Dear Friends of Develop Cashiers Responsibly,
As many of you know, a proposed development project called Cashiers Marketplace applied for a Special Use Permit in July. The development would be on a 31-acre mostly-forested tract on both sides and on top of the ridge facing Cashiers village near the crossroads. A hearing before the Cashiers Area Community Planning Council will be scheduled very soon to approve or deny this permit. We want you to be informed and involved as we undertake another effort to ensure that new development is consistent with the vision of the Cashiers Small Area Plan (2019) to “honor the history, heritage, and authenticity of Cashiers’ village character through design of the built environment.” Together, we can face current challenges and implement a long-term plan for responsible growth.
Our community raised $135,000 to hire a panel of development experts from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to conduct a study in 2022 and make objective recommendations to maintain and improve the character of our special place. The study included research, meetings, and in-depth interviews with a broad range of full and part-time residents, businesses, and property owners. The final ULI report echoed the goals of the Small Area Plan and recognized the limits to growth presented by existing transportation, infrastructure and resource limits. As currently proposed and if permitted, Cashiers Marketplace would result in grossly exceeding the existing carrying capacity of Cashiers per the ULI report.
Our concerns about the proposed Cashiers Marketplace include the following:
● Too dense, especially for this steep location: (a) 110-room hotel with conference area and 30 additional rooms in stand-alone cabins, (b) 21 closely-spaced rental houses in multiple rows on the side of the ridge facing the Village Green, (c) 4 apartment buildings with six 3-bedroom units each on the same steep ridge, plus (d) 3 restaurants and 30,000 sf of retail space
● Too much environmental impact: (a) Gouging out rock on both sides of Cashiers Ridge with multiple 40-50 foot deep excavations for buildings, parking and water tanks, (b) many acres of additional clearing, grading, and excavation on the top and steep slopes of the forested ridge, likely resulting in unmanageable erosion, sedimentation, and stormwater runoff, plus (c) new sewage treatment plant adjacent to Monte Vista Road, with drip field in shallow soils uphill from nearby Cashiers Lake.
● Too much traffic: Adding to an already bad traffic situation an estimated 4,275 additional trips per “typical weekday,” with even more in high season and on weekends, which would result in even more backing up of traffic and increasing response time for emergency vehicles.
We recognize that Cashiers will continue to grow to some extent with new development and/or redevelopment. However, it is crucial that we recognize the inherent constraints to growth, and channel it in the right places in the right ways, consistent with the small scale approach contemplated by the Small Area Plan and the ULI Report. As a community, we need to be vigilant and careful in protecting the character of our community and upholding guidelines that shape the future of our community, instead of leaving it up to chance and “developer’s choice.” With your support, we were able to stop a large-scale development that would have included this same land two years ago, after which we helped shape a much better development on a 25-acre portion of that property.
We need your help once more to challenge the current proposal in the upcoming special use permit hearing.
We have retained a team of lawyers and expert witnesses to appear before the Cashiers Area Community Planning Council and help explain why this proposal isn’t right for this piece of land, its neighbors, and the community. The lawyers and experts are required in the current approval processes, and your contribution will ensure we have the best resources available to preserve the quality and character of our beloved community.
It’s time to up our game. DCR is all in and we are counting on you to join us.
Sincerely,
Harriet Holliday & Jamie Moran
On behalf of Develop Cashiers Responsibly and the 2,000+ supporters
Donations are tax deductible and are payable either by check to the Chattooga Conservancy, 867 Chattooga Ridge Road, Mountain Rest, SC 29664 or online at www.chattoogariver.org. Please note that your donation is for the Cashiers Legal Defense Fund.
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