Board rejects Johns Island acreage change

If the planning commission's decision is an indication of what Charleston County Council will do, a group of Johns Islanders won't see 2,500 acres restored to its rural designation. Commissioners voted Monday against moving the rural-suburban boundary line on the island's northern end back to Brownswood Road. In November, council members moved the old line, which followed the Stono River between Main and Brownswood roads, to include everything north of Patton Avenue and Fickling Hill Road between Brownswood and Main. The change marked 2,500 acres as suburban under county planning guidelines, which generally allows for a higher density development than in rural areas. While the commission's vote was unanimous, commissioners Michelle Sinkler and John Walpole were absent. A group of Johns Islanders led the grassroots effort to revert to rural, proposing a comprehensive land use plan amendment to commissioners, whose recommendation goes to the council. "We are a cross-section of Johns Island. We are the stakeholders," said Cindy Floyd, an islander and former county councilwoman who spearheaded the effort. About a dozen people spoke in favor of the change; two were opposed. Floyd said islanders felt blindsided by the change because public support was strong for keeping the lines in place when the land-use plan was under review months ago. She, like others, referred to an August meeting when Councilman Tim Scott said the council was not considering changing the line. "We feel that we were somehow overlooked in the process," Floyd said. Commissioners said the review process was open to the public, and changes to the plan considered all stakeholders. Islanders worry high-density growth will overrun the newly suburban tract, particularly if it's annexed by the city of Charleston. "There's still hope," said Alton Bryant, a member of the Johns Island Preservation Coalition, an umbrella organization of neighborhood groups, environmental agencies and local councils. She noted council still has to vote on it. A public hearing is set for Feb. 3. In other planning commission matters: -- Commissioners tied in a 4-4 vote, with Sinkler present, on a nearly six-acre planned development on Wadmalaw Island. Despite the tract size, only one acre would be subdivided. Applicants Tommy and Sylvia Davis said they needed to sell the portion of land to keep from losing their house. Selling the entire site would force them to move off the land. The commission's vote will be presented without recommendation to County Council. -- Commissioners denied rezoning 10 acres of Main Road on Johns Island from an agricultural to a commercial zoning. -- Commissioners approved a 162-acre planned development for 55 units on Edisto Island.

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