Over the next few weeks, we will be installing new flowers at the front entrance and redesigning selected pine straw beds to include more sod and reduce our spend on pine straw. The spring pine straw installation will take place after the sparkle washing is complete in mid-May. We will also be undertaking improvements to the curb appeal, primarily in areas most visible to the entire community.

We would like to thank those of you who are sprucing up for spring by refreshing your container gardens and hanging baskets. Please contact Jeannie Champlin with Island Realty (jeannie@islandrealty.com) with specific requests for landscape changes or with any concerns. As always, we welcome and appreciate your input. We do ask that you do not address the workers with Forever Green directly as they have specific tasks to accomplish each week. Also, please be reminded that homeowners should refrain from trimming, planting or removing landscape materials without prior approval from the Committee. For more information on landscape guidelines, please visit our page on the Marais website at http://maraispoa.org/?page_id=251.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and support and we wish you a great summer!

Sincerely,

Marais Landscaping Committee (Nancy McNeill & Barbara Johnson) &
Jeannie Champlin, Association Manager

To date, members of the board and several residents attended six meetings to discuss the proposed development’s impact on traffic. These meetings included the Planning and Development Committee, Town Council and a 90-minute working session with the Town of Mount Pleasant directors for Planning, Traffic and Engineering.

In our last communications to residents, we reported the Planning and Development Committee, on March 2, amended the resolution to approve the proposal with a mandate to complete a Full Impact Assessment before any portion of the 60,000 square-feet is developed. At the Town Council meeting [March 9], the discussion focused on the appropriateness for a Full Impact Assessment versus a Traffic Study.

What is a Full Impact Study?

Real estate and commercial development projects in excess of 40,000 square feet require a full impact assessment before approval.  The impact assessment gathers information on water supply, wastewater, drainage, education, police, fire protection, traffic, environmental resources, housing, et cetera.  With the exception of traffic, the Beach Company fulfilled all the impact considerations when the Seaside Farms development was approval several years ago. In the opinion of the Town, repeating the study would be redundant and unnecessary.

During the Town Council meeting, Mayor Swails asked the Marais board and residents, the Planning and Development Committee and the Beach Company to resolve the issues regarding a full impact assessment versus a traffic study including a discussion on drainage.  Acceding to the Mayor’s request, the Marais board members devoted considerable time to the traffic study and drainage issues.

The traffic study:  According to Brad Morrison [Transportation Department], traffic studies are based on a quantitative model to develop a magnitude rating for traffic. The study includes forecasting the impact of new projects on traffic, data and analysis. The results are sent to the Planning Commission for review. The model will determine how many intersections to analyze and recommend areas for mitigation that the Beach Company must address.  The model forecasts highway improvements and projects 3 to 4 years ahead to predict traffic flow on Rifle Range Road and the IOP. The study would include an assessment of the next 50,000 square feet of construction [approved] and the requested 60,000 square feet [proposed].  It is interesting to note a traffic study was not conducted when the Seaside Farms development was brought into the Town from the County.  Four years ago a warrant study for the traffic light at Rifle Range Road and Long Point Road was conducted.. However, a warrant study only examines the need for a traffic light at a particular location.

The Drainage Issue:  Kevin Mitchell [Staff Engineer] provided the board with the overall drainage plan conducted in 2000. The plan encompasses the areas from Route 17, Towne Centre, Hidden Lakes to Seaside Farms. In general, the Seaside Farms commercial area was based on approximately 90% of the surface covered with buildings, roads and parking. Consequently, the initial design can handle an additional 60,000 square feet of development. The Town of Mt. Pleasant is responsible to ensure all projects comply with the current drainage plan.  Further, Mayor Swails voiced his priority to evaluate the drainage issues between Rt. 17 and Seaside Farms.

Regarding the surface water that settles at the Rifle Range Road/Long Grove intersection, according to Mr. Mitchell, the problem is not an issue for Seaside Farms or the Beach Company, but rather a Town responsibility.  The engineer assured us the Town will monitor the problem.

What is the next step in the process?

Acting on information we gathered during several meetings, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the following changes to the Town Council resolution:

• The resolution be amended to include a Traffic Study as part of the approval process. We believe the full impact assessment is not an appropriate vehicle to move forward with the 60,000 square foot request.

The Marais Board of Directors supports the Mayor’s priority to evaluate and mitigate drainage issues identified in the area defined between Route 17, Towne Centre, Hidden Lakes and Seaside Farms.

A member of the Board will attend the April 2010 Planning and Development Committee and Town Council meetings to answer questions and provide support for a change to the resolution. Marais residents may attend these public meeting to voice their opinion.

MINUTES

Re: The motion that was made by the Planning Commission regarding the Beach Company’s proposal and subsequently approved by the Town Council Planning Committee.

Request to amend the Seaside Farms Planned Development District Ordinance (Ordinance No. 97074) by increasing the maximum allowed Gross Leaseable Area (GLA) in the Neighborhood Retail and Office Tract (comprising approximately 45 acres of land) by 60,000 square feet from 335, 000 square feet to 395,000 square feet.

Ms. Farrell reviewed the request with the Committee and a public hearing would be held at the December Town Council meeting.  She stated that the Planning Commission recommended approval of the request and read the Commission recommendation to the Committee.

Ms. Stokes-Marshall stated that she concurs with the concerns over the lack of an impact assessment for the additional 60,000 square feet as well as the traffic conditions being further exacerbated.

Mr. John Darby, developer, stated that they agreed with paying impact fees on the additional 60,000 square feet.  He stated that they would like to do the impact assessment at the time the 60,000 square feet would be developed and not at the time of approval.   He noted that traffic is good for the retail businesses.

Ms. Stokes-Marshall agreed that the retail business should have sufficient traffic, but there needs to be a balance between the commercial traffic and the residential traffic.  Mr. Darby suggested that a signal at the residential entrance on Rifle Range Road would be beneficial.

Mr. Kent Prause

Department of Planning and Engineering

Town of Mount Pleasant

100 Ann Edwards Lane

Mount Pleasant, SC

Dear Mr. Prause:

It is our understanding that the Beach Company is proposing to modify their Seaside Farms Development Agreement with the Town of Mount Pleasant in order to expand the commercial development at Seaside Farms. The purpose of this letter is to request that before granting the Beach Company approval, a study be made to determine the traffic impact and that whatever action is necessary be taken to mitigate any further traffic congestion caused by the modification of the current agreement.

Our neighborhood has only two public access roads, one at the traffic light onto Rifle Range and the other with stop sign access onto the IOP connector. These two access roads are often congested during rush hour and summer vacation periods. Two other access roads onto Rifle Range require transit through the private areas of Franke. These roads already experience community traffic seeking alternate routes during times of heavy traffic. Most of the neighborhood traffic must exit through one three-way stop sign in the commercial area. Added traffic will only increase the existing problem not only for the neighborhood, but also for the Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms communities at large. The additional traffic may also cause safety problems as people hurriedly try to enter and exit Seaside Farms to avoid delay.

We are experiencing our current congestion with the Seaside Farms commercial areas at less than full occupancy. One can reasonably assume that traffic delays will be further exacerbated as our economy improves and the current and proposed commercial space is fully occupied.

We are not opposed to responsible commercial development. We only ask that solutions be implemented to reduce traffic congestion and related safety issues before granting approval to the Beach Company’s request to modify the current agreement.

Please forward this letter to Town Council as well as any other agencies that are involved with the consideration of the Beach Company’s proposal.

Sincerely,

Pete Waddington
President, Marais POA

Copies: Marais Board of Directors

Marais Property Owners Association, Inc.

c/o Island Realty 916 Palm Blvd. #101 843.886.4041

Attn: Jeannie Champlin Isle of Palms, SC 29451 800.476.0400 Ext.239

jeannie@islandrealty.com maraispoa.org Fax: 843.886.4021

September 24, 2009

Dear Marais Property Owner,

The Landscaping Committee is pleased to report that the tree trimming has now concluded and we are moving on to other tasks including some fall plantings and pine straw applications. Two things where your assistance is needed:

• As we approach the holiday season, please consider volunteering to help us install the community’s decorations.  Please contact Jeannie if you are interested and we will contact you in the coming months with further details.
• While we are happy to have your assistance in enhancing the plantings and maintaining the trees in our community, please be reminded that no changes should be undertaken with respect to removing landscaping materials without POA/Landscape Committee approvals.  Our goal for the community is to maintain the planned, consistent look and feel of the natural landscape.  Any unauthorized removal of plants or plantings not included on the approved list could expose our community to risk and additional costs beyond our budget.  If you undertake plantings or removal without approval by the POA/Landscape Committee, you will be responsible for any fines and/or replacement costs.

Thanks so much for your cooperation. We wish you a great Fall season!

Sincerely,

Marais POA Board of Directors

Marais Landscaping Committee

Marais Property Owners Association, Inc.

c/o Island Realty 916 Palm Blvd. #101 843.886.4041

Attn: Jeannie Champlin                                        Isle of Palms, SC 29451                                                    800.476.0400 Ext.239

jeannie@islandrealty.com                                             maraispoa.org                                                                  Fax: 843.886.4021

Thanks,

Marais POA Board of Directors
Jeannie Champlin, Association Manager

7/17/2009

NOTICE TO POA/HOA MEMBERS

SUBJECT: SEASIDE FARMS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT – REVISIONS

As a gesture of community cooperation, we have elected to defer the request for revisions to the existing Development Agreement that would be presented to the Town of Mount Pleasant Planning Commission Wednesday July 22nd until we gather additional input from the community.

We look forward to seeing all of you at our public workshop being held this evening, July 20 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Beach Residential offices within Seaside Farms, located at 1973 Riviera Drive, Suite 7.   The “Conceptual Master Plan”, current survey map of Parcel P-2, and existing Development Agreement will be available for viewing.  Representatives from The Beach Company will be on hand to answer your questions concerning our plans for completing the build out of the community.

Heather Eichelberg

Senior Development Administrator
Beach Development
A Division of The Beach Company
843.722.2615 p
843.722.6449 f

7/17/2009

NOTICE TO POA/HOA MEMBERS

SUBJECT: SEASIDE FARMS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT – REVISIONS

As a gesture of community cooperation, we have elected to defer the request for revisions to the existing development agreement that would be presented to the Town of Mount Pleasant Planning Commission Wednesday July 22nd until we gather additional input from the community.

We look forward to seeing all of you at our public workshop being held Monday night July 20th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Beach Residential offices at: 1973 Riviera Drive, Suite 7. The “Conceptual Master Plan”, current survey map of Parcel P‐2, and existing development agreement will be available for viewing. Beach company representatives will be on hand to answer your questions concerning our plans for completing the build out of the community.

The total amount of funds collected from the lawsuit settlement was $7,277,460.00. The settlement proceeds have been allocated to each unit based on the style of Townhome. Approximately 80% of owners have requested funds from their respective accounts for repairs.