The residents of Awendaw spoke loud and clear last week when they told their Planning Commission members that they did not want to see a development agreement between the town and King Tract LLC approved.
Commission members did not care and approved the agreement anyway.
People packed into the public hearing to say that 965 homes on 1,015 acres of high ground was too much - even if build out wasn’t slated until 2029. That’s a home on virtually every acre of high ground.
A community of this magnitude will change the character of this rural setting which is surrounded by the Francis Marion National Forest and Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge.
It will more than double the number of homes in Awendaw -all on only one tract of land.
Planners hope the project will bring revenue to complete projects such as their water utility.
Meanwhile the developer said he would use septic systems for each home should public sewer not be available.
If the water system is constructed, the owner will pay $1000 dollars for each unit to tap into the system.
Plans like this are binding, beyond the shelf life of today’s municipal administration.
If there are discrepancies discovered in the future, the language in the agreement will supercede the town’s comprehensive plan. Charleston County’s Comprehensive Plan doesn’t even call for densities such as those opposed in this plan.
The South Carolina Coastal Conservation League has already voiced their concerns and they need to stay with this issue as it makes its way through the municipal process.
The donation of 16 acres of land for affordable housing is a nice gesture, but parts of Awendaw are affordable today, as is.
Awendaw Town Council will hear this issue on Thursday.
This is a public hearing.
Residents  should appear on Thursday  and voice their views on a development that may forever changed Awendaw.