HomeMy Public PortalAbout20151012_CRC_CCS Meeting Summary.pdfCity of Tybee Island
Carrying Capacity Study
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Coordination Meeting #1
October 12 , 2015
3:00 PM – 5 :00 PM
Attendees:
Freda Rutherford, Community Resources Committee (CRC)
Ed DiTommaso, EPG
Bud Matlock, CRC
Tim Arnold, CRC
George Shaw, City of Tybee Island
Kathryn Propst, CRC
Bill Garbett, Tybee Island City Council
Monty Parks, Tybee Island City Council
Courtney Reich, EPG
Diane Schleicher, City of Tybee Island,
Meeting Summary
1. Scope of Project
a. Scope & Schedule
Courtney gave some background on the grant and the general scope and schedule. This
included and summary of the outcomes and the requirements associated with each. Task
1 is primarily information gathering. EPG will work with the Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC) to gather relevant data. The second major task will be to assess will
various resources and how they impacted by, and/or limit, the daytime, overnight, and
permanent populations. It is anticipated that this will reveal hard limits, i.e. where a
resource absolutely limits the amount of people that can be supported, as well as soft
limits, where a resource as it is currently could limit future population if nothing is done
to address the limitation. Lastly, this information will be used to develop a series of
recommendations for the City consideration.
Additionally, the process will be well documented and EPG will produce an outline of how
another communities could replicate the process.
2. Data Needs
The group discussed data needs and existing data sources. In some cases, EPG already has some of
the needed datasets, other cases will require coordination with appropriate City staff and/or CRC
members. The following datasets were discussed, and resource and/or responsible party identified:
Freda asked about when the 2015 Census data will be available. Also asked about when the master
plan is due and how the Carrying Capacity Study can be coordinated and included in the Master Plan.
The Master Plan is due next October (2016). EPG already contacted the Department of Community
Affairs to see if they would allow the City an extension to because of this grant, but no extension was
given. The requirements for the comprehensive is different than is was in 2007, but the City can
complete the plan based on the existing DCA schedule and adopt the Carrying Capacity as an
addendum later.
Data Source
GIS Data
Critical Habitats EPG, from CRD data
Water, Sewer, Stormwater Infrastructure Joe Wilson & George Reese at COTI
Flood Zones (Current and future) EPG will get these
Zoning CRC, George to update & EPG will request
Land Use 2008 land use plan, EPG will request &
update
Tree Canopy Cover EPG
Parking COTI, Pete Ryerson in Parking
Rental Units EPG to try to develop this layer using
Business tax info from Sharon and websites
for rental agencies
Bikeways EPG and Tybee
Emergency response/evacuation routes EPG to get from CEMA
Critical infrastructure EPG to get from CEMA
Other Data
Population Study EPG has this, will look to update as needed
Traffic Counts Diane to provide two calendar years’ worth
of data
Water & Sewer Permits Diane to provide
Parking See above
Electrical Grid Capacity Chris Tatasco (sp?) From GA Power
Solid Waste & Recycling Kathryn to provide
Rental Units See above
Housing (workforce) Census, survey
Alternative energy sources &
opportunities
Paul Wolff and Bill Garbett
Highway 80 Expansion EPG
Saltwater Intrusion Study EPG
Discussion regarding the data included the following:
• There was some discussion of why and how we determined which types of data to review. The
original list was not intended to be all inclusive and will likely be modified as we move through
the process.
• EPG will review the critical habitats data to see where the priority areas are located throughout
the City.
• EPG to get with George to obtain the water/sewer/stormwater datasets and determine the
usefulness of the data. We can request the data from CRC, Joe and George. EPG will work with
the city to determine how reliable the data is. Diane said the data is generally accurate and to
work with Hunter Key to get.
• Flood. EPG already has the existing flood maps, but will try and obtain the future flood maps,
since they will be in effect before this project is complete.
• Zoning. Get from Hunter at CRC. George is going to confirm that Hunter has the most updated
zoning based on a couple recent re-‐zonings. EPG will perform an analysis of existing R-‐2 zoning
and determine whether there are 2 houses or if they are currently SFR and can be developed as
2. A significant area of the City is zoned R-‐2 and there is often demand to make existing SFRs into
duplexes. EPG will also evaluate lot size as part of the analysis to make sure the use would be
allowed by right versus needing a variance.
• Land Use. The City has not updated the existing land use layer since the 2008 master plan. EPG
will use the Tax assessors land use code and perform a desktop update.
• Tree Canopy Cover. EPG has access to this data in a GIS format.
• Parking. The city has a map of parking. Each metered parking space was included in this. The
beach management plan included a count of all metered parking on the island. Pete Ryerson,
would be the contact for this and also might have data that shows golf cart parking. Work with
parking staff at the City to verify and update as needed.
• Rental Units. EPG might have a list containing some data about rental units, but single owner
properties are difficult to track. Might be some able to use the business license database since
renters are supposed to get a license, per city ordinance. Many get a license thought larger sites
(Air B&B) and the city does not have a way to track this. City is trying to develop a better way to
track this. The CRC team believes this is important. Start with business license list. Get with
Sharon from the City as a starting place. The city is seeing a trend in long term rentals being
converted to short-‐term rentals. Driving out workforce housing, which forces that population
group off the island. Look at cases where the renter has to put a deposit down vs owners that
bundle utilities. There is a perception that the population on the island is decreasing. Is this the
case? EPG discussed making a web survey to try and understand these trends.
• Bikeways. There are existing maps showing bikeways on the island. Get with George or view city
website.
• Emergency response / evacuation and critical infrastructure. EPG will get with CEMA and Jimmy.
EPG also has the Highway 80 study
• Population. EPG completed a population study that EPG completed as part of the LOST
negotiations. The focus of the study was to determine the daytime population numbers. There
has been a jump in short term rentals over the last few years, which has changed the population
make up on the island. EPG will update this study with new data.
• Traffic Counts. Get info from police department. The city has a new system that tracks cars
coming onto the island. The City will provide two calendar years worth of data. 2013 – to date.
Courtney mentioned the public involvement element of the Hwy 80 project. She will to send out
information to the group about joining the DOT highway 80 notification list. DOT is going to host
a charrette in November to discuss the widening project.
• W/S permits. City to provide list from EPD. Including the new Cretaceous well.
• Parking. Get an understanding of the number of public parking spots in addition to private
parking. Issues with golf cart parking since they take up the same parking spaces, but the golf cart
shuttles make a difference because saves parking. EPG will look at alterative options. The
assessment will make an assumptions about how much parking is associated with houses. For
example, 4 spots for SFR, 8 for MF. EPG will come up with these assumptions and bring back to
the group. Get data on the number of seasonal passes / decals. Three categories, resident, sold,
given away.
• Electrical grid capacity. Data from GA power. This will be difficult to get. GA power just
upgraded. Chris Tidasko from GA power is someone to contact about getting this type of
information. Power to the island is a single point failure.
• Solid waste and recycling, CRC has a lot of data and will provide, but is missing information from
Condos. Ask condos to share this information and let them know we are only interested in
quantity and are not concerned with the prices. Also need this information for commercial
customers. If we are not successful getting real data we can make assumptions based on
container size and pick up frequency.
• Maybe develop a survey for businesses on the island. Ask how much of your workforce lives on
the island?
• Alternative energy. Paul and Bill will be able to provide information. How many people went
solar? Final report is being completed, so we should be able to get info from Hannah. How many
kilowatts were installed? Other studies completed by the city, such as wind energy. Installation
of solar energy is more difficult for the City to implement because tax benefits are for residential
customers and not extended to government because they don’t pay taxes.
• Salt Water intrusion. EPG has this data.
3. ICLEE Greenhouse Gas Footprint Analysis
There was a brief discussion about the GHG analysis and the type of information that would be
gathered and included in the analysis. Public lighting was left off the list on the meeting agenda, but
will be included in the assessment. The CRC stated that solar power is already being used on many
poles located on the island. It was noted to be sure to include the campground as part of this
analysis.
4. T echnical Advisory Committee (TAC)
There will be a TAC that meets quarterly as part of this meeting, and the following people were
discussed as potential members of the TAC:
• CRC
• Planning Commission
• George Reese
• Joe Wilson
• Tybee Tourism Council rep.
• Deb from DNR
• George Shaw
• Open invitation to City Council (“may be a quorum present” noted on agendas)
• Discuss with Chantel to get people from the business community, represent “Main Street”
• Brett Loher (sp?) (Hotel Tybee)
• Local Realtor (Shirley Sessions)
• Restaurant industry (Sarah from Social Club)
EPG will work with George to develop a final list and provide it back to the City for their review. The
first TAC meeting will be in November.
Next Meeting
• EPG will attend and provide updates as part of the regular CRC meeting schedule. Some
meetings might require more time on the agenda.
• The group discussed a proposed agenda for the kick off meeting for TAC. EPG will prepare a
community snapshot showing some of the data we are discussing to help illustrate the impact
these factors have on a specific area. This will include a one block area of GIS information.
• The TAC meeting will take place in November. EPG will look at some dates and check them
against the City calendar. The group will need to get member list finalized before meeting.