Please Read This...

[K Bartsch]

Tomorrow, Tuesday April 6th, the Town of James Island will discuss whether or not to officially oppose the development of Morris Island. If you happen to be in the area, please go to the meeting. It will be at James Island Town Hall on April 6 at 7 pm. James Island Town Hall is located at 1246 Camp Road.

There's still time to call the Town Council members and the Mayor of James Island and let them know that you oppose the development of Morris Island. It is very important that you place these calls. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from, they need to hear from all of us! Charleston, like many tourist destinations is generally concerned about the city's reputation and history is the reason lots of people visit there, so sharing your concern for the historic preservation of Morris Island is a natural. Urge the James Island town council to pass a resolution on April 6 opposing the development proposal.


The names and phone numbers are below.

Fence-sitters who need to hear from YOU :thinking:

Mayor Mary Clark 762-7744
maryclark@knology.net
(On the fence)

Rev. Parris Williams 843-795- 7287
(On the fence)

Bill Woolsey 843-795-5062
(on the fence)

GOOD GUYS ON THE COUNCIL BELOW :teeth_smi :

Joe Qualey 843-577-3434 or 843-693-3434
(OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT -- probably no call necessary)


Cubby Wilder 843-795-1701
(OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT -- probably no call necessary)

thanks,

[Arty Driver]

Re: Please Read This...

Keith:

I have written to Mayor Clark, and I will call the Reverend Williams and Mr. Woosley this afternoon.

I paraphrased your summary of the issue in my E-Mail to the Mayor.

I couldn't agree with your assessment more in that we need to be vocal on our opposition to development which destroys such rich historical legacies.

Regards,

John Ruf
18th Indiana Light Artillery

Tomorrow, Tuesday April 6th, the Town of James Island will discuss whether or not to officially oppose the development of Morris Island. If you happen to be in the area, please go to the meeting. It will be at James Island Town Hall on April 6 at 7 pm. James Island Town Hall is located at 1246 Camp Road.

There's still time to call the Town Council members and the Mayor of James Island and let them know that you oppose the development of Morris Island. It is very important that you place these calls. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from, they need to hear from all of us! Charleston, like many tourist destinations is generally concerned about the city's reputation and history is the reason lots of people visit there, so sharing your concern for the historic preservation of Morris Island is a natural. Urge the James Island town council to pass a resolution on April 6 opposing the development proposal.


The names and phone numbers are below.

Fence-sitters who need to hear from YOU :thinking:

Mayor Mary Clark 762-7744
maryclark@knology.net
(On the fence)

Rev. Parris Williams 843-795- 7287
(On the fence)

Bill Woolsey 843-795-5062
(on the fence)

GOOD GUYS ON THE COUNCIL BELOW :teeth_smi :

Joe Qualey 843-577-3434 or 843-693-3434
(OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT -- probably no call necessary)


Cubby Wilder 843-795-1701
(OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT -- probably no call necessary)

thanks,

[DougCooper]

How did it go?

On pins and needles out here...

[K Bartsch]

Re: Please Read This...

Rec'd this from Nora just before midnight.

"It was UNANIMOUS!!!! The Town of James Island voted unanimously to oppose the development of Morris Island! And to be honest, they would have been extremely illdavised to have done anything else. All 3 TV stations were there. and Channel Five did a live feed during the 6:00 news. Over a hundred people, including two for the Senate showed up. We had a cross-section of the universe at the meeting - it was pretty wild.

The City of Charleston, Sullivans Island and Folly Beach will vote next week. Not worried about them (because they too will do the right thing.")


Stay in the battle folks, it ain't over but its looking good. Clearly, the national nature of this fight is creating a synergy that the media is finding very compelling.

Cordially,

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Please Read This...

Was it Edward R. Murrow who used to say ''There is some good news tonight.''?

[K Bartsch]

Re: Please Read This...

This from this morning's Charleston daily paper.

The meeting was a veritable "Star Wars" bar scene -- surfers, reenactors, preservationists, veterans, greenies, you name it. I love it when folks can ally in a common cause to save a piece of hallowed round!

Again, it isn't over as evidenced by Mr Huffman's continued efforts to ruin Morris Island. It won't be over until that island is placed in public trust in perpetuity, but things are looking up!

James Is. opposes homes on Morris

Avoiding county zoning rules through annexation now unlikely prospect

BY JASON HARDIN AND ADAM FERRELL
Of The Post and Courier Staff

The municipalities near Morris Island seem to want no part of a proposed development there, meaning the history-soaked island likely would be developed either under county rules or not at all.

Currently, those rules would allow only a fraction of the development being envisioned for the small barrier island at the mouth of Charleston Harbor.

On Tuesday, the town of James Island joined historic and environmental groups in opposing plans for the development, which would involve some 20 houses near the northern tip of the island.

James Island Town Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution that said any development would harm the island's "historical and cultural character," among other things.

That would seem to preclude any possibility of annexing the land into the town in order to get away from restrictive Charleston County zoning rules.

Passions on the issue run high. About 100 people attended James Island's meeting Tuesday, and about 20 of them spoke to an applauding crowd before council unanimously passed its anti-development resolution. The room held a mixture of conservationists, town residents, historic preservationists, surfers and Civil War re-enactors in blue and gray uniforms.

"There's too much blood, both Confederate and Union, to be walked upon and pounded with condominiums," said James Island resident George Hughes, referring to Civil War battles waged on the island.

A re-enactor with the local company of 54th Massachusetts Infantry, Hughes wore a navy blue hat and matching uniform.

James Island Mayor Mary Clark said the town would not consider annexing property to help an owner evade density rules.

"We will not annex anything to desecrate, to destroy it," she said.

The issue arose on James Island after Robert Kline, who is running against Clark for mayor, proposed an anti-development resolution at the last council meeting. The matter then was deferred until Tuesday.

Opposition is not restricted to James Island.

Folly Beach Mayor Vernon Knox said there is no appetite in his city to annex the property either.

"I don't think you'd find anybody on council willing to annex Morris Island," he said.

The development plans have attracted an array of critics. Opponents say the barrier island, which is not far from Fort Sumter and was the site of the Union army's attack on Battery Wagner, needs to be preserved.

Developer Harry Huffman said he is still working to develop the land despite the opposition and that there are arguments on his side, too. "You have certain rights when you own property," he said.

He noted that James Island is fighting against the city of Charleston for its right to exist and said that the resolution does not seem to square with the argument to keep the town.

"It seems that maybe they don't really believe in property rights." he said. "I feel they may have fallen on their own sword."

The land also is close to the city of Charleston. City officials say they will not annex land in order to permit more development than the county allows.

Huffman, who has a contract to buy Morris Island, said he has talked to various governments about the project but has not been planning an annexation.

"We're in the county of Charleston, and we intend to stay in the county of Charleston," he said.

The idea, he said, is to eventually ask the county to rezone the land to allow the 20 units.

Huffman said he is still working on designing the development and that it might be the end of the year before there is a concrete plan. "We're in no hurry," he said.

He said development would take place well back from the beach and that half of the property would be conserved, including areas closest to Battery Wagner, which has largely been washed out to sea.

Huffman also said he would be happy to sell the property to a public agency for preservation.

That nearly took place a few years ago, when U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings was able to secure $4 million in federal dollars to buy the island. An option held by the Trust for Public Land to buy the property had already expired, however. The property also could be purchased with proceeds from the county's half-cent sales tax hike if the tax referendum passes in November.

The James Island meeting included opposition that came in the form of a song.

Queen Quet, chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, clad in a brilliant purple gown, noted the island's connection to the Gullah people. Mid-sentence, she sang the words of a spiritual. "Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me! And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave and go home to my Lord and be free," she sang. Several people joined her.

[RelicRoomGuy]

Re: Please Read This...

I love it when folks can ally in a common cause to save a piece of hallowed round!

[/I]

Wonderful news - but isn't it taking artillery partisanship a LITTLE too far to hallow the rounds themselves?!

Seriously - great to see some muscle flexed here! Wish I'd heard the spiritual, too - must have been quite a moment.

Hmmm - this being political I'd better add "does not reflect the official views of the SC state government" and all - but it should...

[K Bartsch]

Re: Please Read This...

Leave it to a professional researcher...

but seriously, there are "rounds" there too! One friend opined were it possible to recover and sell the large caliber projectiles buried there we could probably just about raise the millions necessary to buy, and thereby save the island forever!

Cordially,