Greetings from the Landscape Committee! Now that the long, cold winter has passed and the growing season is upon us, we would like to update you on the status of the landscaping in Marais. We have been diligently working to improve and enhance our landscape. Recently, we completed the selection process for our landscape maintenance contract. Three out of four landscape companies we contacted responded with proposals. While proposals from two of the companies were closely comparable, the Committee selected our current vendor Forever Green based not only on their familiarity with our community but also on the pricing we were able to negotiate. Forever Green provided us with a reduced monthly maintenance fee and has included chemical applications (turf fertilization, weed control, and pre-emergent) and aeration at no additional cost. The Committee would like to offer our thanks to Pete and Debra Taylor for their assistance in this process and for the many hours they have contributed over the years in making our landscape so beautiful.

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

The Beach Company’s request to the Town Council for an additional 60,000 sq. ft. of commercial space has been the subject of several meetings with town officials, the Beach Company and board members.  Because this is an important issue for Marais, the board wants to provide an update on the status of the proposal and the upcoming Planning and Development Committee and Town Council meetings.

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? Continue reading Update on Seaside Farms

TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 1, 2009

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 Continue reading Town of Mount Pleasant Planning and Development Committee Minutes

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. Continue reading Nov. 6th Update: Seaside Farms Rezoning

Marais Property Owners Association, Inc.

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: Continue reading Landscaping Update

Good afternoon. We received this email from a Beach Co. representative this morning along with the attachments from John Darby of The Beach Company. We have confirmed that they have elected to defer their request to the Town, but still plan to have their public workshop this evening from 4pm to 6pm. Feel free to attend and the board will keep you posted as new information is received.

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. Continue reading UPDATE: Save Our Park:** IMPORTANT NOTICE** Re: Seaside Farms Re-Zoning

The lawsuit involving the construction defects at Marais at Seaside Farms was settled in June 2008. The lawsuit was the result of problems that were identified throughout the project relating to design and construction. As part of the suit, the POA employed a forensic architect to ascertain the extent of all the problems and determine the correct solution to them. A copy of the architect’s comprehensive report is available at the manager’s office located at 916 Palm Blvd. Suite 101, Isle of Palms, SC 29451.

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.

The Architectural Review Board has posted a recent update.  Please go to the ARB Guidelines tab to view.