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ScribeBy: DENESHIA GRAHAM Of The Post and
Courier Staff
Originally Published on: 11/28/02
Page: C1
Rentals become a lead issue in race for mayor's post and Town Council seats
As expected, Tuesday's Kiawah Island Town Council race has resurrected the controversial short-term rental issue that was decided earlier this year.
Most of the eight candidates in the five-seat race say it's a leading issue. Some admittedly wonder if this election will be a referendum on the highly divisive subject, because the candidates are taking opposing sides.
About 20 percent of Kiawah's property owners are full-time residents (the electorate); the other 80 percent live there part time.
In some cases, part-time residents rely on rental income, and some full-time residents once rented their homes before moving to the island permanently. They argue that ceasing the rental practice would negatively affect property values and unfairly limit an owner's jurisdiction over their property.
Those opposed say some rental homes are packed with too many guests, causing unacceptable noise, trash and traffic, and that rentals commercialize the neighborhood, destroying the sense of community.
Town Council's slim 3-2 margin in April allowed rentals to continue, and the subsequent vote to impose regulations was unanimous. But all five council seats, including the mayor's post, are up for election for a two-year term. The next council could revisit rentals and reverse the decision.
While rentals had been bubbling at the surface for a few years, the issue heightened in a series of heated public meetings in February. The question to permit rentals in R1-zoned areas - where the majority of single-family homes are concentrated - landed on the island Planning Commission's lap.
The commission recommended that Town Council vote to continue rentals for an undetermined period, which could be up to 10 years, and then extend the minimum rental period from seven to 28days, edging out the short-term practice.
The council vote rejected the recommendation and allowed the rentals to continue, as the majority felt there was insufficient data to justify prohibiting them.
The two candidates in the mayoral race take opposite stands on the issue. Eugene Kreuzberger disagrees with allowing rentals to continue in the R1 zone, while Bill Wert favors the practice.
Outgoing Mayor Jim Piet said there's no way to estimate the effect the rental issue will have on this race. "That's what we'll find out on Dec. 3," Piet said.
ELECTION ISSUES
While the short-term rental issue dominates, utility-rate intervention, Kiawah's tax burden in the county and the island's security framework are other key issues candidates are tackling.
Town Council and the Kiawah Property Owners Group, the island's watchdog organization, together have objected to rate increases that the Kiawah Island Utility has requested from the S.C. Public Service Commission. The utility is owned by Kiawah Resort Associates, the island's developer; because the utility is a monopoly, it's regulated by the state commission.
The most recent increase was about 20 percent, lower than the 33 percent requested. Cases before the commission from 1996, 1998 and 2000 challenging rate increases are ongoing, and the town and KPOG are seeking a management audit.
The options are for the town to condemn and take over the utility, or continue challenging rate increases.
An issue most candidates agree on is Kiawah's tax burden in Charleston County.
According to Piet, Kiawah residents pay nearly 13 percent of the county property taxes while accounting for less than 1 percent of the population. Most favor a Charleston County tax cap that would set a uniform percentage for all county residents. Candidates also argue that those on Kiawah don't demand a lot of county services, as there are virtually no school-age children attending public schools, and some services, such as garbage collection, are provided within the town.
Another leading issue is the island's security framework. The town wants to hire its own director of safety in response to a number of factors, one being the town's continual growth, Piet said.
Some argue that the security offered by the Kiawah Island Community Association for all property owners is sufficient, and the town's involvement would cause the services to unnecessarily overlap.
The mayoral candidates are Eugene Kreuzberger and Bill Wert. Town Council candidates are Richard Bennett, Patrick Casey, Leo Fishman, Donald McIver Jr., Steve Orban and David Warner.
EUGENE KREUZBERGER
With extensive involvement with the community association, Kreuzberger said he wants to contribute to Kiawah by leading Town Council as mayor.
"This is an important time for Kiawah," he said. "There are significant issues that a new Town Council must decide, issues that will impact the nature of our life on Kiawah for years to come."
The short-term rental issue is a main concern for Kreuzberger, who disagrees with the council's vote in April to let the practice continue. An inherently divisive issue, Kreuzberger said it remains unresolved.
He proposes that council stop any new short-term rentals in the R1 areas of the island. Second, he said, council should move toward banning future short-term rentals in these areas, with certain exceptions.
On other issues, Kreuzberger believes it would be premature for the town to hire its own public safety director.
"We need a clear and present need to add this significant cost to the town," he said.
Kreuzberger also wants to address the island's utility rate and property-tax burden in the county.
BILL WERT
As president of the community association, Wert earlier this year spoke before council and the planning commission in favor of continuing short-term rentals on the island.
In seeking the position of mayor on Town Council, his stance has not changed.
"I believe the mayor and council must represent all of the stakeholders on Kiawah. ... We cannot exclude the views of the majority on behalf of the resident minority and expect to maintain a growing and vibrant community," Wert said.
While his overall concern is the future of Kiawah Island, the rental issue is dominant.
Two segments define the rental issue, he said. In the short term, it's a behavior issue, he said in reference to the nuisance complaints residents have made against some renters. Second, it's the long-term issue of the quality of life on Kiawah.
"I don't think we know enough to take action now," Wert said.
Wert disagrees with the town hiring its own safety director. The current security staff is sufficient, he said. He also would address the portion of property taxes Kiawah residents pay to the county, as well as EMS and fire service issues.**
** The remainder of this article was not available on The Post & Courier's web site.
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