Stormwater board convenes April meeting in Beaufort
The Beaufort County Stormwater Management Utility Board addressed issues including flood and runoff mitigation, water quality, project standards and procedures, and legal jurisdiction matters at the April 16th board meeting in Beaufort.
The meeting was bookended by discussions of the ongoing controversy over the proposed use of impervious concrete instead of natural or other pervious materials for area projects. In opening public comments, Alljoy resident and advocate Laura Wilson reiterated her longtime opposition to the planned use of concrete for the construction of a sidewalk in the Alljoy neighborhood. She said a pervious alternative “only makes sense due to our known flooding issues.”
Wondering why the county engineering department is opting for concrete, she says “Beaufort County, the Town of Bluffton, SCDOT, they all promote natural, pervious surfaces. “
Wilson advocates the use of materials such as pavers and granular rock which allow natural water filtration. She has sent the board photos of locations that are currently using pervious materials and has also created proposals for review by public officials. In addition to her advocacy of pervious alternatives to concrete, she proposes consideration of the option of widening the road and adding a bicycle lane. Wilson concluded by asking the board to address the county engineering department and County Council and recommend the use of pervious materials. Jim Lawton, also an Alljoy resident, asked the board to adopt formally a “best practices” policy stating that pervious materials be used in areas including bike paths, sidewalks, as well as near and upstream of waterways such as the May River to provide protection from pollutants. Resident Collins Doughtie also spoke on these and other issues concerning Alljoy.
During a discussion of new business, at-large board member Dennis Ross expressed concern over the issue of paving with impervious materials such as standard concrete and proposed the board schedule additional meeting time to discuss it. He urged the board to find out why there is resistance to the use of pervious materials. Chairman Marc Feinberg agreed the use of pervious materials should be a matter of best practices. The board agreed to pursue a meeting with the engineering department and others involved in the decision. The engineering department replied to media questions forwarded by County Council Alljoy liaison Matt Krause about various aspects of the sidewalk project but did not specifically address the question of environmental issues concerning the project. The engineering department cites SCDOT sidewalk construction standards as the reason for paving with concrete. Wilson said during her public comments that she talked with the SCDOT about the runoff concerns. Both the SCDOT and the Department of Environmental Services acknowledge on their websites the importance of controlling runoff pollution and indicate pervious surfaces are a good idea where appropriate.
Among the other agenda items was the stormwater project report presented by Stormwater Program Manager Taylor Brewer. Brewer said the contract for the Alljoy drainage study was approved by Beaufort County Council at its April 14 meeting and has been sent for review to the Rural Infrastructure Authority as they awarded the grant for the study.
In addition, Brewer gave updates on Bay Pines, River’s End, Hickory Hill, Tuxedo Park, and the Okatie River Park project.
Brewer announced a proposed voluntary buyout program for flood-prone properties wherein the properties would be purchased through a mitigation fund within the stormwater utility fund. She explained that they will be doing research to see if it is possible to launch this program.
Channing Heiss is a freelance writer and a member of the Beaufort County disAbilities Coalition.
