Since an article [was published] in the Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette, there has been much concern over the proposed oversized development on Lower Cane Island.
Beaufort County and the city of Beaufort are experiencing rapid growth that exceeds their current infrastructure capacity. Regrettably, the “Legacy” Planned Unit Development (PUD), which was annexed into the city over three decades ago, can be developed with minimal consideration for the already strained infrastructure and emergency services.
City leaders have expressed their inability to prevent this development, while state leaders are hesitant to intervene due to potential litigation.
Developers propose constructing hundreds of luxury condos, a hotel, marina, and restaurant on Lower Cane Island. This proposal raises serious concerns and could adversely affect the environment and quality of life for Beaufort County residents.
Numerous residents have expressed their desire via an ongoing petition to persuade the Trask family to consider a different future for Lower Cane Island. By collaborating with the City of Beaufort and the County, funds from Beaufort County’s Greenspace program could be utilized to compensate the family and safeguard the natural resources and quality of life for residents.
In essence, Islands Causeway is a narrow and winding road that is incapable of accommodating the dense development envisioned for Lower Cane. This out-of-scale development would result in significant traffic congestion, including lengthy queues at the Lady’s Island Drive intersection.
Furthermore, road widening may be necessary to accommodate additional traffic, potentially impacting the saltmarsh that is held in the public trust.
An in-depth Traffic Impact Analysis should be one of the most important studies done in this area, in conjunction with SCDOT, and the Department of Public Safety where the Island Causeway bisects Ladys Island drive. This area is already rife with traffic accidents and incidents that will no doubt become worse if this development proceeds.
Similarly, small tidal creeks surrounding Cane Island may be adversely affected by increased stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces. This could lead to the impairment of wildlife species such as deer, wild turkey, and bald eagles that inhabit the Lower Cane Island.
You can’t continue to build and expect the jewel of South Carolina to stay the same. This small enclave north of the Broad will just be another crowded venue for the benefit of no-one but the developer, and the previous owner. Little regard will be given to the current residents, or the impact on wildlife and surrounding waters.
We urge the Trask family to take action and contribute to a distinct future for Lower Cane Island, ensuring its unique character is preserved. It is not too late for the owners to make a positive impact by leaving behind a conservation legacy, safeguarding the land for future generations to appreciate.
We kindly request your attention to this matter, as it is crucial to protect the remaining natural resources in the Lowcountry.
— Dennis M. Ross
Responding to Jim Dickson’s March 13 column
Actually it is Mr. Dickson who has “come out …” Finally a moderate Republican who has admitted that Trump has some bad ideas. The moderate, centrist Republican leaders (I hope there are some) need to follow suit, stand up and do the right thing.
I am sure they exist and they need to curtail the radicals in their party who are running roughshod over our America.
The approach that the current Republican administration has taken is much more radical and dangerous than anything the leftist Dems have ever thought about. Just think about what they are destroying!
There are plenty of moderate Democrats like me who want to have an efficient, well run, compassionate government with a minimum of waste and fraud. But knocking the legs out from under much-needed agencies like the EPA, NIH, DOE and many others is not the way to achieve it.
Not to mention destroying relations with allies, imposing over-the-top tariffs, throwing DEI out the window, not believing in science, being too religious, making outrageous claims with no evidence, bullying, making everything transactional, etc., etc.
Thank you Mr. Dickson for your column, It is good that you know who the real crazies are, and that they are in your party.
— Bob Lewis, Port Royal
