November 6, 2009

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