Planning Commission Workshop - March 8 | 2:00 p.m.
Public Safety Committee - March 15 | 12:00 p.m.
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First 2023 Bobcat Tagging Session a Success
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As part of the Kiawah Bobcat GPS Research Project, the world’s longest continuous study of its kind, Town Biologists conducted the first trapping session from Jan. 31 to Feb. 10. During the successful session, five bobcats were fitted with GPS collars:
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Bobcat 125 (new): Adult Female, Parkside Villas, 15lbs 5oz.
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Bobcat 175 (recapture): Adult Female, Ocean Park, 15lbs 14oz.
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Bobcat 225 (new): Subadult Male, Preserve, 17lbs, 8oz.
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Bobcat 275 (recapture) Adult Female, Captain Sams Spit, 16lbs 10oz.
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Bobcat 325 (new) Adult Female, Flyway Drive, 17lbs.
A second trapping session began this week and will end on March 13. Now in its 17th year, the study provides valuable data on bobcat survival, reproductive success, food habits, habitat use, and movement patterns. Biologists have collared a total of 104 bobcats and obtained more than 200,000 individual GPS locations. Stay tuned for project updates and learn more about the study here.
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Ways and Means - Budget Discussion Update
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On February 27, the Town’s Ways and Means Committee met to discuss a number of topics, including the revenue side only of the proposed budget for the FY 2023-2024. The expense side of the proposed FY23-24 budget will be discussed at the March 27 Ways and Means Budget Discussion. The full meeting can be viewed here.
The following are highlights from the meeting:
- After reviewing a proposal submitted by accounting firm Mauldin & Jenkins for auditing services, the committee moved to recommend engaging with this firm to Town Council.
- Kiawah Conservancy staff presented and submitted a request regarding the allocation of $75,000 that will go towards the purchase of 5.63 acres on Betsy Kerrison Parkway to preserve and protect the land. This supports the Kiawah Conservancy’s recently adopted 2030 strategic plan, which focuses on expanding conservation efforts into Johns Island by focusing on the Kiawah and Stono River watersheds. The committee motioned to recommend funding efforts to Town Council with stipulations that the allocation is used to fund the trail and the remaining cost is used towards the purchase of the site.
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Town Finance Director Dorota Szubert shared key financial data for the first six months of the 2022-23 fiscal year. This included Kiawah Island visitor numbers, visitor financial information, and building permit and business license revenues compared to the past two fiscal years. She additionally shared the Town’s revenues over the past ten years, along with projected revenues for the proposed budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which is available here.
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Andell West Proposal - Notice of Deferral
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(Andell West is a proposed commercial Planned Development adjacent to Freshfields Village in unincorporated Charleston County. The proposed development is to provide a full-size grocery store to the Kiawah, Seabrook, and Johns Island Communities. In addition, the development will include opportunities for retail and services).
At the request of the applicant the following case has been deferred to the April 20th Charleston County Planning and Public Works Committee Meeting at 5:00 pm:
ZREZ-08-22-00140: Request to rezone TMS # 205-00-00-365, 830 Kiawah Island Parkway, from the Low Density Residential (R-4) Zoning District to the Andell West Commercial Planned Development (PD-185).
Chris Corrada of Riverstone Properties will be present Tuesday March 7, 2023, at the regular scheduled Town Council Meeting (2:00 PM) to share an update on the proposed development.
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Last week, the Town’s Director of Public Safety, Dr. Craig Harris, participated in a counterterrorism threat symposium hosted by Charleston County’s Public Safety Directorate. The event brought together hundreds of leaders in business, law enforcement, and public safety for valuable dialogue surrounding domestic terrorism, internet use by terrorists, and threats to critical infrastructure. Keynote speakers included Charleston County Council Vice Chairwoman Jenny Honeycutt, United States Representative Nancy Mace, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel. Dr. Harris said, “This was an outstanding conference and a great way for all public safety sectors to collaborate and build a robust partnership for the betterment of the community we serve.”
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Kiawah Next -
A Bold Vision for Kiawah's Bright Future
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The Town of Kiawah Island is embarking on an ambitious effort to envision the next chapter of Kiawah’s story. Now a destination renowned for its unmatched natural beauty, embrace of wildlife and nature, world-class hospitality, and premiere oceanside living, the island of Kiawah is a celebrated success story today largely because of a compelling vision and plan that guided our trajectory for many years. As a we must shape a long-term vision of the next horizon to sustain this prosperity amid ever-changing conditions.
As we are kickstarting our next comprehensive plan, we are inviting your input to help us define what makes this place great. With current development agreements set to expire in the coming years, regional growth occurring, and ever-changing conditions around, it becomes essential for Kiawah to maintain a strategic plan that defines what we hold dear and identifies the opportunities we might see as valuable. We need your feedback to craft that vision! In fact, we are earnestly seeking the input of our larger community and all who are invested in Kiawah’s success: residents, property owners, visitors, guests, businesses and employees alike.
We ask each of you to visit our project website, www.kiawahnext.com, and take the included survey. We will be inviting input for the next couple of months, and we will maintain this website as a home base for all related information. Use the page’s tools to sign up if you’d like to be kept in the loop. We also ask that you consider sharing this website with others, so that we can build our collective vision of the future of Kiawah today and plan for success for the next decades to come.
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Business License Renewal Notice
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The business license renewal period has begun. To avoid penalties, all business licenses must be renewed by Sunday, April 30, 2023. Licenses must be renewed using the Town's online service portal.
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Charleston Men's Chorus
Saturday, March 11, 2023
Church of Our Savior | 7:30 p.m.
NO CHARGE BUT TICKETS REQUIRED
Charleston Men’s Chorus was founded in 1990 to fill the need in the Lowcountry arts community for the distinctive harmonies of a male chorus. The non-profit group is an auditioned choir of approximately 65 members. CMC is directed by internationally renowned countertenor and director Ricard Bordas and distinguished musician Pamela Nelson serves as the chorus’s piano accompanist. Read more here.
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Quentin Baxter Presents: René
Marie and Experiment in Truth
Sunday, March 12, 2023
West Beach Conf. | 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $30
The third concert of the series will feature award-winning vocalist René Marie with pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Elias Bailey, and drummer Quentin E. Baxter. René Marie is a very rare artist. A modern vocal icon, her unique artistry has been recognized with multiple domestic and international awards including two GRAMMY Award nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album. A lyricist, composer, arranger, playwright, actress, educator, speaker, and social justice activist, René is an Americana roots artist with jazz improvisational chops. Influenced by her southern upbringing, she incorporates folk, R&B, country, and classical elements into her music and approach, lending her a unique sound and style that have captivated audiences worldwide. Read more here.
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Click here to access TOKI's Events page and view the season planner.
If you are a Kiawah Island resident who has not received your 2022-2023 early access code, please email your Kiawah mailing address to rfoster@kiawahisland.org to register.
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