Hilton Head, The Next Generation

If you have not seen the new website for the Hilton Head Institute well, here it is.  I hope this group is not the typical government committee that goes nowhere with big ideas.  It is touted as being a group with a vision like Charles Fraser.  A term I hear from people all the time, who never really knew my Uncle. I wish these groups that would like to use the Fraser name at least put a Fraser on their boards, otherwise please don't tout that they know what his vision was.  His vision was ever changing as he learned more and more.  He did not get stale in his desire to learn and improve what he had done. It is because this that I get somewhat annoyed when I hear from someone saying that was not the vision Charles Fraser had.

The next generation of Fraser's are well established in their own ways.  In my family there are five children of Joe Fraser and the late Carolyn "Becky” Fraser. Joe Fraser, owner of Fraser Construction, Simon Fraser lawyer, and chairman Heritage Classic Foundation, West Fraser recognized artist throughout the USA, Charlie B Fraser, developer and resort residential real estate professional. Carolyn Fraser, restaurant manager.   The late Charles Fraser and Mary Stone Fraser had two daughters Wyman Fraser Davis, mother and pastor, Laura Lawton Fraser, mother and curator of the Charles E Fraser Library.  Anyone of us would welcome the opportunity be a part of helping create a better Hilton Head Island.

In a related article about my uncle Charles Fraser's Legacy to ULI. The men interviewed in this article all worked at some point in time with my uncle, my father and a few with my grandfather Gen. Joseph B Fraser.  They helped Charles shape his vision and execute his plans for Sea Pines Company. My father, Joe Fraser, was the one in the family who constructed the ideas for Sea Pines. He never interfered with his little brother's plans. He would however change things if the cost did not meet the reward.  All of the top Executives in Sea Pines Co. affectionately refer to their years with Sea Pines as “Sea Pines University" Charles was their professor.  They knew and loved Charles, but ask them if they know his vision I am not sure they can answer that, because his vision was ever changing with technology, social behaviors, family dynamics and so forth. Charles had a voracious appetite for learning, and was constantly researching new and challenging ideas for communities and what made them successful.  He would have changed many things with Sea Pines if he could, but in the end he was very proud of what had been accomplished. To me Peter Rummell captured Charles's vision quite well in the quote below, and in the ULI article.

Peter Rummell noted: "If Charles were here, the first thing he would do is go look at a dozen other places to see how they had aged, what worked, and what didn't  He’d take an idea from each of those, and he’d learn from them."

The Urban land Institute credited Charles with modern day design techniques. 

I for have been noting in my blogs the last few years what I view as “the blunders” that The Town of Hilton Head has been making.  The Town is not keeping Hilton Head ahead of the curve in redevelopment of the many areas outside the "gates".   The land buying program and the LMO have stifled redevelopment and controlled growth.  The Land Buying program has over inflated commercial real estate values, and the LMO makes it hard to make a commercial project viable for a developer to renovate a property or build a new property. TOWN PARKS

I can say that some of the areas that I mentioned above are now being addressed.  So I am cautiously optimistic about the Hilton Head Institute, and other initiatives to promote new businesses and renovation of existing properties.

Related Blogs by Charlie Fraser

Redevelopment of Shelter Cove
Mathews Drive Projects Point to Progress
New Conceptual Plans for Coligny

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copyright @ Charlie B Fraser

All copy and pictures are property of Urban Land Institute

Reinventing Hilton Head for a New Generation

by Trisha Riggs
June 25, 2013

On a sunny February afternoon, a cyclist sped his racing bike down an asphalt trail on South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island, gaining momentum—until he was forced to brake hard to avoid colliding with two elderly women who had stopped their broad-tired beach cruisers for a chat. Clearly annoyed, he darted off the path and cut into a stream of cars on Route 278, the divided four-lane road that spans the 12-mile-long (19.3 km) island on the Atlantic Coast.

 + Related: Charles Fraser's Legacy to ULI
The contrast between the serious biker in tights and toe-clipped cycling shoes and the ladies meandering about in capris and sun visors is symbolic of the 21st-century challenge facing Hilton Head, a resort town steeped in 20th-century tradition: how to reach beyond the affluent retirees drawn to its famed golf resorts to a broader market that includes baby boomers and members of generations X and Y who enjoy its pristine beaches, but who have many other recreational and cultural interests as well.

The legacy of the late land use visionary and ULI leader Charles Fraser, who developed Hilton Head’s first resort community during the 1960s and 1970s, is evident all over the island. Fraser’s 5,000-acre (2,000 ha) Sea Pines Plantation, with nearly 6,000 residential units and amenities that include golf, tennis, boating, horseback riding, dining, and shopping, was awarded a ULI Award for Excellence in 1985 and a ULI Heritage Award in 1994. The environmentally conscious development practices Fraser initiated have influenced the design of both residential and commercial areas throughout Hilton Head. Nearly every side street curves around sprawling live oaks draped in Spanish moss; on the main road, retail signs are painted in muted shades of beige, brown, and green. In every neighborhood, homes and stores blend in with the natural habitat.

Now, a half century after Fraser started selling lots and just over ten years since his death, private and public sector representatives are grappling with how to update Hilton Head’s image—maintaining its reputation as a place to relax and recharge, but also positioning it to keep pace with changing times. It is a task that requires creating an environment to spur economic growth while preserving the characteristics that have distinguished the island as a place of uncommon beauty.
At ULI South Carolina’s recent annual meeting, held for the first time on Hilton Head, the reinvention process was discussed in depth, offering some lessons learned for resort-oriented communities seeking to become more multigenerational in appeal. The two-day district council program featured a marquee panel

of those with long memories of Hilton Head—including ULI Chairman Peter Rummell, former ULI chairmen James Chaffin and J. Ronald Terwilliger, and former ULI trustee James Light, all of whom started their real estate careers working for Fraser in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The agenda also included several ULI members and community leaders involved in setting Hilton Head’s future course. The consensus among the speakers: exclusivity is out and inclusivity is, well, in.

Chaffin was recruited to sell land at Sea Pines by Fraser and Light; he and Light are now chairmen of Chaffin and Light Management, with offices in Okatie, South Carolina, and Basalt, Colorado. He noted that gated communities, a development form that was a strong selling point in the island’s early days and one that remained popular for years, are losing ground to a market segment more interested in openness. "The market today does not care about elitism or gated communities. When you ask people what is important to them, it boils down to the experiences they have, the friends they make, and the way they are treated," he said. "It’s about the institution of community—how you weave together the threads of community. As community developers, we have to get beyond amenities like golf and tennis and focus on what we can do to foster connectedness."

Rummell, principal of the Rummell Company in Jacksonville, Florida, pointed out that demographic shifts are having a lasting impact on resort developments, particularly those seeking to expand their economies beyond the hospitality industry to attract more permanent residents and "knowledge economy" workers. "The impact that younger generations are having on resort development is a huge issue," he said. "Gated communities are yesterday’s solution. They don’t work well environmentally, economically, or in terms of infrastructure. We are living in a more urban world, and people are reacting more favorably to places that offer a more urbanlike setting." Golf—long perceived as a symbol of gentility and affluence—at some point likely will become more of a secondary than primary draw in many resort communities, Rummell predicted.

Fraser would advise those involved in reinventing Hilton Head to let the experiences of other communities be a guide, Rummell noted. "If Charles were here, the first thing he would do is go look at a dozen other places to see how they had aged, what worked, and what didn’t. He’d take an idea from each of those, and he’d learn from them."

Fraser’s ideas, his commitment to excellence in design and amenities, and his insistence on developing in harmony with nature are what brought the tourists who ultimately became residents and business owners in the town of Hilton Head Island, said David Ames, founder of Amesco, an urban planning consulting firm in Hilton Head. The town, incorporated in 1983, now has a permanent population of more than 40,000 and draws about 2.5 million visitors annually. "The people who chose to come to the island because of his [Fraser’s] vision have shaped the island’s character and created its special
ambience. It’s this community spirit, energy, and pride that we are seeking in the island’s reinvention," Ames said.

Following the island’s initial development, Hilton Head entered a phase between 1978 and 2008 that could be characterized, Ames said, as the years of "maintaining the status quo"—a period during which residents supported investments of more than $13 million for parks, $50 million for beach renourishment, $24 million for road improvements, and $162 million for land conservation, as well as creation of 56 miles (90 km) of bike paths.

The movement to change the status quo started during the Great Recession, which left the island—like many other resort areas dependent on the hospitality industry—in an economic slump. In 2009, the town’s comprehensive plan listed 300 planning strategies, most related to managing growth. Few focused specifically on economic expansion. Through the work of a mayoral task force, the plan was subsequently revised to include five strategies to be implemented over 25 years:

• renew an emphasis on environmental and community-planning leadership;
  
• position the island as a "refuge from the common place";
  
• position the government as business friendly;
  
• broaden and deepen the economy; and
  
• revitalize existing buildings and infrastructure.
  

The revised strategy is part of the process of "reinvigorating Fraser’s dream," Ames said. Among the first steps is the establishment of the Hilton Head Island Institute, which is designed to study and create

lectures and other programs on subjects related to livability, such as health, wellness, lifestyles, ecology, community planning, and design.
The institute’s first gathering is planned for this fall, said Ames, who serves on the institute’s board. "Our goal is to attract young, ambitious, adventuresome, entrepreneurial, independent thinkers—the same type of people who created Hilton Head—who will become island leaders and provide new energy and new ideas. We see the institute as capturing the essence of Charles’s vision and what has made the vision endure—cutting-edge ideas, and youthful in orientation and spirit."

The local government is also working to ease the entitlement and development process, including rewriting the town’s 25-year-old land management ordinance, said Jim Gant, a resident and volunteer on the ordinance redrafting committee. The rewrite includes provisions to reduce the number of land use zones, allow more mixed-use development, reduce use restrictions, and relax some design standards to allow more renovations. Though geared toward more flexibility, the overhaul carries on Hilton Head’s commitment to environmental stewardship, he said. "The world is different now, and changes are called for," Gant said.
Abundant signs can be found across the island of efforts to give Hilton Head a facelift, but with respect for the sensibilities that have made it a thriving destination. Golf remains the sport for which Hilton Head is particularly well known: the island has 25 public courses and four private ones. The Heritage Classic Professional Golf Association tournament (now named the RBC Heritage for title sponsor Royal Bank of Canada) has been held annually at Sea Pines’ Harbour Town Golf Links for 45 years. The River stone Group, which now owns Sea Pines Plantation, just completed a new course designed by Pete Dye.
While noting that "golf is still important at Sea Pines," Sea Pines president Steve Birdwell said efforts are underway by the company to make the golfing experience at the community appear less formal. As part of a multiyear, resort wide revitalization that could cost as much as $100 million, Riverstone is building a new golf club that Birdwell said will have a "casual feel" reflecting South Carolina’s Low Country architectural style. The club is envisioned to be a gathering point for the Sea Pines community, he said. "We are repositioning Sea Pines for the future to make it more competitive."

Renovations are underway at several of Hilton Head’s major hotels and in the eclectic Coligny neighborhood shopping district, which is adding a lifelong learning center operated through the University

of South Carolina. At the island’s main shopping mall in the Shelter Cove community, work is underway to better connect the mall with an adjacent park and nearby waterways, said Mark Senn, president of Augusta, Georgia–based Blanchard Calhoun, which is redeveloping the facility. The project will include new apartments. "Since the recession, we’ve found a great demand for rentals," Senn said. "We’re getting calls from people who lost equity in their homes, but they still have income. They’re tired of owning and they want the flexibility [of renting]. This is who we’re catering to."
The area’s repositioning efforts are not limited to the island. In Bluffton, just across the bridge connecting Hilton Head to the mainland, the community of Buckwater Place was one of several to switch course during the recession. Planned in 2002 as a retail destination, the community was targeted in 2007 for a different economic driver by developer JCM Ventures of Savannah, Georgia. "We needed to diversify the economy to attract knowledge workers," said company owner Matthew Green.

CareCore National, a health care firm, moved to Buckwater Place from New York state, becoming the major anchor for the development, with retail and dining as supportive uses. Subsequently, a small-business incubator, the Don Ryan Center for Innovation, moved to the development. Plans call for construction of compact, moderate-cost residential units to provide more workforce housing. "We’re working on how to match the desires of younger workers with those of older baby boomers," Green said.

Gerrit Albert, vice president of Crescent Resources in Bluffton, described the evolution of the nearby Palmetto Bluff community into one that is family oriented, with nodes of activity such as community gardens and an arts park. "It’s all about interaction, about creating an atmosphere of inclusivity," Albert said. "People disdain isolation. . . . Golf [as the main draw] is being replaced by food, wine, and lifelong learning centers."

John Reed, a former Fraser employee, has developed properties on Hilton Head for 40 years, witnessing the expansion of consumer interests beyond golf into a broad range of sports, culture, and arts-oriented pursuits. Now president and chief executive officer at Reed Development in Bluffton, Reed said the company noticed in 2006 a shift among buyers at its Berkeley Hall community. The game changer: buyers from the silent and greatest generations (age 68 and older) were being replaced by baby boomers seeking variety in recreational offerings and prices.

Although sales dropped dramatically during the recession, he said his company was convinced that the trend toward younger buyers would resume when the market turned. As a result, it dropped plans for another golf course even though it had already completed the permitting process. It was a decision Reed believes has helped keep the development viable: "Our buyers don’t want country club living; they want gathering places. They want places with a neighborly feel. Just building [high-end] custom homes on golf courses will not drive the market."

+ Related: Charles Fraser's Legacy to ULI

In the current environment of demographic and economic shifts, Reed said he often recalls an important lesson from Fraser—to "constantly ask yourself what your customers want" in order to avoid getting blindsided while standing on tradition. "There are opportunities in responding to change," he said.

All copy and pictures are property of ULI

Fishing in the Lowcountry

If you didn't know by now, I guess you will after this blog.  I have a passion for fishing, and the last two years I have hired captains to run my Everglades 24 for hire.  This year a young man who grew up with my son Elliott, Allick Inglis, is running the boat for me.  He is a "River Rat" after my own heart.  He grew up in the marshes and creeks of the lowcountry, and he would get Elliott to tag along with him as he went.  So, if you live here on the island or are visiting, give us shot, because Allick can catch fish.

To all my Swedish Friends

Carl Pettersson didn't feel the pressure Sunday until trying on the tartan jacket. Then it all sank in.
The 34-year-old native of Sweden coasted to a five-shot victory at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, posting 14-under to win over Zach Johnson and Colt Knost, who was one off the lead entering the final round but struggled out of the gate.

Pettersson secured $1,026,000 with the victory, his fifth on the PGA Tour.  "I knew I was playing well," Pettersson said. "I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself. I was kind of downplaying the whole thing."
Pettersson made birdies at Nos. 1, 4 and 5 to create a cushion, by that time over second-place Johnson, who finished 9 under. Pettersson led the field in greens in regulation and in putts per greens in regulation -- a devastating combination at Harbour Town Golf Links, which sports the smallest greens of any PGA Tour course.

Beaufort resident Mark Anderson enjoyed his best tournament as a professional, finishing 3 under, tied for 13th and earning $106, 875. Bluffton resident Kyle Stanley finished 6 over and slipped to a tie for 60th. 
Anderson made five birdies on Sunday to post 68, his best round at Harbour Town. "It feels really good," Anderson said. "It was an exciting week the entire week, especially today, playing really well in the final round on a tough day."

Copyright 2012 The Island Packet. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

To my sister in law Helena Fox Fraser and my best friend Tom Whitmore who now lives in Sweden.  Hat's off to a Swed winning the Heritage, I for one was pulling for him.  I think he will be a good steward to wear the Tartan Jacket as the newest member of the "Gentleman Golfer's".

Thanks go out tou our new sponsor's RBC and Boeing, thank you for the rescue and I hope you had as a good of time as I did.

Our 1st RBC Heritage Champion ... Congrats

Carl Pettersson didn't feel the pressure Sunday until trying on the tartan jacket. Then it all sank in.  The 34-year-old native of Sweden coasted to a five-shot victory at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, posting 14-under to win over Zach Johnson and Colt Knost, who was one off the lead entering the final round but struggled out of the gate.  Pettersson secured $1,026,000 with the victory, his fifth on the PGA Tour. "I knew I was playing well," Pettersson said. "I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself. I was kind of downplaying the whole thing." Pettersson made birdies at Nos. 1, 4 and 5 to create a cushion, by that time over second-place Johnson, who finished 9 under. Pettersson led the field in greens in regulation and in putts per greens in regulation -- a devastating combination at Harbour Town Golf Links, which sports the smallest greens of any PGA Tour course.

Beaufort resident Mark Anderson enjoyed his best tournament as a professional, finishing 3 under, tied for 13th and earning $106, 875. Bluffton resident Kyle Stanley finished 6 over and slipped to a tie for 60th. 
Anderson made five birdies on Sunday to post 68, his best round at Harbour Town. "It feels really good," Anderson said. "It was an exciting week the entire week, especially today, playing really well in the final round on a tough day."

Copyright 2012 The Island Packet. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

To my sister in law Helena Fox Fraser and my best friend Tom Whitmore who now lives in Sweden. Hat's off to a Swed winning the Heritage, I for one was pulling for him. I think he will be a good steward to wear the Tartan Jacket as the newest member of the "Gentleman Golfer's".

Thanks go out to our new sponsor's RBC and Boeing, thank you for the rescue and I hope you had as a good of time as I did. Copyright Charlie B Fraser 2012

Here I come ... Re/Max

I have joined Re/Max Island Realty as an Associate Broker. I made this move in order to better serve my clients and customers with a National Brand supporting my efforts. I will continue to specialize in Resort Residential Real Estate and Commercial/Investment real estate. I am excited about joining the team at Re/Max and look forward to selling properties on the island. Call me if I can help you sell or buy a property. If you are not in the market referrals are the best form of flattery. [visit my website at the top of the page]

Is this how your Banker treats you !!

On when the Shark bites !! Do you feel like the sharks are circling around the sinking ship? For, far too many that is what is happening, between short sales, foreclosures and REO’s it’s a feeding frenzy out there.

What can be done, you want to buy a home, but your not sure where to turn. You heard a friend say he had a friend who got a great deal on a foreclosure, so you start to think the foreclosures are the way to go. Let’s get a few facts and terminology out of the way first.

The time line is simple by nature, but starts to get cloudy as different variables come into the equation.

• [1] If an owner is upside down on a property, in other words he/she owe more than the home is worth, they are going to have two (2) options.

• Option 1: Negotiate with their bank for a lower rate, maybe extend the terms, and manage their monthly expenses.

• Option 2: Work with an experienced team of Realtor’s and attorneys to sell their property in a Short Sale situation. (This is the best way for someone who is trying to sell their PRIMARY residence) An experienced team: Realtor and Attorney can help negotiate with the bank, price the property to sale, and deal with the bank when an offer comes through.



• [2]If an owner for whatever reason waits too long, or has an investment/2^nd home, the bank will begin the foreclosure process (obviously if the owner is behind in their payments). Typically it is thirty days, and the bank can and will pull it from the court if in that time frame the owner makes payments, or gets an offer for a short sale. A short sale is better for the bank and the owner, but is harder for a buyer.
• Once the property goes to foreclosure, and a judge rules in favor of the bank the property becomes an REO of the bank (REO = Real Estate Owned) The term foreclosure is bantered about very loosely, yet it means a onetime event, when the bank takes possession of the property.
• [3]Once the property becomes an REO it is sent to the banks Asset Management Department, which could be an internal division or a private company the bank contracts with. The Asset Manager will begin the process of evaluating the property. What shape is it in? What is the true value of the property? What are the market conditions in the neighborhood?
• Once the Asset Manager has evaluated the property they will begin selecting the Realtor that they feel can best market the property.

• Advertising the property, a viable list of prospects, a specialization in REO’s and a particular neighborhood.


• The agent may be required to spend money on cleaning the property, frequent trips to the property to oversee maintenance work, advising the bank on additional items that might help sell the property.

So how does all this affect a buyer?

SHORT SALES: Short Sales take more time, and can become very emotional. There are three parties involved: Owner, Buyer and Mortgagor. The Mortgagor technically does not have the authority to convey title, but they are the last one with the authority to accept or reject an offer. In all Short Sales, the contract will say: “Subject to 3^rd Party Approval” The Short Sale can typically take anywhere from 90 to 180 days to close. So, it is not for someone who needs a place in 45 days.

REO: An REO is typically a more traditional transaction. The bank has determined a range of value, they have assessed what will need to be done to the property and have either agreed to do it or sell it “AS IS” SO BUYER BEWARE!

GETTING FINANCING: The final piece of the puzzle is financing, obviously a CASH OFFER IS KING, but if you need to finance the property keep in mind that you will need a qualification letter, a certificate of funds at the time of the contract. Once the bank has countered and approved on the price and terms, they will want to do their own contract. Please have your attorney review it before signing the contract. It would be best to have at lease a 75/25 LTV ration in a mortgage, and a credit rating over 750 with income that can be verified. The underwriters, thanks to our government, will be asking for information in duplicate, and if anything changes they will ask again. So be nice to your loan officer and ask questions, don’t get mad, be patient.

• Good article on buying Short Sales


• http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Three-Secrets-Of-Buying-A-Short-Sale-Home-To-Live-In/1693381

• Article about REO’s


• http://www.ehow.com/facts_6123676_reo-sales_.html


• http://www.sooperarticles.com/real-estate-articles/buying-home-articles/reo-properties-safer-bargain-2453.html


• Home Affordable Modification Program http://www.theobamahamp.com/

The last thing I would say is that buying a property from an individual is still the easiest way to buy real estate. Financing for a purchase is going to be consistent throughout the entire process. An owner/buyer sales transaction has less emotion once the contract has been negotiated, and in today’s market an owner that is not in a short sale has been taking care of their property, and what you see in the property is going to be there when you purchase the property. So, keep in mind when looking at property look at the properties that are not REO’s, you might find out you are getting a better deal.

So, let Barry Ginn or Charlie Fraser help you to find a good deal on Hilton Head Island or surrounding lowcountry area.

Copyright content & photo Charlie B Fraser 2010

And that's the way it was!!

The other day while driving home from Charleston, fusing about the traffic from the widening of Hwy 17 I realized that a part of the lowcountry was going to disappear. A change in time was taking shape in the form of old buildings in disrepair, not that it had not already been slowly going away, but actual buildings that I had taken for granted through the forty plus years that I have traveled that road were falling to rot or progress. In this case it seems it might be a little of both. The buildings are in disrepair, and Hwy 17 is being widened between Garden’s Corner and Tarboro, SC. I decided I would stop and take a few pictures and think about the times that were. Along Hwy 17 it crosses the Ashepoo River and on either side of the bridge there are the remains of old fish camps. On one side is Joe's Fish Camp, and on the other is Crosby's Fish Camp. They have a couple of old river cottages that are built on pilings overlooking the river, and today they are all that remain of a time when on the weekends the rooms would be full, the bait shop would have a crowd talking about where to go the next morning. The crickets and frogs would be in full orchestra as the sunset on Friday night, and the men would call it an early night and get ready to go fish on Saturday. They would fish for bream, crappie, catfish and the occasional bass. They would all come back Saturday afternoon with a full stringer of fish.

Saturday night would be the social night, the day's catch would be fried up, along with plenty of local vegetables, and of course grits. Some of the fish camps had the best restaurants around a community and Sunday lunch after church would bring out everyone in their best church going clothes for local seafood. I remember as a young kid, of four years old, our family driving thirty minutes or more to go to a local seafood restaurant down in Midway, GA Liberty County Sunday after church. I would always get the fried shrimp. That restaurant had a pond in back, and Mom would let us go feed the ducks bread that the restaurant provided to keep the children happy and quiet.

Just up the road from the fish camps located on the Ashepoo River is an old Texaco station that today is falling apart, but at one time it served the community surrounding this area. It is located at the intersection of Hwy 17 and River Road. River Road leads into to Walterboro, and in the late 50's and early 60's when Crosby's Fish Camp was in full swing, many a fisherman would stop in at the Texaco for gas, and other supplies they might not find at the fish camp store.

Why have I been telling this tale of two old fish camps, it is because they are widening Hwy 17 to make way for our busy lives and the population explosion that has occurred in the south. These buildings might be lost for everyone once they finish widening the road, and I wanted to have one last memory of this once peaceful road between Beaufort and Charleston along Hwy 17. I might need to make a trip down Hwy 17 in Georgia, and see what remains of those fish camps that once populated Hwy 17 along the coastal communities of Georgia (Like the Cherokee Restaurant that I went to as a kid in Midway, GA), and complete my lowcountry tour of “Fish Camps”.

Today a new way of life has sprouted out of the changing times, and people come by bus with trailers full of kayaks for day trips along the Ashepoo River, or some might even enjoy an overnight camping trip. The boat ramps are open for fisherman, but the bait & tackle stores are no longer open. It is a pay as you play. Whatever the occasion the river still calls us to its beauty and charm, weather it is for a day of fishing or kayaking along the banks. As I have always said "A DAY ON THE RIVER IS BETTER THAN A DAY AT WORK !!"

In researching for history on South Carolina Fish Camps, I came across countless entries for places all over the country from California, Washington, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Texas. It wasn’t regarding the history, but fish camps still open. If the fish camp was no longer a viable operation then it usually had turned into a full fledge restaurant operation still serving food in an old fish camp location. They once were thriving true "Fish Camps" but today are tourist attractions with either a good restaurant or one that has seen its day. They still all have one thing in common, the history of fishing, camaraderie, and being on the river.

The other item that I found through my research, and I have certainly seen this in many developments but one in particular stands out for me. Old fish camps have given architects and developers another tool to attract people to a way of life in a particular area. The “Lifestyle” of the lowcountry is engrossed in these old traditions. One such project is not far from the Ashepoo River on Kiawah Island just south of Charleston. There the architects helped the developers capture the feel for the old "fish camp" through the Vanderhorst family, who for many years owned Kiawah and had numerous properties scattered around the island, and one of was the "Old Fish Camp". It is a great example of modern day qualities capturing the feel for the days of the “Fish Camp” Enjoy the link and learn about the modern fish camp. http://gardenandgun.com/article/modern-fish-camp

FISH FRY DINNER

• Fresh fillet's of redfish
• Zatarain's fish fry mix, add Old Bay, salt & Pepper, little cayenne. a little cumin and apply generously to fish fillets. Bring oil to 350 degrees and gently put seasoned fillets in oil (it takes about 4-6 minutes per fillet)
• Garlic Grits .... this is a link to Paula Dean's recipe .. enjoy http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/baked-garlic-cheese-grits-recipe/index.html
• Cole Slaw: Cabbage, red onion, carrots and Marie's Cole Slaw Dressing. It's easy mix ingredients and add dressing, chill until ready to serve, salt & pepper to taste ...... I like to add a sprinkle the top with paprika for taste and color, or get bold and use the Old Bay. Chop onions up fine, and shave carrots.

Invite friends over and have a good ole fish fry, it is best to do it outside if you can. More fun that way!!

This is one of the many reasons why I love the lowcountry, and I have an even better time helping people make the lowcountry their home. Barry Ginn and I have teamed up to help you find the perfect lowcountry home. We have a very good knowledge of the lowcountry, Hilton Head Island and would love to share it with you. Call us today!!

copyright Content and Photographs by Charlie B Fraser 2010

USCB awards degrees amid pomp, circumstance

By KATE CERVE
kcerve@beaufortgazette.com
843-706-8177
Published Friday, April 30, 2010


Retired developer receives honorary degree
Joseph B. Fraser Jr., business leader, environmental preservationist and public servant, received an honorary doctoral degree at Friday's University of South Carolina Beaufort commencement.
USCB Chancellor Jane Upshaw said Fraser pioneered conservation-minded communities that incorporated wildlife preserves and protected green space. He helped keep the Heritage Classic golf tournament alive in the 1980s and helped form the Heritage Classic Foundation.In the school's 50th year, leaders of the University of South Carolina Beaufort traced the community's more than 200-year history of higher education that began with Beaufort College.

At Friday's graduation ceremony, the 222 members of USCB's class of 2010 -- the university's largest graduating class yet -- recalled the changes they saw.

Graduate Ben Lipscomb said the library didn't exist when he started at USCB. There weren't any athletics programs, either. Or the Sand Sharks mascot.

"There are a lot more people now," Lipscomb said. "Watching it grow was pretty neat."

"When I first got there, there was no student center," graduate Chelsia Hopkins said. "And now, we have the cafeteria and the gym and the student lounge. There have been a lot of great changes I've seen."

This year's commencement ceremony marked the first time Chancellor Jane Upshaw wore a traditional chancellor's medallion, after the Trustees of the College of Beaufort donated it to the university in April.

Even the language in the diploma changed.

"The diplomas the class of 2010 receives will recognize for the first time -- officially -- USCB's independent accreditation as a baccalaureate campus," Harris Pastides, president of USC, told the graduates.

Upshaw thanked the graduates for their contributions to the university's growth.

"Through your accomplishments, you have built USCB's reputation in our region and our state," she said.

Jonathan Green, acclaimed artist and Gullah conservationist, delivered the commencement address and encouraged the graduates to look to their country's past to understand the culture of the world they live in.

He spoke about the African farmers who brought skills to South Carolina's rice-growing region and made rice one of the most profitable industries in early America. Rice brought people together and still can, said Green, who was born in Gardens Corner.

"I want you to understand what a magnificent culture we are, where we came from, who we are," Green said. "... You are a product of this culture, regardless of your color, your religion. You are the future of this culture."

http://www.islandpacket.com

The above article is from the Island Packet.

I am very proud of my father and what he has done for this community for over fifty five years, from the days as a logger, a home builder, a land planner, a philanthropy as Chairman of the Heritage Classic Foundation.

I would like to express my thanks to the USC board for bestowing the honorary degree to my father, Joseph B Fraser.

For all the residents of Beaufort and Jasper Counties I encourage you to get behind what USCB is doing. Chancel Jane Upshaw is doing a great job at USCB and it will be an integral part of our economic growth, and diversity in the types of companies that locate in Beaufort & Jasper Counties.

Charlie B Fraser copyright 2010

Fraser's walk with a gator now permanently in the park

Samuel Arnal 10, stands by the staute dedicated to his grandfather Charles Fraser during it's unveiling at the Compass Rose park on Hilton Head Island. " He loves that photo," said Samuels mother, Laura Lawton Fraser. "He's always imitating the walk at home" / Sarah Welliver/ The Island Packet

By ROB WILE
rwile@islandpacket.com
843-706-8138
Published Saturday, April 17, 2010


Hilton Head Island residents saw history cast forever into bronze Saturday at the unveiling of the Charles E. Fraser Statue in Compass Rose Park.
The statue is the product of several years of planning by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and its Public Art Fund, created in 2005. It depicts the photograph that appeared in the March 3, 1962, edition of the Saturday Evening Post showing Fraser walking with an alligator on the Sea Pines Ocean Course.
Fraser, who died in 2002, founded the Sea Pines Co. in 1956, and the photograph helped put Hilton Head on the map as a tourist destination.
Many members of Fraser's family were in attendance at the park on Pope Avenue, including his widow, Mary Fraser.
"It's wonderful to have his feet back on the land," she said. "He came, he saw, he did. He perceived what others did not and took a stand for it."
Laura Lawton Fraser praised her father's legacy of having created opportunities for tourism on Hilton Head while preserving the local environment. She said his experiences studying land-use covenants as a law student at Yale University were an important step in forming his vision for the island.
"That's when he knew he could take something beautiful and keep it beautiful," she said.
Mayor Tom Peeples was on hand to dedicate the statue, as were acolytes of Fraser's in the development community.
Jim Chaffin, a Heritage Classic Foundation board member who worked for Fraser at the Sea Pines Co. and later started his own development firm, discussed Fraser's unique approach to development, including the addition of bike lanes, which Chaffin said were a novelty in the 1960s.
"Who else had a line item in their budget for 'fun and sizzle'?" he said.
The total cost of the statue was $126,000, said Carolyn Torgersen, vice president for marketing and communications for the Community Foundation, with all money raised through private contributions.
The Community Foundation commissioned sculptor Susie Chisholm of Savannah to create the Fraser statue, which measures just over 6 feet tall. Darrell Davis of Texas sculpted the 10-foot-long alligator.


The above article is from the Island Packet. It was a beautiful morning, and a nice dedication to my uncle Charles. Jim Chaffin gave a nice speech about Charles and how he inspired others to make Hilton Head what it is today. My aunt Mary and my cousins Wymann Davis and laura Lawton Fraser were on hand with their children all present. Below is a picture of my family wife Linda son Charles Elliott and my son's girlfriend Alex Corby. Three generations of Charles Fraser's.

27 Marsh View Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC | Powered by Postlets

27 Marsh View Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC | Powered by Postlets

HIilton Head Ocean Oriented Home "PRICE SLASHED"

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What is going on with our local government?

There have been numerous articles recently about the quality of water in the May River and other pristine waterways that are a part of the lowcountry estuary system. (I have posted a few below) They all lead back to one problem. Our county and town governments have dropped the ball on inspecting the way retention ponds are built, where they flow too, and how do they filtrate the pollutants that they hold. Beaufort County has rules and regulations and standards for developers, but they seem to be more interested in natural buffers along the major thoroughfares (I call them trash collectors). A nicely landscaped buffer is much neater, more aesthetic to the eye, and provides better visibility for the commercial operators. It shouldn't be such a big deal, what is a big deal is not taking the time, the money, the knowledgeable inspector to check on the retention ponds, and drainage of a development. Take it one more step and make developments get bi annual water testing of their outflows. Work with marine biologist to plant naturally plants and crustaceans that filter the water, and maintain the appropriate ecosystem in the master drainage system.

We have no one to blame but ourselves for not making sure our elected officials oversee what is taking place with inspections. Write your Town Council, and Beaufort County Council voiceing your anger for their oversight, and get them concentrating on the important things not the cutting down of weeds and dog willows along 278.

Property of Charlie B Fraser 2009

http://www.islandpacket.com

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May Day for the May River: How we can save the county's pristine waters Collins Doughtie
cdad@hiltonheadisland.net
843-757-7534
Published Wednesday, January 28, 2009

I have always found it amusing how Blufftonians have defended our oysters. They aren't the biggest oysters in the country, but they sure are the sweetest, and they contain just the right amount of salt. In fact, they're the subject of many a discussion about whether they're the best in the country, which, believe it or not, has been known to stop just a tad shy of fisticuffs.

A perfect "for instance" happened not too long ago when I attended an oyster roast where I met two guests from Apalachicola, Fla. If you are not an oyster aficionado, Apalachicola is known for shipping oysters all over the country -- including to right here in Bluffton -- during the months when the water has not yet cooled and our oyster season is closed. They are big oysters alright, but to me they taste like a giant wad of cotton soaked in Lord-knows-what. For years I have tried to like them but, folks, it just ain't going to happen.

Thus I forgo eating oysters until that magic day around here when the water temperature drops and it's time to pull my boat over to a shell bank, grab my oyster knife and wallow in ecstasy as I sample the first May River oysters of the year. To make this event even better, I carry along saltine crackers and cocktail sauce, so I can shuck several oysters at a time, pile them high a cracker, drip a tad of cocktail sauce on and add another cracker to make an oyster sandwich. I swear this will make you swallow your tongue.

Since the time of the Indians, May River oysters have been a mainstay. I look at the shell middens -- which if you don't know are where the Indians would sit and shuck oysters and other shellfish. Some of these middens are 30 feet high and hundreds of feet long. Being a dreamer as well as a lover of history, I imagine how many generations of Indians -- and how many hundreds of years -- it took to pile up that many oyster shells. It just blows my mind. Since its beginning, the pristine May River has done its part to feed millions upon millions with all that it has to offer.

Not that long ago, I remember how proud we all were when we found that the May River was among only a select few bodies of water on the entire East Coast that could boast an A+ rating. We fought industry and won. We reveled whenever a story in some national publication used the May River as an example of the right way to develop in harmony with nature.

But this past week, the May River was the subject of a new piece of literature that has me terribly saddened. If I were to have named this report, I would called it "May Day For The May River."

What I have feared most has happened: A study done by the Town of Bluffton and DHEC reports that the May River is in big trouble. To illustrate just how much trouble, discussions are in the works about completely shutting down shell fishing from about one mile upstream from the Oyster Factory all the way to the May River's headwaters. Why? Pollution. To say I was stunned is an understatement. I was absolutely floored and frankly, mad as hell.

Where is this pollution coming from? It is coming from many sources, but primarily the many developments that have sprung up almost overnight in the past several years. And if you ask me, a lack of foresight and understanding of how the water run-off works in these areas is the reason our cherished May River oysters, clams and other filter feeders are threatened.

How come I saw it coming and those in power didn't? I am by no means smarter than these folks, but when building permits were being handed out like candy at a parade, I knew there would be consequences. Those consequences are now a terrible reality. To me, greed overpowered common sense.

So what can you do? Yell, scream and make your voices heard. Attend town meetings and write to those you have entrusted with our future. Unless we address this nightmare right here and now, you might just find yourself eating Apalachicola oysters from now on. How's that for a wake-up call?

Collins Doughtie is the outdoors columnist for The Bluffton Packet.
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County yet to arrange promised Okatie River water quality testing
By MICHAEL WELLES SHAPIROmshapiro@islandpacket.com843-706-8142
Published Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Months after the Beaufort County Council approved in October a 1,252-home development near the Okatie River, the county hasn't moved forward with promised water quality testing.
The river water testing was part of an agreement developers of Okatie Village signed in exchange for the right to build the 284-acre project, which has a mix of commercial and residential developments.
The developers, Hilton Head Island's Jim Robinson and La Casa Real Estate Development of Winston-Salem, N.C., agreed not to do any further harm to the Okatie River, most of which is off-limits for shellfish harvesting because of pollution levels.
But the county, which was responsible for getting the initial tests done, hasn't yet hired a contractor.
County stormwater manager Dan Ahern said Beaufort County, which received money from developers for testing, wants to make sure its testing methods are consistent with those used by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
"We've gone over the scope of what needs to be done," said Ahern. But, he added, the question of who will do the work and what it will cost have not yet been determined.
The Okatie River is one of 970 impaired waterways in the state that the U.S. Clean Water Act requires DHEC to improve. Officials have said the agency is developing a program specific to shellfish harvesting waters that will define the maximum amount of a specific pollutant a body of water can take in and still meet state standards.
A study of the river, expected to be completed by year's end, will try to identify the pollution sources, which could be animals, failing septic tanks, stormwater drainage systems or all three. The study is a requirement for grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Ahern said county and state testing methods must be the same so officials have a better understanding of the sources of the pollution.
As a result, he said, the county's testing methods must be approved by state regulators.
Tom Jans, a spokesman for the Okatie Village developers, said his clients are surveying the land and performing engineering work before construction starts. The process should take six months.
"But the developers are committed as ever to provide the best protection possible for the Okatie," Jans said.
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Dog wilows and weeds are not a natural buffer, the only small animals that live in them are rats feeding on the trash collected in the weeds. It also is not the character that I have grown up with. As far as neon signs, billboards, high rises, that the most ludicrus thing a reporter could even report. That is one thing Beaufort County got right. We don't have bill boards, neon signs and high rises, and we want. I mentioned how we could work with the runoff at the beginning of this blog, and it still is valid in this disccussion.

Property of Charlie B Fraser 2009
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Developers, environmentalists clash over buffers
By MICHAEL WELLES SHAPIRO and LIZ MITCHELLmshapiro@islandpacket.comlmitchell@islandpacket.com
Published Sunday, January 25, 2009

Imagine the drive down U.S. 278 toward Hilton Head Island if many of the trees were replaced by high-rise buildings and hotels awash with flashy colors, bright neon signs and tall light fixtures.
It's not unusual for business groups to want their projects seen by the traveling public and tourists visiting Beaufort County.
The business groups, however, have long been at odds with environmentalists over the appropriate pace of development and the standards for building projects.
As the recession lingers, some business and government leaders have started to rethink the strict county rules on natural buffers and aesthetics involved in opening and renovating businesses.
The debate has been ongoing, mostly fought in a series of board meetings rarely attended by the public.
In November, however, the issue came to the forefront when county administrator Gary Kubic overrode the Southern Corridor Review Board, enabling a car dealership on U.S. 278 to rehabilitate its building without having to comply with the review board's requirements.
In the coming months, the county plans to revisit its renovation rules, particularly the requirements for planting trees. Though businesses sometimes view those rules as onerous, the officials charged with enforcing them say they are needed to protect the area's character and environment.
REDEVELOPMENT
Kubic has voiced concerns about a jumbled county permitting process, which in lean times can make it difficult for new stores to get off the ground and for aging businesses to renovate.
Kubic said it is challenging to encourage small- and medium-sized businesses to spruce up older properties.
"They'll say, 'Hey, I can't afford it,'" Kubic said. "How do we get the developer to reinvest in himself, when he's saying, 'It's not worth it. I don't want another mortgage.'"
Kubic has suggested using the fines the county collects from builders who violate environmental standards to help small businesses pay for required buffers.
Steve Wilson, chairman of the review board, said the county should think hard before loosening requirements.
The board enforces zoning rules for tree- and shrub-filled buffers and design standards for lighting, muted colors and architecture that are consistent with the Lowcountry look.
Wilson is particularly adamant about buffer requirements, which he said aren't so cost prohibitive as to prevent developers from renovating.
"I'm a big capitalist," said Wilson, a commercial real estate consultant. "I think the market drives things and businesses aren't going to let their properties turn into blight."
ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE
The county's permitting process takes time, and some businesses have said they lose money waiting to set up shop as the wheels of bureaucracy turn.
Bill Miles, president of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, said the county must balance "the needs of business to be unencumbered by undue restriction" with the area's distinctive look.
Judy Nash Timmer, the county's development review planner, said much of the board's oversight deals with maintaining that local character.
When developers approach the board with car dealerships, Timmer said they often push for the franchise building to satisfy corporate headquarters.
But those plans often clash with local standards.
"They should look at what's allowed," Timmer said.
While businesses don't always like the process, Wilson said the county's regulations serve a valuable purpose.
"The wants and needs of the developer really are at odds of the wants and needs of people who want to control growth and protect the environment," Wilson said.
To that end, he said costs to the developer must take a back seat to buffers.
Kim Jones, natural resources manager for the town of Bluffton, said buffers serve as visual barriers to screen highways or neighboring properties, provide habitat for wildlife and help protect water quality.
"We are developing more of our land and taking more habitat off the plate for wildlife to utilize," she said.
Jones said encouraging the use of native vegetation and layers of tall trees and small shrubs in buffers will give birds habitat in the upper canopy while small mammals can inhabit the dense underbrush.
As far as water quality, the more plants to soak up nutrients and pollutants that run off roads and parking lots, the healthier local rivers will be, Jones said.
The board tries to balance development and the environment, Wilson said. If the area were any different, developers might not want to locate in Beaufort County.
"Why are people coming here?" he asked. "It's not for Best Buy or for Home Depot, but for the beauty of this place."

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This is one of the articles that is alarming. Pulte did not build the runoff lagoons properly and they are a problem, how many others are their like this one? Not just in Sun City but all along 278, Buckwalter, and the New River. Beaufort and jasper Counties need to take a good hard and long look at this problem, and get with there programs and start fining people.

Property of Charlie B Fraser
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Sun City developer promises to remedy lagoon problems
By MICHAEL WELLES SHAPIROmshapiro@islandpacket.com843-706-8142
Published Friday, January 23, 2009

Sun City Hilton Head developer Pulte Homes on Thursday promised to fix problems with a number of lagoons in the gated community at no cost to residents. That promise was made to about 550 residents at a meeting organized by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The agency alleged in June that Pulte had built a number of lagoons in several of the community's newer neighborhoods that didn't match their original permits, a violation of state pollution laws.
Lagoons are designed to filter rainwater before it flows into nearby rivers, streams and wetlands.
DHEC officials announced Thursday that Pulte has begun the repairs in the Aster Fields, Basket Walk, Murray Hill and Water Lily Cove neighborhoods.
"We stand ready to do this work, we've started to do this work ... and it's not going to cost you a nickel," Pulte spokesman Jon Cherry told the audience. After the meeting, Cherry said he didn't know how much the work would cost.
A "lagoon action plan" submitted to DHEC shows the repairs include dredging seven lagoons and raising the water level in others by changing the height of drains.
Though residents applauded Cherry's promise, many voiced concerns that Pulte's repairs would not be thorough enough and could saddle homeowners with hefty repair costs in the future.
Several pleaded with DHEC officials to make sure the repairs are adequate.
"Require Pulte to correct all the deficiencies and make sure it's done properly" said Rick McCollough, a Sun City resident who pushed DHEC to look into lagoon issues in 2007.
A presentation by Tim Doyle, a Sun City resident and civil engineer, said lagoon depths should be increased beyond what Pulte has proposed to ensure water quality.
During a lengthy public comment period, many residents described living next to murky, sediment-filled lagoons they felt were too shallow.
Stuart Freeman said he'd gone out in the pond behind his home in a canoe to measure its depths. It was 4 feet at its deepest point, he said.
While many residents came to the meeting to hear about the lagoons, a number also were upset that water is inundating several areas of federally protected wetlands in Sun City.
Rita Niemeyer described wetlands in her neighborhood where hardwood trees have collapsed because of excess water.
"In the past 1 1/2 to 2 years it has spread so fast it's frightening," Niemeyer said. She added the view of dead and dying trees behind many residents' homes adversely affects property values.
"How do you replace all these beautiful trees?" she asked. "It breaks my heart."
"We're still looking at the wetlands," said Blair Williams, a DHEC official. But he said the Army Corps of Engineers, which has oversight of wetlands, is leading that ongoing investigation.

Development and the coastal carolina ecosystem

We are making a difference and our federal government is leading the way. A recent article was in our local paper describing a new environmental study that will be done along the North and South Carolina coast and several other distinctive ecosystems in the USA. These studies will embrace the aspects of an ecosystem, not just a single aspect of the ecosystem, but how it all interacts which includes development. Contrary to popular belief we are part of the ecosystem.

Hopefully, this study will help our local and county government understand and possible get grants to help prove what can be done to develop in an ecofriendly manner. Currently our LMO's are too rigid in stature, and the bureaucrats that run the departments too scarred to allow a change from the standard operating procedure. This forces new creative thinking away from the table. A "good" developer with a good team of engineers, architects and builders are ahead of any planning commission when it comes to innovative design and land planning. Developers are going to create communities for what people want today, and they want ecofriendly communities. They will cost more than the standard traditional development, but in the long run they will go way beyond the cost.

The federal government will be leading the way on bringing ideas that are currently in places, but are not cost effective for consumers that will turn organic waste into fuel, soil additives, and replace bio carbons in the ground instead of the atmosphere, solar energy will power and heat homes and offices, waste water will be recycled into potable water and roof top hydroponics gardens will supply our vegetables. This will especially be critical in large urban areas, but it will also be done in smaller urban areas. Our current zoning is not flexible when it comes to urban living. There have been numerous attempts to rezone parcels that would incorporate the residential and commercial aspects of urban design, but the planning commission and council turned them down. Bluffton currently has a few developments that incorporate the residential and commercial villages, and this trend will only increase in the future. As, each new "village" is developed it will incorporate more ecofriendly components, into their overall planning.

We also need to have a standard rating system that will rate a community on it's overall practices for being labeled a "ecofriendly community". There are rating systems for buildings, and the Audubon Society has a rating system, but it is too narrow in focus. There also are some ratings for "Green Communities" but these go way beyond and incorporate a lifestyle.

It is not that far away. Some people like to call this a "Green" community, but I personally do not like the term. It is an ecofriendly community, because that is what is effected by the development; the ecosystems is the entire picture of the environment. EARTH, WIND, WATER & FIRE

Written by Charlie B Fraser 2009



Coastal Carolina chosen for national environmental study
By LIZ MITCHELLlmitchell@islandpacket.com843-706-8169
Published Saturday, January 10, 2009

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has chosen the coastal areas of North Carolina and South Carolina to be part of a national research project that will help communities make good environmental choices.
EPA officials are coming to Bluffton on Monday to present outline of the project and get comments from the public. The meeting will be followed by a daylong workshop in North Charleston of elected officials and leaders in planning, zoning and environmental protection.
"The idea is not to stop development or even slow it," said Dorsey Worthy of the EPA's Office of Research and Development. "We want increasing populations, but we want to do it in a knowledgeable and responsible way."
Worthy is leading the coastal Carolinas study, one of four community research projects in the country focused on understanding ecosystems that provide clean air and water, productive soils and food and fiber. The other studies are being conducted in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area, the Midwest and the Willamette River Basin in Oregon.
The Carolinas project will look at landscapes, waterways and coastal wetlands from counties near Currituck Sound in North Carolina to those near the Savannah River. The area was selected because it faces pressures from population growth and landscape and climate change, Worthy said.
"If we take too much advantage of the system without acknowledging its restorative and human health aspects, we run the danger of creating an environment that won't sustain us," Worthy said. "It's not just about wildlife; it's about protecting human health in the long run."
Worthy said the meeting also will help the EPA shape the agency's research agenda for the next 10 years. About 60 scientists are assigned to the study.
"We want to hear what (leaders and residents) value in their communities and where they want their communities to go in the next few years," Worthy said.
As research progresses, Worthy said, he and other EPA officials can help local communities access grants to protect and restore the environment.
Nancy Schilling, founder of Friends of the Rivers, which is hosting the meeting Monday, said she hopes Beaufort County can earn national recognition for its protection of waterways.
"My goal with Friends of the Rivers is that we never have to get into restoration," she said, but "that we are into preservation of what we've got ... ."

Bluffton a "State of Mind" !!

What is the character of Bluffton? That is what the town has been trying to wrestle with over the past few years. A number of years ago we would see bumper stickers proclaiming Bluffton "State of Mind", and I for one was never sure what that state of mind was. The characters that I knew in Bluffton often had altered state's of mind!! I don't think that is what they had in mind when they made the bumper stickers.

These bumper stickers were all over the place in the early 80's. While at USC there was one Irmo "State of Mind" Irmo is a little town near Lake Norman outside of Columbia, very similar to Bluffton.

Both towns had a mix of eclectic characters ranging from the very wealthy to homeless. You might see the two of them having coffee together, it made no difference where you were in life's cycle. That State of Mind is still in Bluffton, but in 2008 almost 30 years later, it is being commercialized and the town is trying to define it.

So, what is the Bluffton Character? Their is no one answer, but I am sure that the Boudreaux Group will be able to help establish the essence of what is needed today in Bluffton. The residents of Bluffton will need to understand that it is going to cost money to transform the town into the new image that they want. It is not the developers responsibility to foot every brick that residents want to see. Obviously, the developers will need to pay their fair and proportionate share of impact fees, but to revitalize the Historic District to a new image is not the developers responsibility.

The town should have implemented a TIFF program a number of years ago to revitalize the down town area, or implemented a hospitality sales tax or other means to pay for the new "State of Mind"

I for one am understanding and look forward to what becomes of the new character for Bluffton.

Property of Charlie B Fraser 2008

Below is the article from the Island Packet

Draft report on Bluffton's 'character' expected in mid-December
By RENEE DUDLEYrdudley@islandpacket.com843-706-8138
Published Wednesday, November 12, 2008

With two hearings Tuesday, Bluffton residents had their final public opportunity to help define the elusive characteristics that make the town unique.
For several months, the town's planning department has held consultant-led workshops to gather opinions on what development should look like as the town continues to expand.
In the past, officials from the Historic Preservation Commission -- the group that approves new development in old town -- and from the Planning Commission have told builders that their structures must have "Bluffton character." Often, those officials are unable to specifically define the term. It is that lack of clarity that leaves developers frustrated.
Now, the Boudreaux Group, led by consultant Irene Tyson, will compile a report based on all the comments from a series of three meetings about town character. Two of those meetings were held Tuesday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Town officials could use the report to point to examples of acceptable
architecture in new developments.
Some attendees at Tuesday's
afternoon session said they were concerned the town might try to enforce a rigid set of guidelines that would limit the diversity of new construction.
As Tyson showed the group pictures of "acceptable" examples of Bluffton character submitted by staff and
residents, those in attendance, including Wallace Milling of the Historic Preservation Commission, said not every new structure needs to resemble a Calhoun Street cottage.
Others agreed, saying Bluffton's old town character includes a mix of residential and commercial uses, and its architecture includes a variety of styles and materials.
Many in the group, which included several architects, said they wanted to see "timeless" architecture and the addition of high-quality parks.
They said they don't want the town to be "overly-landscaped." They also said they don't want to see architectural elements, such as dormers and false shutters, added to buildings just because they're perceived to be Bluffton's style.
The draft report, which will include photographs, will be presented to the town by mid-December, Tyson said. The final report will be completed by the end of January, she said.
The town is paying Tyson's group about $18,200 to lead the study.

What's with Beaufort County !

I'm not one to believe in conspiracies, but it it is getting ridiculous what Beaufort County has been doing to the Roller family. Today I read that the county had a judge put a cease and hold on paving their parking lot. Hence Sea Trawlers restaurant cannot open, because they cannot get a Certificate of Occupancy until their parking lot is completed.

Apparently Mr. Roller paved a strip of land that has been in dispute with the county over ownership. Mr. Roller contends he owns the land where the Buckingham landing is and the county thinks they own it. The case will be heard in January and the judge has ruled that Mr. Roller cannot do any paving until that suit is settled.

Why keep him from finishing his parking lot? Why is the county fighting tooth and nail every step of the way on this project? The county planners are mad that Mr. Roller was able to build the restaurant, and have done everything they can to make him pay. If this is not a conspiracy then I don't know what is.

The county needs to be held accountable to their actions and conduct. We are the citizens of this county and the county government works for us, they are not supposed to work against us. The project was approved, and all the necessary permits, etc have been paid. So why is the county still charging up the hill to try and block this project?

I for one am looking forward to being able to take my boat over for lunch or diner. I personally think the restaurant will be a plus for the neighborhood. It is not going to undermine the prices of Buckingham Landing. When will people see that commercial and residential zoning mixed together are good for the overall neighborhood.

Call your County Representative and tell them you are opposed to this kind of abuse by county staff.

Property of Charlie B Fraser 2008

Below is the article from the Island Packet

County order halts paving work at Sea Trawler Restaurant
By MICHAEL WELLES SHAPIROmshapiro@islandpacket.com843-706-8142
Published Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The chef at the future Sea Trawler Restaurant at Buckingham Landing said he's stopped trying to predict when the seafood restaurant along Mackays Creek will open. A series of delays and legal disputes with Beaufort County have made previous guesses that it would open in July of this year wrong.
"I play tennis on Hilton Head, and everybody's always asking me when's it going to open," Chef Stephen Carmines said Tuesday, standing outside the pagoda-shaped restaurant near the bridges to Hilton Head Island.
But with legal disputes between restaurant owner Wilbert Roller Jr. and Beaufort County still under way,
Carmines is not making any more statements about opening dates.
In the latest legal dustup, the county got a court order Oct. 29 to stop Roller from paving the Buckingham Landing Boat Landing. Roller paved an asphalt strip on the landing, the width of a car, while paving the parking lot.
The county and Roller both claim ownership of the boat landing. County codes enforcement officer Audra Antonacci said a circuit court judge ruled that paving had to stop until the court determines ownership. That hearing is scheduled for January.
Roller and the county also are suing over two other issues:
• Roller alleges he's been treated unfairly by the county's zoning office while trying to get his restaurant off the ground.
• The county is challenging Roller's right to build a 350-foot dock off his property into Mackays Creek.
Meanwhile, Carmines, the brother of Hudson's on the Docks Seafood restaurant owner Brian Carmines, said he's eager to start serving patrons and said the restaurant will be a boon to the area during a tough economy by creating jobs and increasing business for the local seafood industry.
As much as possible, Carmines said, "we're going to serve local shrimp, local oysters and local fish."
That eat-local approach combined with the restaurant's waterfront view could bring success even as many restaurants are struggling, said Anne-Marie Adams-Arrington, executive director of the Hilton Head Area Hospitality Association.
"Their location's going to be a big positive for them," she said.