NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – A decades-old plan for a Johns Island neighborhood and golf course gets the green light from Charleston County leaders.
A plan called the Orange Hill Planned Development project is the works to add a 120-home neighborhood and a golf course is set for about 933 acres of land along Rivers and Bohicket Roads on Johns Island. Project developers, Kiawah Resort Associates LP, are working to use just over 720 acres of that land for the development called ‘Real Property’, according to plans. The over 200 acres remaining will be under a conservancy tract.
Kiawah Resort Associates LP partner and project applicant, Jordan Phillips, says the project benefits the area as a solution to golf course demands.
“The project will really help alleviate compaction on golf courses and provide additional residential housing units,” Phillips says.
Current proposed plans are a change from an 180-home idea that developers presented to the Charleston County Council in 2005. District 8 Councilmember Joe Boykin says development with original plans would impact Charleston County’s Urban Growth Boundary.
“I think in the end, it was far better than the by-right development plan they already had,” Boykin says. “If this had been done a long time ago, this area would have been out of the Urban Growth Boundary and probably not have been supported, but it predates that.”
Charleston County Council approved to move forward on the development in a first reading on Tuesday. Boykin calls the plan a “win-win” for the area as developers included support efforts towards affordable housing in the area.
The Charleston County Community Development and Revitalization Department, which focuses on housing and communities, will get $1 million in property funds. Those funds will come from the project over the course of five years. Developers say another $500,000 will go towards the Sea Island Habitat for Humanity.
Boykin says the housing contributions are a chance to keep money on the island.
“We have a real problem with workers going to Kiawah to support that, well, one of Charleston County’s largest employers,” Boykin says. “They can’t afford to live on Johns Island, so they come from far off, which causes more congestion on our roadways. So this is a win-win all the way around.”
A second reading of the plan by council leaders will take place on July 22. A public hearing will also take place.
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