County Approves East Edisto Master Plan

Dorchester County Council unanimously approved greenlighting the 50-year planned development known as East Edisto Monday night during its regular meeting in St. George. 

According to Count on 2 News, a few residents spoke in opposition to the approval. 

The property is nearly 80,000 acres spread across Dorchester and Charleston counties. After initial planning phases, the development has been stalled for the last five years. 

Under MeadWestvaco, the property previously grew pines trees for local mills. As milling practices have become more efficient and fewer trees needed, MeadWestvaco has sold off pieces of its land to become residential developments. East Edisto remains under the company's ownership for now and is much more than another subdivision.

The 50-year planned community plans for 75 percent of the property to remain rural, and plans for villages and communities that offer live-work development with commercial and retail. Because of its need for developing transportation, schools and zoning, the development has relied on working with local governments to begin moving forward.

Currently, the property remains largely undeveloped with limited road access and only an industrial park, housing the MeadWestvaco company ArborGen.