Panel takes new look at Johns Is.

Development pressure growing on sea island The population on Johns Island could rise by 50 percent or more within the next two decades, and some say it's time to take a fresh look at how zoning, roads, parks, utilities and schools on the island will handle all those new residents. "We are entering a new era on Johns Island," said Christopher Morgan, Charleston's interim director of Planning and Neighborhoods. "We're seeing more development and development pressures on Johns Island." The city alone has approved developments that could add up to 5,000 houses on the island within the next 10 to 20 years, mostly within a few miles of Maybank Highway. That number doesn't include approximately 1,000 other housing units the county either has approved or has in the works. All this on a sea island that currently has just a shade more than 10,000 residents. The potential impact of this building spree has prompted the city of Charleston and Charleston County to form the Johns Island Growth Management Committee, which met for the first time last week and will meet again on Oct. 12. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley noted the island, the city and county generally agree on what parts of the island are suitable for suburban development and what parts should remain rural. "But within that, or even outside that, there are issues about Johns Island, how to preserve it and protect it," he said. The island already has been subject to seven separate planning efforts involving the city and county since 1988, and a new one, which is expected to take several months, will build on that work. The committee is led by Charleston City Councilwoman Anne Frances Bleecker, whose district includes Johns Island. "No idea is too bold," she told the members, who include residents, county planners, school building officials and others. "You might as well discuss it here." The county's new half percent sales tax, which is raising money for roads, parks and open space, presents the island with a unique opportunity. This revenue could help build the last leg of the Mark Clark Expressway, extending the road from Savannah Highway to the James Island Connector; and it also could help farmers and others interested in protecting rural lands from development. Also, funds raised by the tax could increase the island's public access to the water. Currently its only access point is a boat landing next to the Limehouse Bridge. Committee members expressed interest in discussing the island's road needs as soon as possible. Later sessions are expected to focus on schools, parks, utilities, zoning and conservation efforts. Morgan said the committee's work not only will help revise city and county plans, but it also may lead to a new residents' group that can voice opinions about development and other governmental issues on the island. Several residents, including John Peters, noted that planning is only part of the battle. Unless islanders stay tuned to proposed changes, Peters said, the rural character of Johns Island will get eaten away. "There are plans out there, but unless you have constant vigilance, they just get piecemealed apart," Peters said. "It just seems to happen in front of our noses. We just don't even monitor it sometimes." The city has formed a similar committee to study growth in the West Ashley area, which planners say could see 9,000 new housing units within the next 10 to 20 years. Not as many are planned on Johns Island, but the island stands to see a much sharper increase in population, percentage-wise, Morgan said. The city's estimate of about 5,000 new houses comes from a review of approved and anticipated developments. Morgan said it could take 10 years, perhaps even 20, before all of the houses built. "We're trying to be proactive and talk to people so they know what the plans are and what the developments are," he said. "We want their input to make sure we have a great quality of life."

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