Let’s take this campaign to the next level
Petition signers,
This is offered to apprise you of the efforts of the Charleston Beach Foundation, Myra Jones, and Senator Larry Grooms’ Bill S.40 regarding access to state roadways and encroachments thereon. We request your support for this Bill.
A hearing was held on Tuesday, January 26, 2020, by the Senate Transportation Subcommittee regarding the Bill. I testified in person on behalf of the Charleston Beach Foundation. Testimony was also received from a representative of the State’s Municipal Association and Secretary of Transportation Director Christy Hall. In summary, Secretary Hall testified that she has made efforts to work to a resolution of the issues with the mayors of four beach towns to no resolution. She is of the opinion that the bill should be passed, and a state law is required to ensure that SCDOT has ultimate authority to approve in advance any and all encroachments by municipalities into the roadways, that her department is capable to fairly handle all such requests and approvals and that fees charged for parking on state roadways must be fair and reasonable. Secretary Hall presented a map showing the elimination of parking on state roads on the IOP over the years. Senator Sean Bennett, the Chair, expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation over the summer and said that these actions and blocking state roadways were “unforgivable.” Senator Grooms stated that this is an immediate problem and must be fixed. We must ensure the public as access to our state’s beaches and highways.
The links below contain letters sent by The SCDOT to the Isle of Palms this past September, when IOP Town Council attempted to permanently eliminate land side parking on Isle of Palms Blvd (a state road). Also, attached is a parking map showing the elimination of parking over the years in what appears to be an attempt to severely limit access to these islands to all non-residents.
There have been many stories about this issue over the past 10 months in local, state, and even national media, but none more telling than the last two, both linked below. The US News & World Report, which sums up nicely the entire tyrannical take over of our beaches, and the latest article by News 2 which outlines the SCDOTs proposed changes to the Isle Of Palms connector and Isle Of Palms hypocritical and bizarre response.
(****Side Note – The ISLE OF PALMS never asked the opinion of the SCDOT or any of the non-resident citizens of this state before the blocked access to the beach via a state road with armed police NOR did they ask for input from the SCDOT or SC citizens before they tried to eliminate more than 50% of the parking on state roads that run through these island. However, the DOT’s proposed changes to the IOP connector, that would make it safer for anyone cycling or walking to the beach while also lowering the number of cars traveling to the island on busy summer weekends, have the elected officials from Isle Of Palms up in arms because…you guessed it..no one consulted with them before these changes were set in motion.****).
We need the support of everyone in this state to end the tyranny and the hypocrisy. Residents of the upstate have just as much right to access these beaches as the rest of us and this issue should be important to all of us. 2020 saw a lot of authoritative overstepping, and this is our chance to put a stop to some of it in our state. I would encourage you all once again to share this petition with your local elected officials, state representatives, family, and friends. Let them all know where you stand on this issue and tell them you want Senator Grooms Bill to pass!
Link to Share:
SCDOT sends letter to IOP denying their attempt to eliminate parking:
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT:
Channel 2 IOP Connector story:
Senator Grooms Hearing proposed Bill:
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/video/archives.php?key=10705&part=1