Office: 843.671.1343
Sea Pines Security: 843.671.7170
CSA Maintenance: 843.671.7849
www.SeaPinesLiving.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeaPinesLiving
April 26, 2019

Dear Sea Pines Property Owner,
 
I write to you with hope that you will join me in an effort to support Sea Pines. When I last wrote to you in late March ( click here to view that letter) I reminded you that our Sea Pines community is facing a major funding shortfall to address several critical community needs. Most of these needs are related to our aging community assets including:
 
  • Roadway infrastructure
  • Gate capacity, delays and traffic congestion
  • Stormwater drainage system management
  • Landscape and tree health, replacement and renovations   
 
Many of these community assets are very old, some over six decades old, and are overdue for repairs, renovations or complete replacements. Funding a solution to care for and maintain these assets properly requires a community referendum, with 75% support of those voting.
 
In my last letter, I also referred back to our community-wide referendum survey where we received your feedback on the level of awareness and support of these issues within Sea Pines and to determine your level of support for proposed terms for a community referendum. Click here  to view the results of that survey.

While we were pleased with the level of support and awareness of our critical community needs, the community clearly voiced concern with some of the initial terms of the proposed referendum to address the funding shortfall. This valuable feedback led CSA to modify portions of the originally proposed referendum terms. We:

  • Removed the real estate transfer fee
  • Introduced a residential owner assessment increase in phases, not a one-time increase
  • Delayed collection of any new assessment increase until 2020
 
Additionally, through your feedback we have provided the following:
  • Funds collected from this referendum will be restricted to the critical needs
  • Critical need expenses and funds will be reported on in our annual audited financial statements
  • If funds collected exceed the need the assessment can be reduced
 
At the CSA Special Board Meeting held this morning (4/26/19), your CSA Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the following terms for a referendum:
The NEW APPROVED Referendum Terms

Sea Pines Resort Contribution:
  • The Sea Pines Resort will increase its annual assessment by 50%. (from 0.5% to 0.75% of its adjusted gross revenue)

Sea Pines Commercial Contribution:
  • The Sea Pines commercial owners will commit to an annual assessment increase of more than 100% on behalf of their commercial tenants

Sea Pines Residential Property Owner Contribution:
  • Improved Property – A three year assessment increase of $150 per year, for a total increase of $450 by 2022
  • Unimproved Property – A three year assessment increase of $90 per year, for a total increase of $270 by 2022.
The simple facts are…
  • Our community is 63 years old and we need your support.
  • We believe that this represents our best path forward.
  • We have the required agreement to the terms of the referendum from The Sea Pines Resort, and now need your YES vote to ensure the future of Sea Pines.
  • We serve no other purpose than to promote, enhance, and protect the mutual interests of all owners of property in Sea Pines.
 
This is a big decision for you, so we want to ensure you have the information you need to make an informed vote. Your CSA Board and Staff have worked diligently to develop comprehensive communications that provide detailed answers to the communities top questions, clearly quantifies our community’s financial needs, outlines the changes to the initial referendum terms based on your feedback and communicates why CSA is asking you to vote yes.
 
This educational information will be mailed to your address of record, click here to view the mailer. Additionally, we invite you to visit www.VoteForSeaPines.com to learn more about the Sea Pines Critical Needs Referendum.
 
At the Annual Meeting on Monday April 29, we will be covering this information. If your schedule permits, please join us via webinar, as in-person seating for this meeting is sold out. Click here for webinar registration.
 
Your CSA Board and CSA Staff are committed to caring for and properly maintaining our community. The passage of this funding referendum is necessary to allow us to address these long deferred and deteriorating community assets that are the very core of Sea Pines. We are one Sea Pines and we need your support. Be on the lookout for your referendum ballot by mail in May. 

 
Sincerely,
Bret Martin
Sea Pines CSA President


Click here to view this letter in a PDF Format
Sea Pines Community Services Associates 
843.671.1343 | Info@csaseapines.com | www.SeaPinesLiving.com