Problems with Angel Oak Village go far beyond the impact on the ancient tree

What’s the big deal about an oak tree?  Charleston Post and Courier readers may have asked that question after reading the many articles on the Angel Oak Village development.  One article reported on a three and a half hour meeting at which the developer’s consultants defended this huge project on the edge of the Johns Island’s urban growth boundary.  They talked about hydrology, soils, runoff, and other technical issues.  Near the end of the meeting they presented a revised plan, which was what most people came to see in the first place.  Unfortunately, many people had already left because the meeting went on so long.

Even for those of us who stayed, the meeting left critical questions unanswered.  The developer would not reveal the number of units in the new plan.  When asked about the amount of pavement, he said he did not have those figures. Neither did he have any traffic estimates from the project to answer the public’s questions.  Even the question of the exact distance of the development from the Angel Oak went unanswered.  One thing was clear, though.  The problems with the Angel Oak Village go far beyond the impact on the ancient tree.

The City of Charleston has approved 630 units on the 42-acre property.  Traffic studies predict over 8,000 more car trips every day spilling out onto Bohicket Road and Maybank, both of which are already busy two-lane roads.  The following is from the traffic impact study done by SRS Engineering: Traffic, Transportation, and Parking Consultants, for Robert L. DeMoura, April 2008:

"Upon review, all feasible geometrics have been recommended at the site access intersections along Bohicket Road.  No further intersection specific geometric enhancements exist which will provide for acceptable operating levels.”

The developer said that children living in the apartments would walk to Haut Gap School, across Bohicket.  Today this section of Bohicket is already dangerous because of a blind curve.  With 8,000 additional cars, it will get much more dangerous for school children and other residents in the area. 

Today, many people walk along Maybank Highway from the Sea Island Apartments to the convenience store and the Piggly Wiggly.  Some elder residents use motorized scooters and others push carts for groceries.  Adding thousands of cars to Maybank and Bohicket would make it impossible for them to take these essential daily trips.  The developer has said he wants to build a “walk able community” in this area.  Ironically, the Angel Oak Village threatens to eliminate walking and biking in the existing community.

We also object to the developer’s plan to fill half of the wetlands on the property in order to build more apartments.  The meeting provided no information about how the new plan might reduce the wetland destruction.   The consultants did talk about building detention ponds and bioswales (ditches) to treat the runoff.  But destroying natural wetlands is certain to exacerbate pollution problems. 

People who are familiar with this part of Johns Island will know that the Church Creek bridge is one of the most popular fishing spots in the county.  Local residents regularly fish from the bridge or collect oysters and clams on the edge of the channel.  Church Creek is already listed on the impaired water bodies list.  Greg Wahl, the project manager reviewing Angel Oak Village’s storm water plan with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, has conceded that the storm water that does run off site will go in the direction of Church Creek. The development, far from being a boon to the local area, threatens an important recreational and economic resource.

One issue that has complicated the discussion is the fact that the Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Center will receive some of the profits from the development.  We all want to see the Center thrive and this income will undoubtedly help that.  But it is not the only consideration for the community.  Clean water and transportation safety are also critically important issues.

The head of the Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Center criticized those of us at the meeting who opposed the Angel Oak project.  He said that we were blocking progress on the island, holding up more affordable housing, and that we had no right to express our views on the project because we had not lived on the island as long as others. 

In fact, many opponents do live on Johns and Wadmalaw islands, and they do have a personal stake in the outcome.  Further, there are many people who care about these islands and the Angel Oak who live elsewhere in the county.  Rather than discouraging them from participating in planning discussions, we should be grateful that they have taken the time to express their points of view.

Near the end of the meeting, Dana Beach with the Coastal Conservation League presented a proposal that would expand the city park around the Angel Oak by purchasing some of the property from the developer, allowing him to reduce the number of units.  Although the article described the League proposal as “spending millions of public dollars,” the developer paid $3.5 million for the property a few years ago, so buying some of the acreage does not sound like it should be unreasonably expensive.

Mayor Riley has spoke of protecting the Angel Oak for some time.  In an article published in the Post & Courier on 10/8/02, Riley used the Angel Oak as an example of why the half cent sales tax should have passed. “The best poster child of why we need this is the Angel Oak,” he [Riley] said.  “It’s either going to be a beautifully wooded, classic sea island scene forever, or it’s going to be a caricature of a beautiful old tree slam up against a paved parking lot.” The tax passed in 2004, yet there are no funds to protect the islands most awe-inspiring natural resource?

Johns Island native and community leader William Saunders spoke at the meeting about the importance of bringing the islanders together to come up with a solution that serves everybody.  In a way, our love for the Angel Oak has helped us understand the bigger threats to Johns Island, and the importance of Mr. Saunders’ suggestion, because the Angel Oak Village debate is not just about a tree.  It’s about a community, an environment, and a way of life that is worth protecting.

ViSiT:  www.savetheangeloak.org