Letters to the Editor

Kiawah too apart This letter is in response to the Jan. 16, article regarding Kiawah Mayor William G. Wert's requests for a property tax cap and "a new road across Johns Island to make travel to and from the island (Kiawah) faster and safer." These requests are based on the fact that Kiawah's property owners are only .04 percent of the population but contribute 11.3 percent of the county's property taxes. Kiawah is further described as a "gated sea island town" (read, restricted). What some really want is a six-lane highway directly to and from Ohio and points north where they are really from. To suggest that already strapped Charleston County spend money and attention on an area where the majority of its residents and taxpayers are not permitted is preposterous. Kiawah is Kiawah. Like a new pair of shoes, pretty and uncomfortable. RICHARD KOPPF 172 East Erie Folly Beach Bridge for Kiawah In the past few days, I have read several articles concerning Kiawah Island's renewed interest in building a new road across Johns Island. This proposal was firmly rejected in 1996 and would be even more undesirable today. It seems to me that as both Seabrook and Kiawah Islands are gated communities the best solution would be for Kiawah to build a bridge from Kiawah Island over to Folly Island. This would enable them to have a pleasant and scenic drive through their own neighborhoods and use their own roads. RONALD RUSH 2861 Edenvale Road Johns Island Initiate Kiawah study On Jan. 18, your editorial commented on the article cited by the Kiawah mayor regarding the proposal for a new road on Johns Island. Your reporter mentioned the 1996 plan that was rejected by the majority of Johns Islands residents. That was almost 10 years ago and for the residents of Johns Island, including the Seabrook and Kiawah Island residents, we have all noticed that the traffic has dramatically increased, as well as the accidents and deaths. I have particularly noticed the trouble that residents who live along Bohicket Road have in even getting out of their driveways. I also believe that many of these families have been involved in accidents and in some cases the loss of loved ones. I believe that many of the accidents, involving local residents and in some cases, deaths, are a result of too many vehicles driving at high rates of speed along this scenic highway. Wouldn't this be a good time to do a daily vehicle count to determine if the need is, indeed, there? We have an opportunity now while there are still fields available on which to build this road. Ten more years down the road we may be looking at residential properties. If the study concludes that a new road is needed, then we must address it now as opposed to later. We would probably be looking at several years for such a project to be finalized at which time development as well as traffic will keep increasing. The time to initiate this study is now. KATHLEEN C. STOVER 2525 The Bent Twig Johns Island Kiawah can 'eat cake' Kiawah wants it both ways according to Kiawah's Mayor William G. Wert. In an article Jan. 16, he expressed the right to a property assessment cap and a new road because his community provides 11 percent of Charleston County's property taxes. Well, he's right about the road just as soon as he decides to join the rest of us. He wants the benefits that are provided to all who live in a free America, but the problem is his gated community. As soon as the gates are open, he can join the rest of us, until then "let them eat cake." PAT KILROY 114 Milton Drive Goose Creek No Kiawah highway Some nightmares just don't go away. Back in 1996, there was a proposal to construct an expressway across Johns Island to provide quicker access to Kiawah and Seabrook. Have you ever seen a hornets' nest after someone whacked it with a stick? It's not a pretty sight, and the person who whacked the nest in the first place usually gets stung. The public hearing on that expressway in 1996 was the epitome of one mad hornets' nest. The residents made it very clear to our public officials and the Highway Commission that we don't want our island and our way of life destroyed to provide an expressway to and from Kiawah and Seabrook. Well, Johns Islanders, this snake is about to raise its ugly head again. When I moved out to Johns Island in 1979, I knew my way of life was going to change. At that time, there wasn't a large department store or a grocery store around the corner like there was when I lived in Dorchester Terrace. But I learned to consolidate trips on the way home from the Naval Base in North Charleston. For those folks who live on Kiawah and Seabrook year-round basis, you knew what you were getting into when you moved out there. You can't get to the airport in 10 minutes; a trip to any mall takes 30 to 45 minutes; and you don't walk to the theater. But the beauty of the sea islands drew you anyway, and you were willing to deal with the inconvenience. Now you want to destroy that very thing that drew you to the islands by demanding a quicker, more convenient route from Kiawah and Seabrook through Johns Island. For those of you who are now tired of the long drives to get places, I have one four-letter word for you: Move. If you want to be closer to the airport, go to North Charleston. If you want to be closer to a mall, you can go to West Ashley or North Charleston. If you want to be closer to the arts community, move downtown. You have many choices. Just don't destroy our island for your convenience. Johns Island residents are in a daily struggle to keep some semblance of the rural character intact. The last thing we need is another road that, in turn, will sprout more housing developments and shopping areas. Now that the half-cent sales tax has passed, great care must be taken to ensure that Charleston County's beauty and way of life is not lost by the creation of a new road, especially in such a fragile area as Johns Island. This caution must also be applied to the extension of the Mark Clark to Johns Island and the extension of the Glenn McConnell Expressway. In all three instances, the best way to protect these areas is not to construct these road projects at all. PATRICK A. LUCK 2701 Pine Log Lane Johns Island

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