encouraged the orderly approach to growth consistent with the original goal of establishing “…a balanced use of land from both nature’s and man’s perspective”.
2013 - Present
Refinement of Development Standards
In 2013, KIC sold all remaining unsold platted properties, the amenities associated with the Kiawah Island Club, Freshfields Village, and all undeveloped Parcels as defined in the 2005 DA to South Street Partners and an associated investment group. This occurred during a time when KIC was negotiating with the TOKI to amend and extend the terms of the 2005 DA, which resulted in the approval of the 2013 Amended and Restated Development Agreement. This agreement, which is in force now, continues a proven pattern of refinement of development standards, updates of the base information of existing Parcel development patterns, and the addition of lands within the expansion of TOKI geographic limits. Since the approval of the 2013 DA, development has been characterized as follows: • Freshfields Village (FFV) was added to the listing of Parcels identified as part of the controlling development standards and was annexed into the TOKI • Provisions were established that, should portions or the entirety of Cassique be annexed by the TOKI, specific development standards were incorporated consistent with the existing standards of the community
•Since 1988, approximately 1600 additional DUs have been developed or allocated to 3rd parties, which results in a limit of approximately 5,200 existing and future DUs…this includes 400 entitled DUs allocated to KIGR as a result of a separate DA approved in 2010 • KIGR has initiated expansion and significant improvement efforts of its resort facilities. With new buildings and substantial improvements, redevelopment efforts have concentrated in West Beach, which includes a new Cougar Point Golf Clubhouse (completed in 2019), West Beach Villa Check-in, and Conference Center (Projected 2020 completion), and a future West Beach Hotel. Other resort projects include the addition of The Sanctuary Chapel (completed in 2019) and the expansion of the Roy Barth Tennis Center (completed in 2019). Plans are also in place for improvements at Night Heron Park and the Ocean Course for clubhouse kitchen expansion and cottages. • Beyond the Resort’s activity, Kiawah’s upcoming development plans include Kiawah Senior Living, a 200 unit independent living, assisted living, and memory care community, which will be located within FFV adjacent to Seabrook Island Road. Preparation site work is projected to begin late fall to the upcoming winter with estimated completion in 2021. Additionally, the Town has engaged conceptual site plans for a planned multifamily development on a portion of Parcel 13 adjacent to Timbers Resorts. This project is currently in the design phase and does not have an estimated construction start date.
Remaining Development As Kiawah approaches build-out, there are essentially three concentrated areas of remaining development entitlements. These include the far west end of the island to include Beachwalker Ocean (Parcel 13) and Beachwalker Park and Captain Sam’s (Parcel 12), Island Central including East Beach Ocean and area of current Town Center, and to a lesser extent the far east end of the island including Ocean Park and the Ocean Course. The following maps highlight areas of remaining development entitlements and provide a snapshot of what development is possible in the future for Kiawah. As highlighted throughout the development history, entitlements have decreased over the years. Strategically, neighborhoods and areas of the island have been developed at lower densities than initially allowed. Examples of this include Rhett’s Bluff, Indigo Park, or East Beach Interior. The values represented in the following area maps are ratios of DUs allowed to DUs remaining. Entitlements and dwelling unit counts originate from Town and Charleston County property data as well as historical records. Over time, key development decisions have been and are continuing to be made by the two major entities (KP and KIGR). As a result, Kiawah’s development patterns continually evolve. As more key decisions are made within the areas remaining to be developed, the Kiawah community becomes more refined in knowing how the island will look in the future.
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