Council accepts delivery of Resilience Plan; residents raise questions about sea-level rise options

The Sullivan's Island Town Council accepted delivery of the Sea Level Rise, Adaptation and Resilience Plan but emphasized that acceptance was a procedural acknowledgment of completed consultant work and does not authorize the town to begin implementing recommendations.

"By accepting delivery of the Resilience Plan does not mean Council will be taking action on any of the suggestions made in it," Mayor Patrick O'Neil said, adding that future votes and additional public input would be required before the town pursues any projects the plan suggests.

The meeting record lists numerous residents who submitted correspondence in August expressing questions and concerns about the plan, including Rochelle Rutledge (1764 Atlantic Ave), Barbara Claypoole (2102 Pettigrew St), Mark Reinhardt (2201 Atlantic Ave) and others. Common themes in written correspondence included requests for clarification about property impacts, questions about adaptation options and concern about how recommendations might affect private property and pocket parks.

Town Administrator Joe Henderson also announced related items: a public groundbreaking for a separate SCIIP-funded stormwater project is scheduled for Sept. 26 at Jasper Boulevard and Station 28½, and the town will host four presentations in October on various projects including Tot Lot plans.

Council described the acceptance of the plan as an administrative step; any proposal from the plan that moves forward will be subject to further analysis, public input and a separate council vote.

The council did not vote to begin any resilience projects at the Sept. 16 meeting.