KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) – Kiawah Island is working to repeal and replace a portion of an ordinance in a yearlong process to better define protections for the primary dune.

Kiawah Isand Town Council got a look at the proposed ordinance, which would update Article 16 of its Beach Management Ordinance, on Tuesday.

Kiawah Island Environmental and Wildlife Director Jim Jordan said the old ordinance had language that exempted certain portions of the dune from the town’s regulation and they wanted to make sure they were able to protect it in its entirety.

There are also new regulations on pets. For example, Jordan said pets would need to be kept on leash in the early spring to keep them away from migrating red knots to protect the birds from disturbance.

There are a variety of other changes, but Jordan says they all lead to one main goal.

“To protect Kiawah’s beaches and make sure that people can enjoy those beaches, but that we have the appropriate rules in place to protect them,” Jordan said.

He said the community is typically very supportive of their efforts to protect and preserve the environment and wildlife on Kiawah Island.

Click here to look at the ordinace.

The ordinance will go through a second reading next month. If it passes, it will become law.

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