Democrats Mobilize Against Oyster Point

Local Democrats are urged in an email to attend a town council meeting next week to oppose an unpopular 593-unit residential development planned for the end of Six Mile Road.

"Do you want an additional 7,000+ cars traveling daily along Rifle Range Road between the IOP Connector and Hamlin Road?," reads a mass email from the party to East Cooper members.

"Charleston County Council has approved a 250 house development in the Six Mile Community along Palmetto Fort Road. Mount Pleasant Town Council is about to approve another 593 houses an the end of Six Mile Road with only one entrance/exit at the stop light. Make your voice heard."

Read more about the Oyster Point development.

In addition to the Oyster Point Development, which will get a final vote Tuesday evening, developers have plans to build on a second tract of land along Palmetto Fort Road. Both the Oyster Point and Palmetto Fort projects have county approval, but Oyster Point is asking for annexation and zoning in the town.

Town leaders have mostly been supportive of the Oyster Point development. They say the developer will add a turn lane to Rifle Range Road that will mitigate traffic impacts. And they say voting to deny the annexation, the project could still be build since it has been approved by the county.

Imagining the added traffic under current conditions isn't fair, the town's traffic planner has said. Once work is complete on U.S. 17, many commuters who are currently using Rifle Range will go back to using Johnnie Dodds.

But on top of traffic concerns, residents say the large-scale developments will negatively impact the environment and potentially harm the quality of life of the Six and Seven Mile communities, areas that are part of the federally recognized Gullah-Geeche Corridor.

Tuesday's vote on the project comes after the town's planning commission approved the project last month and the town council's annexation and planning committees voted in favor of the project on Monday.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall on Ann Edwards Drive.