The Preserve at Dills Bluff

The owners of the Bright property are proposing a rezoning of their property to a Planned Development.   It is currently zoned single family residential.    The parcel has ten acres of highland, so given the Town's zoning density of three units per acre, they could put 30 houses on the property.   Each lot would be approximately 1/3 acre.   However, they would prefer to have most of the lots smaller, and instead have parts of the land preserved as open space.   The key reason is that there are some magnificent oak trees that they want to keep in common areas to benefit all of the residents of the new neighborhood.

The Bright property is next to First Baptist Church on Dills Bluff.   Part of the Planned Development is a sidewalk on Dills Bluff along the length of the property and on to the intersection at Dills Bluff and Camp.   This will complete one segment of the Town's planned sidewalk on Dills Bluff.   The residents of the neighborhood will have access to the shopping center, and from there to the new sidewalk slated for Fort Johnson.

There will be a public hearing at the Town Council meeting next Thursday, August 21.   It is also on the agenda for a first reading.   If it passes first reading and then second reading at the September meeting of Town Council, then the project will move forward.   The developers do not intend to clear the lots   As lots are sold and houses are built, the portions of the lots necessary to build the house will be cleared.

If approved by Town Council, this Planned Development will be limited to residential uses and a density consistent with the Town's 3 units per acre limit.   Adding any additional single family homes, much less commercial or multi-family, would require an additional rezoning.

This will be the first major residential development in the Town of James Island since I became Mayor in 2010.   It looks to me to be a development which will make all of us proud.

The James Island Planning Commission has recommended that Town Council approve the proposal.

If you have any concerns or questions please email me at mayorwoolsey@gmail.com or call me at 697-7020,