Gene, whenever you're ready. Okay. Welcome to the Board of Zoning Appeals, members, staff, and guests. We ask for your patience during this virtual meeting. Multiple staff members are behind the scenes to make sure all applicants and citizens are able to communicate with the board at the appropriate times. Board members and applicants are participating via Zoom. Some are using video and all are using audio. I will unmute applicants when their case is called or ask them to unmute themselves. Everyone, please just be mindful of anything going on in your background, anything that could cause distractions. There are a number of ways that the public can participate in today's meeting so they can watch via City TV. Email, phone, or they can log in to publicinput.com. To watch, you can go to youtube.com. user slash Columbia SC government. You can also go to the main page of the City of Columbia website and there will be a ticker on the top that we are live streaming. You can click that and it will take you straight to YouTube. During the meeting, you can submit letters and statements via email to COC board meeting at Columbia SC.gov. You can submit during until the board goes into board discussion. Staff is monitoring and we'll make sure that the letter is read into the record. You can call in by calling into public input. It's 1-855-925-2801. When prompted, you'll enter the meeting code, which is 9-424. And you'll be given several options. If you just hit star one, that's gonna allow you to stay on the line and listen to the audio of the meeting. Star two allows you to record a voice message. So if you're unable to stay on for the whole meeting, you can hit star two and record a message that'll be played in. Just make sure to speak clearly so it transcribes for us and leave your name and the case information so we know which case you're calling on. And star three allows you to be placed in a queue to speak live. Please make sure that you don't hit star three until your specific case is called as that's our only way to know which case you're wanting to speak on. You can also stream the meeting at publicinput.com slash cocboza, that's January. And also just if you're participating by phone while streaming on your computer, just make sure to mute the audio on your computer so that there's not playback issues. There is an audio delay between Zoom and the live recording on city TV and public input. So if you notice that we're pausing certain times, it's to allow that audio to catch up and give citizens time to submit any comments. I'll go ahead and do roll call. Mr. Dinkins. Here. Mr. Gregory. Here. Mr. Primus is gonna be absent. Ms. Stevens. Here. Ms. Finner. Here. Mr. Gignard. I don't believe he's logged on. We have four members, so we do have a quorum. Okay, applicants with requests before the board of zoning appeals are allotted a presentation time of 10 minutes. This time should include but is not limited to an overview of the project, case history in any pertinent meetings held regarding the request. This time also includes all persons presenting information on behalf of the applicants such as attorneys, engineers and architects. This time limit does not include any questions asked by the board of zoning appeals or staff regarding requests. Any member of the general public may address the board in intervals of three minutes or five minutes if by a spokesperson for an established body or for a group of three or more. The applicant will then have five minutes for a battle. The board reserves the right to amend these procedures on a case-by-case basis. First up, we have the consent agenda. The board uses the consent agenda to approve non-controversial or routine matters by a single motion and vote. If a member of the board or the public wishes to discuss an item on the consent agenda, that item is removed and placed on regular agenda. The board then approves the remaining consent agenda items. Up first, we have the approval of the December 3rd, 2020 minutes. Case 2020-0079, special exception for 5408 and 5412 Minulton Street. This is a special exception to expand an existing religious organization. Case 2020-0080, also for 5408 and 5412 Minulton Street. This is a special exception to permit an alternative parking surface. In case 2020-0081 for 1110 Kenley Road, special exception to expand an existing religious organization. So, and it's also for, it's actually, sorry, that was a typo, it's for alternative surface. Does anyone wish to have a case removed from the consent agenda prior to the board vote? We'll see if Erica has any emails or anyone on the phone. Rachel, I'm good. Okay. Erica or Andrew, is there anyone on the line? Rachel? Yes. You hear me? Good. I can now. Okay, good. We have no callers at this time, no emails. All right, thank you. Okay. Okay. Do we have a motion for the consent agenda? I move that we approve the consent agenda. Second. Okay. Catherine, your motion for the consent agenda will subject any staff comments. Yes, but yeah. Okay. All right, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Okay, motion passes. Thank you. Mr. Dinkins, we will use the following outline for our regular agenda. So I will introduce the case. The applicants will have 10 minutes to make their presentation. I do have just because there were some issues with the previous timers we were using, I was able to find these timers. So I will have this up during presentations. So you all will, I'll have the beep on, it'll be minimal, but you'll be able to see the lights as well. And just for everyone, you'll get a caution beep. That just means that you have about 30 seconds left and then it will beep again when your time is up. The board may ask any questions during the presentations and the public will be allowed to participate via email, voicemail, or phone comment. The applicant will have an opportunity for a rebuttal as well after public comment and then it will go into board discussion and action by the board. The first matter on our regular agenda today, the case at 2020-0082 for 2200 Sumter Street. And this is a variance to the buffer transition yard for commercial redevelopment. So the applicant is present and is welcome to give us a brief overview of their application. Hello everyone, happy new year. Thank you for your time today. My name is Karen Yip and I am requesting a zoning variance for a property that my husband and I own at 2200 Sumter Street. I'm a native to the Columbia area and I've been practicing real estate in this city for 18 years. As a former board member for the Redland County Planning and Zoning Commission, I am acutely aware of the importance of balancing preservation of neighborhoods alongside responsible growth and development. My husband also owns Old Town Builders and has spent many years in preservation and renovation work of numerous homes in the downtown area. So we are also sensitive to careful planning and design. The subject property is formerly Freeze Automotive. In the several years that we have owned this property, some of the residents of Cotton Town have reached out to me and expressed concerns for the automotive garage and the challenges it brought in terms of traffic related parking issues. And according to some, it did not fit with the general feel of the neighborhood. We took some time to seriously consider these concerns as we also own a residential property in Cotton Town. As such, we have a vested interest and are also concerned for the future of this historic neighborhood and how things evolve. Ultimately, we decided to non-renew the lease last year with Freeze Automotive. It was our intention to make a substantial investment in the renovation and redevelopment of this particular building in order to attract a tenant that will hopefully be viewed as a positive addition for the neighborhood and hopefully may even be a business that our neighbors will patronize. However, we all know that parking continues to be a challenge in this area and my ability to attract a viable tenant hinges on securing this approval request for my variants. My options in filling the vacancy will severely be limited otherwise if I'm unable to offer any off-street parking through a prospective tenant. It is our desire to evolve with the neighborhood and rather than keeping, I should say, the current use which is the Automotive Garage. So in the spirit of transparency and collaboration, we reached out to the Cotton Town Neighborhood Association and also took time to reach out to the two property owners that are adjacent to our property and it's my belief that they share my desire to improve this property. To ensure that we are following proper zoning and building requirements in the planning process, we partnered with the local architect firm, Architrave, you know, to plan for the discussed renovations. So at this time, I would like to introduce Justin Washburn who will be able to answer any specific planning and zoning questions that you may have. Thank you again for your time. Thank you, Karen. We are requesting a variance to the buffer yard required by section 17-417, which requires a 15-foot landscape area between the commercial property and the residential property. The building was built in 1964 as an Automotive Garage and Intel recently was occupied by Frees Automotive. The Automotive Garage used the existing paved area behind the building for vehicle and park storage and the right of way along Jefferson Street for customer parking. The existing buffer is a six foot tall chain link fence and wood fence at the edge of the property line and provides limited protection to the rear property owner and no landscaping. The building measures 40 feet by 80 feet deep and is set approximately eight feet from the Jefferson Street property line and 44 and a half feet from the rear property line. The only usable area on this site for parking is that 44 and a half feet by 50 foot area behind the building. To utilize this area for parking, the city staff is requiring a 25 foot two-way aisle and standard parking depth of 18 feet. We have worked with the city staff on the proposed plan allowing for a one and a half foot buffer yard. Additionally, we're proposing to remove a small addition on the back of the building to allow for this proposal to work. To mitigate for the reduced buffer yard, we're proposing a closed wood fence eight feet tall with the finished side facing the neighboring property. In addition, we will work with the city staff to find the best vegetation to plant in the remaining one and a half foot area. We believe that this is the best solution to balance the need for off-street parking with the requirement of a buffer yard. Because of the dimensions fixed by the city code and the existing conditions, any expansion of the buffer would require that all parking be removed from the site. Even a small amount of off-street parking is essential to the practical redevelopment of the site. We want to provide the best solution to enhance the character of the neighborhood. And we feel that the new eight foot tall closed wood fence and one and a half foot planting area will be a substantial improvement over the existing conditions. With this variance, we believe the owner will be able to attract tenants that the neighbors will find far more desirable than the previous auto repair shop while lessening the demand for on-street parking in the neighborhood. Thank you for considering our application. Kara and I would be glad to answer any questions you have. Question for Mr. Washburn. The one and a half foot buffer proposed, are you able to put any sort of plantings in that area? We've spoken through Rachel to Scott Holder and as of right now, he hasn't recommended anything. He basically said ground cover would be the best solution. So we're still looking for what the possibilities are as far as landscape in that area. Okay, just curious. For the applicant, Ms. Michelle, what sort of business do you envision hopefully occupying the space one day? What are you thinking about? You know, we don't have anybody perspective now, but I mean, ideally, based on what we're kind of seeing right now with the success of Warmouth and into coffee, I really like to see either office space or potentially retail. I mean, I think it would be a great spot for like a wine bar or a restaurant. But as you can see, it's really hard for me to really directly answer that question. But I think that it would definitely be a step up from the automotive garage, but I see it kind of as something that perhaps is a neighborhood light commercial type picture. But as you can see on our proposed design, I mean, we did put some outdoor seating, you know, for the front where the red railings are. So I mean, really it could be anywhere from a bistro to I mean, even retail. But the whole idea is I'd like to place a tenant in there that would be added benefit for the neighbors of, you know, Cotton Town quite frankly and continue to build on, you know, what's already there now. Well, I agree with you. I think it's certainly an attractive looking rendering that you have here. This proposed renovation looks like a real plus, really looks good. I'm not sure if you'd be able to do any sort of a restaurant use. I don't know if you'd have the parking for that. You may, but I'm not sure five spaces may prohibit that. Probably some sort of a retail office space, something like that. Well, normally we ask the applicants to run through the six criteria here that are in your application for the variance. But I think both your presentation and your architects did a good thorough job of answering those. So I think it would be redundant to ask you to run through those. So we'll just, I'd like to just note for the record that the applicant's responses are in the application and they look thorough to me. They did a good job with that. I don't have any other questions at this time like to turn it over to the other members of the board and see if they have any questions for you or your architect. Looks good. Go ahead. Sorry. It looks good to me. I mean, and it looks, it certainly, it's going to be, it looks like a distinct improvement over what's there now. And I don't see any other way to do anything useful there besides what you're doing, it seems. Thank you. Yeah, in another world, we might not require parking from anybody, but since we do and you need it, I understand all of that. And this is Columbia. So yeah, I mean, I wish you could keep a night, you could put a nice beautiful buffer, but it's certainly an improvement over what's there now. Thank you. So, and I was just going to speak on the record about, I had mentioned it in the case summary, but just to put it on the record as well. The initial plans submitted and the application did mention a three foot buffer. Once I had the chance after submitted to sit down and fully review the site plan, that's where we noticed that the drive aisles needed to shift. So that's what did to the one and a half foot buffer. So they were kind enough to update their plan and send a new one. So that's what's in the slideshow. But I did speak with Scott Holder, who's the landscape planner. And he did state that usually the minimum planting area for most items that would go in a normal buffer is at least five feet. So that's why, as Justin mentioned, Scott said it would be mostly ground cover that would fit in that narrow of an area and thrive as to plantings.  Well, you would have needed five. So reducing it to one and a half is no additional problem. I would suggest you could potentially train vines to go up the fence if that was appealing or a spaly or something. But yes, I see what you're saying. Yeah, per Scott, the minimum would be five feet for the majority of. Sure, yeah. Okay, any other questions from any members of the board? No, I have any questions, Jim. I don't need to, I agree, it looks good. All right, well, this time, Rachel, let's look and see if we have any input from the public. Any callers or emails, please. Okay, so, and I did send you all the statement from Ms. Marinelli. Also, I spoke with the president of Cotton Town just to ensure that he has seen the updated plans. And he says that he said that the neighborhood has not changed their view that was in the submitted letter. So with that, I don't have any extra letters or anything. So I'll turn it over to Erica to see if we have anybody on the line. Rachel? Yes. We have one caller. I'll connect right now. Good afternoon, this is Julie Seale. Can y'all hear me? Yes. Very good, I had reached out to Ms. Yip a couple of weeks ago. First of all, I just wanna say thank you to her for improving this property. I've lived across Jefferson and have been impacted by the garage for years. So I really appreciate her taking the time to upgrade this, the plans look fantastic. I also talked to her about the fence, which is imperative, kind of block light pollution and from the cars and all coming and going. And she was amenable to that. I think it's part of the plans. And the only other thing I'll mention is we talked about the fence on the east side between the back of the building and the nearest residents behind it. And it's actually got an L shape to it. And I just called the police yesterday because we have homeless people that cut through the back of that building to get up close behind the houses. And I just wanted to mention that to Ms. Yip while I had this opportunity to tell her, I don't know if they intend to extend the fence and the L shape, that little tiny portion in the back, which is next to the back of Cottontown CrossFit. If you'll see where the cars are parked behind the building closest to the residents behind it. But it's an L shape to it back there. And I would just like, you know, if it's possible to have a tight picket fence on in that L shape, not all over the property just in that L shape. And I think Ms. Yip said it was part of the plans but I do wanna thank her for this. I'm on for it. I'm right, you see my garage on the bottom right hand side of the picture. And so these improvements that Cason has done on Sumter Street, I've had to go through this process too because they needed the same buffer variance. And I'm for it. I know the neighborhood has their own stance but I'm for it. But I did want to thank Ms. Yip for improving this property. It's been an impact to my property for years. So thank you. Thank you, Ms. Yip. Thank you. Okay. Well, thank you, Ms. Steele. Is there any other public input? I'm not seeing any new emails that have popped in. We'll see if Erica has any further calls. Rachel, we have no one else to speak. All right, thank you. Okay, very good. Well, we sort of, as often we do, we kind of blended in board discussion a little bit with the questions for the applicants. So don't know that we'll have much but is there any other board discussion amongst the members? Okay, well, I don't hear any. So at this time, we'd like to ask for a motion, please. I move that we make a motion to approve this variance request that the applicant is making subject to staff comments. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Very good. Motion passes. Thank you very much, Ms. Steele. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Great. It really does. The next matter is case 2020-0083, the variance for 1940 Blossom Street. It's a variance to the buffer transition yard for an outfit to an existing bank. It was one bank branch and it's changing to a new. So if the applicant is on the line, they're welcome to unmute themselves and give us a review of their application. Good afternoon. This is Scott Burris. Can you hear me okay? Yes. Okay. Thank you. I appreciate your time today. Basically, we're doing an outfit where we're with Weather's Contract and we were hired by the current owner Coastal Carolina National Bank and they purchased the building, I believe from TD Bank. And so we were in the process of applying for the building permit and in discussions with Scott Holder, he mentioned that I guess in his research, there had not been a zoning review of the buffer requirement. And if you can see, maybe in the photo that was attached, there's an alleyway that leads off of Saluda Avenue and it runs on the back of the building and there's some parking spaces at the back of the building and that also allows access to the drive through windows at the side of the building. And I believe again from talking with Scott Holder that because of the zoning requirements, there's supposed to be a buffers on there of I think it's 20 or 25 feet. And currently the parking or the curb and the lane that goes through there is basically right up against the property line for the adjacent property. So there's already an existing eight foot fence there which I think is possibly one of the requirements in the situation. So we're just asking for a variance from the buffer zone, mainly because this situation has been in place for many years and we aren't changing it in any way. So that's why we submitted the zoning variance request. Yeah, and just to clarify, because of the renovation value, that's what triggered the landscaping compliance and because it's a renovation, it's only partial compliance. So instead of 20 to 30 feet, the buffer base requirement is 15 feet. So within eight foot fence, normally that would reduce it by 25 feet. And so the request today is just to kind of leave it as is with the eight foot fence. Reading your application, Mr. Burris, so most of, let's see, you're not changing the footprint of the building at all, are you? That's correct. Well, the customer of the bank would like to have a new entrance at the back, but it'll stick out a little bit into the existing parking area on the back of the building. And, but we're just shifting some of the parking spaces around to accommodate that. And then in part of the revision, we did want to add a parking space at the, and I think it's on the drawing there. It's a compact parking space. Let me keep my drawing here where I can see it properly.  Okay, on your site plan here, all the plantings, are those existing or are those some of the additions? So all those are existing. In talking with Scott, we actually went out on site and the only impact that we had to the existing landscaping was one tree. I think it's, I'm trying to look here to see how it's labeled, but it's right there at that first parking space. So we'll take it out and put back a new tree to replace that, but all of the other plantings are existing. And we're not planning on changing any of that. Okay, the tree. I'm sorry, you're taking out one tree and replacing it with a, what kind of tree? What's the caliper? Okay, so we're taking out, I think it's a crate myrtle. Okay. And we're putting back based on Scott's input. It's a two inch willow oak. Willow oak. Okay. And that's showing on the drawing there, that second drawing. Yeah. I'm constrained by my small laptop screen. So, okay. All right. And again, that, we were just trying to follow what Scott had recommended, so. Okay. Yeah, it was most likely replacing with just another shade tree of some sort. Right. Actually a willow oak is gonna be more of a shade tree than a crate myrtle probably. So that's a benefit. Right. Yeah. I don't believe crate myrtles gets you any points towards your tree count and landscaping. Yeah. So. I got a question about the proposed site plans on the back and I'm just trying to understand it. Right. What kind of, this is for the applicant, what kind of structure is that on the back that you guys are at? A ramp, it looks like a ramp. So that you're talking about where we're adding that entrance. They basically, there's already an entrance there, but they wanted to make it more prominent cause they want, they would like most, they figure they won't have more than two to three, maybe four customers in the bank at a time. So they figure most of their clients will come in the back and so they wanted to make that a more prominent entrance. So they, we're doing kind of like a tower section, kind of axing the entrance there at the back. And we submitted some renderings for the building permit and it was reviewed and approved. So basically we're reworking that entrance. We did a little bit of a concrete pad there and we're shifting the handicap parking space to right in front or right beside the new entrance and they'll be hashed off areas right there in front of the, this new power area, I guess you'd say. So are those columns, I'm looking at the plan view are those columns on the corners of that ramp? That's correct. Well, that what's shown there is the sidewalk portion. We're not necessarily, we're not showing the ramp part.  And we'll have that ramp leading up onto the, where it looks like new concrete. Fine. Okay. We're not changing the use in any meaningful way from what it was before and any of these design issues wouldn't that go up before DDRC, right? So that's five points overlay. So that would be DDRC. Depending on the level, it'll either be reviewed by design staff or they could trigger DDRC review. I don't know if just the entrance would but that is within a design area. And it already has gone through that. I think it was handled in-house. Okay. Yeah, I think it was, yeah. So our only question is, is it okay to keep it the same way it is now for the same use that it's been since this 1960s? Is that essentially? That's correct. Somehow along the ways, I don't know maybe with TD Bank it wasn't called or something because it just from what Scott said, you know that maybe should have been addressed sometime previously but regardless, that's why we're applying because it's been in place and we're not changing it in any significant manner. Well, it sure looks like the TD Bank was, I remember being in it back, you know when it was still a bank and the inside still had that 1960s bank, mid-century bank feel but the outside had been 80s-ified with the stuck-out. So obviously someone had updated it since the 1960s, but yeah. Okay. Okay, so does anyone on the board have any other questions for the applicant? All right, well, Rachel, let's see if we've got any public input regarding this matter, please. All right, I haven't seen any new emails come through. I did wanna note that Mr. Gignard did email me. He is stuck in waiting room purgatory. So I contacted PR to see if they can get him in here. So but Erica, just let us know if there's anybody on the line. Rachel, can you hear me? I can. Can you hear me? I can now, okay. Now there's nobody wishing to speak at this time. Thank you very much. Okay, is there any board discussion regarding this matter? Do you know it? Yeah. Yeah, it seems like a procedural thing. Yeah, agreed. All right, well, at this point, would you like to ask for a motion, please? Move to approve subject to staff comments. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay, motion passes. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right, the next matter is case 2020-0084. This is a special exception at 4735 Fort Jackson Boulevard. A special exception to establish a residential care facility for an assisted living. If the applicant is on the line, they're welcome to unmute themselves and give the board a presentation of your application. Thank you, can you hear me? Yes. Great, great. All right, my name is Mark Hannon and I have my partner on the line, Sierra. She'll be coming through through audio. We're applying for a special exception to make Fort Jackson 4735 Fort Jackson Boulevard an assisted living facility. Next slide. This is our agenda. We're gonna go through some of our goals and then discuss the application and then open the board any questions that you may have about it. So what I wanted to do is to break down a little bit of the inspiration that we had and why we're choosing to do this. I spent many, many years in the military and at one point I became injured where I couldn't even run or walk. And those years I know about the military, the military's like a machine and apart breaks, they push that part to the side and replace it with the new part. And so if you just happen to be that broken part they got pushed to the side. Sometimes you may feel like that belongs or that you're in the way or something like that. What they did was they sent me to a place called the Wounded Warrior Transition Center and I would tell you that that place, I really felt like that I truly belong and that I wasn't actually in somebody's way. And so here we are. Not only will we provide long-term care and affordable, of course, for the elderly, but we're gonna create an environment of belonging of a place where you don't have to explain why you move so slow or that you're in the way of someone. That is our goal for this company. Next slide. Our facility will not impact the vehicular traffic or the safety of pedestrians in the area. We have our entryway, entry and exit to the facility on the Oxford Road side, not the busy Fort Jackson side. We're going to add a large parking lot on the west side of the property that will allow easy loading and unloading of residents, supply vehicles or ambulance. And we're actually at the end of an empty cul-de-sac with loads and no traffic. And so essentially the only people that are gonna be coming through there are people visiting family and friends of our residents. Next slide. So there will not be an increase of noise or litter or an instruction to the air or light. Our staff, the other conducting daily police calls are cleaning up around the area several times daily to maintain our ground. And our business is paramount to have a cleanliness to the virtue. And not to mention DHEC can just show up at any time to do an inspection on our facility and also future residents may show up as well. So we want to keep the place very clean. Our assisted living facility will not have an adverse effect on the aesthetic character of the neighborhood. And we will not change the external structure of the property. The only thing we're adding on the outside is a vinyl fence, privacy fence and lots of greenery to improve the area. Next slide, please. There are very few smaller facilities in this area, especially compared to West Columbia. And after doing a lot of research, we found that many communities rejected assisted living facilities because they had drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. And I assure you, we will not have residents that have those types of rehabilitation needs. For safety reasons, we will have security by installing cameras around the outside of the building and we'll have caregivers and administrators keeping a watchful eye. We had the opportunity to speak to a gentleman by the name of Thomas. He is the owner of the only neighboring property we have called the Fort Jackson apartment. And he was very supportive of our plans. And even though we don't have an HOA in this area, we sent out emails to two different HOAs that were close in the vicinity. But I would say more importantly, I believe with the overwhelming support that we received from 15 different residents that in the actual complex, and those residents that actually have a direct line of sight with our facility. Next slide, please. Currently, we meet the zoning intent of the ROG2 and we will meet the future zoning intent of office and institutional with our facility. Next slide. We will maintain a high state of cleanliness as I stated earlier, because it's much needed in this area. This is a small knit community area and local families can literally walk down the street and bring their loved ones to our place where this place actually means something to be a senior. I would suggest potentially that large facilities may not be able to provide that true one-on-one service. And so being to the public interest will provide potentially the reduction in anxiety for some or possibly a guilty feeling that a young couple may have who may be working a job, having to take care of their kids and then take care of the needs of their aging parents. Next slide. In conclusion, our facility fits both the present and future zoning intent. We believe that we serve the public interest. We will maintain or increase the safety of the area while minimizing the impact to the area. We will provide a, you are part of us, type of environment for the community to bring the aging parents. We humbly request that you grant the special exception for 4735 for Jack and Boulevard. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Hannon. Thank you for that very thorough presentation. I think you did a really good job of running through the criteria that we're asked to vote on matters like this for. So thank you. That was more thorough than most. I do have a couple of basic questions wanted to start with. Tell us a little bit of just a sort of 30-second view here. Who is Shang Investment Group and where are you from and have you done other facilities like this and your role in this project, et cetera? Give us a brief outline of Shang investment. Absolutely. So the Shang investment, the name came from the Shangri-La and the Shangri-La is a hotel in the, well, they're all over the world, but it's more specifically in the Philippines. And the way that they treat the people, every person, I tell you, when I stayed there, I stayed on the combats that they sent me to a nice place, they, every person there, every worker there treated every guest, including myself, after the second day of being there, everyone that knew your name and you felt very special. And so I wanted to capture that in my company. And so I do rehabs on buildings, houses we create, take small houses, make them bigger. So that's our experience that we've done in several builds, have not done the assisted living facility, but I run Airbnb's, we do construction, I do general contracting, and we're very familiar with working with the city, we love working with the city. And so that's the breakdown of who Shangri-La invests in part. And the facility itself, we felt that this would be the best place because it's away from right side by side. So sometimes that creates problems and sometimes people don't say anything, so it's a big problem. So we chose this place. I am, as I said, I was in the military, I was stationed in Fort Jackson for a long time. So I bought a house here, I've lived here, and I'm back and forth between here and other places, but I travel and that's where we're 30 seconds. But we have great experience with the building side and also taking care of people. So would Shangri-La investments, would you continue to own this facility or are you just doing this rehab and going to sell it or turn it over to an owner? I'm a little bit confused about your exact role in this project. Oh, that's a great question. So Shangri-La investment, we're on the build side and so what we do is we don't hold onto any properties like that, we build them and then we sell them. But on this situation, we are also the ones who are going to be running the facility. And I would tell you that I have a special interest in this because I have a sister who is in that very situation to have a couple of stroke and so I'm very interested in running the facility to provide a place for her to come to as well as the veteran who have done so much. We are definitely holding onto this and managing this property. We will hire the best of the best administrators and caregivers to take care of it. Okay, and one last question for me and then I'll let some others have a chance but would you be comfortable in any possible approval of the special exception if we asked you to agree to construct a fence. I know you mentioned a vinyl fence but to construct a fence as zoning and code would allow. Would you be comfortable with that as a requirement for a possible approval? Absolutely. And if you go to the slide that shows the sketch, I believe that we've already in our design hit exactly what you're referring to. On the western side, the left side of the screen there, there's a fence right there and that fence is the property barrier and that serves several purposes. I think that's what you're alluding to. For example, if a ambulance would pull into our facility we wouldn't create in kind of like challenges for our neighbors. And also we looked down the before Jackson Boulevard side that would be one of our great concerns because that's a dirty road. So we're gonna put a fence up or some kind of barrier. The fence is gonna be 100% but there will be fences 100% on the west side but you see how you see the greenery that will be bushes and tall objects. And it's also on the eastern side we're gonna build a garden area for the residents. So yes, I'll be happy to put that as part of our package. Very good. Yeah, and there's gonna be some landscaping that's involved as well. So the fence would most likely be part of the buffer requirement too. Sure. Any questions from any other members of the board? Just looks like you're gonna be adding, I mean, currently there's not a parking lot there right now, is there Mark? No, it's not. I mean, as far as how many senior living folks like in the size building I think it's more than 3,000 square feet, is that correct? It's 3,000 square feet, that is correct. And we're doing, that's what we haven't seen with any additional plans to the board because we're gonna go through with DHEC and they're gonna walk us through and say this is exactly what you can do in this size of the facility and that will be based on how many parking spaces we can provide and the number of residents that we're gonna put in there based on the square footage and it's not just bedrooms, we found out living space, that is open space, that is space for the caregivers have to have their own room. Once he has the approval, they blast off on it and we will submit that package to the zoning. Rachel, this might be this question for you and this might be my ignorance. Is this similar? We have a lot more daycare facilities that come in front of us than in single living. I can't remember a single living one. Do they have to, I guess they gotta also get DHEC approval too to get their license. This one's a little bit different than daycare. Daycares usually go through SS. This, the way our code is situated right now, assisted living care facilities fall under just the umbrella of residential care facilities. So it, DHEC comes into play. I mean, they do have to have proper licensing. But it's not, it's not worded in our code like daycare, that code section though. So I also just wanna state, I mean, the number of parking spots that they're able to put on the site, that's gonna limit how many, just from a zoning perspective, the zoning parking requirement, I mean, that's gonna limit how many individuals they're able to have in that building as well as building and fire code as well. Yeah, and I see here in staff comments, you've got residential care facilities shall comply with all state and local license. Yes. Rachel, I guess, or everybody else, I think.  I know it's an extremely highly regulated on a number of different ways and it's only in front of us in terms of, because that's what the zoning code requires. The plan, this would not be subject to any kind of planning commission approval or would it? It's not large enough to trigger site plan review. So when it's outside of any kind of design district, so it won't trigger that. It'll just any interior renovation, business licensing, that's when it would get the normal permitting review for building fire and landscaping code, any updates that are necessary. So just to say what our role is, is to say what is the impact, standing at the property line, looking in, what is the impact of this on the surrounding area? And it would seem to me that it's arguably slightly more than a Masonic Lodge, but maybe not. Because I know that I lived across from the old woman's club and you think, oh, it's just the little old ladies, but the little old ladies would rent it out. And I imagine the Masonic Lodge probably may have been a venue for parties. Who knows? I don't know what they do there.  It's just a little old folks home, but I'm trying to think of a nice way to put it, but an old folks home or for disabled people is gonna be a pretty low impact. And it's so small on top of it, we're not talking about still hopes here either. So we're talking very small impact, it would seem to me. And it does seem as if it's providing from a social perspective, a very valuable service to retirement home, I guess, would be the old timey word for it. Okay, well, I believe that we wrap up our questions for the applicant unless you have a question. No, I'm good, I think it's a straight forward. All right, well, Rachel, do we have any public input regarding this matter? There is one email, let me see if it's about this case. Nope, it's from the next one. I don't see any emails, so I will turn it to Erica to see if we have anybody on the line for this specific case. Rachel, we don't have anybody wishing to speak. All right, thank you. Thank you very much. Well, at this time then, we will move into board discussion. The only thing that I see here of really even worth talking about, in my opinion would be the fence situation that I asked the applicant about and he was agreeable to us making that writing, putting that into any sort of possible approval and he's got it on his plan here. The reason I bring that up is because Fort Jackson Boulevard is so heavily traveled and because it is at the intersection of another road, although very lightly traveled Oxford Road, a slight concern of mine would be that one of the residents would somehow wander out into the roadway and we could have a problem there. So really would like to see any motion here include some sort of a vague requirement that the applicant would indeed fence this property or buffer or something in a manner such that it would ensure that wouldn't happen, but yet also comply with code. Other than that, I really don't see any possible issues here. Yeah, I don't really see any. Okay, well, with that being said, I don't think we're gonna have any more discussion. I would like to make a motion that we approve the special exception to establish residential care facility here with the requirement that the applicant agrees to install some sort of a fencing buffer, landscape buffer that satisfies city code by zoning, landscaping and with the intent of keeping the residents out of the roadways. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you guys very much. Appreciate it. Yep. The last item on the regular agenda is case 2020-0085. This is a special exception at 2322 Notch Road. It's a special exception to establish a multifamily residential use within a general commercial district. I believe the applicant is on the line. She is welcome to unmute herself and give her presentation to the board. Who are you? Oh, this is a real hi. Hi, good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for this opportunity. Yes, so I am going to make this brief. I don't have a formal presentation like everyone, but the property at 2322 Notch Road has been vacant for several years and I was currently used as a motel and now has been vacant. We are not looking to change the structure of the building. And I'm sorry, my name is Sabrina St. John and I'm the president of Eagle Eye Development Group. We're not looking to change the structure of the building. We are looking to provide private housing for displaced veterans. In 2019, the city of Columbia had 462 homeless veterans. So that is what this property would be used for. And as you can see, it has a private parking lot. We are looking to exceed the security by having fencing and cameras for security of the residents. Each room has been completely renovated. There was someone a couple of years ago who was trying to use it for partnership with the local hospital. So each room has been completely renovated and up to code. Each room has a private bathroom and a microwave. So this would provide individuals with housing. It's already, I went inside, they already have. The beds are made and everything was just as it was when the person renovated. Because of the parking lot, it doesn't seem like it would increase any high traffic volume. And as you can see here, private parking and it does have two rooms that are handicapped accessible. We are just looking to provide housing. My background is in case management services. I do have properties in South to South Carolina, where my foundation has been for all the years that I've been alive. So that's pretty much it. We, like I said, there's no structure we're not looking to add to the building. We're not looking to change the structure of the building in any way. We're looking to actually to provide landscaping in the area and improve it in the ways that needs to be improved to make it a more welcoming home for individuals. OK, well, thank you, Ms. St. John. Thank you for coming in front of us today. Let's get a little more detail on the actual use itself and the day-to-day operations. And you say multi-family residential use. What does that really mean? I'm asking a lot of these questions just to sort of get it on the record what you're trying to do. But how about give us a few more details? Well, that's what I was told that he would have to be zoned as a multi-family dwelling because people would live there. That would be their permanent housing for whatever amount of time they decided to stay there. There will be, each individual will get a lease. We will have an apartment manager on site there to ensure the ongoing safety of the place. But because individuals will have a residential lease, that's why it would have to be considered a multi-dwelling place and not like a residential care facility or anything like that. We will not be providing care there. These individuals will be independent to live on their own. How many units or? There are 21 units there. 21 units. And each, like I said, each unit has a private bathroom. It has a refrigerator. The unit that would be used for the apartment manager, that is a full two-bedroom apartment. Would the apartment manager live there? Yes. Yes. OK. Do we have any questions from any other members of the board? Yeah, I do. I know a little, you know, there's some history on this property. Yes, I've been told. In 2017, it used to be the best way in. Yes. And it shut down due to a lot of not legal things. All the police and it's the same owner who owns it. So my question, these leases you have in place, what are the length of the leases that these tenants would be given? Well, I'm sorry if you said what are the length of the leases? Yeah, what are the length of the leases? Well, our goal would be to do like a year to year lease. But that would also depend on the individual. But that would be our goal to have them say, because we want to be able to provide permanent housing. We do not want this to be a place where people are coming and going and increase the crime rate for what I know that it was, which is why we're having an apartment manager on site as well as secured gate and really make it into a home and not a place where there's increased crime activity. I have been in contact with the previous owners. I've been in contact on several occasions with the realtor. And I've been in contact with the company who did the renovations. And I was given extensive history on the facility. In fact, I went to visit it the week of Christmas. And there was some unwelcoming guests there. And I actually went to visit some of the businesses in the community, the U-Haul business, the barbershop across the street, and the tire shop where local residents visit. And they were all excited and welcome the opportunity to have an establishment, because it just being there as a sore eye is actually inviting unwelcome guests to be nice. Yeah. This, Rachel, this is kind of a question for you. I'm just concerned about it going back to somewhat what it was, I mean, this variant, this special exception for multiple families, it would not allow for a motel to go back there. That would be, I mean, a completely different business license, a completely different use. So I mean, if it all of a sudden stopped operating in multi-family, that would be multiple violations. We're not looking to operate it as a motel at all, because of what it has brought to the community. So we're definitely not looking to operate it as any place that people would come to say a few hours or a day or so and then leave. That's not the purpose of it. That's not our intended purpose of the building. I mean, obviously, I wish it weren't next to a liquor store, but I mean. I actually have been in contact. I've tried to reach out to the individual of the liquor store to offer them a buyout. But I can't seem to contact them. And even when I was down there a week and a half ago, the store was closed. And it was a little concerning, because it was on a Saturday afternoon. And for a liquor store to be closed on a Saturday afternoon, it raised some eyebrows. So I don't know if they're still operating. But I have been in contact with them to offer a buyout for it, because I'm not. Down through the liquor license, right? I'm sorry? You'd be able to track them down through the liquor license. That's an option, yes. But I, you know, I was. That'd be great. I mean, that was the thing that just gave me pause, but I'm not sure that's within the purview of our zoning. I mean, your use seems like an improvement over a motel or a basic site. And it seems to me that there's a real need for affordable housing in that area. It is on a public good public transit line too, right? Yes, the hospital is close. There's a church down the block that has like a food pantry. So, you know, there's there's a lot in the area. And like I said, I agree with you that that liquor store was that was the first thing that caught my eye. But as I said, I haven't been able to contact anyone. And like I said, they haven't been open. But I will look into, you know, if approved, I wouldn't look into researching through the liquor license. Sure. Well, that sounds pretty good. Are there any other questions from any members of the board? All right, don't hear any Rachel. Do we have any public comment? Yes, so I received an email from a Mr. Dean Kemp. He lives on Victory Street. I am the owner of all the houses on Hugh Street. That is the street that is directly beside 2322 Notch Road. I want to strongly protest this exception. I have owned these nine homes for around 20 years.  When the hotel was open, the residents on Hugh Street had nothing but trouble with trespassing and trash accumulating in the yards from the hotel. I'm afraid that with multiple residents jammed into this small space, the issues that were experienced prior from the hotel will be even worse. The property would be better used as commercial or office space. He then states that he just wants to remind that there's a liquor store directly in front of the property and also that the hotel also had an on-site manager. That is the only email I see. I will turn it over to Erica. One of the business owners did express mistake. Hang on a second, Ms. St. John. You'll get your opportunity. Okay, I'm sorry. Not yet. And Rachel, we don't have anybody on the phone for comments. Okay. Thank you, Erica. Okay, Ms. John, just we have to kind of keep it procedurally correct.  But now you do have an opportunity for a bottle. So if you'd like to rebut, please go ahead. I wanted to express that. One of the businesses that I visited, they did express Mr. Hemp's, Mr. Dean's disapproval for any business that was trying to open here. I don't see it because it won't be as a motel, it won't be used as a place where people will be coming and going. This will be their home. And not a motel where there will be illegal activity. And actually that's something that would be in the lease. And that is why our plan is to get security cameras so that if anything is like that, they will be in violation of their lease and will be immediately evicted from the place. That's a reasonable response. Well, at this point then we'll move into board discussion. Thank you for your presentation, Ms. St. John. Board members, what do you think? There's a light-year difference between a motel and small apartments. You know, I don't know how much in that population that's going to be wanting to buy us, wanting to be renting a small thing. You may end up having to do months and months, but you're still way ahead of where you would be with a motel. And I think there's a real need, there's a desperate need for affordable housing. And it seems to me like this is going to meet that need in a place where people who need it can use it and have jobs. I don't see this becoming, you know, Mr. Hughes wants office and retail and so on. Up and down two notch there's an awful lot of vacancies. I wonder if this might not even ultimately become housing perhaps for Benedict's or something like that. I mean, Benedict or Allen's or whatever, but I mean, I certainly think that this is a reasonable use for that location and that sounds like she's done an awful lot to try to make it better. And I just don't see any real grounds to object. I agree, it looks like a great improvement. Oh, and just to put on the record, this is a change of use from what it was before. So, I mean, landscaping, parking, building code. There's some playback on somebody's. That's mine, I'm in the office, sorry. So, I mean, all of those development requirements are going to be triggered. So that might change the number of units depending on building code. Parking's going to have to be adjusted. So, I mean, there's some things that, even though outfits not planned for the building, some code requirements are going to be triggered as well. This from the change of use. So, what are the landscaping potential landscaping issues and who handles that, not us? Not you, unless it has to come back to you all for any kind of variance. So, because if there was substantial renovations being done, this would trigger planning commission. But as it's an existing building, I'm not sure that it would. Right, well, I just simply add that I agree with all of you as well. I mean, what, certainly an improvement. And I agree with Captain, what is there to object to here? So, at this time, I guess that'll conclude our board discussion. I'd like to ask for a motion. Move to approve subject to staff requirements. Staff comments rather, staff comments. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye. Okay. Believe that would be three to one. So, I believe the motion passes. Thank you, Ms. St. John. Looks good. Appreciate the improvement to our area. Thank you very much. Thank you. Have a nice day. Good luck with it. Thank you. All right, and there's no other business. Okay, do we have a motion to adjourn? Motion and second. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right. Thank you, everyone. All right, see y'all in February. Have a good night.


The United States Army is proud to focus the big-picture camera on its sister service, the United States Navy. In telling the story of one of its most distinguished wartime leaders, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. The Nimitz story is not simply the account of an outstanding naval officer who rose to a position of greatness and honor, it is also the chronicle of our modern Navy, its coming of age and its greatest triumph in the epic struggle for the Pacific during World War II. For just as many of our Navy's greatest victories resulted from Nimitz's brilliant planning and bold strategy, so Nimitz himself is the embodiment of the finest tradition of naval service. The Nimitz story begins before the turn of the century, far from the ocean he would one day command. Texas was a prospering state in 1885 when Chester Nimitz was born in the tiny town of Fredericksburg. There was room on the great western plains where a man could run cattle or farm and grow with America. Nimitz's people were pioneer stock and their faith in their country's future formed the bedrock of their children's heritage. Although his pioneering grandfather had once followed the sea, there was little else in the boy's landlocked environment to point him towards the Navy. But while Nimitz grew, America's Navy grew too. The 100-year-old constellation was still in use to train men during the Spanish-American War, but our sea battles were fought by revolutionary armored steam warships for many spokesmen for the new Navy, not the least of them Theodore Roosevelt. Ours was still a young country and it was a two-ocean country. The Navy, which had sent the Spanish fleet to the bottom, was necessary to our defense and to our future security. The year Teddy Roosevelt entered the White House, young Chester Nimitz entered the Naval Academy. The future fleet admiral had never seen an ocean when he journeyed east, but like all young men away from home, he soon became accustomed to his new environment. He learned the Navy from the keel up and grew to love the tough and demanding life he shared with his fellow midshipmen. The physical training was as rigorous as the bookwork, and a school had the traditions of Jones and Decatur, Porter and Dewey, governed a midshipman's life. The American naval tradition ran back to the Revolution. The service itself, during Nimitz's days at Annapolis, looked to the future. New ideas on the importance of sea power, new fighting techniques and weapons were making their mark. A young man could not only see the world in the new Navy, he could find the broadest possible challenge to his imagination. The day of wooden ships had passed, but iron men were needed more than ever. Nimitz was graduated seventh in a class of 114. Regulations required him to serve two years at sea as a past midshipman before becoming an ensign in the regular Navy. This early technological marvel, one of our first submarines, was being tested for the Navy at the time Chester Nimitz joined the fleet. After duty in the Far East during the first few years of his career, Nimitz was selected with other outstanding young men to form what eventually became our Navy's submarine force. In vessels not far removed from this primitive model, Lieutenant Nimitz learned a difficult and dangerous profession. There were few books and no men of experience. You learned the only way you could by doing it yourself. Lieutenant Nimitz wrote prophetically in a naval journal of 1912, improvement in the size, motive power and speed of the submarine craft of the near future will result in the most dangerous offensive weapon. His prediction would be borne out by the importance of submarine action in the First World War. By 1918, Nimitz was one of the most experienced submariners in the service and a command. A varied background was essential to a man's career in the complex Navy. And the best place to acquire it was the surface fleet. Nimitz, when a captain went on to command major warships in the 20s and 30s, including the cruisers, Chicago and Augusta. During these years, he had full opportunity to study the kind of sea and air operations which later proved so successful in the war against Japan. In these same decades, the Japanese constructed one of the finest fleets the world had ever seen. On the fateful day of December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Navy was ready. Before Chester Nimitz was called from a desk in Washington to take command of the Pacific Fleet, it was a dark time and a formidable task. It would take a man of vast experience and vigor to bring both hope and victory out of wreckage and chaos. It would take on Nimitz. The Japanese quickly followed their surprise success at Pearl Harbor with territorial grabs across the Western Pacific as American forces fought and lost against overwhelming odds. By the spring of 1942, Japan controlled most of the land and dominated the sea and air west of Pearl Harbor. It was up to our Navy to hold the line. But if we underestimated the Japanese, they also underestimated us. When they disabled the cream of our fleet at Pearl Harbor, they did not realize that we could recover so quickly. With the recovered strength, our submarines carried the fight to the enemy's waters. The silent service that Nimitz had helped build now served him well. It would become the lance that would cut the enemy's arteries. The saga of these gallant vessels is among the most inspiring and the heroic annals of the Navy. It was clear that we had to strike back in force, but where? Nimitz had a much smaller fleet than the enemy and he was determined to use it. Where? The Coral Sea. The forces met the enemy at Midway too. The boldness and surprise of Nimitz's strategy in these two major engagements were enough to change the course of the war in the Pacific. Coral Sea and Midway were our first decisive victories. Nimitz expressed the gratitude of the nation when he decorated many of the Navy pilots and sailors who had helped turn back the enemy. As the war in the Pacific slowly changed from one of desperate defense to one of confident offense, the men who directed it found the need for careful coordination ever greater. The combined Navy and Army forces under both Nimitz and MacArthur worked smoothly to batter down the walls of Japan's Pacific Empire. But the war could not be viewed on maps and the grand strategy which defeated the enemy could not all be planned within the conference room. On an inspection tour with Admiral Halsey and Navy Secretary Frank Knox, Nimitz conferred with combat veterans in the Solomon's following our bitter six month struggle for Guadalcanal. On Quajolain Island, Nimitz inspected what was left of Japanese defenses. After the American fleet and ground forces that hit the island, wrecked equipment and fire scorched beaches told the story of our success. Before the Pacific fighting entered its final phase with the recapture of the Philippines and the final thrust at the Japanese homeland, MacArthur and President Roosevelt met with Nimitz at Sinkpack headquarters in Hawaii. Our capture of Saipan immediately before the meeting meant that a major rupture had been accomplished in Japan's inner defense perimeter. Although Nimitz and the other American leaders were unaware of it at the time, the Japanese general staff was already asking its government for a peace settlement with the United States. The Americans did know however that Premier Tojo had been forced to resign and their confidence was high. Plans for retaking the Philippines were submitted and approved at this meeting. In spite of the enormous responsibility and pressure which bore down upon Nimitz during these busy and critical days, in spite of daily decisions involving thousands of lives, he remained the same gentle, dignified, humble man he had always been. Nimitz was always the ideal commander, the quiet Texan who had begun his task in the Pacific with a shattered fleet, a fleet which in less than two years was transformed into one of the world's great navies. Under his strong imaginative guidance, men of the Navy fought a sea war such as no men had ever fought before and many new names were added to the list of American naval great. Coaching them, counseling them all in the epic struggle for victory was Nimitz. On the third anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor, Admiral Nimitz spoke to naval personnel and civilian workers who helped prepare many of our wreck vessels. The job is not finished. The road to Tokyo is long and arduous and we must tread it together all the way. On the mainland, our comrades must construct ships. You here must reconstruct ships. We of the fighting units must destroy ships, enemy ships. Construction, reconstruction, destruction. For Nimitz, there was no relaxation of responsibility. His life was filled with the critical business of high command as the tempo of the war increased and the relentless tide of American sea power swept forward and behind his task, behind the decisions which moved the fleet ever closer to Japan was the constant evaluation, the continuous re-examination of his strategy. Under his direction, Halsey, Sproance, Turner and others used their forces with masterly precision and deadly effect, setting the pace for subordinate commanders. At New Guinea and the Marianas, the enemy felt our power. Finally, the day came for the Philippines. Decision of Nimitz and MacArthur to skip the Southern Philippine Islands paid off. On October 20th, 1944, American soldiers stormed the Laity Beachies. As the Japanese prepared to defend themselves against the American attack, their adherence to a cause already lost carried them to fanatical excess. Two men on either side realized that the Laity Gulf action, hoped for by Nimitz and earnestly sought by Halsey, would turn into one of the most far-reaching naval engagements of all time. We had at the enemy and his losses were staggering. The adventure cost the Japanese Navy four aircraft carriers, nine destroyers, three battleships, 10 cruisers, and all reasonable hope of ever winning a sea battle from the American fleet. For some of our men, too, Laity Gulf was the last fight. Many brave Americans who died in this action were honored at sea by their comrades. The liberation of the Philippines soon became a certainty, and Nimitz urged his commanders forward. Halsey's carriers were both the cavalry and artillery of the Navy as they closed in upon the enemy. Island by island, American ground forces followed as the power of the Japanese war machine withered and began to die. But the Japanese were desperate men, and desperation bleeds its own terrors. One of the most destructive was kamikaze, the spirit of the divine wind. We called them suicide planes. In the Philippines, they came like fierce hornets. They attacked alone, and they attacked in bansheets. For a while, it seemed they would never stop coming. Nimitz's ships hit Okinawa, and troops participated in this epic landing, with the heaviest naval support in the Pacific. Okinawa represented the final, but by no means the easiest obstacle on the road to Japan. As it took stream inland from the beaches, the opposition stiffened. It was the last ditch for the Japanese, harried their strength and their faith so far in the three and one half years since Pearl Harbor, victory was now in sight. Okinawa became the death rattle of the Japanese resistance. With one last convulsive effort, enemy pilots drove their deadly planes in our fleet, but we were ready. And the only fire in the skies now came from the setting sun. Nimitz went ashore at Okinawa to view the remains. The hope and confidence which had been born at the Coral Sea and Midway during the dark and doubtful days of 1942 were here fulfilled. These were the men who had suffered the hardships of Guadalcanal and the frustration of New Guinea, men who had brought in ringing victories in the Philippines and on the tiny island of Iwo Jima. This was their final triumph. Okinawa, the door sill of Japan. At Manila, Nimitz conferred with MacArthur on the work yet to be done. The concentrated naval and ground forces of the Allies were preparing for the final assault on the Japanese home islands. From long experience, both Nimitz and MacArthur expected that the Japanese would fight until driven into the sea. But the Japanese did not. With their military and naval might smashed beyond recovery, with their cities bombed to rubble, the enemy surrendered unconditionally. For Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, it was a solemn moment, a moment of grave reflection. On his return, a jubilant nation greeted him. A day was named in his honor, and the whole city of Washington turned out to say thanks. The crowds jammed the streets to get a glimpse of the man who had done so much to bring them victory. At the Capitol building, he went before a special joint session of Congress, where he expressed his feelings to the assembled lawmakers. I am sensible of the fact that I do not come here as an individual, and I acknowledge at the outset that I am here only as a representative of the brave man who fought under my command in the Pacific. Some of them are here with me today. I pray that no future war may ever again find us unprepared. Most of all, I pray that such a war does not begin and end to our disadvantage before we can even begin to fight. This need not happen to us. It will not happen to us if we exercise our intelligence, our vigilance, and use our good, plain common sense and keep our fighting forces ready. The Admiral's welcome had its lighter side when he smoked the pipe of peace before beginning his new role as America's post-war chief of naval operations. From Admiral Richard Byrd, the new chief received a briefing on the 1946 Navy expedition to the South Pole. One of the many honorary degrees he received was awarded in a colorful ceremony with other naval and military figures at Columbia University in 1947. After his tour as chief of naval operations ended in 1948, Nimitz accepted a United Nations appointment as plebiscite administrator for Kashmir. Few of Nimitz's experiences with the United Nations yielded more pleasure than a visit from members of the Japanese diet. Our one-time enemy had become our friend, and the man who had been instrumental in their defeat joined in welcoming them to the community of free nations. In 1951, Nimitz was still not ready to relax. After he resigned his United Nations post, President Truman appointed him chairman of a special commission on internal security. In the Berkeley Hills not far from San Francisco, Nimitz lives quietly with his wife, but he continues to be active in naval affairs by serving as a special assistant to the secretary of the Navy. A weather vane with five stars and a submarine replica are all that mark the Admiral's quarters. There is still much to keep him busy, and for the first time in many years, he also finds an opportunity to enjoy his garden. Nimitz is still bound to the sea and to the great American naval tradition. His contribution in strategy and leadership will be long remembered in the Navy, and his personal example, admired by all men who follow the sea. This picture is an official report for the armed forces and the American people. Produced by the Army Pictorial Center, presented by the Department of the Army in cooperation with this station.


Big three basketball first team to 50 wins, but you got a win by two. The pass to Glen Rice Jr. tries to intercept it.   The shot, the win for power. That is something you missed and this is everything you missed that you never planned on watching. Pfft, pfft, pfft.  Luxuriously comfortable sheets, check them out. But first, check this out. Rugby Argentina versus Australia. Argentina up by three and looking to score another try and kind of send this one home. Send the Aussies on their way. You're down. Now the ball's down. Now this guy's got it. He passes it left, scoops it left. Number six, he's not gonna get in and then look at the edge. Oh, intercepted by Mark. Now what can the, shit, I'll get it next time. Hold on, he's off to the races and that was huge. This kind of flipped the whole thing for Australia. If Argentina scored there, they were gonna win. Instead, our dude, Mark, now Wiccan, at the Waze, slams it home for the try, puts Australia up. Come on, come on. That's what they say. I like the replay of this, because look at his eyes, ready? He sees 22, find his man before 22 goes down and get the ball and he saw that. So then when 22 goes down to get the ball, he's like, I'm off. I read your eyeballs. I know where you're going. Bam, it's mine. I'm off to the races. My name is Mark, now Wiccan, at the Waze. No, I'm gonna get the Waze. No, I'm gonna get the Waze. I had it wrong. No, I'm gonna get the Waze. No, I'm gonna get the Waze. No, I'm gonna get the Waze. All him powers them home. Awesome play. Argentina did win the match though. They got it back and then they win. So that's a tough break, but we all learned how to pronounce Mark, now I'm gonna get the Waze. Here's an easier name to remember. Dustin Crumb, Dusty Crums. That's his name. It's his first career start in the CFL for Ottawa. They were down pretty big looking to come back. He's got his man open. He rolls out to the right.  Now they gotta go for two to tie it up and the coach says, yeah, we're doing it. And everyone's like, coach, duh, that guy's acting shocked though. I mean, you're not just gonna take the loss with zero seconds left. They get it. They convert. That's two points. Dustin Crums pumped up. His coach has pumped up. And then in overtime, Winnipeg scored a field goal. Dustin Crumb says, I gotcha. And he just runs it home for Ottawa to win the match. The coach is pumped up. This high five, this double high five in the front, solid. Next up, let's go to Major League Cricket. In the first game, we had some warehouse legends. Calvin Savage, you better know him from Forgotten Rotten. Jaskaran Mahatra, hook line sinkers. Rusty Theron, love yous. And they're all involved in this play. You can see the setup now. In the first overs, there's something called a power play. You're only allowed to have two outfielders. Everyone else has to be in that white dot of circles playing the infield, force the batters to try and hit big, bring excitement to the game early on, a lot of strategy gets involved there. Savage to Mahatra, to Rusty. The warehouse on full display, but there was an infraction and Jay knows it. He's like, nah, I'm not out, pink shirts know it. They're like, yep, he's not out. A legal formation, that's a free hit. Faf du Plessis was offside. So there's no risk here. So he goes big and Faf catches it, but it doesn't matter. They got one run off of it. And then he goes way deep onto the roof of this building where no one's gonna go get the ball. And in cricket, you try to use the same ball, the entire match, or for most of the match. So they have to replace this ball and they have to go into their suitcase for the balls and find one that matches the wear and tear that the one that lost was. They can't just get a brand new ball. The next bowler comes in, also South African.  Come on. Psycho.  Look, come on, come on, bopped, boop. Let's go to the IFL indoor football league. We got the Pirates versus the Storm, Mass versus Sioux Falls, and the fans in this, the little kids, they're a bit crazy for me. They're a bit, I don't know, too much.  Oh yeah, oh yeah, ooh, oh yeah. I mean, just going wild. The crowd here was just a bunch of kids taking dance classes. Anyway, the Storm are down by five and they're about to score. It's a 50-yard field, I believe, very small. Lorenzo Brown Jr. finds his man. He came back for another season. He's been in the league for a while. He's just a constant winner. So the Storm take the lead with 11 seconds left on the clock. They do the kickoff, which I found interesting because it's so small, but they kick from one end zone into the other end zone and run it back and he gets to the 17-yard line, which is doable, but then they run to play. They send the receivers in motion and they're just way off sides. They send or wake up, snap the ball, man. The whole thing's a timing play. So that's an infraction and that pushes them back from the 17-yard line to the 12-yard line. They get the playoff. There's five seconds left, four seconds left. They heave it to the end zone. The guy actually goes into the crowd and they're like, did he catch it? And the fans were like, no. And the pirates were like, I think maybe he caught it. And everyone's like, no. And Storm's like, I don't know. Which way do I look? Hot. And the Storm win. Storm mascot not really celebrating the win. Ref's like, you didn't catch it. Stop asking me as if you caught it. And then I did like Lorenzo Brown. Look at this hug, man. You gotta love a good hug. I don't know who that is in his life. Seems like someone special. Big ol' hug. He won offensive player of the year, I think. And he's just going down the line, making sure everyone that came out to support him knows he appreciates them. And I appreciate that. That's the IFL. And that concludes everything you missed that you never planned on watching for this week. We have fan of the week. But we also have to tell you about Miracle Made and the impact that temperature has on your sleep quality. I don't like being hot when I sleep. It's not for me. I don't like my skin getting dirty. Well, Miracle Made inspired by NASA helps with all of that. So go to trymiracle.com slash mist to try Miracle Made sheets today.  And if you use our promo mist at checkout, you'll get three free towels and save an extra 20%. Some of you are young adult males who wash your sheets maybe once every two months and use the same towel over and over crimson and clover and just switch it up one time.  Your skin's gonna get better.  So Miracle Made, trymiracle.com slash mist, use code mist. Thank you guys very much for watching. Fan of the week, vote accordingly. Vote with your hearts. And if you got to the end of this then you're like, hey, I like this but I also like the breakdowns. They're coming back. Don't worry, I'm still all doing part-time paternity leave as I'm helping out at the beach this week. And then we're back in action to close out the baseball season. Let's do it.


Oh my god This is so cool. You don't even need wow 25 more people can come on in three two one go Guys here's everybody. Oh my god. Oh my god. So here's everybody coming down Who is in the lead mr. Squeeps. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh, but you've fallen off the track Oh my god. This is so cool. This is so cool. There's like 300 marbles.  That's the people who have fallen off the track and I die.  Who's in the lead? Rai karsten anonymous goose Where's me where is crank gameplays? I should be winning. I'm the streamer dude. This is actually super sick If I love it so much. Okay, who's gonna win who's gonna win? Oh my god It's a close close call Who will be the first marble? Oh? Brianna's exel is the first winner except I thought Brianna fell out exclamation point play Is how you get into the game again? You don't need to have this stream. They're this game downloaded you play through the chat guys This is so much fun. I don't know why this is as much fun as it is, but this is so much fun I'm so excited about this. It's great. Get ready for the race of a lifetime a grand prix as well This is the time to win get the cold ten seconds guys ten seconds until the greatest race of our lives begins to What let's go? Does everybody release from the side? Oh? My god, and it's all sun Oh my god, look at this look at this Wait, is that everybody is that 300 people? There's no way there's no way wow Leonard powers you are really You're really giving it to him, dude. Why did it look it looked like 50 marbles? I guess it's a lot more Yeah, look at look at everybody go Leonard powers is like really in the lead right now Is that Leonard see I wish everybody could customize their own, but I guess that can't really happen dude Leonard is Destroying Right now.  I think Leonard might have I Think Leonard might have No Leonard is still here Leonard did not eat it in fact Leonard was just up at the top again. I don't know what happened Oh This is having such a great time with this how's everybody doing, huh if I go in Closer I wish the names came up that would be kind of cool. Oh, you can boost I want a boost I can't boost for myself friendly neighborhood salad. Congratulations on the big win Taliyah 9 GT. I loves bunnies. Hello Carlos. I want my hoodie for 20 required Underscore username Phoenix bird sunny kills pee bit Kenzie There you go. I'm number one. Well actually number three gg, but you know close enough out of 379 people That's pretty good.   It's not up to me Brian. It's a game of chance Okay, the next marbles game because I know that some people are just getting in here I want I want a thousand people Okay, because there's almost a thousand people watching I have so much energy right now. I just drank a bunch of coffee Okay, I will never win a marbles game. I don't think this is so cool. It's all made of wood Kerbygley number two, dude, you're so good at marbles. Look at you go Brian, I'm sorry.  It's done. Look at these two neck and neck not anymore Wait, why do you have a sparkly thing does the boost work? Maybe it does work. I don't know but that's not fair for me because I'm the streamer and I can't use chat I have to control the camera. Oh, it's coming down to the wire. It is coming down to the very end the creep queen But that last marbles got some momentum. No, it will be the creep queen Followed by bells 39 you guys have all been incredible. What a game. What a game I'm in it left. I'm so sorry Robin eggs. I don't know what happened. I'm so sorry though I don't think you'll be able to finish the race Robin But that doesn't mean you should give up Robin. You're doing great. You're doing so great. Look at you.  Where did Robin go? Wait, where did Robin? Did Robin die? Guys, we have over a thousand viewers Everybody exclamation point play Brian. I better see you put exclamation point play in here Okay, because there needs to be a thousand people in this Marbles map we have to we have to it's my only dream good luck Everyone here they all go Goes everyone Mika here you are somewhere down here gotta go to a little elevator Oh There you go.   Look at you go. Yes Yes, here's the big jump though.  It's embarrassing.  There you are. Oh Just gotta hit Why is this so much fun? The most fun game that I've played in a while. Oh, it's gonna be close It's gonna be close There you go case numero no top ten has already been filled. I think I died. I don't think I made it Oh, here I am. Hey, hey, I am Brian. Where are you? Are you in here? I Don't think Brian made it guys. I don't think Brian made it Charlie.  Where did I come in 111 Brian?  This is the last race. Okay. This is five out of five right here This is the big moment yet in here dude because it's about to get Pretty toast. Here we go Did I join? I don't know if I joined or not. It doesn't matter anymore here. Everybody goes. There goes Tim There goes Charlie. They're beagle-y up there. I see back. I see Look at everybody go look at everybody Wait, now we see. I love these little elevators.  Oh I lean I think you oh, no you made it. Did you make it? Who will come down the old first? I think Lauren Yep, Lauren's the first No Go ahead go ahead. Oh my god big speed boost. Oh, but it will probably on the end of you Lauren, I'm so sorry. Oh wait. No, no, that was somebody else Lauren.  Good job. Nice job, Lauren. We get some claps and chat from Lauren Brian stop doing boost and chat. It doesn't do anything 18 seconds left. We'll get to see the final results too. We'll get to see Who up here's Brian. There he is the one who despite all odds, you know He made it.  What'd you finish 214? Finish Grand Prix who won in third place bet fish Hannah second place case gamer girl and in first Lauren Wow Lauren you won the last race and The whole thing Wow Wow Wow Brian, what do you get Brian? You didn't do too good. I don't think Up there. I am 252 Tim in 277 back in 278 and Brian have given up on you up. There you are 483 my problems career is over. I'm trash. We'll do one more map of marbles You were literally the last person to finish Brian I want boost mode. Here we go. Okay last one guys last one and here we go We'd be able to do one last race. I thought we'd be able to do it but obviously we can't you know because we weren't good enough because Maybe because you didn't believe hard enough or maybe it was just because my father didn't believe enough but I had one goal to just go out there and to try my best And I put in my all into this marbles race But even after I tried So hard I just couldn't do it guys. I couldn't make it happen. What would my mother think you know if she could see me standing here now With all of those years of hard work behind me But nothing to show What would she say?