This week there are a large number of multifamily and large residential developments coming before the various City of Charleston boards and committees. Below are those items as well as the application results for specific items to Daniel Island and the Cainhoy area. More detailed agendas and results can be found at charleston-sc.gov/agendacenter.

Jan. 12: A site plan for Hawthorne at Clements Ferry Road, a 210-unit multifamily development on 11 acres at 2800 Clements Ferry Rd.

A preliminary subdivision plat and road construction plans for Del Webb Entrance Road, a new public road on 11 acres on Clements Ferry Road.

Jan. 4: Request a variance to allow the removal of one grand tree at 15 Surr St. on Daniel Island. Results: Pending.

Jan. 5: A site plan for Woodfield Daniel Island 3, a 163-unit multifamily development on 6 acres at 2058 Benefitfocus Way. Results: Pending final documentation to Zoning, T&T and MS4. Once approved, submit Site Plan to Zoning for stamping.

Jan. 10: An ordinance to rezone 10.32 acres at 638 Tuxbury Farm Road and two adjacent parcels on Tuxbury Farm Road in Cainhoy to single-family residential zoning. The property is owned by Ray and Angela Waits. Results: Pending.

An ordinance to rezone 5.71 acres at 715 Yaupon Drive & 2682 Highway 41 in Cainhoy to diverse residential zoning. The property is owned by Rumphs Auto Service et al. Results: Pending.

Berkeley Co. Bd. of Education meets twice each month. Executive Committee meets at 5:30 p.m.; meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

Berkeley Co. Council meets fourth Mon. of each month, 6 p.m., Berkeley County Admin. Blg., 1003 Hwy 52, Moncks Corner.

City of Charleston Council typically meets the second and fourth Tues. of each month, 5 p.m., City Hall, 80 Broad Street, Charleston, SC and/or virtually via Conference Call #1-929-205-6099; Access Code: 912 096 416. Exceptions: Summer Schedule - 3rd Tues. of June, July, and August; December meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tues. Dates and locations subject to change.

City of Charleston Technical Review Committee meets every Thurs. at 9 a.m.via Zoom.

City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals – Site Design meets the 1st Wed. of each month at 5 p.m. via Zoom.

City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals – Zoning meets the 1st and 3rd Tues. of each month at 5:15 p.m., except for January and July when no meeting is held on the 1st Tues.

City of Charleston Design Review Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mon. of every month at 4:30 p.m.

City of Charleston Planning Commission meets the 3rd Wed. of every month at 5 p.m.

City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review – Large projects meets the 2nd and 4th Wed. of every month at 4:30 p.m.

City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review – Small projects meets the 2nd and 4th Thurs. of every month at 4:30 p.m.

All meetings are open for public comment except the City of Charleston Technical Review Committee meetings.

For more information, contacts for specific projects and on location and time of the meetings or to learn more, visit charleston-sc.gov/AgendaCenter/.

There is a light at the end of the Beresford Creek Bridge replacement project with a timeline reset, as well as a timeframe of lane closures due to construction.

In 2019, an inspection conducted by the South Carolina Department of Transportation yielded findings of deterioration on one of the bridge beams. The weight limit was reduced to 10 tons per vehicle with 5 tons per axle.

After SCDOT’s assessment three years ago, which included an emergency installation of a steel plate for support, it was determined that it needed to be replaced within one to five years. Inspections have continued to occur monthly to ensure the bridge is safe at its current load.

As of a public meeting in November 2021, the project had been slated to get underway in the summer of 2022 and be complete by sometime in early 2023. Now, that timeline has been delayed with the project expected to begin this spring and be completed by spring of 2024.

Nothing has changed in terms of the project’s $2.5 million overall cost and engineering specs that call for a newly constructed bridge featuring two 11-foot lanes and 4-foot shoulders and an 8-foot multi-use bike/pedestrian path. Although, several updates recently developed from a meeting in December 2022 between the City of Charleston and Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson (JMT), the engineering firm hired to design the structure.

The bridge, road and hydraulic designs are complete and the application and relocation of utility lines have received approval by the City of Charleston Technical Review Committee. However, Dominion Energy is still waiting on approval of the utility relocation permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s (SCDHEC) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management to remove the old utility lines and relocate the new lines, according to the city’s director of public service, Tom O’Brien.

The utility line relocation must be approved before a construction contract can be procured and the demolition of the old bridge takes place. The city plans to open the bidding process and award a bid for construction during the first quarter of 2023, then begin preparatory work by spring in order to get construction underway by the summer.

Partial lane closures on the bridge are anticipated through the end of the school year. The bridge is expected to be fully shut down during the summer months, with the bulk of construction done before the fall school year starts, according to O’Brien.

The road closure timeline has decreased from eight to 10 months to three to six months.

O’Brien clarified that partial closure can mean one lane open, two lanes open or no lanes open.

“We want to minimize the closure as much as possible,” O’Brien said. “… with construction we just can’t always determine how things are going to go.”

During full closure, motorists on the St. Thomas Island Drive side of the bridge will be forced to use I-526 and take Exit 24 to get onto Daniel Island. It’s actually two-tenths of a mile shorter for commuters.

“The good news is there is another path,” O’Brien said. “It’s not like they’re going to be cut off completely.”

An announcement will be made when the construction bid is awarded. A website will be set up for the public to view updates on the bridge’s replacement progress.

Thanks to the generous support of the Daniel Island Community Fund and Bublish, Inc., the Daniel Island News Author Series returns in 2023. The series kicks off with two local children’s book authors who explore stories set by the sea. Join authors Leigh Cook and

Benjamin Pogue on Jan. 25, 4 p.m. at the Daniel Island Library. The event is free. Reserve your space at: bit.ly/3Qf0UaN.

“Nobi” by Leigh Cook

Written by a Daniel Island School teacher and mother of two, “Nobi” is a sweet story about a young “merdog” – half-mermaid, half-dog – looking for answers and acceptance and is the perfect addition to family bookshelves, school libraries, classrooms, and discussions about embracing your differences and finding your own true path.

Nobi lives in the ocean with her seal pod and her seal parents, but she doesn’t quite seem to fit in. When she decides to take a chance and ventures onto the beach, she discovers a whole new life and has great adventures. Torn between her duty to protect the ocean and her desire to live on land, will Nobi ever find out where she truly belongs?

Cook decided to write Nobi because her daughter was going through a tough time and felt like she was not accepted by her friends. Cook believes no child should ever feel this way. Her hope is that “Nobi” helps children realize they shouldn’t hide their differences because they make us who we are and can help us find our purpose in life.

The book is illustrated by Catherina Matigina.

“A Walk Along the Sea” by Benjamin Pogue

An illustrated poem by Daniel Island resident Benjamin Pogue about love, nature and the wisdom of treasuring them, this watercolor illustrated children’s poem takes the reader on a journey along the water’s edge to discover crabs, shells and surf and how the ocean leaves behind “boneyards,” or maritime forests that are visible, left awash in the surf. The book’s nature and conservation themes encourage the reader to get outdoors, to explore and to take care of our families and the world around us.

Pogue is a retired marketing and consulting executive with a passion for the Lowcountry and for conservation.

Pogue hopes the poem will bring families together to explore the natural beauty that is found throughout the region. When his book was first released, he explained, “My message, in part, is that parents need to take their children out in the wilderness and see all the beautiful treasures we have in South Carolina… I would love for families to explore together all the undeveloped areas of our coast, so they can appreciate the true treasure of nature.”

The book is illustrated by former Daniel Island resident Johanna Hughes.

Feb. 22 – Civil War Era – Historical Fiction

The February author series event will be held at 7 p.m. in the theater at Daniel Pointe Retirement Community and will feature the award-winning historical novels “Railsplitter” by John Cribb and “Trouble the Water” by Rebecca Bruff.

Eligible organizations, nonprofits may apply for grants

The first influx of funds from the $26 billion National Opioid Settlement will help numerous Berkeley County organizations aid people suffering from the addiction crisis.

The county received $368,557 as an initial installment from the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund through which the state will distribute its settlement share of more than $360 million.

“The opioid epidemic is one that has plagued our nation for years, and we are even seeing its harsh effects in our communities here at home,” said Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb in a statement. “Our county agencies such as EMS, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, volunteer fire departments, and the Coroner’s Office, as well as local nonprofits, work hard to deal with the effects and combat opioid use locally. County Council and our administration are thankful for this much-needed settlement funding and will ensure it is utilized in a positive, life-changing way for our citizens.”

Eligible organizations and nonprofits have until 5 p.m. on Jan. 31 to apply for the Berkeley County grants. Eligible applicants include organizations and agencies that work directly on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and/or assist in opioid addiction recovery or preventative services.

Funding must be used for one or more of the following approved opioid remediation uses:

· Naloxone or other FDA-approved drug to reverse opioid overdoses;

· Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) distribution and other opioid-related treatment;

· Pregnant and postpartum women;

· Expanding treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS);

· Expansion of warm handoff programs and recovery services;

· Treatment for incarcerated population;

· Prevention programs;

· Expanding syringe service programs; and

· Evidence-based data collection and research analyzing the effectiveness of the abatement strategies within the state.

Organizations can go online here to apply for the grants.

South Carolina is set to receive its National Opioid Settlement funding over the next 18 years. At least 92 percent of these funds will be used to address the opioid crisis across the state. More than $100 million will be disbursed to nonprofits, hospitals, state agencies and other organizations working to help address this epidemic. Funding from the national settlement stems from manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies involved in the opioid process.

Acrimony filled the air at the Berkeley County School District school board’s meeting on Dec. 13. The board’s first meeting with its newly appointed superintendent came a day after a civil lawsuit filed by its previous superintendent.

Two minutes into the meeting, the board broke for executive session to discuss the release of teachers under contract and other legal matters. One-and-a-half hours later, the meeting resumed and there was still a room full of unsatisfied citizens who voiced dissatisfaction and wanted answers from the new administration about the firing of former Superintendent Deon Jackson and the hiring of new Superintendent Dr. Anthony Dixon.

At the meeting, the board voted 6-3 to approve Superintendent Dr. Anthony Dixon’s contract. Dixon’s contract includes a base salary of $225,000 – by comparison $10,000 more than his predecessor, former Superintendent Deon Jackson.

Dixon later gave his superintendent report and addressed the questions looming around his qualifications and noted that his superintendent certification was completed in July 2013. The S.C. State Department of Education received Dixon’s final documentation from his alma mater, South Carolina State University, and certified him on Dec. 13.

Dixon also addressed the appointment of Dr. Karen Whitley as the new deputy superintendent. Whitley, who has more than 40 years of experience in education at BCSD, is also the mother of Berkeley County Council District 2 representative Josh Whitley.

Whitley, the chief human resources officer and associate superintendent for student services and programs, was publicly named to the position on Dec. 5. The former Berkeley Elementary and Philip Simmons Elementary principal’s qualifications weren’t in question, but rather the manner of her hiring.

Board member David Barrow questioned Dixon about the time and place of Whitley’s hiring. Dixon admitted that he recommended Whitley for the job on Nov. 16, a day after he was hired, when he invited her to attend a cabinet meeting.

Barrow further inquired about the notice of Whitley’s position. Dixon noted that he only informed board chair Mac McQuillin and didn’t give the other members any notice.

In the final minutes of the meeting, McQuillin and Barrow traded barbs about the advertising of Whitley’s position and past leadership decisions. Barrow asserted that Dixon and McQuillin circumvented the hiring process of the district with “unfettered practices.”

McQuillin noted that Whitley’s position is revenue neutral and therefore will not impact the budget. Whitley still does not have a contract at this time.

Former BCSD Superintendent Jackson seeking compensatory, punitive damages

Former BCSD Superintendent Deon Jackson filed a 25-page lawsuit on Monday, Dec. 12. The individual defendants listed include: Joe Baker, Dr. Anthony Dixon, Brandon Gaskins, Jimmy Hinson, Kathy Littleton, Stafford “Mac” McQuillin, Michael Ramsey, Sally Wofford and the Berkeley County School District.

Jackson cited the following causes of action: civil conspiracy, breach of contract, interference with a contractual relationship, violation of FOIA, defamation, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and gross negligence.

Attorneys Donald Gist and Erica McCrea of Gist Law Firm, located in Columbia, represent Jackson. The suit requests a jury trial in Berkeley County.

Jackson alleges that the four re-elected members of the board – McQuillin, Littleton, Wofford and Ramsey – held private meetings in-person and via telephonic means. In addition, he alleges that the two non-sworn newly-elected members – Baker and Hinson – participated

in the illegally constituted meetings conspiring to terminate him.

Further, Jackson alleges that on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 13, while attending virtual church services, he received a “shocking and disturbing phone call” from McQuillin informing him that the six BCSD board members were prepared to terminate his employment at the Nov. 15 board meeting.

Jackson alleges that McQuillin gave him an ultimatum: Resign from his post or he would be terminated. The termination would be without cause and without an offer of a severance agreement if voted upon.

The lawsuit claims that McQuillin and Gaskins previously spoke about plans to terminate him before Gaskins was hired as the district’s legal counsel.

Jackson alleges that McQuillin released an improperly/illegally posted Berkeley County School District statement on Nov. 23 regarding the termination. He alleged the statement was released without approval of the entire board.

In referencing the Nov. 23 statement, the suit alleges that McQuillin admitted that he spoke to Dixon prior to the Nov. 15 board meeting about becoming the superintendent of BCSD.

The lawsuit provides, “Defendant McQuillin and named Defendants were grossly negligent in not researching South Carolina law/statutes and South Carolina Department of Education regulations in their haste to conspire and carry out their mission to destroy Plaintiff as Superintendent of Defendant BCSD.”

Jackson is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for mental anguish, pain and suffering, harm to his economic opportunities, any back pay, front pay and future earnings with cost-of-living adjustments, prejudgment interest, fringe benefits, retirement benefits, attorney fees and other litigation expenses.