West Ashley Revitalization Commission
Regular MeetingCharleston, SC · June 13, 2018
Minutes
West Ashley Revitalization Commission
June 13, 2018
A meeting of the West Ashley Revitalization Commission was held this date the Town and Country Inn
and Suites, 2008 Savannah Highway.
Notice of this meeting was sent to all local news media.
Present
Councilmember Peter Shahid, Chair, John deStephano, Chairman, St. Andrews PSD, Justin Ferira, Harry
Gregorie, Diane Hamilton, Michael Miller, County Councilmember Brantley Moody, Jimmy Palassis,
Charles Smith, Mayor John J. Tecklenburg, Councilmember Marvin Wagner and Jonathan Zucker.
STAFF: Mandi Herring, Operations Manager, Jason Kronsberg, Director, Department of Parks, and
Christopher Morgan, Planning Director.
Chair Shahid called the meeting to order and stated there was no quorum present. There was information
received and no action was taken. The Plan West Ashley Workgroups held their breakout sessions prior
to the presence of a quorum.
The meeting opened at 6:45 p.m. with a quorum of members present.
Report from Workgroups
Green Infrastructure & Sustainability– Jonathan Zucker
Mr. Zucker said they reemphasized the notes they discussed at the previous meeting. One point they
wanted to add was from the original top ten was working with the City to increase the budget for the
inspection, operation and the maintenance of the drainage infrastructure. They wanted to elaborate on
some of those items in talking about leveraging concerned citizens to help maintain neighborhood
association drainage facilities and trying to get property owners to work to streamline their reporting
mechanisms.
Mr. Zucker said they also discussed the new citizen support center that would be going online soon for
the City. While that would be a great resource for the effort, they also needed the tools, hopefully and
publically, to be able to show the location of drainage issues or specific areas that neighborhoods should
pay attention to on some on sort of interactive map on the internet.
They also spoke at length about an awareness campaign and the importance of being responsible
citizens in relation to drainage such as not putting lawn clippings and brush over the fence in “no man’s
land” that end up in drainage facilities where it clogs and blocks, and can take years to impact. Mr. Zucker
noted they have found televisions, shopping carts and bowling balls in drainage pipes.
Much of the discussion centered around maintaining the current facilities before they got into what the
new green sustainable infrastructure systems looked like for the future. Mr. Zucker noted they had a big
opportunity to be able to identify those many unknown drainage facilities located on old borough land or in
areas where there weren’t existing drainage easements to do a better job maintaining them by involving
citizenry as the workforce.
They revisited the issue regarding plastics, plastic bags, Styrofoam, and single use things that end up in
the drainage facilities clogging them up since they don’t degrade.
Chair Shahid said the Sustainability Advisory Committee was meeting tomorrow, Thursday, June 14 at 11
a.m. One of the issues on the agenda was plastic bags. He asked if the Commission members had any
questions for Mr. Zucker’s presentation.
Ms. Hamilton said her question was directed to Mayor Tecklenburg and the City Councilmembers. She
said they mentioned they needed to have their ideas being put into the budget. She asked what was the
deadline and the proper procedure for the budget.
Mayor Tecklenburg said the summer was a good time to put a request in to the appropriate department.
He noted Ms. Herring should be able to help direct which department the request should go through as
the departments were working on their budgets for next year. The budget wouldn’t be approved by City
West Ashley Revitalization Commission
June 13, 2018 Page 2
Council until late November or December. He said they would like to have all of the requests in by
September. The requests would be considered but they might not be funded.
Economic Development - Justin Ferira
Mr. Ferira said they discussed a few themes and goals similar to what they discussed at the last meeting:
1. Look at fueling growth where it made sense – Redeveloping decaying nodes and corridors, and
incentivizing the right types of growth there through density to woo the private sector there. More thought
should be given for those areas where growth was less needed targeting smart growth and proper uses
while making sure they were more careful and judicious there. It would serve as a sustaining balance.
No one disagreed that an abandoned 12-acre asphalt lot on a corridor that they hoped to revitalized for
commerce could become something more grand than 12-acres of asphalt creating water runoff problems
for the neighbor. Mr. Ferira said they could all dream in different ways of what could be there. They
weren’t going to pick the winners or losers. They were going to set density opportunities and hope the
right eco-system came there. For those places where sprawl and flooding was occurring, they would be
thinking longer and harder about what could and should go there both through targeted zoning and
wooing growth back to the dead places that would take the pressure and provide a safety valve to the
outer areas being stressed.
2. Recruiting commerce and creating jobs – Mr. Ferira said part of that was a special focus on an
office development. They thought there should be within the density a certain type or special incentives
for office because one of the main statistics that stuck out for everyone was 84% of the residents living in
West Ashley worked somewhere else. He thought they should solve that because that’s not ideal and by
solving that you would be partially solving congestion and trip count issues as well. They thought this had
an element of fixing the corridors in transportation but they didn’t get too much into it because there was a
whole other transportation category.
Mr. Ferira commented all of the grand ideas they had required city ordinances and grant partnerships. But
they also thought that prior to doing that or in conjunction with doing that there’s a key need to come up
with a brand of what is West Ashley. There were two parts of Charleston – one of which where it was OK
for there to be a different brand, different competitive advantages espoused and they were trying to
recruit individuals who are going to reside, buy homes, and who especially wanted to come to work.
Mount Pleasant had closed its doors to commerce symbolically by raising its impact fee. Downtown was
expensive. There was a competitive advantage for West Ashley to take advantage of at this time and they
were trying to move commerce. He thought there needed to be a specific table created to compare West
Ashley to North Charleston, Downtown, and Mount Pleasant so investors could see that while it won’t
always be the best, they would clearly see why there were some great things here and why they should
come here. Beyond that no one on the Commission thought they knew what the right message should be
but there had to be a goal, which could be office, livability or jobs.
Mr. Ferira commented Chair Shahid said one time that West Ashley was the birthplace of Charleston and
he thought this was so right. Charleston got the benefit of their downtown and got the benefit of being
seen as the historic epicenter and the history started in West Ashley. He felt there was the ability to steal
some of the thunder of the history and tourism. There was also a carte blanche, blank slate opportunity to
woo commerce here as well. While he didn’t know what the message was, there wasn’t one right now and
they have the opportunity to create it.
Mayor Tecklenburg asked Mr. Ferira if he wanted to suggest they hire someone to help define that
message. While this might cost some money it seemed to be the next logical step.
Chair Shahid thought that was right in that the whole idea of what they were talking about was if this had
such an impact on development, office spaces and job opportunities, it would have a triple impact on
traffic and transportation.
Mr. Zucker said in reference to marketing, it went back to something Mr. Ferira said about a year ago
about beautifying our entry ways. It wasn’t just West Ashley. When you first came off I-26 on Meeting
Street you’re downtown in Charleston suddenly but there was nothing welcoming about it. There was the
same issue coming off at the Cosgrove bridge or coming in from Savannah Highway through Ravenel or
Red Top, and suddenly you’re in Charleston but there was nothing to welcome you. There was nothing to
West Ashley Revitalization Commission
June 13, 2018 Page 3
make people living in West Ashley proud of being Charlestonians. He thought this was a particular
opportunity to have both of those areas and then anything building a sense of identity around West
Ashley. In order for any of this to happen there needed to be a brand and image, and they needed to
implement it physically in the world so when people came over the bridge from North Charleston there
would be brick gateway welcoming you to West Ashley. There really wasn’t a sign saying “Welcome to
Charleston” and “West Ashley” should be on top of the sign.
Mr. Ferira noted when you’re coming from the airport and North Charleston announced itself, you get to
where you either go right to the Cosgrove bridge or go downtown. Neither one of them announced
themselves but the big green signs indicated you could to downtown or you could go to Savannah. He felt
it was like a parent that looked past the child. It wasn’t that it was a bad name, it was silence. He didn’t
think West Ashley needed to be considered under Charleston for anything other than elections and
taxations. It was OK for West Ashley to have its own identity.
Chair Shahid said they should emphasize that West Ashley was the birthplace of South Carolina more
and that should be the sign. He said they had three other areas they had not addressed – Community
Design and Land Use, Transportation and Housing. At the July meeting they would meet in conjunction
with a listening session for the planning of the old Piggly Wiggly site. He asked the Commission members
would they prefer to have a listening session or a workshop at the July 11th Commission meeting. He felt
that was too much to chew at that point since they were dealing with Piggly Wiggly site. He suggested
they break down into three groups at the August meeting and cover those remaining chapters. So at the
July meeting they will address the Piggly Wiggly site at the listening session and they would break down
into three groups to address Community Design and Land Use, Transportation and Housing at the August
meeting.
Chair Shahid noted Mayor Tecklenburg and Mr. Miller were present, and that they have a quorum. He
added Mr. Miller was the nominee for Register of Deeds and congratulated him. He called for a motion to
approve the May 9th minutes.
Mr. Gregorie moved approval of the minutes. Mr. Zucker seconded the motion.
The minutes were approved unanimously.
Public Comment Period
Chair Shahid asked that those who wished to speak to state their name, address, and to limit their
comments to one minute.
Dale Arron of Edgewater Park said to Ms. Herring before the Farmer’s Market and the WARC there was a
marketing firm that did a West Ashley ID and branding. They spoke about it years ago when they first
started have a West Ashley coffee club. She said there was a starting point where that was done. They
had some good messaging and an overall definition of what the identity of West Ashley was. She wanted
to offer that as a starting point and asked them to take a look at it to see if it still held true.
Mayor Tecklenburg asked Ms. Arron if she had it. Ms. Arron said she did.
Ann Jenkins of Northbridge Terrace said while she liked the branding and marketing idea, she wanted to
open it up to having the branding and marketing done by locals as there was a question about hiring
someone from off.
In reference to drainage and engineering, Ms. Jenkins said she understood there was a possibility that if
the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and engineering said this wouldn’t drain
unless you raise or grade, or add more land 3 to 5 feet up it won’t drain. At some point, the person who
was paying to have this building put in could say they didn’t want to build that high or put in the extra
money sure to make sure it drained. She wanted to have transparency on anyone that was doing any
building from the engineers, drainage and SCDOT to state this needed to be done and you can’t skimp on
that.
William Hamilton of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit said while he was at Citadel Mall on Monday
morning he was struck by how much lower their bus ridership was than it was three years ago. This was
dangerous because CARTA will cut you bus routes if people aren’t riding your buses. He said it was
West Ashley Revitalization Commission
June 13, 2018 Page 4
critical to get park and ride working, getting the stops up to speed, and making sure your community were
riding the buses.
Mr. Hamilton said his organization had prepared a plan for improving one of the bus routes and the work
needed to be done to make it work. He said if they wanted something better, CARTA would be working
on its budget this summer. The next CARTA meeting was 1:00 p.m., June 20 at the Lonnie Hamilton
Building. He said they had people coming from Lincolnville, James Island and Mount Pleasant demanding
better bus service. CARTA gave $11 million dollars away for road projects. He said they promised people
better transit when they voted and it was a promise that needed to be kept. There was $1.5 billion for
road projects in the half penny sales tax and $600 million of it was for transit.
Sherry Irwin of West Ashley questioned if they intended to put tolls on Highway 17 at some point. In one
of the work group discussions, she noted a gentleman stated they needed to “cough up” the easement.
She asked what he meant by that.
Mr. Gregorie said he thought the gentleman was referring to having a database readily identify whether
the easement was utility, drainage or transportation right-of-way.
Ms. Irwin said they shouldn’t have to lose your property for an easement.
Mr. Gregorie said he wasn’t referring to losing property. It was identifying what already existed.
Ms. Irwin questioned why was more density good as it seemed to her it brought in more people and more
crime. She also asked how affordable housing worked. Was it 10% or 20% when they build something
and was the taxpayer pay for all of that or does the builder help pay for all of that.
Katie Zimmerman of 45 Sycamore Avenue and executive director of Charleston Moves said she wanted
to emphasize the list of projects that were discussed on today’s agenda were exciting and were going to
be big game changers. She wanted to make sure in all of the projects staff had already incurred from her
ad nauseum to help with, they were considering level of service for not just vehicle traffic but for people
on bikes, foot and buses. It was vital because this was how the study designed where they would be able
to make the safe spaces that would connect with and enhance the network. If they were going address
traffic congestion in this county, quality of life, fitness, affordable housing access and food access, they
had a huge opportunity through this list today.
Chair Shahid thanked everyone for their input and questions.
Other Business
Chair Shahid asked Mr. Hamilton what was the time for the CARTA meeting on June 20.
Mr. Hamilton said CARTA will meet at 1 p.m. at the Lonnie Hamilton Building. The Tri-County Coalition
will meet at 11:00 a.m., June 20 at North Charleston City Hall.
Chair Shahid said the US 17 Corridor Projection Study public meeting will be held 5:30 p.m. through 7:30
p.m. at the Citadel.
The Listening Sessions for the Piggly Wiggly site will be held July 10 and July 11.
The next WARC meeting will be held July 11 at a location to be determined. There will be no workshops
at the July 11 meeting. The workshops will be held at the August 8 meeting.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
Marcia L. Grant
Council Secretary
Agenda
City of Charleston
JOHN J. TECKLENBURG
MAYOR
WEST ASHLEY REVITALIZATION COMMISSION
NOTICE OF MEETING
The regular meeting of the West Ashley Revitalization Commission will be held at 5:30 p.m, June 13,
2018 at Town & Country Inn and Suites, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407.
AGENDA
1. Welcome & Call to Order Chairman, Councilmember Peter Shahid
2. West Ashley Greenway & Bikeway City Staff/Charleston Parks Conservancy
Community Design Workshop Recap
3. US 17 Corridor Congestion Study Public Meeting City Staff
4. Northbridge Piggly Wiggly City Staff
Community Input Session
5. Approval of Minutes from May 9, 2018
6. Plan West Ashley Workgroups (break-out session) Chairman Shahid
a. Economic Development
b. Green Infrastructure & Sustainability
7. Report from Workgroups Commission Members
8. Public Comment Period
9. Other Business
10. Adjournment Chairman Shahid
The next West Ashley Revitalization Commission meeting will be take place at 5:30 p.m., on
Wednesday, July 11, 2017. The location will be announced at a later date.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, people who need alternative formats, ASL (American
Sign Language) Interpretation or other accommodation please contact Janet Schumacher at (843) 577-1389
or email to schumacherj@charleston-sc.gov three business days prior to the meeting.
P.O. Box 652, Charleston, South Carolina 29402 843-577-6970
The West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway are linear parks located on former railroad beds, linking
neighborhoods between the Stono and Ashley Rivers, running a total of 10.5 miles. In July 2016, The
Speedwell Foundation, an organization supporting several Charleston area park projects, pledged
$100,000 to dramatically improve the West Ashley Greenway and West Ashley Bikeway.
From June 4th to 7th 2018, the Charleston Parks and the City of Charleston hosted the West Ashley
Greenway & Bikeway Community Design Workshop for the public to help shape future improvements of
the Greenway and Bikeway. The week began with the Kickoff & Community Design Forum for the public
to attend and share their ideas for the two parks with a team of park designers from Alta Planning and
Design; Dover, Kohl & Partners; Horsley Witten Group; and R&R Studios.
The forum was followed by two days of open studio hours to allow for further public questions and input
while the design team worked on the items identified in the public meetings. The West Ashley Greenway
& Bikeway Community Design Workshop concluded with a work-in-progress presentation by the park
designers based on the input they had received from the Charleston community.
Presentations can be reviewed here: https://www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/renovation/west-
ashley-greenway-bikeway-renovation
The next step for this project will be to work to create a final draft of the master plan for the West Ashley
Greenway & Bikeway to present to the City of Charleston in the fall of 2018.
If you have any questions please email planning@charlestonparksconservancy.org
Charleston, South Carolina
WEST ASHLEY GREENWAY/ BIKEWAY
MASTER PLAN
W O R K I N P R O G R E S S P R E S E N T A T I O N | J U N E 7 TH 2 0 1 8
WEST ASHLEY REVITALIZATION COMMISSION
Plan West Ashley Implementation
May 9, 2018 Meeting Notes (draft)
WARC members reviewed Plan West Ashley implementation recommendations that they
previously prioritized. Items below were discussed at the May 9th and discussion will
continue June 13th. WARC members will review implementation recommendations and
discussion items and work to further refine actions items.
Green Infrastructure & Sustainability Workgroup Report
• Expand the Keep Charleston Beautiful office through staff and support to make it
more active
• Develop a toolkit survey for neighborhood associations to assess their drainage
issues in their various neighborhoods
• Review the City Code to make sure it supported green infrastructure.
• Support a ban on plastic bag use. It was noted that bags and other trash often
clogged drainage facilities.
Economic Development Workgroup Report
Two themes:
1. Fuel growth where it make sense. Rejuvenate dead nodes and employ smarter
growth techniques in the outer areas of West Ashley with appropriate targeted uses.
2. Job creation for pre-commerce.
Address these by:
• Enabling the private sector to accomplish the above through incentives and not
mandates
• Developing a competitive advantage pitch relative to peer municipalities
• Making sure the “table is set” for success. Improve City processes to run more
efficiently for investment, redevelopment and collaboration.
PLAN WEST ASHLEY IMPLEMENTATION*
Community Design & Land Use (WARC "Top 10")
Recommended Actions: Policies / Studies
Matrix # Plan Chapter Description Time frame
4 COMM DESIGN & Establish a joint City/County Design Review Board for key commercial corridors Immediate
LAND USE
5 COMM DESIGN & Establish a West Ashley Community Brand & Identity Committee: organize private clean up efforts (keep Immediate
LAND USE West Ashley beautiful)
6 COMM DESIGN & Pursue neighborhood preservation Immediate
LAND USE
7 The City and County should develop community engagement strategies to Immediate
improve communication, education, and participation for residents around locally important community
ALL
design & land use, transportation, green
infrastructure & sustainability, housing, and economic development issues
39 COMM DESIGN & Draft and adopt mixed-use regulatory standards and incentives to replace and modernize existing zoning, to Near-Term
LAND USE guide new development on commercial corridors, entryways, and other focused priority progress areas (2 – 5 years)
40 COMM DESIGN & West Ashley Community Brand & Identity Committee: work to improve West Ashley’s image and community Near-Term
LAND USE perception, celebrate history and culture
41 COMM DESIGN & West Ashley Community Brand & Identity Committee: implement entry signage, lighting, beautification Near-Term
LAND USE efforts
42 COMM DESIGN & Improve/beautify West Ashley gateways with appropriate signage and landscaping Near-Term
LAND USE
Recommended Actions: Physical Improvements / Projects
Matrix # Plan Chapter Description Time frame
132 COMM DESIGN & Enhance and beautify West Ashley gateways with appropriate signage and Near-Term
LAND USE landscaping. Gateway entries are along Savannah Hwy, Ashley River Rd, Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Old Towne (2 – 5 years)
Rd, St. Andrews Blvd, and Folly Rd Blvd.
155 COMM DESIGN & Add streetscaping (landscaping, appropriately scaled lighting, sidewalks, curb and gutter, mast arms, etc.) Longer-Term
LAND USE along key commercial corridors such as Savannah Hwy, Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Folly Rd, Old Towne Rd, St. (5 yrs–
Andrews Blvd, Ashley River Rd. ongoing)
* For complete implementation matrix see Plan West Ashley full report.
1
PLAN WEST ASHLEY IMPLEMENTATION*
Transportation (WARC "Top 10")
Recommended Actions: Policies / Studies
Matrix # Plan Chapter Description Time frame
7 The City and County should develop community engagement strategies to Immediate
improve communication, education, and participation for residents around locally important community
ALL
design & land use, transportation, green
infrastructure & sustainability, housing, and economic development issues
44 TRANSPORTATION Complete a Regional Transit Feasibility Study and Regional Transit Framework Plan. Near-Term
(2 – 5 years)
101 TRANSPORTATION Complete a District-wide Traffic Management Study Longer-Term
Recommended Actions: Physical Improvements / Projects
Plan Chapter Description Time frame
119 TRANSPORTATION Install bus stop improvements: benches, signage, shelters Immediate
(first 2 years)
120 TRANSPORTATION Implement St. Andrews Blvd. shuttle circulator service Immediate
121 Conduct a data driven feasibility study to determine the viability of a private water taxi service to connect Immediate
TRANSPORTATION West Ashley to the Charleston peninsula. If
warranted, initiate an RFP process for the water taxi provider.
122 TRANSPORTATION Provide enhanced high visibility pedestrian and bicycle crossings on St. Andrews Blvd for the West Ashley Immediate
Bikeway
124 TRANSPORTATION Install crosswalks where they are missing at all signalized intersections Immediate
126 Reduce speed limits and provide traffic calming on streets with a demonstrated Immediate
TRANSPORTATION safety problems. (Prioritize Savannah Highway, Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Old Towne, and St Andrews Blvd.)
127 TRANSPORTATION Optimize traffic signal timing, update on annual or biannual intervals Immediate
133 TRANSPORTATION Support the installation of sidewalks and/or shared use paths throughout West Ashley along streets where Near-Term
sidewalks currently do not exist
134 TRANSPORTATION Implement Charleston County 1/2 cent sales tax transportation projects Near-Term
139 TRANSPORTATION Connect West Ashley Greenway to West Ashley Bikeway at Wappoo Rd Near-Term
142 Implement express bus service to Boeing/Airport/Leeds Avenue Near-Term
TRANSPORTATION
145 TRANSPORTATION Install adaptive controls for real-time adjustments to traffic signal timing Near-Term
146 TRANSPORTATION Reconfigure intersection of 5th Avenue at St Andrews Blvd Near-Term
156 TRANSPORTATION I-526 Completion Longer-Term
158 TRANSPORTATION Glenn McConnell Parkway Widening + Shared Use Path Longer-Term
TRANSPORTATION Intersection improvements at Sam Rittenberg Boulevard/Ashley River Road, Savannah Highway/Carolina
Bay Drive, and Ashley River Road/St. Andrews
159 Boulevard and Old Towne Road to resolve vehicle operational and safety issues while enhancing the ability of Longer-Term
the intersections to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists
160 TRANSPORTATION Support the installation of sidewalks and/or shared use paths throughout West Ashley along streets where Longer-Term
sidewalks currently do not exist
* For complete implementation matrix see Plan West Ashley full report.
2
PLAN WEST ASHLEY IMPLEMENTATION*
Green Infrastructures & Sustainability (WARC "Top 10")
Recommended Actions: Policies / Studies
Plan Chapter Description Time frame
7 ALL The City and County should develop community engagement strategies to Immediate
improve communication, education, and participation for residents around locally important community
design & land use, transportation, green
infrastructure & sustainability, housing, and economic development issues
15 GREEN INFRA & Raise community awareness of sensitive environmental concerns, green infrastructure, and open space Immediate
SUSTAINABILITY preservation
52 GREEN INFRA & Increase budget for inspection, operation, and maintenance of drainage infrastructure Near-Term
SUSTAINABILITY
103 GREEN INFRA & Incorporate resiliency, sea level rise considerations, and adaptive design Longer-Term
SUSTAINABILITY strategies into long-range infrastructure/transportation planning and policy
109 GREEN INFRA & Enhance connections between the West Ashley Greenway, Bikeway, and adjacent neighborhoods - including Longer-Term
SUSTAINABILITY the Peninsula and Johns Island
Recommended Actions: Physical Improvements / Projects
Plan Chapter Description Time frame
128 GREEN INFRA & Integrate neighborhood scale flood control with traditional stormwater management improvements as well as Immediate
SUSTAINABILITY Lowcountry appropriate green
infrastructure practices and undergrounding of utilities into upcoming infrastructure investments
130 GREEN INFRA & Perform a storm drainage system inventory (including condition assessment) and maintenance schedule with Immediate
SUSTAINABILITY cooperation between the City, County and SCDOT.
Cross train City staff to recognize and report blocked drains or other drainage issues requiring maintenance
131 GREEN INFRA & Plant trees Immediate
SUSTAINABILITY
148 GREEN INFRA & Implement flood control and drainage improvements with traditional stormwater management techniques Near-Term
SUSTAINABILITY coupled with green infrastructure practices
151 GREEN INFRA & Increase wetland preservation/restoration and floodplain management as part of West Ashley Circle Near-Term
SUSTAINABILITY development
152 GREEN INFRA & Implement the findings of the Church Creek and Du/Wap Drainage Studies Near-Term
SUSTAINABILITY
161 GREEN INFRA & Partner with the Citadel Mall to construct pilot depaving, wetlands enhancement, and floodplain Longer-Term
SUSTAINABILITY improvements
162 GREEN INFRA & Fund undergrounding of overhead utilities as part of redevelopment and streetscape improvements Longer-Term
SUSTAINABILITY
163 GREEN INFRA & Build a "Water Smart Park" with green infrastructure as part of Circle neighborhood development Longer-Term
SUSTAINABILITY
164 GREEN INFRA & Pursue the "Tiger Swamp Canal Walk" as part of neighborhood scale Citadel Mall, Sam Rittenberg, and I-526 Longer-Term
SUSTAINABILITY extension transportation planning and drainage infrastructure improvements
* For complete implementation matrix see Plan West Ashley full report.
3
PLAN WEST ASHLEY IMPLEMENTATION*
Housing (WARC "Top 10")
Recommended Actions: Policies / Studies
Matrix Plan Chapter Description Time frame
#
7 ALL The City and County should develop community engagement strategies to Immediate
improve communication, education, and participation for residents around locally important community
design & land use, transportation, green infrastructure & sustainability, housing, and economic development
issues.
20-a HOUSING With public input, elected officials should explore changes to state enabling Immediate
law and city ordinances to allow for incentivized affordable housing programs.
Develop local voluntary incentive programs that encourage developments to
incorporate affordable and workforce housing. Explore potential for incentives such as real estate tax
abatement, density bonuses, height bonuses or other mechanisms that incentivize developers to voluntarily
include levels of affordable housing.
20-b HOUSING Adjust zoning and land development regulations to further support development of affordable housing, Immediate
including prioritizing and incentivizing affordable housing, streamlining and expediting the review and
approval process for affordable housing, and enabling staff level approvals for affordable housing.
20 HOUSING With public input, elected officials should explore changes to state enabling Immediate
law and city ordinances to allow for incentivized affordable housing programs.
Develop local voluntary incentive programs that encourage developments to
incorporate affordable and workforce housing. Explore potential for incentives such as real estate tax
abatement, density bonuses, height bonuses or other
mechanisms that incentivize developers to voluntarily include levels of affordable housing.
22 HOUSING Expand application of Mixed-Use Workforce Housing zoning districts, and pursue modifications to increase Immediate
the program’s effectiveness
26 HOUSING Explore the potential to offer expedited review of townhome and multifamily Immediate
housing projects in locations where such housing is allowed by right, particularly targeted to infill locations
that already have the infrastructure to support
additional housing
71 HOUSING Inventory all land currently owned by a public agency, determine if any Near-Term
properties could be used for housing in the future, and prioritize these sites for subsidized income-restricted
housing development.
76 HOUSING Identify and preserve historic community assets and character in West Ashley Near-Term
110 HOUSING Enhance capacity to grow income-restricted subsidized affordable housing by increasing public land Longer-Term
purchases and pursuing development/land banking via the Community Land Trust and collaboration with (5
third-party non-profit affordable housing developers yrs–ongoing)
111 HOUSING Complete detailed assessments of key issues, affordability needs, unique demographic and physical Longer-Term
characteristics and appropriate housing options of individual neighborhoods
112 HOUSING Target development and retention of mixed-income and affordable housing to locations in close proximity to Longer-Term
community amenities and transportation
Recommended Actions: Physical Improvements / Projects
Matrix # Plan Chapter Description Time frame
* For complete implementation matrix see Plan West Ashley full report.
4
PLAN WEST ASHLEY IMPLEMENTATION*
Economic Development (WARC "Top 10")
Recommended Actions: Policies / Studies
Plan Chapter Description Time frame
7 ALL The City and County should develop community engagement strategies to Immediate
improve communication, education, and participation for residents around locally important community
design & land use, transportation, green infrastructure & sustainability, housing, and economic development
issues.
29 ECONOMIC Develop specific goals for targeting industries and business activities for growth in West Ashley, and refine Immediate
DEVELOPMENT strategies for achieving these goals.
30 ECONOMIC Promote West Ashley’s specific strengths through the region’s economic development promotional materials Immediate
DEVELOPMENT and networks (first 2 years)
36 ECONOMIC As appropriate, allow flexible conversion or redevelopment of retail and other commercial properties to other Immediate
DEVELOPMENT uses
37 ECONOMIC Ensure zoning in outer West Ashley requires/incentivizes location of community shopping centers or Immediate
DEVELOPMENT commercial buildings near new housing
83 ECONOMIC Establish a new incentivized redevelopment zone designation to encourage the revitalization of underutilized Near-Term
DEVELOPMENT sites.
87 ECONOMIC Pursue the creation of a business incubator targeted to tech start-ups and small businesses Near-Term
DEVELOPMENT
89 ECONOMIC Consider opportunities to locate City offices/facilities within the new “town center” Near-Term
DEVELOPMENT
114 ECONOMIC Map business assets and infrastructure in West Ashley to identify areas better positioned for private Longer-Term
DEVELOPMENT investment versus areas requiring upgrades.
115 ECONOMIC Explore the introduction of a business license fee reduction as an incentive for investment in West Ashley Longer-Term
DEVELOPMENT
116 ECONOMIC Direct proceeds of the West Ashley Redevelopment Project Area and TIF District to construct supportive Longer-Term
DEVELOPMENT public improvements within the Citadel Mall area
118 ECONOMIC Examine potential to establish additional TIF districts at mixed-use nodes and office growth locations Longer-Term
DEVELOPMENT identified in Plan West Ashley
Recommended Actions: Physical Improvements / Projects
Plan Chapter Description Time frame
166 ECONOMIC Provide convenient pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile access between housing and shopping opportunities Longer-Term
DEVELOPMENT in outer West Ashley
* For complete implementation matrix see Plan West Ashley full report.
5
WEST ASHLEY REVITALIZATION COMMISSION
May 9, 2018
A meeting of the West Ashley Revitalization Commission was held this date at Town & Country Inn and
Suites, 2008 Savannah Highway.
Notice of this meeting was sent to all local news media.
PRESENT
Councilmember Peter Shahid, Chair, Justin Ferira, Harry Gregorie, Diane Hamilton, Donna Jacobs, John
Osborne, Jimmy Palassis, Amy Riley, Charles Smith, Councilmember Marvin Wagner and Jonathan
Zucker. STAFF: Mandi Herring, West Ashley Project Coordinator, Christopher Morgan, Planning Director.
Approval of Minutes from March 14, 2018 and April 11, 2018
Councilman Moody moved for approval of the minutes from March 14, 2018 and April 11, 2018. Mr.
deStephano seconded the motion.
The minutes were approved unanimously.
Chair Shahid said the Commission received a recognition from Historic Charleston Foundation. It was the
Robert N.S. and Patti Foos Whitelaw Founders Award that was received on the behalf of the West Ashley
Revitalization Commission. Ms. Herring, Mr. Morgan, Ms. Jacobs and Mr. Smith were present at the
ceremony.
Chair Shahid read into the record a letter received by the Commission from the Historic Charleston
Foundation:
“The Whitelaw Award recognizes individuals, groups or government entities for
the long term protection and preservation of important buildings and places, as
well as those involved with preservation advocacy. We believe that the hard
work and community engagement by the West Ashley Revitalization
Commission will make a positive difference for West Ashley and the entire City
of Charleston as this plan is implemented in the coming years.”
He congratulated and thanked the Commission members for their hard work and appreciated what they
had done.
Chair Shahid noted there was a flyer from the West Ashley Farmer’s Market. It was from April 25 through
October 3, 3 p.m. through 7 p.m. He asked them to patronize the Farmer’s Market.
There were several events during Piccolo Spoleto taking place West Ashley. Chair Shahid said he would
send an email of specific events, times and places. This was a big push by West Ashley City Council
representatives, particularly Councilmember Bill Moody. He asked the Commission to patronize these
Piccolo events.
For those who liked to run, walk or exercise, Chair Shahid said encouraged them to participate in the
Charlestowne Landing Race the Landing Series. It was a 5k walk or run held during the summer.
Chair Shahid said Harry Lesesne would speak to the Commission about what was going on with the
bikeway and greenway.
Mr. Lesesne of the Charleston Parks Conservancy said their offices were in West Ashley adjacent to
Magnolia Park, which they helped to create. They were shifting their focus to the West Ashley Greenway
and Bikeway. On June 4, they will kick off a four-day charrette/ design workshop with a public meeting at
the Schoolhouse, 720 Magnolia Road in the afternoon. On June 7, they will have another public meeting
in the afternoon to conclude the charrette and will have smaller meetings throughout the week with the
Commission members and other members of the community. The idea of what they were trying to was to
take what was already a great asset, the West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway, and make it even better –
improve the street crossings, install things that enhanced what was already there and make it better.
West Ashley Revitalization Commission
May 9, 2018 Page 2
What they found was that it wasn’t just West Ashley people that use the greenway and bikeway but it was
people all over the region.
Mr. Lesesne said he would love for all of the Commission members to participate in the process. They
would be publicizing it throughout the community. He thanked Chair Shahid for giving him the opportunity
to speak.
Chair Shahid said one of the things he spoke to Mr. Lesesne about was if was possible for the
Commission to participate in a workshop dedicated to just the Commission members. He said they would
get more information and input when they met as a community of commissioners, sitting down and
coming up with ideas, questions and suggestions, and it helped with their planning process. He asked if
the Commission members would be willing to dedicate one day, June 4. He asked Mr. Lesesne what
would be the time on June 4.
Mr. Lesesne said the public meeting would be in the afternoon. They could schedule around the
Commission’s schedule and they could meet on June 5 or June 6.
Chair Shahid asked the Commission members to look at their calendars. He would send out an email to
see what would be the most convenient date for those who were interested in attending this charrette. He
felt it was vitally important and something they should take ownership of and involvement.
West Ashley Development Projects Map (update) City Staff
Mr. Morgan said the map was representative of all the projects from the list the Commission reviewed last
month in more detail. The map incorporated the drainage basins.
Recap of April 11th Meeting and Implementation (“Top 10”)
Chair Shahid said at the April 11 meeting the Commission reviewed the results of a survey regarding their
top 10 and examined what they liked the most about the implementations of the study. They went through
what they called “the low fruit” that they could get started implementing certain portions of the plan. At the
meeting, they received the preferences of the Commission members of which of the chapters –
transportation, community design and land use, green infrastructure, economic development, housing –
on which categories they wanted to serve. The Commission decided they would breakdown into the
economic development and green infrastructure and sustainability portions of the study today to identify
and work on how to implement those top 10 issues they identified that they wanted to undertake.
Chair Shahid indicated there were two tables where they would breakdown into groups. Mr. Palassis, Mr.
de Stephano, Mr. Ferira, Ms. Riley, Councilman Moody and Mayor Tecklenburg agreed to serve on
economic development. Mr. Zucker, Mayor Tecklenburg and Mr. deStephano agreed to serve on green
infrastructure and sustainability. Members of the community were invited to help facilitate the discussions.
He said they had two tools to work with – the list of the top 10 and the map of the projects, and the
various chapters to use as a guide to identify and how to implement these particular projects.
Chair Shahid asked Mr. Palassis, Mr. deStephano, Mr. Ferira, Ms. Riley and Councilman Moody to sit at
the economic development table. He said he, Mr. Zucker, Mr. Gregorie, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Smith and the
remainder of the Commission would go to the green infrastructure table.
Chair Shahid said after they completed the breakdown, they will come back as group to discuss what they
want to have of their working group division.
The Commission broke into workgroups at 5:55 p.m. and reconvened at 6:50 p.m.
Report from Workgroups Commission Members
Green Infrastructure and Sustainability – Ms. Bleecker
Ms. Bleecker said their four actions items were (1) they supported the ban on plastic bag use in the City,
County and State, (2) expand the Keep Charleston Beautiful office through staff and support to make it
more active, (3) develop a toolkit survey for neighborhood associations to assess their drainage issues in
their various neighborhoods, (4) she reviewed the City Code to make sure it supported green
infrastructure.
Economic Development - Mr. Ferira
West Ashley Revitalization Commission
May 9, 2018 Page 3
Mr. Ferira said the two themes they wanted to choose were (1) fueling growth where it made sense in
certain ways so rejuvenation of the dead nodes and smart growth of the outer parts of appropriate
targeted uses and (2) job creation for pre-commerce. They solved these in three different ways: (1)
incentivization of the private sector accomplishing those through incentives and not mandates, (2) they
wanted to come up with a competitive advantage pitch and if the competitive advantage doesn’t exist, to
tweak so that it does so they could pitch to relative to peer municipalities, (3) make sure the “table was
set” for when they have success to get people to pay attention and have the “table set”, that was having
the process run efficiently such that development and investigation gears were met with collaboration and
help, and not obfuscation and delays.
Chair Shahid thanked Mr. Palassis for the use of the facility for the meeting. He also thanked the City and
County staff, and community facilitators who helped with the two discussion groups during the breakout
sessions. Since they didn’t cover all of the 10 items, he asked the Commission members if they needed
to follow up more with economic development and green infrastructure, were they ready to take up
transportation, housing and community design and land use at the June meeting, or did they need to
come back and spend more time on economic development and green infrastructure.
Councilman Moody commented since these were the hottest topics why leave them until they got
something in motion? Do they present to City Council? They have action items so who was going to enact
those action items?
Mr. Gregorie suggested they vote to continue with this at the next meeting.
Mr. deStephano said they got started broad and whittled it down out to a dull point into a sharp point. He
thought one more session would make that happen.
Ms. Bleecker suggested they do it again.
Mr. Gregorie said the Commission members had homework to do on some issues that he thought they
could come to the next meeting more prepared to contribute after they do some investigating.
Ms. Herring felt that was a great idea. She thought if they were able to take that plan by Mr. Ferira and
tried to figure out what their next steps as a Commission would help move this along. Staff was dedicated
to what they do so there was not a lot of extra time to take on drainage projects right now. Any way the
Commission could assist the City and County with a little bit of homework would be greatly appreciated.
She felt that was a way they would educate themselves and educate the staff as well. She said to get the
word out to the community that this was what they were doing.
Chair Shahid concluded they would come back and fine tune green infrastructure and economic
development discussions next month. He announced Ms. Jacobs wouldn’t be at the next meeting as she
was appointed to the Planning Commission. He thanked her for all of her work.
Ms. Jacobs said she planned to be at the next meeting. She felt the action items here went straight to the
Planning Commission.
Public Comment Period
Sherry Irwin said at a meeting a few months Ms. Herring there were plans for every square inch of West
Ashley and the plan to build 10,000 apartments in West Ashley. She asked if they intend to eminent
domain people’s property in West Ashley.
Mr. Smith said they don’t have that power to do that.
Ms. Irwin said she knew they didn’t but they were being told to do that and there was no place to build.
Chair Shahid said no one had said there was a plan to build 10,000 apartments West Ashley.
Ms. Irwin asked if they intended to eminent domain people’s property.
Chair Shahid said no.
Chris Bluemel of Northbridge said one thing he didn’t hear in the economic development group was the
quality of life of the residents of West Ashley. He kept hearing about high density housing, mass transit
and everything else that goes with that, and a nice façade for the Piggly Wiggly. He wasn’t really hearing
West Ashley Revitalization Commission
May 9, 2018 Page 4
about community interest of why people were moving to Cane Bay but not to West Ashley. They were
leaving Mount Pleasant but they weren’t coming necessarily coming here. They proposed, and another
group proposed, a fine arts center, specifically for the Piggly Wiggly space. He didn’t hear any of that
conversation about the quality of life for the residents who already live here and that was who their
primary concern was. One would be a community arts center that served everybody in the West Ashley
area, which would draw in money and would be a fund raiser for the City and the West Ashley area.
Mr. Bluemel said he knew the Mayor and Councilmember Shahid had two different proposals on a fine
arts center just for that one property and that would actually legitimize them not wanting to go downtown
all the time.
Chair Shahid thanked Mr. Bluemel and said they would continue that discussion.
Mr. Zucker questioned wasn’t Charleston Stage was opening a theater in West Ashley so that was an
option.
Chair Shahid said Charleston Stage was opening a 127 seat auditorium that would be operating at the
end of the year.
Barry Whalen said he dropped in on both tables because he wanted to see how the flow of ideas would
go between the two and whether or not they would intersect. They didn’t quite intersect but they were
closer towards the middle which he hoped would happen in future meetings.
The green infrastructure table had a lot of important things they wanted to accomplish. Those things had
to be integrated in a financially reasonable manner so they won’t lose other things that they had been
wanting here, like affordable housing and other initiatives, and he thought that would come along. He was
encouraged the idea that it actually got to that point where he was almost seeing that consideration and
had been hearing the idea to integrate somethings like green infrastructure consideration from the
beginning in an organized manner would help to bring results along that had less destruction by the time
they come to the finish line for things that could ease traffic to do some reviews on. The consultants came
up with the idea on the green infrastructure near term improvements that they had instead of being
immediate for the increased budget for inspection operations and maintenance of drainage infrastructure.
He said they were going to have storms in a couple of months that typically come with the season. He
thought that was something that needed to be closer to near term. Ms. Herring provided them budgets
coming down in June. The idea that there was some flexibility with this and with that consideration, he
thought they could continue to get more added results, which he felt confident would happen.
Mr. Morgan said the City had approved the contract to demolish the Northbridge Piggly Wiggly and there
would be an event there called the “Kick Off” at the demolition. It would be held May 29 at 10:30 a.m. He
said they would get the Commission the final information on that.
A ground breaking ceremony for 7 affordable housing homes in the Ashleyville/Maryville would be held
12:00 p.m., Friday, May 18 at 915 Sycamore Avenue.
Ms. Jacobs added on the same day of the ground breaking for the affordable house was the ground
breaking for Stono Park Elementary at 10:00 a.m.
Chair Shahid said the Mayor would like the Commission to be involved in a listening session on what to
do with Northbridge Piggly Wiggly site.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Marcia L. Grant
Council Secretary