Sea Pines CSA Community Update

October 7, 2022

In This Message

• Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors Announce Collection Timeline on Annual Critical Infrastructure Funding Assessment 
• Rental Registration Fee Update
• Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors Meeting Held 9/27/22
• Learn More About Your Sea Pines CSA Class "A" Board of Director Candidates
• Neighborhood Debris Piles and Collection Reminders
• Deer Road Crossing Safety Reminder: Drive with caution
• Sea Pines CSA Upcoming Events & Reminders
• Explore Your Sea Pines Forest Preserve Event

From The Sea Pines CSA Finance Department

Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors Announce Collection Timeline on Annual Critical Infrastructure Funding Assessment 

At the Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors meeting, held September 27, the Board confirmed the Court’s ruling by Judge David Norton of the United States District Court in favor of CSA in the “Jinks vs Sea Pines Resort, LLC et al” Critical Infrastructure Referendum lawsuit and announced the timeline for collection of the 2022 and 2023 Critical Infrastructure Assessments. They also discussed that the plaintiff in the lawsuit, Ms. Jill Jinks, has filed an appeal of that ruling with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. However, and notwithstanding Ms. Jinks' Notice of Appeal, the Sea Pines CSA Board, as permitted by the ruling, has had the Fifth Amendment recorded and will begin invoicing and collection of the Critical Infrastructure Assessment.

That Fifth Amendment creates an additional annual assessment per residential property ($600 for an improved lot/$360 for an unimproved lot), and additional assessments on the Resort and our commercial property owners, all of which will raise approximately $35,000,000 over the next ten years to fund critical infrastructure repair and reconstruction within the community. 

While the lawsuit was still pending, CSA decided it was in the best interests of the property owners to not collect the 2022 Critical Infrastructure assessment. However, in light of the Court’s ruling, CSA will immediately invoice all commercial and residential property owners as well as the Resort. Property owners of record as of the date of billing will be responsible for payment. Property owners will be given forty-five (45) days to remit the 2022 Critical Infrastructure assessment payment. At this time, we expect that due date to be mid-December 2022.

In January 2023, the 2023 Critical Infrastructure Assessment will be added to the 2023 Sea Pines CSA Annual Assessment, the combined total of which is subject to the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). Under normal conditions, the annual assessments are mailed out in mid-December and are due in mid-January. However, the Board of Directors approved to extend the due date until April 1, 2023, without penalty. With the information that we currently possess, we anticipate the 2023 Annual Assessment to be approximately $1,900. 

For questions, please contact our Finance Department by email at traceym@csaseapines.com

Rental Registration Fee Update

In March 2021, the Board created a Revenue Task Force to examine/research the impacts of rental of residential property in Sea Pines and to consider feedback from the community regarding this funding issue. After nearly ten months of work, the Revenue Task Force recommendations were presented at the May 19, 2022, Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors meeting. That recommendation included a resolution to create a Business Rental Registration Fee to support the need for funding to increase and enhance the security and land use management services.

The Board approved that Resolution, and effective January 1, 2023, any Member of CSA that rents or leases any Residential Property must first register such rental property (herein a “Rental Property”) with the Sea Pines CSA Director of Finance and pay an annual registration fee (“Rental Property Business Registration Fee”).

• 1 or 2 bedroom properties: $300
• 3 or 4 bedroom properties: $700
• 5 or more bedrooms $1,000

These fees will be billed in the Spring of 2023.

Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors Meeting Held

On Tuesday, September 27th, the Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors met and covered a number of important topics. A recap of the meeting action items, a link to the meeting video as well as timestamped links can be found here. 

Learn More About Your Sea Pines CSA Class "A" Board of Director Candidates

Candidate profiles, including “Why I Wish to Serve the Sea Pines Community” statements have been posted. To review each candidate's profile, visit our Elections Resource Page at www.SeaPinesLiving.com/elections

Sea Pines CSA Meet the Candidates Virtual Event

This virtual event will be broadcast via Youtube. Tune in Tuesday, October 18, 2022, from 10:00-11:30 AM to hear from each of your Sea Pines CSA Class "A" Board of Director candidates! The broadcast will also be recorded and made available online for members to view at their convenience.

Live stream the event: www.seapinesliving.com/live.

Sea Pines CSA Maintenance staff are continuing clean-up of storm debris from Hurricane Ian throughout the community. Debris clean-up of Sea Pines CSA open spaces will continue through next week.

Neighborhood Debris Piles and Collection Reminders

Due to the amount of storm debris, the collection of debris from Sea Pines CSA neighborhood debris piles will be on a delayed pickup schedule.

• Vegetative Storm Debris (trees or branches must be under 6 inches in diameter) should be stacked at designated CSA roadside debris pickup sites. If the debris site is full, do not block roads, driveways, or create traffic visibility hazards. DO NOT place trash in debris pickup piles.

• DO NOT pile any storm debris in roadside ditches, block the pipe ends with debris in ditches, or stack on catch basins/inlets. Clear drainage ditches and catch basins play an important role in stormwater management and can help prevent road flooding in our community.

• Commercial landscapers are NOT permitted to dump landscaping debris in the neighborhood drop sites or roadside within Sea Pines. Landscape companies are directed to transport debris to the Debris Recycling Facility. Please note: This facility does not have the ability to process material in a diameter of 6 inches and above.

• The Debris Recycling Facility is open M-F 7:30 am – 4:00 pm. This facility is located off of Greenwood Drive. Enter at the Trolley Station and approximately 25 yards to the left you will see the dirt driveway leading to the Debris Recycling Facility.

For questions, please contact the Sea Pines CSA Maintenance Department at csamaintenance@csaseapines.com.

From The Sea Pines Security Department

In Sea Pines you can't drive very far at dusk without seeing deer; drive with caution. Deer tend to panic and act irrationally when frightened.

• Slow Down. Drive at slower speeds during dawn and dusk hours when deer are known to be more active. Also, remember that deer often travel in herds, so if you see one animal there may be others in the vicinity.

• Use High Beams. Using your vehicle’s high beams (if possible) can help you spot deer more quickly, which can give you the best opportunity to slow down as you approach.

• Don’t Swerve! It’s an automatic response to swerve out of the pathway of an animal that darts out into the path of your vehicle. Experience proves that the property damage and injuries caused by car vs. deer accidents are more severe when the driver swerves to avoid hitting the animal. The best thing to do when a deer runs into the road is to slow down as much as possible and then allow your car to hit the deer.

What if my vehicle hits a deer?

To report a vehicle collision with a deer within the Sea Pines Community, call Sea Pines Security Dispatch at 843.671.7170. If there are injuries, call 911. 

From The Sea Pines CSA Capital Projects Department

Sea Pines Drive Infrastructure Improvement Project Update

Phase 3 of the Sea Pines Drive infrastructure repair project is underway with a completion time of Spring 2023.

Red Cardinal Road 

• Stormwater drain pipe excavation and replacements are in progress in this area. Project work will take approximately 3-4 more weeks, weather permitting. 

• Work will be performed Monday - Friday from 7 am - 6 pm. Traffic control will be present in the work zone, as needed.

• Please observe and obey all traffic management personnel, signage, and devices.

How to stay updated regarding this project:

Please visit our website at www.SeaPinesLiving.com/seapinesdrive

We look forward to keeping the community updated as we have more details towards the start of Phase 3. Comments or questions for the Sea Pines CSA Capital Improvements Department may be submitted online here.  

Beach Lagoon Pedestrian Timber Bridge Replacement Project Update

Final completion of the new bridge will take approximately 2-3 more weeks, weather permitting. In the meantime, the bridge has been reopened for pedestrian use.

Greenwood Drive Roadway Resurfacing Project Announced

Milling, followed by paving operations on Greenwood Drive (from the Sea Pines Circle to Club Course Drive) will begin in the 4th quarter of 2022. Project work will occur at night and is anticipated to be completed within a 3-4 day timeframe, weather permitting.

We look forward to keeping the community updated on this future project.

From The Sea Pines CSA Land Use Management Department

Land Use Rules and Regulations Property Appearance Reminders

• Roofs, gutters, driveways, and other hard surfaces shall be cleared of pine straw and other vegetative debris with reasonable frequency so that there is no accumulated buildup. 

• Downed trees shall be removed from the property. A downed tree is one in which all or part of the trunk is lying on the ground or on a structure (e.g., house, car, another tree), and/or is uprooted. 

• Ground cover (mulch, pine straw) shall be applied periodically to maintain a neat, clean appearance. Ground (dirt, sand) shall not be exposed without landscaping or ground cover.  

To report a concern to the LUM department please use the online form at https://www.seapinesliving.com/land-use-management-submission-request/  

Sea Pines CSA Upcoming Events & Reminders

Sea Pines CSA To Host Community Blood Drive

The OneBlood Blood Drive Mobile will be in Sea Pines on Friday, October 14th, from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Sea Pines Community Center Parking Lot, 71 Lighthouse Road.

All donors will receive a OneBlood Halloween T-shirt and a $20 eGift card. Plus, a wellness checkup including blood pressure, temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening!

Appointments are encouraged, please visit oneblood.org/donate-now and use sponsor code 33488

Deep Well Community Donation Event

Save The Date

• 10/18/22- Meet the Candidates Virtual Event
• 10/21/22- Beaufort County Library Bookmobile
• 11/15/22 - Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors Meeting

Reminders

• 12/1/22 - Sea Pines CSA Committee Member Applications Due

Explore Your Sea Pines Forest Preserve Event

This free event will be held on Thursday, October 20th, and features a two-hour guided wagon ride touring the Sea Pines Forest Preserve

Two guided wagon tours will be available:

• 10:00 AM – Noon
• 12:30 – 2:30 PM

There is a limit of 20 people per tour. Click here to register for a free ticket.

For questions about the event, please contact David Henderson at wildlife@csaseapines.com. 

SAVE THE DATE! The Sea Pines Forest Preserve Bonfire Event

• When: November 11th, from 4:30 PM- 7:30 PM
• Where: Fish Island in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve
• Stay tuned for more information!

South Island Public Service District Potable Drinking Water Pipeline Upgrade Project

SIPSD, the utility company providing water and wastewater services in Sea Pines, will undertake a major infrastructure upgrade and replacement project to their potable water drinking line from Dunnagans Alley to Baynard Park Road, inside of Sea Pines. Click here to learn more about the project.

How to Contact Sea Pines CSA

Sea Pines CSA Admin Office: 843.671.1343: Email

Sea Pines Security: 843.671.7170: Email

Sea Pines CSA Maintenance: 843.671.7849: Email

Sea Pines CSA Capital Projects: Click here

Sea Pines CSA Gate Pass Office: 843.671.7277

Land Use Management: 843.671.7820: Email