Diagram of proposed access roads

Warwick Jones

Changing the proposed new terminal site from Daniel Island to North Charleston was supposed to remove the obstacles to the terminal's construction. It clearly has not worked that way. It seems reasonable to now ask as to whether the new terminal will ever been built?

Continue reading "New Port - Extracts from Army Corp EIS study"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 11:28 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Another access road proposed

Questions still remain about the impact of traffic

It was the final public meeting relating to the proposed new container terminal in North Charleston, and the access roads. Well over a hundred people were at the meeting and included representatives of the SC Department of Transport, consultants and contractors. It was hard to tell how many people were from the communities, but we estimate about 70 to 80.

Continue reading "Proposed new port and access roads"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:58 PM | Comments (0)

Stalemate on letter to President Bush protesting forestland sales

But unanimous on letter to Corps on Port access road

The Chairman asked that Council members put aside political consideration. He wanted members, meeting as the Finance Committee to endorse a letter to President Bush protesting the sale of forest land in South Carolina and in particular, the Francis Marion Forest. Whether the council members put aside political considerations, we don't know. But the split of voting was 4 in support and 4 against with Republicans and Democrats on each side. The request will now go to Council on Tuesday night where most likely the vote will remain the same and the issue will die.

Continue reading "County Council March 2,"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 04:20 PM | Comments (0)

"We ain't goin' to shuffle no mo'"

Opposition to access roads and port

The highlight of yesterday's special meeting of the Finance Committee was Council member Darby's emotional speech opposing the proposed container port in North Charleston and any of the access roads. His opposition reflected the attitude of his constituents and the fears of the very adverse impact that the port and roads would have on the surrounding neighborhoods. He noted that too often poor and African American neighborhoods bore the brunt of development. It was going to happen again with the port development. It was time to make a stand. Affecting a Gullah dialect, "we ain't going to shuffle no mo', he said.

Continue reading "County Council February 16,"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:24 PM | Comments (0)

Back to drawing board on Port Access Road

Very much to the satisfaction of Council members Darby and Pryor, the SC Department of Transportation is going to have another look at its access road options relating to the proposed container port in North Charleston. The Council Chairman indicated at the Finance Committee meeting last week that he planned to speak to senior management of both the State Ports Authority and the SC Department of Transportation. He said at last night's meeting that he had a series of discussion with the respective heads and that "both were very cooperative". The SC DOT will withdraw its permit application for permission to use the proposed road designated 1c and will conduct another public hearing to consider suitable access.

Continue reading "County Council February 8"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:44 PM | Comments (0)

County deliberates on opposition to port access road

Auditors unqualified opinion on 2005 financial reports

Meeting as the Finance Committee, Council discussed the possible impact of an access road from the proposed container port in North Charleston to I 26, and the means to oppose the road. Council member Darby raised the issue at the meeting and spoke of the impact the road would have on the communities abutting the new port. The communities, essentially African American, fall largely in his electorate. He noted that the communities were split when I 26 was first built. He felt that the access road would have a similar adverse impact and was opposed to any of the access roads that had been studied by the Army Corps of Engineers. And he asked for Council's support to oppose them and by any means possible including Court action and seeking Federal help.

Continue reading "County Council Meeting February 2"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:34 PM | Comments (0)

Community not happy about access roads

Some oppose the location of terminal

It was first an issue about the road that would link the new container terminal in North Charleston to I 26. But the loaction of the new container terminal has become an issue also. Sentiment against the terminal was strong at the public workshop held yesterday at the Gethsemani Community Center in North Charleston and hosted by the Army Corps of Engineers. There were more than a hundred attendees, we estimate. Many were residents of the areas that could be impacted by the new road.

Continue reading "Proposed container terminal in North Charleston"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:27 PM | Comments (0)

Impact of Container Port Road to be scrutinized

Conservation League skeptical of Environmental Impact Study

Issues relating to the access road from I-26 to the proposed container port in North Charleston received the most attention at last night's Finance Committee meeting. These issues have been around for some weeks and flowed from the decision to seek funding from the State Infrastructure Bank for the access road as well as the completion of I- 526. At earlier meetings of the Finance Committee and Council, Council members Darby and Pryor in particular expressed strong concern as to the fate of the communities through which the proposed road could pass. Council subsequently asked the Transportation Consultant to evaluate the impact of the road and "encouraged" the SC Department of Transportation to do the same.

Continue reading "County Council November 10"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)

Committee approves formation of Conservation Bank

Mitigation efforts proposed for Mark Clark and Port Road

The Finance Committee approved the formation of the Conservation Bank proposed by Council member Bostic. However, the Committee voted to hold back funding for the bank until the Comprehensive Green Belt Plan was completed. The approval, despite the caveat of funding, was a slap in the face of the recently formed Greenbelt Advisory Board (GAB). The GAB had asked Council to defer the issue because of a number of reasons. Essentially, its stated that a decision on its formation was premature. It should wait for the Greenbelt Plan and until the mechanism for the choice of greenbelt acquisitions and the disposal of sales tax funds had been worked out.

Continue reading "County Council October 27"

Posted by Warwick Jones at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)