In a further effort by city leaders to combat island erosion and preserve natural settings, residents west of Front Beach on Isle of Palms now must comply with new pool-building regulations.
As unanimously approved by the city council at its June 24 public hearing and meeting, the ordinance prohibits the construction of beachfront pools seaward of the maximum building line for properties in the P-2 preservation overlay district, located between 10th Avenue and Breach Inlet.
The intent of the measure, as specified in the ordinance, is to: preserve natural barriers against the natural forces from the ocean; preserve adequate light, air and open space; and to protect and preserve scenic, historic and ecologically- sensitive areas.
“Currently, the BCM line is seaward of all of these houses by some amount – 50, 60 feet probably,” said City Administrator Douglas Kerr at the June 24 meeting. “Those pools have recently been threatened by erosion. The code doesn’t address the fact that we would not authorize a pool there.”
he new regulation derived from a Beach Preservation Ad Hoc Committee recommendation, which was then reviewed by the city’s planning commission.
Maximum building lines for all properties are determined by officials with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services’ Bureau of Coastal Management (DES BCM) and permitted uses are determined by the underlying or primary zoning district.
As for existing pools that will now be seaward of the new building restrictions or which have been seaward for a long time prior to previous regulations, Kerr pointed out that their legality is fully under the judgment of BCM officials.
“They’ve allowed significant work to maintain a pool – there is a pool in Beachwood East that has been maintained out in the active surf for 20 years – so they allow that work to happen,” Kerr said. “When it comes to maintaining structures in their jurisdiction, we defer to them.”
The measure is another indication of the now constant challenge of keeping Isle of Palms as both a resident community and one of the state’s top tourist destinations, while preserving its natural environment.
Other efforts include shoal management in front of Wild Dunes, flood barrier protection at Harbor Course, an Residents in the P-2 district have to comply with new pool-building regulations. emergency erosion control ordinance in 2024 and beach renourishment projects across the island.
Between 10th Avenue and Breach Inlet, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is rebuilding dunes with more than 720,000 tons of sand being dredged from the Intracoastal Waterway near the IOP Connector.
“It’s an ongoing effort for everyone on the council to address,” said City Councilman Rusty Streetman. “And changing the pool regulations in the P-2 district now brings this area into compliance with the rest of the island.”
By L. C. Leach III
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