Best Jewelry Store near James Island, SC

Published: Sep. 19, 2024 at 1:49 PM PDT|

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Plans for another subdivision near a neighborhood that often floods have James Islanders worried about their homes and futures.

People living on James Island say they have seen more flooding as building development increases for years, and they believe Charleton’s recently released floodwater research presents a dire situation for their neighborhood and island.

“I grew up watching the property in back of me with the produce and all the animals. We used to hunt back there when I was a kid. I mean, it’s unreal what they want to do to this property,” Jimmy All says.

All has lived on Woodland Shores Road for nearly eight decades. A sliver of 28 acres of green space remains behind his home, but it is currently zoned as high-density residential and owned by a developer. Residents of the neighborhood have been fighting a development there, despite the zoning, for years.

Julie Hallman lives on Carol Road and says neighbors immediately started talking when they saw the results of a Charleston floodwater plan that puts their island in a critically prone to flood zone.

“It’s a little scary, but it’s also validating, because, of course, it confirms everything that we’ve been seeing over the past decade and a half that’s happening here with flooding increasing, also hoping that it will direct the city towards some more responsible development and stormwater management,” Hallman says.

Standing in Adam Friend’s backyard off Woodland Shores Road, the three neighbors look at those last few acres of undeveloped space left on the island, land they continue to fight to preserve. Friend says that seeing in writing that James Island is one of the lowest lands should spark action and change. The land zoned high density and owned by the developer behind their homes is part of the historic James Island Creek bed.

“As we learn from the water plan, Mother Nature clearly has memory. To her that is still an active waterway for her. So, when there’s water to be accumulated, that’s where it’s naturally going to go. So if that’s the area that this land happens to fall under, there’s just no way you can tell me that building ponds, retention ponds back there, doesn’t run the risk of overflow,” Friend says.

Friend has lived in the home since the 1990s and says he saw flooding with major storms as expected. But as development grew, so did the water levels surrounding his house.

“I’m 6′6″ but I’d say the water was every bit close to two feet to my knees. So I mean, that’s a lot of water. I’ve been fortunate to only have, I think, two events that have actually had water that’s gotten under my home. I have not had inundation yet, but that’s our concern. And I’m just one of probably around 20 or so houses on this side, of Woodland Shores Road, past Paw Paw, that are sort of identified in this new water plan as an area that is prone to just rain flooding,” Friends says.

Friend isn’t alone. All and Hallman are seeing the same, time and time again.

“We flood even if it just rains hard and it’s a high tide, and it has definitely gotten worse in the past 14 years since I first bought my house, for sure,” Hallman says.

“I’ve been flooded, since 2015, five times, and it’s going to get worse. I’ve got a foundation company under my house now, and FEMA has looked at it. I mean, they want $7,000 to fix the damage from the last storm. I mean, that’s unreal, and it’s going to get worse,” All says.

The three say they represent a contingent of people scared for their future and asking leaders for help. While they know the 28 acres behind them are zoned for high-density residential, they wonder if there is a way to look at the situation through a new lens, through the data of the recently released floodwater plan.

“So, to me, if the data is showing you, this is a problem area - and I do understand that it’s legality. The city is fearful of down zoning places that would then probably have the realtor, the owners of that land probably try to file a suit against them, because they’re going to be upset. And then if they were to lower that, of course, that land does diminish in value. However, to me, money should not outweigh safety,” Friend says.

Eastside Homes developer owns the land and has previously had plans for upwards of 200 townhomes on the site. A review process of the proposal sent the developer back to the drawing board with stringent stormwater runoff requirements. They are expected to return with a plan involving less density and less homes. But neighbors think there’s no responsible way to develop that land.

The Charleston Flooding and Sea Level Rise Strategy update describes James Island saying, “James Island consists of two evolving sea islands with a need for residential protection where possible, adaptation, and marsh mitigation plans, along with appropriate plans for growth along high ridges.”

The report acknowledges, “low-lying, interior neighborhoods with slab-on-grade homes often experience tidal and compound flooding, and many coastal areas face great risk from surge and coastal storms.”

A map indicates much of James Island falls into a category likely to experience severe flooding in a major storm, and it shows the area is below the 70th percentile when it comes to burdens of environmental justice.

For many, this is their longtime home. They fear once a shovel is in the ground it is too late, but they don’t think it’s too late yet to try to save what’s left of the creek bed. They are calling on leaders to meet with them, and at least consider a moratorium or downzoning as options as the city assesses this staggering information.

“We need help. You know, the people that live here that have existing properties, they should be protected, and we need the city to help us do that,” Hallman says.

“I built that house in 1985 and this my life. I wish I could jack it up, but I can’t and get it out of the water, but I either got to put up with it or move off. And I’m too old to move,” All says.

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