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From YouTube: April 19 Feedback Session: West Ashley
Description
Though the comprehensive plan is a citywide plan, each geographic area of the city has a unique identity and context that will shape and guide its future. In this feedback session, we invited participants to engage in a discussion about findings and draft recommendations specific to West Ashley. Feedback from participants will inform revisions to the final draft of the plan.
Click here to view the meeting slides: https://www.charlestoncityplan.com/s/WESTASHLEY-FeedbackSessionSlides.pdf
Click here to view notes from the discussion: https://www.charlestoncityplan.com/s/APRIL-19-WEST-ASHLEY-meeting-notes.pdf
A
All
right,
we
are
now
recording
okay,
so,
as
satika
said
going
through,
the
timeline
we
did
a
round
of
community
engagement,
listened
to.
Folks
did
a
lot
of
data
collection.
So
that's
what
I'm
going
to
talk
about
first
is
what
we
learned
from
round
one
both
from
what
we
heard
from
the
community
and
what
we
found
out
from
our
data
analysis
and
I'm
going
to
go
very
quickly.
It's
a
lot
of
information.
A
A
And
here
are
some
things
that
we
heard
specifically
from
west
ashley
community
members,
so
it's
an
area
that
is
loved
for
its
suburban,
community-oriented,
suburban
neighborhood.
So
a
lot
of
tight-knit
communities,
there's
an
assortment
of
parks
and
recreation,
wealth
of
amenities
and
and
people
really
love
this.
The
diversity
of
the
communities
in
west
ashley
and
there's
a
level
of
affordability
in
west
ashley,
that's
different
from
other
places
in
the
city.
B
A
Concern
about
the
noise
from
the
increase
in
traffic,
so
folks
recognize
the
potential
in
old
shopping
centers
for
redevelopment
and
also
would
like
to
see
the
future
of
west
ashley
provide
a
mixture
of
housing.
So
this
is
something
that
was
mentioned
citywide
but
was
especially
prevalent.
What
we
heard
from
west
ashley
community
members
and
having
a
variety
of
transportation
options
and
and
then
finally,
some
specific
requests
for
our
parks
and
recreation
staff
in
regards
to
a
public
pool
and
free
access
to
the
shoreline.
A
So
we
did
a
deep
dive
into
two
issues,
specifically
housing
and
flooding,
and
these
are
two
of
our
city's
greatest
challenges.
We
know
this,
and
so
we
took
this
opportunity
to
learn
more
about
those
challenges
by
we
worked.
We
contracted
with
consultants,
two
different
teams
of
consultants
to
help
us
understand
these
challenges
better.
I'm
gonna
hit
a
few
quick
highlights
for
each
of
these
research
efforts
and
what
we
learned
so
first.
A
When
we
use
the
term
affordable
housing
in
the
context
of
the
city
plan
housing
analysis,
we
need
all
all
housing
that
is
subsidized
to
meet
the
income
needs
of
varying
income
ranges.
So
we're
not
just
referring
to
workforce
housing
if
you've
heard
of
that
term,
we're
not
just
referring
to
low
income
housing,
we're
referring
to
the
full
income
range
spectrum
from
you
know,
earning
nothing
annually
to
earning
68
000
a
year
annually
for
a
single
household.
A
We,
this
is
not
news
to
anyone,
but
we
have.
We
have
a
some
additional
numbers
to
shed
light
on
this
problem
of
affordability
and
cost
of
living
in
charleston.
So
we
know
that
42
of
charleston
households
are
spending
more
than
that
30
percent
on
housing
costs,
and
that's
just
rental-
and
mortgage
costs,
specifically
it's
not
including
utilities
or
insurance.
A
That's
a
reflection
as
well
of
west
ashley
being
the
most
populous
area
of
the
city.
So
that's
that's
one
piece
of
why
that
number
is
so
high,
but
the
I
think
the
main
takeaway
is.
We
really
need
more
affordable
units
everywhere,
not
just
in
west
ashley.
We
also
learned
that
our
greatest
need
for
more
affordable
housing
is
for
the
income
range
of
people
making
30
of
the
area
median
income
and
below.
A
Okay
again,
the
second
thing
that
we
did
a
deeper
dive
into
was
understanding
our
challenges
with
flooding
and
how
we
can
plan
accordingly.
So
the
plan,
this
city
plan
will
address
primarily
development
and
land
use
decisions
over
the
next
10
years,
and
it
will
also
it
will
also
guide
investment
for
future
drainage
and
transportation
networks.
A
A
So
the
key
thing
that
we
got
out,
we
got
a
lot.
We
got
almost
300
pages
of
report
analysis
from
this
work
that
you
can
read
if
you
really
want
to
take
the
time,
but
I'm
going
to
highlight
just
this
one
piece,
which
is
the
elevation
risk
zones-
and
this
is
this
map-
is
what
we
have
used
to
inform
our
land
use
recommendations
which
we'll
cover
later
in
the
meeting.
A
So
the
city's
been
broken
down
into
four
categories:
high
ground,
adapt
zone,
compound
flood
risk
zone
and
tidal
flood
risk
zone.
The
high
ground
is
what
it
sounds
like.
That's
where
there's
the
least
risk
for
flooding
and
storm,
and
but
also
the
greatest
responsibility
to
keep
for
your
neighbors
downstream
from
flooding.
A
The
adapt
zone
is
where
there's
less
risk
of
flooding,
but
where
it's
not
impossible,
and
so
there's
we
still
need
to
be
looking
at
how
we
develop
in
a
in
a
in
a
safe
way
in
a
way
that
can
be
adapted
to
the
changing
to
our
changing
landscape
going
forward.
The
compound
flood
rift
zone
is
where
there's
a
variety
of
influences
and
where
flooding
is
frequent
and
the
tidal
flood
risk
zone
is
where
it
floods.
Today
in
sun,
sunny
weather
because
of
the
high
tides.
A
A
Just
looking
at
wes
ashley,
specifically
so
you'll
see
the
high
the
highest
area
in
west
ashley
is
along
sam
rittenberg,
boulevard,
paul
cantrell
boulevard
between
526
and
sam
rittenberg
in
that
area,
a
little
portion
in
the
ardmore
sherwood
area
and,
and
then
the
vast
majority
of
the
high
ground
beyond
that
is
outside
of
the
urban
growth
boundary.
So
that's
protected
as
as
being
slated
for
primarily
rural
development
and
christopher
can
say
more
about
what's
happening
along
the
urban.
A
If
folks
have
questions
about
that,
we
can
address
that
later
and
then
finally,
these
are
planning
strategies
that
they
recommended
that
we
look
at
we
adopt
in
everywhere
in
the
city,
so
in
all
a
high
ground,
low
ground,
adapt
zone,
no
matter
what
the
land
use
category
is.
These
are
planning
strategies
that
need
to
be
used
in
combination
with
each
other
and
they'll
depend
which
combination
we
use
will
depend
largely
on
this
very
conditions
specific
to
a
particular
site.
A
A
Reserve
is
where
we
try
and
restore
an
ecosystem
or
preserve
an
ecosystem,
and
then
grow
is
where
we
can.
Accom
we've
learned
that
we
can
accommodate
growth
in
some
places
in
the
city
as
long
as
we
do
so
responsibly,
then
the
last
piece
before
I
wrap
up
is
that
we
heard
from
our
first
round
of
engagement
and
a
desire
to
protect
specifically
golokichi
communities
across
the
city.
A
These
are
communities
that
were
settled
by
free
golgich
people
in
the
reconstruction
era
they
vary
they're,
all
unique,
no
community
is
alike,
but
the
sort
of
similarity
across
the
communities
is
that
each
community
has
a
shared
history.
Each
community
has
a
shared
identity,
there's
a
strong
connection
to
the
land
and
they
share
cultural
institutions
or
have
shared
like
schools,
churches
and
businesses.
A
So
again
we're
the
the
point
of
the
purpose.
The
goal
is
to
include
a
map
of
these
in
the
plan,
include
them
and
landrieu's
recommendations
going
forward
being
considered
and
to
include
recommendations
about
supporting
their
preservation
goals
going
forward,
and
here
is
here's
the
working
map
emphasize
working.
This
is
still
in
progress.
Some
of
these
have
been
confirmed.
B
C
Zika
this
is
donna
I
just
wanted
to
add
to
that.
There
is
a
definition
for
settlement
communities,
but
we're
also
just
very
interested
in
the
even
modern
african-american
communities.
For
example.
Heritage
park
was
a
modern
built
subdivision
for
african
americans.
Washington
park
was
a
modern
build,
so
we're
not
even
though
that's
the
definition
that
we're
working
under
we're
still
working
under
even
a
modern
definition
of
those.
So
please,
if
you
have
any
information,
add
to
the
discussion.
We'd
greatly
appreciate.
B
See
all
right,
we
don't
have
any
specific
questions,
but
there
are
some
links
in
the
chat
specifically
so
if
in
and
this
was
a
condensed
version,
so
you
can
definitely
hear
more
read
more
about.
Excuse
me
within
the
blog.
So
all
those
links
have
been
placed
in
the
chat
for
you,
so
that
you
can
click
on
them
and
I
would
suggest
if
you,
unless
you
want
to
go,
look
it
on
your
own.
B
If
you
want
to
click
any
of
those
now
just
so,
you
can
have
them
open
to
refer
back
to
on
your
computer.
That
would
be
great
and
then
there's
also
the
city
plan,
water
analysis
report
and
the
housing
analysis
report
is
also
in
that.
So
you
can
access
any
of
those
in
there
all
right,
we'll
keep
moving.
B
D
So
what
is
a
future
land
use
map?
So
this
is
a
visual
guide
that
we
have
to
show
what
this
plan
will
be
recommending
for
land
use
and
development.
It
incorporates
things
we've
heard
from
the
community.
It
helps
our
planning,
commission
and
staff
and
city
council
make
decisions
now
and
into
the
future
and
it's
a
general
guide.
So,
for
instance,
some
of
you
may
have
heard
things
about.
You
know
elevation-based
zoning
and
things
like
that.
Well,
this
plan
is
not
zoning.
D
D
So
these
are
our
different
categories,
starting
from
rural,
which
is
actually
areas
outside
the
urban
growth
boundary
and
then
suburban
edge,
which
is
typically
just
on
the
inside
of
the
urban
growth
boundary,
then
suburban,
which
is
a
good
bit
of
the
city
and
a
lot
of
our
neighborhoods,
particularly
in
west
ashley,
and
then
what
we
call
our
neighborhood,
which
is
a
little
bit
more
oriented
to
some
downtown
neighborhoods.
That
are
a
little
bit
denser.
D
But
there
are
some
areas
in
west
ashley
that
fit
this
category
and
the
neighborhood
edge,
which
is
those
types
of
uses
that
are
needed
in
every
neighborhood.
But
you
don't
necessarily
want
them
smack
dab
in
the
middle.
They
need
to
have
traffic
access
to
them.
They
need
to
be
kind
of
on
the
edge
of
the
neighborhood,
so
they're
in
close
proximity,
but
they
aren't.
D
And
then
we
have
some
of
our
special
land
use
categories
such
as
campus
for
our
high
school
campuses
or
our
assisted
living
facilities,
our
hospital
campuses,
our
job
center.
Some
of
you
might
remember
the
doo-wop
plan
that
the
city
worked
on.
That
area
has
a
lot
of
jobs
in
within
it.
We
also
have
areas
further
out
in
west
ashley
that
we'd
love
to
incorporate
or
encourage
job
growth
in
the
office
sectors.
D
D
Lands
are
preserved
via
public
ownership,
not
necessarily
to
the
general
population
or
private
ownership,
with
preservation
or
conservation
easements.
Also,
then,
we
have
natural
and
wetland
areas.
Those
are
currently
natural
and
wetland
areas,
and
then
we
have
parks
that
are
publicly
or
privately
owned
lands
open
to
the
general
population
for
recreation.
Next
slide.
D
So
some
of
the
key
changes
we've
made
to
the
land
use
maps
are
making
sure
that
areas
for
future
growth
are
determined
by
elevation
considerations,
the
high
ground
and
current
and
future
transit
infrastructure,
particularly
like
in
the
downtown
area.
We
have
more
intensity
along
the
low
country,
rapid
transit
line,
which
is
a
new
bus
system.
That's
going
to
help
make
downtown
more
accessible.
I've
just
talked
a
little
bit
about
the
neighborhood
edge
designation
on
the
edge
of
neighborhoods,
and
then
we've
just
talked
about.
D
D
And
then
some
of
the
key
changes
in
west
ashley
west
actually
had
a
lot
of
areas
that,
in
our
previous
plan,
were
designated
as
highway,
and
we
felt
like
that.
Just
wasn't
really
giving
justice
to
the
unique
character
of
west
ashley
and
that's
why
we
switched
a
lot
of
these
to
the
neighborhood
edge
to
maybe
be
a
little
bit
less
auto
intensive
the
way
the
highway
was.
D
We
do
have
the
exception
of
the
auto
mile
on
savannah
highway,
which
actually
believe
it
or
not
is
a
fairly
intense
job
center
in
west
ashley.
Thousands,
several
thousand
people
have
very
good
jobs
in
that
area,
and
that
is
one
of
the
greater
concentrations
of
employment
in
all
of
west
ashley.
So
we're
saying
that
you
know
that
is
an
area
that
that
functions
almost
more
as
a
job
center
for
west
ashley
than
it
does
as
some
sort
of
highway
designation
and
then
because
most
of
the
high
elevation
west
national
occurs
on
sam
rittenberg
and
plan.
D
West
ashley's
also
identified
this
as
a
key
redevelopment
area.
We
did
create
areas
along
sam,
rittenberg
and
st
andrews
that
moved
to
city
center
and
then
also
to
neighborhood
edge
because
of
that
high
elevation
because
of
things
we've
seen
in
previous
plans
like
plant,
west
ashley
and
long
savannah
was
changed
to
all
suburban
as
the
densities
exhibit
that
in
that
already
approved
pud
for
that
property
next
slide.
D
So
this
is
kind
of
the
inner
west
ashley.
You
also
see
some
of
downtown,
but
you
see
a
lot
of
the
suburban
and
the
kind
of
light
brown
color
there
not
really
much
suburban
edge,
except
way
to
the
south
of
the
west,
ashley
greenway
or
out
in
the
old
charlestown
district
in
the
areas
that
are
already
existing
with
lower
densities.
D
And
then
you
see
some
of
the
suburban.
I
mean
the
neighborhood
edge
and
also
some
of
the
city
center
in
the
darker
reddish
brownish
color.
You
do
also
see
the
savannah
highway.
Can
you
all
see
my
cursor?
Is
that
cursor
visible
to
anybody?
No,
probably
not
so
I
can't
really
point
things
on
this,
but
there
are
the
the
job
centers
as
we
just
talked
about,
and
then
the
areas
in
the
doo-wop
area
that
are
job
centers
as
well.
D
Let's
move
a
little
bit
further
out
and
we
can
certainly
bring
these
back
up
next
slide.
It
shows
outer
west
ashley.
Again
you
see
here
civil
mall,
which
is
part
of
the
city
center
and
that's
based
on
the
the
approved
pud
for
that
property,
and
then
we
have
some
neighborhood
edge
around
west
ashley
circle
in
the
areas
that
are
able
to
be
developed
out
there
there's
a
lot
of
low
impact
and
conserved
areas
around
west
ashley
circle,
but
to
the
west
and
southwest
you
do
have
some
neighborhood
edge.
D
That
could
be
greater
intensities
further
out.
You
see
the
dark
blue
of
the
industrial
of
the
landfill,
which
is,
you
know,
going
to
be
there
for
a
number
of
years
more
and
then
beyond
that
you
have
long
savannah,
which
is
in
the
suburban
category,
which
we've
talked
about
already
and
suburban
edge,
which
is
really
what
the
densities
are
like
in
our
grand
oaks
and
shadow
moss
areas
and
a
lot
of
parks
here,
particularly
very
large
park.
D
That's
on
the
outer
edge
of
the
urban
growth
boundary
around
long
savannah,
the
largest
park
in
charleston
county,
it's
owned
by
charleston
county
prc.
It
does
have
some
wetlands
in
it,
but
it
also
has
some
highland
and
it's
going
to
be
a
great
permanent
edge
to
that
area
of
the
urban
growth
boundary.
D
So
those
are
some
of
the
key
high
points
in
the
maps
and
we're
happy
to
go
into
those
in
more
detail.
If
you
all
have
questions,
I'm
going
to
look
at
them
in
more
detail
next
slide,
and
then
this
is
just
our
overall
citywide
parks
and
conserved
lands,
and
it
gives
you
a
good
sense
of
you
know,
areas
that
will
never
be
developed
and
that
are
publicly
owned
or
have
easements
on
them
so
that
they
can't
be
developed.