit.
[1:35:58] Speaker 5 (D2): Don't consider putting things in and deep down in our homes as trash,
[1:36:05] Speaker 5 (D2): And then the infrastructure for future growth.
[1:36:09] Speaker 2 (D2): It's just got.
[1:36:15] Speaker 6 (D1): So dangerous. My kids can't leave my neighborhood. We were in Northridge, safe for over ten years, and I couldn't allow my kids to play on the street in front of us. So we just moved right here, at the point, on a cul-de-sac where I'm the house and my kids come to me, and I love that. That is something we have invested in now for our future. We can't leave my neighborhood. It's not allowed.
[1:37:10] Speaker 2 (D2): Going forward, we build whatever three acres of wooded area,
[1:37:15] Speaker 2 (D2): And then clear, and I'll deal with the right hand side. And they stack in nice,
[1:37:27] Speaker 8 (D1): Very Hard driveway, and the houses close to the lot. The point is, the lot size is too small, much too small. Is.
[1:37:38] Speaker 2 (D1): There any way that the man can make a requirement for this limited space, because because the building?
[1:37:58] Speaker 5 (D1): So , Can you please help me with setbacks? No, I understand what you're saying. And the larger.
[1:38:29] Speaker 5 (D1): The moral landscape, and there are different ways that there are different approaches to address some of those concerns, and to address and you know right now occupancy requirements.
[1:38:59] Speaker 5 (D1): So there's a lot of stuff that kind of makes it different on larger plots and subdivisions. You have to provide the road that the houses are in. You know, you need minimum lotside from the street.
[1:39:33] Speaker 5 (D1): Still meet each dormer requirements. Need to meet the parking. So there are requirements that they might not meet your expectations. You would like to see for that area right now, but that's what we're here to discuss. What?
[1:40:19] Speaker 7 (D1): Okay So I'm. So Richard is about to. I don't know if I remember. You know. He got. He got the band out and kicked them.
[1:40:29] Speaker 5 (D1): And took us off the stage. So. So I don't want to take.
[1:40:37] Speaker 2 (D1): Any more of her time. I do urge every one of y'all to go in, read the 243 pages. Okay. Never.
[1:40:48] Speaker 5 (D1): Mind. Okay.
[1:40:52] Speaker 8 (D1): Oh, in comics. Seventeen. They're going to be up.
[1:40:58] Speaker 7 (D1): At the Prattville Library. Okay. There's some.
[1:41:04] Speaker 7 (D1): So there's a flyer at the table if you want to take a photo of it, and then also here's the information, phone number, email for us.
[1:41:12] Speaker 2 (D1): Write down your questions and then come back on the 20th. Again, if you didn't sign up, make sure that you do.
[1:41:22] Speaker 8 (D1): I guess I'll see you tomorrow night.