Town Government on Kiawah Island
The Town of Kiawah Island has the following committees: Arts Council, Board of Zoning Appeals, Environmental Committee, Municipal Election Commission, Planning Commission, Public Safety Committee, Town Council, SATAX Committee and Ways and Means Committee. All Town committees are comprised of gracious volunteers and their dedication and hard work is greatly appreciated. If you are interested in joining or learning more about any of the Town Committees, please contact Lakesha Shannon at 843-768-9166. (The Town will contact you to discuss availability of committee assignments and availability.)
Arts Council:The Arts Council is responsible for working to enhance community appreciation and involvement in the visual and performing arts within the Town of Kiawah Island and its environs by providing a diversity of planned programs. They work to develop relationships with arts organizations, plan; implement an arts calendar and inform the community of planned events.
Board of Zoning and Appeals: The BZA has three main purposes: 1) To hear and decide zoning appeals when it is alleged by the appellant that an administrative official has made an error (Administrative Review); 2) To hear and decide applications for variance from the requirements of zoning regulations (Variances); and 3) To permit uses by special exception, subject to the terms and conditions for those uses as identified in the zoning regulations (Special Exceptions). Members serve a three year term.
Environmental Committee: The Environmental Committee’s primary objectives are to study and report on environmental issues such as alligator/fauna control, monitor health and population of birds and animals (bobcat, deer, fox, raccoon), make recommendations to Town Council on ways to improve the quality of environmental services and the cost effectiveness of such services.
Planning Commission: The Planning Commission’s primary objectives are to approve plats and make recommendations to the Town Council on planned development, zoning district and map amendments, zoning text amendments, and comprehensive plan updates. Members serve a four year term.
Public Safety Committee: The Public Safety Committee meets quarterly and is responsible for assisting the Town in meeting its state-mandated responsibilities with regard to maintaining order and law enforcement and to initiate and consider proposals and methods to upgrade and improve public safety on the Island and to manage our beach safety.
State Accommodations Tax Committee(SATAX): The Accommodations Tax Committee meets annually to consider SATAX applications and make recommendations to the Ways and Means Committee on how the Town’s tourism-related funding should be allocated during the following budget year.
All committee meetings are open to the public. The committee descriptions and schedules are available online except for SATAX at www.kiawahisland.org.