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North Charleston, SC - The public heard an earful Thursday as Georgia
consulting firm, EDAW, shared its findings of a study assessing the
community impact of extending the Mark Clark to Johns and James Islands.
“Growth is coming to communities like Johns Island that have traditionally
been more rural and agricultural whether there are improvements to the
transportation system or not,” said Liz Drake, EDAW’s Senior Assistant.
EDAW consultants looked at estimated population increases for the islands
and explained that by 2030 around 43,000 people would be living on James
Island and about 34,000 on Johns Island. They also estimated the
extension-induced population increase would be less than 1,000 for James
Island and no more than 5,100 for Johns Island. But growth wasn't the only
topic of concern for EDAW's audience. There were also issues of possibly
losing Johns Island's rural character and affordable housing, something
Transportation Advisory Board Chairman, John Knott, Jr. noticed weren’t
answered by the study.
“Some of the questions that were raised about impact on some of the smaller
communities that are living along these road edges that are going to be
impacted or the secondary roads that could impact their presence there or
their ownerships that's a significant issue that had not been addressed but
they said they would look at it.”
Those that conducted the 526 extension study say they focused more on Johns
Island than James Island regarding community impact because the
attractiveness would increase, and the growth accelerate, more on the rural
island.
Forty-year James Island resident, Thomas Carr, says growth is only natural
and that wanting to limit it is pointless.
“I just don't see their way; their way is an old-fashioned way - limit
growth. You can't limit growth in the Charleston area. Growth is coming so
you might as well live with it.”
But growth isn't coming that fast as construction on the extension likely
won't start for another year or so.
The cost the Mark Clark extension is $420 million. It would run near Maybank
Highway and River Road.
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