East Edisto ... Planned growth for Charleston and Summerville
MeadWestvaco finally announced its plans for the vast tract of land it owns to the west of Charleston and Summerville along the Edisto River. The 72,000 contiguous acres along the eastern edge of the Edisto River is located in a natural path of growth for both Charleston and Dorchester Counties (Summerville).
This is unlike the company's controversial sale of 6600 acres at Watson Hill near the historic Ashley River Plantation District which prompted a major outcry over development in the community and is still not resolved. That sale resulted in proposals to limit high density development on thousands of acres of land and creation of the Ashley River Historic Overlay District.
Not wanting another controversy, MeadWestvaco is now taking a conservation driven, master plan approach which manages growth wisely, addresses traffic concerns and prevents sprawl and yet gives them the ability to cash in some of their vast land holdings and provide land for inevitable growth of the Charleston area.
A little background, first Poplar Grove was announced straddling the border between Charleston and Dorchester Counties and it was immediately deemed "Unpoplar Grove". The number of homes in the project was scaled back and is now being developed with higher priced homes in the high hundred thousands to a million or so. The announcement of Watson Hill with over 5000 homes proposed and so close to the historic plantations was the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" and even normally pro growth types like Charleston real estate agents weren't pleased with development that would endanger a treasure reflecting the quality of life in the Charleston area.
Summerville and Dorchester County is the fastest growing area in the State of South Carolina and while growth is always hotly debated, infrastructure improvements and planning for inevitable growth makes sense. The town and county have started plans for running water and sewer lines under the Ashley River to serve the areas to the west available for development. A new Dorchester District II high school and middle school are currently under construction on Highway 165 near Edisto East. Roads will have to be widened and others built and additional services will have to be made available as growth continues relentlessly in the Charleston South Carolina area.
What isn't likely to happen is growth to the very far southwest of the property near the ACE basin (Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers), an area both historically and environmentally significant and another Lowcounty treasure. More than likely, development will take place on some of the land to the west of Summerville and to the west of Charleston while keeping some of it in conservation easements.
MeadWestvaco's Chairman and CEO John A. Luke Jr. said the company wants to be part of the area's growth solution. Luke said, "We believe that our planning process can contribute to the region's need for growth and infrastructure management, balancing economic vitality with the preservation of what's best about the Lowcountry."
It is an excellent decision by Mead Westvaco to be involved with the community and everyone should applaud their efforts to be good neighbors with their future plans for this valuable parcel of land.