SavetheAngelOak.org » Actions

Let City Council know you care about Angel Oak!

Tom — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:28:49 +0000

You can make a big difference in just 5 minutes. That’s all it takes to learn the issues and send a letter, fax or email to the City of Charleston.

1) Go to http://capwiz.com/scccl/issues/alert/?alertid=57055911 and click on all the discussion points you want added to your letter to the City of Charleston. (you will also get a copy)

2) Click on “Send Message”

That’s it. Thank you!

Below is what your letter looks like when you include every bullet point (recommended!)

To the City of Charleston:

According to Charleston City Code Sec. 54-261, major amendments to an approved PUD Master Plan must be reviewed and approved by City Council.

Major changes to the PUD have occurred over the course of the last few years without City Council review and approval:

–The city purchased acreage from the developer using Urban Greenbelt funds, changing the calculation of unbuildable land, proposed uses, and acreages that must be reported.

–The entrances and exits to the proposed development have decreased, changing the traffic impact study, particularly the flow on Bohicket Road and within the development itself.

–Because of the Greenbelt purchase and the reversal of the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ position on jurisdictional wetlands on site, the size, shape and gross acreage of the PUD is inaccurate.

–All affordable housing has been shifted to Phase II of the design plan, instead of mixed throughout the property as originally proposed. The required ratio of affordable housing is also not being met.

Councilmember Wilson’s request to discuss these changes should be commended. This review is the perfect opportunity for City Council to review the appropriateness of the design and scale of this proposed development in an area of Johns Island near impaired waterbodies, the Urban Growth Boundary, and the Angel Oak tree.

The potential impacts from this development as currently designed are a concern. Much of the negative impacts could be reduced, and the density itself could be more in scale, if the entirety of Phase II were turned into greenspace.

Sincerely,

Charleston’s Angels: Fundraiser and Film Preview

Tom — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:46:03 +0000

The TreeSpirit Project and Save The Angel Oak team up to offer a special evening of art and activism at the Terrace Theater on November 3, 2011 at 7pm. View the Charleston-based segment filmed at the Angel Oak last May—which made Charleston TV news headlines. That event brought naked people to pose with the ancient Angel Oak to raise awareness of the planned development that would cut down over 40 acres of its protective forest (more than 2,000 trees).

The film segment to be shown is part of the upcoming feature documentary, Out On A Limb. This dramatic footage of the making of the naked “TreeSpirit Project” photograph filmed at the Angel Oak on May 14th aired on ABC-4 and CBS-5. Meet the filmmakers and the protagonist,TreeSpirit Project founder, Jack Gescheidt. Learn how and why this photograph was made and participate in a Q & A session. Join the community devoted to preserving the Angel Oak’s forest habitat and the unique rural character of Johns Island.

BUY YOUR TICKET NOW BEFORE IT IS SOLD OUT.

Important Public Meeting on March 3rd, 2011!

Tom — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:54:22 +0000

This meeting will affect the Angel Oak Village Development
3/10, 5pm, Charleston

A public meeting that will affect the Angel Oak Village Development! We need strength in numbers–please plan to attend.

The City of Charleston CCDRB meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m., on THURSDAY March 10 in the Meeting Room, Third Floor at 75 Calhoun St (Charleston County School District Building)

The agenda and the City of Charleston’s website states, “Presentation by staff on the proposed ordinance amendments governing the Commercial Corridor Design Review Board.” The link to the proposed ordinance is broken on the city’s website, so we don’t know what the language of the proposed ordinance is (because it is not available to the public), but last time this was up for discussion (Nov 17, 2010), these were our comments:

The proposed ordinance would give developers a chance to move through the permit process faster by changing the role of the Commercial Corridor Design Review Board, (CCDRB). Currently, projects in the CCDRB district must get approval from the Board before they can move forward with acquiring any building permits.

Essentially, the proposed ordinance would place review of projects within the district to the “administrative officer”, (a City planning staff member). The board would become an appellate body with the exception of demolitions, which would still need Board approval. If the ordinance is adopted, big controversial projects, including the Angel Oak Village Development would NOT have to go through CCDRB.

Interestingly enough, the Angel Oak Development did go before the CCDRB several times already, but plans were either denied or deferred due to board members concerns over the development being completely out of character with rural Johns Island, among other concerns.

Even more interesting, was that City employee Tim Keane, who worked as a private contractor for the developer of Angel Oak Village until the summer of 2009, created and presented the plans to the CCDRB that were not approved. Keane then became the Director of Planning for the city at the end of November that same year.

In April of 2009, Tim Keane presented plans for Angel Oak Village to the CCDRB that were rejected. The Post and Courier wrote an article about the meeting in April of 2009:

“Board member Patrick Pernell was highly critical. ‘The plan has a long way to go,’ he said, saying the scale and mass of buildings is still too much. He likened plans ‘to the 1970s.’ ‘There is no suspense, no sense of destination and I don’t feel any sense of space. Behind the buildings is a sea of asphalt,’ Pernell said.”

In June of 2009, The Post and Courier published another story about the Angel Oak Village development in which Mr. Keane was quoted:

“Tim Keane, Charleston’s former planning director who now runs the design firm handling the development, called the plan “one of those rare victories for public planning,” and said it meshed with regional development goals developed through years of community meetings on Johns Island.”

It seems as if the Director of City Planning and the CCDRB have different standards when reviewing development, which is proof enough of that it takes more than one person to review a development.

Please come out to the CCDRB meeting at 5:00 p.m., on THURSDAY March 10 in the Meeting Room, Third Floor at 75 Calhoun St., Charleston, (Charleston County School District Building).

Please email me with any questions: Samantha.siegel@sierraclub.org or Samantha@savetheangeloak.org

Thank you!

Don’t bypass Design Board

Tom — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 02:30:15 +0000

Don’t bypass Design Board

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

When other cities were tearing down aging inner-city buildings and erecting towering new ones, Charleston resisted. It often was more difficult to adapt old buildings for new uses, but Charleston continues to prosper because of those extra efforts.

Similarly, since 1999, Charleston has benefited from the work of the city’s Commercial Corridor Design Review Board, which has reviewed the architecture of 850 new projects and five times that many small changes like new signs or landscaping.

Just as the historic district needs good design, so do major corridors throughout the rest of the city. So it is unfortunate that city staff wants to gut that board of many of its responsibilities.

The city’s Planning Commission will consider the staff’s suggestion at its 5 p.m. meeting Wednesday. Members should reject the proposition.

It is laudable to look for ways to make doing business in Charleston more inviting. People have long complained that red tape makes it difficult. But it would be a mistake to sacrifice careful planning and public input as a way of making that happen. If the design review process takes too long, perhaps the board’s schedule should be amended.

The board has earned its stripes by refusing to approve early designs of a proposed housing development adjacent to the Angel Oak on Johns Island. (See Samantha Siegel’s column on today’s Commentary Page.)

There was more to dislike than the buildings’ appearance (the project’s density, environmental impact and proximity to the tree), but the Commercial Corridor Design Review Board was able to prevent a boxy, pedestrian development from going up in a prominent and sensitive spot.

The reshaping of the board is being promoted by Tim Keane, director of Charleston’s Department of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability. He says his staff could review most of the projects, leaving the board (renamed the Design Review Board) to consider only large projects. The city would decide which are which.

But that in itself presents a dilemma. Mr. Keane, before he took his current post, worked on behalf of the Angel Oak project, which he praised and the board found unacceptable. Clearly, the process benefits from broader input.

One compromise has been suggested whereby the city would advertise proposed projects. If no one expresses interest in their design, they could be approved without board review.

But even that is a step in the wrong direction in that public notices can be overlooked easily, and poor design could appear before neighbors and other interested citizens know to protest.

The present Commercial Corridor Design Review Board might cost a good project a month’s delay, but it could also save the city’s important corridors from inappropriate, uninteresting designs.

–

Post & Courier article [here]

Speak out onbid to changezoning rules

Tom — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 02:21:58 +0000

Speak out onbid to changezoning rules

BY SAMANTHA J. SIEGEL

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

On Wednesday, the city of Charleston Planning Commission will host a public meeting on a proposed amendment to the city’s Zoning Ordinance that will affect development in Charleston forever. The ordinance would give developers a chance to move through the permit process faster by changing the role of the Commercial Corridor Design Review Board. Currently, projects in the CCDRB district must get approval from the board before they can move forward with acquiring any building permits.

Essentially, the proposed ordinance amends the current ordinance by placing review of projects within the district to the “administrative officer” (a city planning staff member). The board would become an appellate body with the exception of demolitions, which would still need board approval.

If the ordinance is adopted, big controversial projects, including the Angel Oak Village Development would not have to go through CCDRB. An objective of the CCDRB, as stated in the city’s municipal code, is to “protect and enhance the city’s natural beauty, visual character and charm.” Why on earth would anyone ever propose to eliminate such a necessary part of the permit review process?

The board is comprised of seven members — including four design professionals, at least one registered architect, at least one registered landscape architect, one professional engineer, and a Realtor. They are an unbiased group that exists to make sure that Charleston maintains its unique charm by ensuring development is done in a responsible way.

Interestingly, the Angel Oak Development did go before the CCDRB several times, but plans were either denied or deferred due to members’ concerns over development completely out of character with rural Johns Island, among other issues.

Tim Keane, who worked as a private contractor for the developer of Angel Oak Village until the summer of 2009, presented the plans to the CCDRB that were not approved. Keane then became the director of planning for the city at the end of November that same year. As director of planning for the city, he is presenting this amendment for its elimination to the City Planning Commission.

In April 2009, Keane presented plans for Angel Oak Village to the CCDRB that were rejected. From a Post and Courier article about the meeting in April 2009: “Board member Patrick Pernell was highly critical. ‘The plan has a long way to go,’ he said, saying the scale and mass of buildings is still too much. He likened plans ‘to the 1970s.’

” ‘There is no suspense, no sense of destination and I don’t feel any sense of space. Behind the buildings is a sea of asphalt,’ Pernell said.”

In June 2009, The Post and Courier published another story about the Angel Oak Village development in which Mr. Keane was quoted:

“Tim Keane, Charleston’s former planning director who now runs the design firm handling the development, called the plan ‘one of those rare victories for public planning,’ and said it meshed with regional development goals developed through years of community meetings on Johns Island.”

It seems as if the director of city planning and the CCDRB have different standards when reviewing development, which is proof enough that it takes more than one person to review a development. I think we can all agree that Charleston is one of the most charming cities in the country. Why risk losing that? What could we possibly gain from “streamlining” this process?

The board is unpaid, so we aren’t wasting any tax dollars on them. Charleston is certainly not lacking in developers willing to go through the process. City employees would actually be working longer hours by reviewing a project that would have normally taken a board of seven knowledgeable people to review.

The City of Charleston Planning Commission meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday in the Meeting Room, Third Floor at 75 Calhoun St. (Charleston County School District Building). Please come out and voice your opinion.

Samantha J. Siegel is S.C. Chapter Conservation and Development Coordinator for the Sierra Club, and a co-founder of savetheangeloak.org.

Read the Post&Courier article [here]

a public meeting that will affect the Angel Oak Village Development

Tom — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 04:01:41 +0000

On Wednesday, November 17, The City of Charleston Planning Commission will host a public meeting that will present an amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance that will affect the Angel Oak Village Development.

In April of 2009, Tim Keane presented plans for Angel Oak Village to the CCDRB that were rejected. The Post and Courier wrote an article about the meeting in April of 2009:

“Board member Patrick Pernell was highly critical. ‘The plan has a long way to go,’ he said, saying the scale and mass of buildings is still too much. He likened plans ‘to the 1970s.’ ‘There is no suspense, no sense of destination and I don’t feel any sense of space. Behind the buildings is a sea of asphalt,’ Pernell said.”

In June of 2009, The Post and Courier published another story about the Angel Oak Village development in which Mr. Keane was quoted:

“Tim Keane, Charleston’s former planning director who now runs the design firm handling the development, called the plan “one of those rare victories for public planning,” and said it meshed with regional development goals developed through years of community meetings on Johns Island.”

It seems as if the Director of City Planning and the CCDRB have different standards when reviewing development, which is proof enough of that it takes more than one person to review a development.

The City of Charleston Planning Commission meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 in the Meeting Room, Third Floor at 75 Calhoun St (Charleston County School District Building—across from the main library). Please come out and voice your opinion.

Thank you!

Samantha J. Siegel

www.savetheangeloak.org

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED! Developer wants to fill in wetlands!

Tom — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:56:04 +0000

*SAVE THE Angel Oak–URGENT—PUBLIC COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 12pm ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 14^TH*

UPDATE: The original Notice should have clarified
the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control will receive comments
until 12 O’clock Noon July 29, 2010. SAC-2009-1403-SIR_Charleston_Revised

WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST A PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT THE DISTURBANCE OF THE WETLANDS ON THE ANGEL OAK VILLAGE PROJECT SITE! PLEASE HELP SAVE THE TREE BY SENDING IN YOUR REQUESTS FOR A PUBLIC MEETING TO THE U.S CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE SC DEPT. OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL by Wednesday, July 14^th at 12pm!

Developer Robert Demoura of Angel Oak Village LLC has just applied for a federal wetland permit to place fill material in wetlands adjacent to a tributary to Church Creek. The proposed activity will impact wetlands surrounding the ANGEL OAK TREE for construction of a mixed use planned development, which will be known as Sea Island Heath Care Corporation PUD, (formally Angel Oak Village). The proposed work will result in impacts to freshwater wetlands within the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. These wetlands are an important part of the Angel Oak’s ecosystem and altering them would alter the Angel Oak’s water table, vital to the survival of this magnificent tree. Additionally, the removal of these wetlands will create a situation where construction runoff will be flowing into Church Creek, an already impaired waterway. Adding more runoff to this polluted creek will eliminate fishing and recreational activities from this area. It is extremely important that the public sends in comments with clear reasons why it is in the public interest to deny the developer, Robert Demoura, this permit.

SEND COMMENTS TO:
(when sending comments PLEASE REFER TO: P/N # SAC 2008-1403-SIR)

Charleston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
69A Hagood Avenue
Charleston, SC 29403-5107

FAX: 843-329-2332

(No emails)

AND

SC Department of Health and Environmental Control,
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
1363 McMillan Avenue, Suite 400
Charleston, SC 29405
Email: geerrv@dhec.sc.gov

**YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS DIRECTLY TO ME, SAMANTHA@SAVETHEANGELOAK.ORG, AND I WILL FAX/MAIL THEM IN BY THE DEADLINE**

Thank you so much!

Some thoughts to consider in writing your letter:

The federal government can only grant this permit if:

1. The project cannot be accomplished without filling wetlands. (That is, the wetlands cannot be avoided).

2. The project is designed to fill as few wetlands as possible. (That is, wetland impacts have been minimized).

3. The project offsets the loss of the wetlands by creating, restoring, or preserving wetlands that compensate for the loss. (That is, the wetland loss has been mitigated).

Number 3 is the last step in the process. The applicant must accomplish 1 (avoidance) and 2 (minimization), before 3 (mitigation) will be considered.

The current plans for the Angel Oak Village/Sea Island Heath Care Development cannot accomplish #1 and #2. The project shows about 9 acres of “conservation” land bordering the current Sea Island Health Care facility. This is high land that will not be developed. Clearly, the developers have the option of moving the development away from the wetlands and onto a portion of the higher land. The rationale in acquiring the federal wetland permit would be that the project cannot proceed without the use of the 3.4 acres of wetlands in close proximity to the Angel Oak. This is clearly not true. These wetlands are not only important for the survival of the Angel Oak and the health of Church Creek, but they are also home for a wide range of wildlife that would have nowhere else to go.

The SC Department of Natural Wetlands had an opportunity to comment on the project.
They said:

“Our department has a number of concerns regarding the proposed development, particularly the excavation and filling of important wetlands. Project calls for a high-density commercial/residential development, requiring the excavation and filling of all wetlands on-site. Isolated wetlands such as those found on the project site provide a number of important ecological functions, including habitat for a variety of wildlife species…..In the state of South Carolina, some forty species of amphibians depend on isolated wetlands for survival, including a number of STATE AND FEDERALLY PROTECTED SPECIES.”

And goes on to say,

“For the above reasons, we recommend that the permit as currently proposed NOT be issued and the developer considers a less damaging development design that avoids and minimizes the loss of important wetlands and the clearing of mature forested uplands.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service also commented on the project.
They said:

“The area around the project site is heavily developed and quality wildlife habitat is very fragmented and becoming increasingly rare. The area proposed for development is densely forested and contains a large, isolated wetland. This large area and its combination of habitats provide considerable biological functions by providing food, shelter, and breeding grounds for many types of wildlife including deer, small mammals, migratory birds, and amphibians. The development would increase traffic in an already congested area and also includes the Angel Oak monument, which is a State monument of significant historical value. Though plans allow for a 150ft buffer to be placed around it, the Service feels this is inadequate and that the city, the monument, and the wildlife in the area would be better served by conserving the entire tract of land proposed for development.”

LETTERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 12PM ON WEDNESDAY, JULY, 14^TH.

THANK YOU!

You can download the complete public notice here: SAC-2009-1403-SIR_Charleston

UPDATE: The original Notice should have clarified
the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control will receive comments
until 12 O’clock Noon July 29, 2010. SAC-2009-1403-SIR_Charleston_Revised

Friday May 21st : Public debate with Samantha Siegel and Developer Robert Demoura

Tom — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:38:40 +0000

http://johnskiawahseabrook.live5news.com/content/haut-gap-host-environmental-summit

On May 21st, students from Haut Gap Advanced Science Magnet School on Johns Island will be “Chillin’ on the Green” as they host an environmental summit at the brand new school building. The event will bring together developers and environmental groups from around the Lowcountry to debate development close to the Angel Oak site.

From 9 AM-noon, students will participate in a poster contest, listen to the Haut Gap steel drum band, and at 10:30, listen to presentations by two opposing factions, people wishing to develop the area around Angel Oak, and those opposed to it.

Among those who plan to attend are the Coastal Conservation League, the BioBus, Charleston Recycling, Earthforce and the Angel Oak developers.

Directions to the event: http://hautgap.ccsdschools.com/directions

Angel Oak Exhibit: the tree of life

Tom — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:56:58 +0000

Donations needed for Angel Oak Exhibit: GIVE your old cloths and scrap fabrics a NEW EXPERIENCE

Donate your cloths, textiles and fabrics for a new exhibit, the tree of life, at the Children’s Museum of Lowcountry. This new exhibit is part of the Museum’s new artist-in-residency program.

About the exhibit

The tree of life (working title), will be a collaborative, site-specific installation (exhibit) at the Children’s Museum of Low county. This artwork will be created by Museum visitors (children and their families) and artist-in-residence Jennifer Van Winkle. It will be on view starting late spring 2010.

The tree of life will celebrate the natural treasure, The Angel Oak located near Charleston. The focus of the exhibit will be an activity center (play structure) inspired by the Angel Oak. This activity center will be a large tree design that encompasses most of one of the Museum’s rooms. The tree of life, will be constructed from reclaimed wood, and recycled textiles, including clothing. The intent is to encourage exploration of space—both physical space and the imagination andplant seeds of environmental awareness and stewardship. Visitors will be able to crawl, slide, and move through the spaces. There will be additional areas in the exhibit for hands-on explorations and play related to Nature.

PLEASE DONATE:

Scrap textiles, used clothing and household fabrics (blankets, sheets) needed.

All colors, sizes and textures accepted. (Cotton, polyester, corduroy, silk, velvet, leather, etc.)
Exception, no sweaters (or knit/woven fabric) please.

Long pieces of fabric especially needed ASAP. These pieces will be cut for making braids and large-scale weaving.

Drop-off your CLEAN and used (or unwanted) clothing and textiles to the Museum at 25 Ann Street, Charleston, SC.

Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-5pm and Sunday 1-5pm

Thank you for helping make this new contemporary art experience available for kids!

About the Artist

Jennifer Van Winkle is an installation artist, who creates spaces for people to go inside. Her new body of work begun in 2008, entitled, sustainable creativity: newexperiences>reused materials, involves the creation of sculptures, site-specific installations and collaborative art projects with communities. Sustainable creativity developed from her passion for making large-scale things and building both objects and relationships. So far this series has involved working with textiles, cardboard, paper plastics, and natural materials. She has been an artist-in-residence at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. She will be an artist-in-residency for the Children’s Museum of Lowcountry from March-early June, 2010. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her scientist husband and their big tom cat, Willie.

About the Project

Recyclable textiles and materials are clogging the nation’s landfills and their incineration spews tons of chemicals into our atmosphere every day. The Tree of Life is the Children’s Museum of the Low country’s solution of sustainable creativity that raises environmental awareness and stewardship in Low country children and families. Built by Museum visitors, members and the Museum’s Artist in Residence, this innovative community art installation will be constructed solely of recyclable materials.

The Tree of Life (working title) is a collaborative, community art installation made exclusively of recyclable or reusable materials at the Children’s Museum of the Low country as part of CML’s national Artist-in-Residency program from March – May 2010. The Tree celebrates a national Low country treasure, the 1500 year-old live oak tree, Angel Oak. This innovative art experience (and summer 2010 exhibit) will plant the seeds of environmental awareness and stewardship with the children and families that take part in its design and construction. In addition, the installation of recyclable and reusable materials reduces the need for landfill space and reduces pollution from incinerators. At the completion of the project, the materials are put pack into the recycling system (or nature) to have another “life” beyond contemporary art and our Museum.

SavetheAngelOak.org » Actions

Let City Council know you care about Angel Oak!

Charleston’s Angels: Fundraiser and Film Preview

BUY YOUR TICKET NOW BEFORE IT IS SOLD OUT.

Important Public Meeting on March 3rd, 2011!

This meeting will affect the Angel Oak Village Development 3/10, 5pm, Charleston

Don’t bypass Design Board

Don’t bypass Design Board

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Speak out onbid to changezoning rules

Speak out onbid to changezoning rules

a public meeting that will affect the Angel Oak Village Development

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED! Developer wants to fill in wetlands!

Friday May 21st : Public debate with Samantha Siegel and Developer Robert Demoura

Angel Oak Exhibit: the tree of life

PLEASE DONATE:

This meeting will affect the Angel Oak Village Development
3/10, 5pm, Charleston