Kiawah Island TALK reported on the latest efforts of the Kiawah Development Partners (KDP) to get a revetment/bulkhead built to stabilize Kiawah Spit and their plan for a subsequent housing development: Kiawah Island TALK – October 2009 (download full pdf). In summary:
After hundreds of taxpayers made their voices heard in protest to Congressman Henry Brown’s Bill to remove the Kiawah Spit from the Coastal Barrier Resource System (a zone where federal flood insurance and federal renourishment projects are prohibited), the appeals case is being heard. Judge John McLeod was slated to hear the appeal but revealed his fraternity relationship to Leonard Long of KDP and McLeod recused himself of the case. Judge Ralph King Anderson proceeded with the case as scheduled.
KDP’s desired revetment would be 40 feet wide and a half-mile long (recommended by Thomas & Mutton engineering firm), but Dr. David Basco of Beach Consultants, Inc. and Dr. George Oertel of Hollow-core Reef Enterprises, Inc. recommended a width of 60 feet or more with additional “training jetties.” This would add about 1.3 acres of concrete and millions more to the $5 million price tag already attached to this project. Long described that revetment as a marketing tool to help sell up to 50 lots on the Spit – as the eroding escarpment in the parking lot might turn off potential buyers. Furthermore, KDP had already taken out a $50 million loan against the Spit to finance another project. The bulkhead would make the property more valuable, allowing a larger loan to be obtained.
The Coastal Conservation League presented expert witness Dr. Michael Dorcas to describe how this revetment would create a difficult, if not impossible, place for Diamondback Terrapin to nest and for their babies to return to the water. Through his extensive research of these creatures, he concludes that a loss of species in this area would be likely. KDP attorney Trenholm Walker pointed out that SC game laws may make this allowable – as two terrapin per day are allowed to be taken – although Dorcas said that it was unlikely such a permit would be issued. Diamondbacks are certainly not the only species that whose relationship to this area would be drastically altered. Humans who picnic, kayak, and bird watch in this area adjacent to the Beachwalker Park would see their activities constricted too.
Judge Anderson will make his decision after the receipt of written briefs from the parties involved within 30 days.
The Coastal Conservation League has been instrumental in mobilizing folks to act on this issue and many others, through their e-mail alerts and form-based online protesting, as well as leading this battle in court. Articles on the attempted development of Captain Sam’s Spit can be found on databases compiled by Friends of the Kiawah River and Kiawah Island Property Owners Group. Check out our previous entries on this issue including 50 Houses on Kiawah Sand (a video protest), “Friends” still battling Kiawah Spit development, June 20th Kayak trip to Captain Sam’s Point, and Kiawah Spit still unaltered, opposition to revetments being heard in court. The concept of Delete Apathy was initially formed to battle this development, so we are overjoyed to see the Kiawah Spit remain pristine.
Coastal Conservation League’s efforts to keep Kiawah Spit pristine are heard in appeals court
Kiawah Island TALK reported on the latest efforts of the Kiawah Development Partners (KDP) to get a revetment/bulkhead built to stabilize Kiawah Spit and their plan for a subsequent housing development: Kiawah Island TALK – October 2009 (download full pdf). In summary:
After hundreds of taxpayers made their voices heard in protest to Congressman Henry Brown’s Bill to remove the Kiawah Spit from the Coastal Barrier Resource System (a zone where federal flood insurance and federal renourishment projects are prohibited), the appeals case is being heard. Judge John McLeod was slated to hear the appeal but revealed his fraternity relationship to Leonard Long of KDP and McLeod recused himself of the case. Judge Ralph King Anderson proceeded with the case as scheduled.
KDP’s desired revetment would be 40 feet wide and a half-mile long (recommended by Thomas & Mutton engineering firm), but Dr. David Basco of Beach Consultants, Inc. and Dr. George Oertel of Hollow-core Reef Enterprises, Inc. recommended a width of 60 feet or more with additional “training jetties.” This would add about 1.3 acres of concrete and millions more to the $5 million price tag already attached to this project. Long described that revetment as a marketing tool to help sell up to 50 lots on the Spit – as the eroding escarpment in the parking lot might turn off potential buyers. Furthermore, KDP had already taken out a $50 million loan against the Spit to finance another project. The bulkhead would make the property more valuable, allowing a larger loan to be obtained.
The Coastal Conservation League presented expert witness Dr. Michael Dorcas to describe how this revetment would create a difficult, if not impossible, place for Diamondback Terrapin to nest and for their babies to return to the water. Through his extensive research of these creatures, he concludes that a loss of species in this area would be likely. KDP attorney Trenholm Walker pointed out that SC game laws may make this allowable – as two terrapin per day are allowed to be taken – although Dorcas said that it was unlikely such a permit would be issued. Diamondbacks are certainly not the only species that whose relationship to this area would be drastically altered. Humans who picnic, kayak, and bird watch in this area adjacent to the Beachwalker Park would see their activities constricted too.
Judge Anderson will make his decision after the receipt of written briefs from the parties involved within 30 days.
The Coastal Conservation League has been instrumental in mobilizing folks to act on this issue and many others, through their e-mail alerts and form-based online protesting, as well as leading this battle in court. Articles on the attempted development of Captain Sam’s Spit can be found on databases compiled by Friends of the Kiawah River and Kiawah Island Property Owners Group. Check out our previous entries on this issue including 50 Houses on Kiawah Sand (a video protest), “Friends” still battling Kiawah Spit development, June 20th Kayak trip to Captain Sam’s Point, and Kiawah Spit still unaltered, opposition to revetments being heard in court. The concept of Delete Apathy was initially formed to battle this development, so we are overjoyed to see the Kiawah Spit remain pristine.