When is too much too much?
By Bill Davis | Staff Writer
Driving to Folly Beach these days is kind of like dropping by a friend’s house for an awesome July 4th party.
You have to fight through a doorway that is too crowded and too long and too narrow, and past a front porch that is cluttered with more people, just to get to the awesome pool out back.
Once you get to the party, though, you never want to leave. Yes, the people are great, and so is the water. But you shiver at the nightmare of how you got there and at the idea of leaving when everyone else empties out.
City of Folly Beach officials have recently joined the local chorus of boos directed at a proposed apartment complex slated for the corner of Grimball and Folly roads, that they feel would serve as a terrible welcome mat to the Edge of America.
That resolution was based on the recommendation of the city’s Zoning Administrator, Aaron Pope.
Folly City Council recognizes that it has no part in the approval process of The Lively, as its 10-acre plot is located wholly within Charleston County.
Regardless, Council recently approved a resolution condemning the proposals as being “too dense for the site,” and that traffic and infrastructure impacts of the project have not been fully explored.
The Lively, as proposed by Orange Capital Advisors, would be a 330-plus, unit combination of apartments, artists spots, gallery space, and a market with three driveways feeding into Folly Road.
So much of the proposal has elements that usually excite planners, like “new urbanist” touches where residents can live, work, and recreate all onsite in a dense, varied-use environment.
And the Orangeburg-based company, which has completed projects in North Charleston, has submitted its plans to the Charleston County Planning Commission, as well as having hosted several public meetings to discuss the project.
The proposal also asks the county for a variance to allow for more units than are currently allowed under its zoning ordinances.
McFaddin Blanding, the lead on the company’s project, issued a “no comment” through its spokesperson, promising to respond to questions “in a month.”
So far, the company’s proposal for The Lively has drawn a lot of comments from Folly’s neighbors, mostly negative.
Mayor of the Town of James Island Bill Woolsey recently opined: “Because of the serious traffic problems on Folly Road, I think that such a rezoning would be a mistake. I think the idea of a market and artist studios is wonderful.
“And the 40 or so apartments that would be permitted under Town zoning would be fine,” stated Woolsey. “The 120 that would be allowed under the County zoning is a bit much, but 300 is way too many. The infrastructure on James Island, particularly the roads, cannot support ultra-dense development.”
Charleston County Councilman Joe Qualey, who represents Folly and much of James Island, likened the development to a smaller-scale “gathering place,” like the one that has garnered negative reviews on Maybank Highway.
Qualey said he would not support the plan if it makes it to County Council from the planning commission in its current state and scale.
Charleston County Planning Commissioner Charlie Smith said that his board remains committed to working with the proposal to make sure it reaches “community standards,” but that as the proposal stands now, “The Lively is not there yet.”
Orange Capital Advisors spokesperson Janet Beale said last week that the plan now also includes affordable housing units that will be indistinguishable from the rest of the project.
Qualey said the inclusion of this latest wrinkle is “disingenuous at best,” as he believes reduced rental rates would only be guaranteed for a handful of years.
“All they are trying to do is to collect black Council votes and the support of the black community. It’s all just smoke and mirrors,” said Qualey.
County officials expect the proposal will be dealt with in August.
