Traffic accidents spark Johns Island rezoning concerns

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) – Irrespective of additional than 100 people who stay on Johns Island saying they are in opposition to rezoning options for a road, Charleston Town Council is still considering the adjust.

The city’s organizing fee pushed ahead ideas to rezone Southwick Drive at Monday night’s assembly..

“You know, if we experienced the hundreds of thousands of dollars to resolve the difficulties ourselves, we would, but we never,” Karyn Buckley, a Southwick Generate resident, stated.

Middleburg Communities is trying to rezone 16 acres of land on Southwick Drive from about 128 properties at 1 unit for each acre to at the very least 160 properties at six models for each acre. The city’s planning commission voted 7-2 to transfer this task to the entire council.

“On paper, guarantees or diagrams, you know, that is the photograph they want to transpire, but we offered photographs of lifetime each individual day,” Buckley stated.

At least 40 folks who dwell on Southwick Push spoke to the Charleston Organizing Fee and a different 92 who reside nearby signed an email to a town council member opposing a task to rezone Southwick Drive. With dozens of mishaps happening on this highway in the very last several several years, driver protection is a leading concern.

Middleburg Communities, relying on a 2016 SCDOT investigation, says the 85th percentile of motorists goes 42 mph on this 35-mph highway. Only a single accident was documented in this 3-year study.

But Charleston Law enforcement Office facts shows there have been 13 accidents described and 34 dashing tickets because Jan. 1, 2019. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office claimed 8 mishaps, 30 dashing tickets and a few DUI arrests.

Charleston City Setting up Manager Christopher Morgan thinks the speed restrict should really transform.

“I feel, as a planner, 35 mph is much too rapidly for that roadway,” Morgan mentioned. “I imagine we would unquestionably be supportive in any attempts to try out and lower the speed of site visitors on that roadway.”

Morgan states a targeted traffic study is not essential just before it goes to the whole council, but Middleburg Communities will have to send out a single to the city’s Technological Overview Committee at some issue.

“And that site visitors review will appear at mitigation that may possibly be essential, perhaps a four-way intersection on Southwick Push in which their intersection would flip in, probable flip lanes,” Morgan mentioned.

Buckley states a traffic light-weight on Maybank and Southwick will have to happen. On the other hand, she nonetheless fears the metropolis will not maintain their guarantees.

“Sometimes, you know, the inflow of cash does not end up the place it’s required the most,” Buckley claimed.

Charleston City Council will make a decision on this rezoning on Dec. 20.

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