62nd Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting
April 14, 2008
10:00 a.m.
City Hall

Members Present:
Chairman Rick Buckner, Ron Anderson, Ron Henderson, Dean Infinger, David Warner

Members Absent:
Joe Bagwell

Staff Present:
Jeff Molinari, Assistant City Administrator

Guest:

Press Present:

I. Call to Order – Chairman Rick Buckner

Mr. Buckner called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m.

II. Approval of Minutes:

Mr. Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 14, 2008, meeting. Mr. Infinger seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.

III. Downtown Redevelopment:

Highway 52 Landscaping/Drainage - Mr. Molinari reminded the Committee that a few years ago City staff briefed the EDAC on some improvements the City was looking to do in the downtown area. He stated City Council changed their direction from the original conceptual master plan that Seamon, Whiteside and Associates had put together. Mr. Molinari stated City Council had an opportunity to review several things and given the limited time frame to complete the improvements and considering the funding that is available through the Tax Increment District, expiring in 2012, they needed to focus on the objectives that are achievable. The LandPlan Group South was selected to provide design, engineering and landscaping services for the project.

Mr. Molinari stated LandPlan Group South presented initial plans to City Council at a City Council Workshop that was conducted a few weeks ago. Mr. Molinari briefed the Committee with the information that was disseminated by LandPlan Group South to City Council and the discussions that took place at those meetings. Mr. Molinari showed the Committee photos of existing conditions today, in the downtown area, in comparison to what the proposals are for the landscape designs and shared with the Committee the information concerning the proposed timeline of the project. Mr. Molinari also briefed the Committee on the next phase of the City’s hiker/biker trail system which will run 1.2 miles and connect the downtown area with the Municipal Center. Mr. Molinari stated City Council had a workshop scheduled for Tuesday, April 22nd, wherein recommendations will be made for pre-approving contractors.

Central Avenue, Etiwan Drive, Brandywine Boulevard, Thomason Boulevard – Mr. Molinari reviewed with the Committee the proposed architectural renderings and various plant materials that were presented to City Council by the LandPlan Group South. Mr. Molinari also briefed the Committee in regard to piping and storm drains. He stated LandPlan Group South suggested to City Council that each roadway of the project be done one (1) at a time, thus causing less stress on traffic throughout the City. He stated the project was anticipated to begin in January of 2009, and to be completed toward the end of 2009. Mr. Molinari stated one of the reasons the City chose LandPlan Group South was because of their experience in doing these types of projects in other jurisdictions and their ability to coordinate with existing businesses, South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), railroads, etc. Mr. Buckner inquired if the City planned to continue with placing power lines underground and if so was there a time line. Mr. Molinari stated yes that the utilities lines would be placed underground and the City would want to coordinate the burying of overhead lines with the streetscaping improvements.

Mr. Molinari also discussed the improvements that will take place in regard to Highway 52 and Highway 176/St. James Avenue and Red Bank Road. He stated the City was still working with the SCDOT in regard to developing a design for a mast arm that would support such a large intersection with such an unusual design layout. Mr. Molinari stated City Council did still wish to do something with the triangle at that intersection with some type of water feature, but currently had no plan in place.

IV. Traffic Count Data:

Mr. Molinari stated one thing that has come up historically in talking about demographics with restaurants is traffic flows. He stated the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments did a good job of compiling the City’s traffic count data and he wanted to pass along to the Committee the most recent data from 2006. He stated the City’s peck traffic flows were along Highway 52 with 45,000 vehicles traveling that roadway per day, the most heavily traveled in the City. He stated St. James Avenue also had very strong traffic flows, calculated at the intersection of St. James Avenue and Old Moncks Corner Road with 37,400 vehicles traveling that roadway per day. He stated that was the most up to date information he currently had regarding vehicular traffic. There was a brief discussion concerning the traffic counts and the flow of traffic on Thomason Boulevard, Brandywine Boulevard, Liberty Hall Road and Crowfield Boulevard.

V. Commercial Construction Packets:

Mr. Molinari gave the Committee commercial construction packets for informational purposes only. He stated City staff tried to come up with ways to make the process as easy as possible for new businesses coming into the City and he stated from a staff perspective it is sometimes confusing trying to keep everything together. He stated in conjunction with the City’s Public Information Officer and the City’s Planning Department, City staff has put together a packet for new construction. He stated the reason he was showing the information to the Committee was because he also wanted to devise a packet for businesses that come into the City that are doing up fits, renovating old buildings. He stated he would also like to devise a packet for new subdivisions and the packet can be posted on the City’s Web site so all the information is available in regard to the forms and the process.

Mr. Buckner commended Mr. Molinari for his effort and stated this was something the business community had been looking for a long time. He stated he could envision on the Web site a perspective business or builder going to a page and going to the City’s Web site, answering some questions and the site then takes them to the necessary forms and information they would need.

Mr. Warner inquired who set the rules and regulations in Crowfield Corporate Park. He stated it was very confusing who sets the rules and regulations in Crowfield Corporate Park because they have their own Architectural Review Board (ARB). He stated the City’s ARB rules were very different with those of the Crowfield Corporate Park ARB. Mr. Anderson inquired if Westvaco still owned the business park. Mr. Molinari stated the remainder of the park was purchased by Steve Vaughn. There was a brief discussion in regard to the differences between the City’s ARB regulations versus the ARB regulations of Crowfield Corporate Park.

Mr. Molinari stated City staff was still in the development stages of the commercial construction packet and was not sure when it would be available online.

VI. Carnes Crossroads (www.carnescharleston.com):

Mr. Molinari showed the Committee the website the Daniel Island Company has for Carnes Crossroads and reviewed some of the information that was currently available in regard to the residential and commercial areas. He stated Harris Teeter was going to be the anchor store for the first phase of the commercial development at Carnes Crossroads.

VII. Cobblestone Village – Executive Session:

Mr. Buckner requested the Committee go into Executive Session. Mr. Infinger made a motion to go into Executive Session

Mr. Anderson seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. (11:10 a.m.)

Mr. Anderson made a motion to adjourn Executive Session. Mr. Infinger seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. (11:35 a.m.)

Mr. Buckner stated Mr. Daning has now moved up and is a Representative in the House of Representatives for the State of South Carolina. Mr. Molinari stated he spoke with Mr. Dennis Harmon, City Administrator, about the vacancy on the EDAC, left by Mr. Daning. He stated now that Mr. Daning was not on City Council, Mr. Harmon suggested Mr. Jerry Tekac, the newly elected member to City Council, fill the vacancy on the EDAC as the liaison to City Council. He stated Mr. Tekac would be sworn in on Friday, May 9, 2008, to City Council. Mr. Molinari stated Mr. Tekac served for nine (9) years on the City’s Planning Commission.

Mr. Buckner inquired if the City had a list of qualified individuals for boards and commissions for the City. Mr. Molinari reviewed the process the City takes when a position becomes vacant on a board or commission.

VIII. Chairman’s Time:

Mr. Molinari handed out appreciation certificates to the Committee from City Council for their service on the EDAC and to the City of Goose Creek. Mr. Buckner thanked Mr. Molinari and stated he felt the EDAC was a positive looking committee and he believed he spoke for the Committee in that they appreciate what the City does for them as well.

Mr. Buckner inquired if Berkeley County decided whether or not to approve the 1% sales tax for the construction of roadways throughout Berkeley County. Mr. Molinari stated that should be on the ballot in November 2008. He stated Mayor Heitzler and the Berkeley Chamber were very strong supporters in favor of the referendum. He stated the Berkeley County area has always been in constant competition with Charleston and Dorchester Counties when it came to trying to secure funding for roadways in the tri-county area.

There was a brief discussion concerning the comparison of sales tax rates within the tri-county area with Charleston County at 7½%, Dorchester County at 7% and Berkeley County currently at 7%. Mr. Buckner stated if the 1% goes into effect, Berkeley County would be the highest taxing entity in the tri-county area.

Mr. Henderson inquired if there has been any planning from the City for a main entranceway out on Highway 17A, something other than green signs. Mr. Molinari stated that would be a decision City Council would have to make.

IX. Adjournment:

Hearing nothing further, Mr. Buckner asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Infinger made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Anderson seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Meeting adjourned 11:47 a.m.

Minutes approved and adopted:

_________________________________ Date: July 14, 2008
Rick Buckner, Chairman