Ladys Island
South Carolina
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Lady's Island Business And Professional Association
History
During the 26 years LIBPA has been in existence, it has served as the voice of Lady's Island regarding annexation, zoning, design and construction of Sam's Point Road and Highway 21, obtaining an EMS station on Lady's Island and the planning for future roads, parks and schools.
Over the decade of the 70’s Lady’s Island population grew from 2000 to 3,120. The black community had increased in numbers by 23% but due to the large influx of white residents represented only 38% of the island in 1980, compared to 52 % in 1970. The 1980 census showed that the average resident on the island was now older, more educated and more affluent. During this decade the J. E McTeer Bridge had been built providing a second access to the island and a commercial water system was developed. Prior to the arrival of the water system the only source of water was from individual wells.
To cope with the intense future growth on the island that was predicted during the decade of the 80’s a small group of far sighted Lady‘s Island business men and women met at 9 A. M. on November 4, 1981 at Wilkop’s White Hall Inn. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how the community could best cope with the rapid growth in population which had occurred in the last decade and to guide the future growth that was sure to follow. At the time the first meeting occurred Lady’s Island had 76 businesses and a population of 3,120 residents living in 1400 single-family homes of which 308 (22%) were trailers. It was decided that to be effective an organization should be formed to provide a voice for the businesses and residents on the island.
At this first meeting, after much discussion, the name “Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association” was adopted. By Christmas the organization had grown to 23 members, 2 associate members and 2 charter members. During the next year this small organization would organize an island clean up, become the leader in the process of naming the roads on the island as part of the 911 program, become involved in development of Lady’s Island Land Use Plan, lead the fight to remove an inappropriate sign at the new Winn Dixie and hold the first LIBPA Oyster Roast. The County Joint Planning Commission appointed a Lady’s Island Citizens’ Advisory Committee in 1983 to guide the development of the first zoning for the island. LIBPA members played a key role in the development of this plan. Included in the plan were the recommendations that Highway 21 be widened to 5 lanes, new stoplights be put at the intersection of Highway 21 and Highway 802, the road leading from the McTeer Bridge be widened, utility lines be buried if possible and general zoning be instituted for the island. County Council approved the Lady’s Island Land Use Plan and it was predicted that by the year 2000 the population of our island could reach the unbelievable number of 9000. It did, with a population of 9,326. This was only a plan and was not actual zoning. The first actual zoning for the island would not become law until 1991.
In 1984 County Council adopted the Lady’s Island Land Use Plan. That same year the association bought and installed two “Welcome to Lady’s Island” signs and worked to standardize commercial signs along Highway 21. LIBPA served as the leader in the 911 program to name and install street signs on the island. Street signs were available for self-installation at a cost of $63 each and the Joint Planning Commission was the approval authority for all names. LIBPA purchased 12 of the signs and coordinated their installation. LIBPA also led the charge to get a stoplight installed at the intersection of Meridian Road and Highway 21 and lobbied for a left turn lane from Highway 21 onto Sams Point Road.
During the 26 years LIBPA has been in existence, it has served as the voice of Lady's Island regarding annexation, zoning, design and construction of Sam's Point Road and Highway 21, obtaining an EMS station on Lady's Island and the planning for future roads, parks and schools.
Over the decade of the 70’s Lady’s Island population grew from 2000 to 3,120. The black community had increased in numbers by 23% but due to the large influx of white residents represented only 38% of the island in 1980, compared to 52 % in 1970. The 1980 census showed that the average resident on the island was now older, more educated and more affluent. During this decade the J. E McTeer Bridge had been built providing a second access to the island and a commercial water system was developed. Prior to the arrival of the water system the only source of water was from individual wells.
To cope with the intense future growth on the island that was predicted during the decade of the 80’s a small group of far sighted Lady‘s Island business men and women met at 9 A. M. on November 4, 1981 at Wilkop’s White Hall Inn. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how the community could best cope with the rapid growth in population which had occurred in the last decade and to guide the future growth that was sure to follow. At the time the first meeting occurred Lady’s Island had 76 businesses and a population of 3,120 residents living in 1400 single-family homes of which 308 (22%) were trailers. It was decided that to be effective an organization should be formed to provide a voice for the businesses and residents on the island.
At this first meeting, after much discussion, the name “Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association” was adopted. By Christmas the organization had grown to 23 members, 2 associate members and 2 charter members. During the next year this small organization would organize an island clean up, become the leader in the process of naming the roads on the island as part of the 911 program, become involved in development of Lady’s Island Land Use Plan, lead the fight to remove an inappropriate sign at the new Winn Dixie and hold the first LIBPA Oyster Roast. The County Joint Planning Commission appointed a Lady’s Island Citizens’ Advisory Committee in 1983 to guide the development of the first zoning for the island. LIBPA members played a key role in the development of this plan. Included in the plan were the recommendations that Highway 21 be widened to 5 lanes, new stoplights be put at the intersection of Highway 21 and Highway 802, the road leading from the McTeer Bridge be widened, utility lines be buried if possible and general zoning be instituted for the island. County Council approved the Lady’s Island Land Use Plan and it was predicted that by the year 2000 the population of our island could reach the unbelievable number of 9000. It did, with a population of 9,326. This was only a plan and was not actual zoning. The first actual zoning for the island would not become law until 1991.
In 1984 County Council adopted the Lady’s Island Land Use Plan. That same year the association bought and installed two “Welcome to Lady’s Island” signs and worked to standardize commercial signs along Highway 21. LIBPA served as the leader in the 911 program to name and install street signs on the island. Street signs were available for self-installation at a cost of $63 each and the Joint Planning Commission was the approval authority for all names. LIBPA purchased 12 of the signs and coordinated their installation. LIBPA also led the charge to get a stoplight installed at the intersection of Meridian Road and Highway 21 and lobbied for a left turn lane from Highway 21 onto Sams Point Road.