Thank you for taking the time to read the following petition. If you agree to sign it, please add a comment describing your connection to Edisto Beach, and forward the petition to our neighbors and friends. It is not necessary to donate any money to change.org in order to sign the petition.

The Town Council of Edisto Beach is swiftly moving towards constructing a 14 or 15-feet tall above mean-sea-level, one size fits all, Federal dune/wall, stretching across both the front beach and the side (sound) beach.  It will block views of the beach, as well as direct access, as it currently exists, from beachfront homes to the beach, and be built upon a perpetual land easement signed over or taken from residents and property owners, by the town. Update 5/7/19: Council has voted 4-1 to request the corps to delete the upper 2/3's of the Inlet Reach starting at Mikell St, access #32.

In 2016, in an attempt to gain all 187 oceanfront property easements, the Town of Edisto Beach sent out letters and contracts with offers of $5 to all beachfront property owners, most of which do not reside full time in Edisto Beach.  They claim to have received half back, signed, but they weren't able to record most of them correctly and furthermore, these 2016 contracts do not coincide with the current USACE project.  Since then, any further correspondence regarding easement transfer and project proximity between the town and property owners, was non-existent, until April 2019, when again, the town finally sent letters and the perpetual easement contract copies to the beachfront owners.  Update 5/20/19: Council has decided to rescind those 45 easements they acquired as they do not contain required language for the current USACE project, such as "perpetual".   

As of 2018, upon President Trump signing into law the 2018 Bipartisan Congressional Budget, $22.23 million became available from the Federal Government.  With this, the local town government aggressively accelerated and moved, full steam ahead on the proposal process.  This was done without any direct notice to the beachfront owners and without any regard for objection and unanswered critical questions raised by the few who are aware of this.  From then, it would be a year and two months before the town notified property owners, that they would need to give up land between their home and the ocean, forever.

How will the town fund their 35% match?  A 50% match for future nourishments?  Raise taxes, all while claiming this will protect existing structures from storm damage and increase home values? This is really about securing future federal funds for front beach nourishments. But, as in real life, there are no guarantees. So, let the town know they need to figure out a less reckless way to do this.  

We are Edisto-loving visitors, residents and property owners who oppose this land grab that will destroy property values and run-off vacationers who have come here with their families and friends, many, for decades now.

Please sign the petition if you oppose this project and want to see the town slow down and listen to the people, reconsider this massive disturbance to our beach, our community and find a different way to nourish the beach. 

P.S. see letter from Buddy Smith to Town below

Mayor and Council Members.

Upon first becoming aware of the above referenced, my instincts led me to believe that opposition and a litany of plan flaws would prevail to direct leadership to scrub the concept. Apparently neither the flaws of plan nor the opposition have been pervasive enough and it now seems that the ACOE plan is one of manifest destiny.

Both my instincts and 40 plus years of business and real estate development experience now lead me to believe that this matter is unfortunately destined for litigation.
With the size, scope and resources of beach front property owners who are opposed, there is no doubt that such litigation will be protracted and hugely expensive to all parties. Most of all, this type action will be greatly divisive to our Edisto Community.

Having known most of you ladies and gentlemen for many years, I sincerely plead with you to please not move forward with this project.

Most respectfully,
Buddy Smith

                                     NOBEACHWALL.COM