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City ready to annex Long Savannah

Type: Media Coverage
Date: 2007-11-22

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Charleston City Council is slated to consider annexing the Long Savannah property and
changing the urban growth boundary when it meets Tuesday at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 80
Broad St.

The city also will host public planning workshops starting next week for the proposed Long
Savannah development. The meetings will be held at the old Kincaid Furniture store, 1821
Sam Rittenberg Blvd. on these days:
Friday, Nov. 30. Kick-off presentation at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.

In a move that could add more than 3,000 homes to the city and reshape the edge of West
Ashley, Charleston is poised to annex the proposed Long Savannah development and
extend the "urban growth boundary" line in order to accommodate the plan.
Two new public parks covering 1,800 acres, a developer-financed extension of the Glenn
McConnell Parkway, and other public amenities depend upon the fate of the 1,253-acre
subdivision.

Supporters say the new parks would form a better boundary to suburban sprawl than the
artificial growth boundary line that is enforced with zoning rules.

"I think the wisest land-use planning decision would be to do exactly what we would be
recommending: to allow the wonderful park to be the urban growth boundary," said
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley.

But opponents say moving the boundary line would set a dangerous precedent.

"My personal thought is the line should not be moved without any logical or rational
reason, and we have not seen that yet," said Charleston County Council Chairman Tim
Scott. "In theory, the city of Charleston can completely ignore the county's plan and
develop any way they want to."

If City Council approves the plans, the Long Savannah property would be Charleston's
largest annexation since Daniel Island, and the only time the city has supported a
significant expansion of the urban growth boundary.

The boundary line has been recognized by the city and by Charleston County as the point at
which suburban-style development should stop.

The Long Savannah developers originally submitted their request to change the zoning to
the county, but this week took their plan to the city instead.

Moving the growth boundary could mean about 3,600 homes, rather than around 1,500
under current zoning.

Supporters, including Riley and the Coastal Conservation League, argue that a large mixeduse
development could actually combat suburban sprawl by putting a new commercial
center near existing subdivisions like Grand Oaks and Village Green.

"Hopefully it will end up reversing some trips, because it will be a destination and not just a
residential neighborhood," said Megan Desrosiers of the Coastal Conservation League.
"We support density in the appropriate places, as long as the transportation infrastructure
can support it."

The developers have promised $15 million in public improvements, including road projects
and money or land for new police and fire facilities and a school.

The public parks abutting Long Savannah would be publicly financed, and the county
already has approved spending most of the $9.3 million needed from the half-cent sales tax
for that purpose.

Plans call for a 1,568-acre county park and a 232-acre city park, both carved out of the
3,053 acres controlled by the developers.

The developers behind Long Savannah LLC are Associated Developers Inc. and the SIM
Group. SIM Group and its SINTRA development company in Mount Pleasant developed
Hamlin and Brickyard plantations, Carolina Park and several communities in Summerville.
Chris K. Phillips Jr., a partner in Long Savannah with Associated Developers Inc., referred
questions about the plan Wednesday to attorney Lucas Padgett, who could not be reached
for comment.

The League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area has urged the city and county to not
move the growth boundary, saying that doing so would lead to future losses of rural land.

"Once the line is moved, there is no turning back," League officials warned last fall, a
position reaffirmed by League President Lynn Greer on Wednesday.

The Red Top community initially opposed the development but later reached an agreement
with the developers on road and community improvements.

Charleston City Council will first consider the annexation Tuesday, but the city has already
scheduled a week of meetings to consider the design of the subdivision.

"You take all of this together, and I really think it is one of the most important land use
planning opportunities in a very long time," Riley said.

County Councilwoman Colleen Condon said she is comfortable with the city taking the
lead on the project and is pleased the public will be able to participate in planning
workshops.