Developments on Johns Island

This proposed PD "behind Freshfields", that would include a Harris Teeter, continues to more through the zoning process.  After some initial missteps with respect to annexation, the developer, Riverstone Properties led by Chris Corrada, has done extensive community outreach, which we applaud.  They anticipate returning to the County Planning Commission in September with their formal submission.
 

If the PD documents reflect what the community has been told, this will be a good development for the Sea Islands.  The only question is what will happen to the other nearby 400 acres the developer owns?

TMS 2050000365.

Bohicket Marina is actually on Johns Island, albeit you must go through Seabrook Island to get to it.  The new owner of the marina, 32 North managed by Mike Shuler, has begun discussions with the Town of Seabrook Island to annex a  parcel adjacent to the marina (outlined in red above,) into the Town.
 

This annexation could potentially allow access to the marina from Betsy Kerrison Parkway across from Kiawah Town Hall.  Traffic on Betsy Kerrison is an issue, especially speeding.  Just last year a 14-year-old girl was killed nearby.  Since traffic is often raised as a major issue by Kiawah and Seabrook residents, we encourage the Seabrook Planning Commissioners take traffic issues into consideration in their deliberations.
 

The developer is tentatively scheduled to appear before the town Planning Commission on September 14.

TMS 2040000010.  

This PD, located on Chisolm Road between Grimball Gates and Gift Plantation, was approved in 2015.  The current PD grants the right to build up to 28 houses, 10 of them on the waterfront, and 10 docks (1 community dock, 8 private docks, and 1 shared use dock).  

Since the developer wants to make significant changes (see the proposed site plan above), this project will need to go back before the Charleston County Planning Commission.   We will keep you informed when this PD comes before the Commission.  

The developer presented their proposed new site plan at an informational community meeting on July 26, 2022.  We commend the developer for holding this meeting and recommend all developers hold informational meetings such as this prior to going before the Planning Commission.  There was a good interchange with the public and several changes were recommended by the attendees.  

Two key proposed changes that are not supported by the community are:

• The increase in the number of waterfront lots.
• The increase in the number of docks.

Furthermore, there are several additional changes that should be included in any revised PD.  These include:

• To increase resiliency and limit the stormwater impact on neighboring parcels, no      slab-on-grade construction.
• To ease traffic impacts, prohibit short term rentals.
• To maintain the viewscape of Chisolm Road there should be a wide landscape buffer of at least 100 feet and it should have extensive plantings, including large      diameter live oak trees and large shrubs. 

Finally, it was identified during the meeting that the neighbors seem to know more about the flow of water across the property than the consultants.  You and the consultants should actively work with the neighboring property owners to better understand the flow of water to ensure there is no runoff onto their properties.

TMS 2490000005, 2490000013.

This development consists of consists of 79 detached single family houses (7 houses/acre) located near Maybank and River Road.    

The developer has requested permission from the City's Board of Zoning Appeals - Site Design (BZA-SD) to cut down 17 grand trees.  The developer deferred their request at the July 6, 2022,  BZA meeting and have not yet rescheduled.  The BZA directed them to review the City supplied suggested changes (see redlined drawing above) and to meet with the community. 

TMS 3460000260.

In June 2022, the Charleston County School District (CCSD)  announced they would build a much needed new elementary school on Johns Island.   They chose a location on River Road near Brownswood Road.  The school would could accommodate up to 900 students.  Completion is expected by July 2024.  You can find their presentation here.  
 

Rather than splitting Johns Island into two attendance zones, one for Angel Oak and one for the new school, they are proposing Head Start through first grade attend Angel Oak and second through fifth grades attend the new school.  Mt Zion would become a family center.
 

Everyone agrees that a new school is needed, but at the meeting there were many questions about traffic.  The traffic issues must be worked out as part of the design process which has already started.  The section of River Road where the school is proposed recently had two serious incidents, one incident resulting in the death of a fourteen year old girl and the other incident resulting in the rollover crash of a crane truck.   
 

River Road will need to be improved at least from Brownswood to Cane Slash, not just near the school.  Also, due to the splitting of grade levels, improvements will needed to be make at the Main/Chisolm intersection and on Main from Chisolm to Brownswood to accommodate the additional drop-off traffic travelling between the two schools.
 

To accomplish these improvements there must be extensive cooperation among SCDOT, CCSD, the City of Charleston, Charleston County, and the community.  Unfortunately this type of effort has traditionally been done in a silo.  For the safety of our schoolchildren and other residents, a more holistic approach must be taken. 

TMS 3120000050.

This PD, located between Bohicket and River Roads, was approved in 2002.  The PD grants the right to build 181 homes and a golf course.  You can view the current (2004) PD document here. 

The developer, Kiawah Partners (aka South Street Partners), wants to start construction on the golf course to alleviate congestion at their other courses.  You can read more about it in this article.  If the developer follows the current PD documents, including the site plan, they will not need to come before the County Planning Commission.

We encourage the developer to work with the community to reduce the number of houses in the development to help maintain the rural character of this portion of Johns Island.  This will also permit them to continue to use Orange Hill as a sporting club as an amenity for Kiawah Island Club members. 

TMS 2150000030, 2150000163 , plus smaller parcels.

This proposed commercial PD, located on Betsy Kerrison just north of Kiawah Town Hall, is for an office complex with more square footage than Freshfields.  The current zoning is R-4 (4 houses per acre).  

It is our understanding that the Florida developer, John Skerchek with South Atlantic Development Enterprises, is interviewing for a new architect.  However, the developer does not have an architect problem, they have a land use problem.  As we have said before, commercial development on Betsy Kerrison Parkway should be limited to the commercial nodes at either end of the Parkway.  

As far as we know there has been no substrative outreach to the community on this project since the November 2021 County Planning Commission workshop where the community spoke out against the project.

TMS 2030000048, 2030000053.

In January 2012, Trident Health purchased 55 acres (outlined in red above) on Maybank Highway across from Cabana Burgers.  This facility could be transformative for the Maybank corridor on Johns Island.  Maybank Highway is an appropriate place for a large medical facility.  That location would allow them to serve all of the Sea Islands.  

So far Trident have been silent on their plans, but we will inform you when we learn anything.  

TMS:  Multiple

This PD located near River and Plow Ground Roads was approved in 2013.  The PD consists of 430 houses plus commercial (1 house per acre).  Currently only the residential component is under development.  

The developer has requested the City's Board of Zoning Appeals - Site Design (BZA-SD) to cut down 171 grand trees.  The developer deferred their request at the July 6, 2022, BZA meeting and have not yet rescheduled.  The BZA directed them to review the City supplied suggested changes and to meet with the community.   

TMS 3160000042, 3160000056, plus smaller parcels.