Deed Restriction Compromise

Editor's Note: Jerry Tekac is a Goose Creek City Council member running for re-election. 

After listening to the concerns and comments of those in attendance last night at the City Council meeting, a couple of issues hit me. The first being that those residents around the Golf Course are looking for assurances from City Council that they have a voice. I also heard that they have concerns, like I do, that in giving up the responsibility to another party is not something that they want. Finally, I heard from our residents that are frustrated over the way that this is not only dividing council but also the residents. With that in mind, I have a compromise that I would like to propose.

The compromise would be that the City places a deed restriction on the property not permitting sub dividing of the property, but not turn over the control of the deed to another entity. In addition, I think we add to this restriction, a requirement that future City Councils must hold a public hearing with the residents prior to initiating any future sub dividing of the property. This provides our residents with a venue to express their voices on the topic prior to City Council making any decisions.  I would ask that the deed restriction be for a period of 15 years with subsequent 5 year renewals.  This 5 year renewal period will allow for a complete cycle of City Council to occur, which also provides our residents with another safeguard.

I believe that this deed restriction provides another step that City Council would have to accomplish prior to making any decisions and it provides all of our residents with an opportunity to express their concerns and can be used very easily as a template for other city owned properties, if City Council feels that is appropriate.

I would like to get your thoughts on this compromise and as one of the council members that voted yes to table the original resolution last night, I am prepared to bring this back to the table at our April City Council meeting. Obviously it isn't an iron clad restriction but it does provide additional measures that the City would have to accomplish prior to sub dividing the property.

I should also note that I sent this compromise to the Mayor and to other members of City Council for their input. I have also spoken to a number of those residents that were in attendance last night to gauge their input and for the most part it has been very positive. I was informed this afternoon that this compromise would not be placed on the agenda, as only the Mayor can set the agenda for City Council meetings and he indicated that he does not support this compromise. He indicated that I could bring it up during the open forum section of our April Meeting, which I intend to do.

My intent is to seek an equitable solution to this issue. Does this accomplish this? I'm not sure but I would like the opportunity to hear from our residents. I believe that City Council needs to provide a blueprint to our legal counsel to follow in developing any possible deed restriction and not to provide him with a blank slate for him to draw his own conclusions.

We are the individuals that are elected to serve the residents of Goose Creek.