Charleston County officials are weighing a proposal that could open the door for denser development on Johns Island, sparking pushback from residents who fear more growth will worsen traffic and flooding issues.
What’s Being Proposed
The changes involve a 2.39-acre parcel along Cane Slash Road within the county’s overlay district. Two amendments are under discussion:
Zoning changes
Future land use map updates
If approved, the property would shift from limited commercial use to mixed use, allowing for:
Hotels
Gas stations
Higher-density housing
District Nine Councilmember Jenny Costa Honeycutt explained, “This would go from limited commercial uses to mixed use, which would really increase the density on that site.”
Residents Push Back
Longtime Johns Island resident Mezaline Legere said the community is already struggling with congestion.
“I don’t like that at all because too much traffic. It brings too much traffic here.”
District Eight Councilmember Joe Boykin agreed, warning that the increased density could overwhelm the already failing transportation infrastructure at River Road and Maybank Highway.
Concerns Beyond Traffic
Residents and workers also raised environmental concerns, particularly around flooding.
Audrey Subers, who works on the island, said:
“There will be a lot more rainwater that’s not going to have a place to go, and the flooding already is really bad with poor drainage. I think it’s best to preserve the natural land and keep things the way they are.”
Community Feedback
Nearly 200 public comments have already been submitted against the proposed changes. Honeycutt emphasized that public voices are critical:
“I think smart growth is really important, balancing growth areas that should be dense, areas that shouldn’t, is really important, and listening to the public feedback is part of that process.”
Public Hearing Scheduled
A public hearing on the proposed changes will be held:
Date: Tuesday
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Charleston County Council Chambers
More details are available on the Charleston County website under meetings and agendas.
