JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Charleston Design Review Board denied the request to build a townhome development on James Island.

The board met Monday evening to discuss the possibility of building the development on Theresa Drive right off of Harbor View Road. It would include 16 new four-story townhomes in four separate buildings on a 2.63-acre lot.

The city told the applicant that the development did not work for this area. They said because of its height and scale, it was too big compared to the other homes in that neighborhood.

Many of the current residents weren’t thrilled about the idea of more development to begin with.

One resident, James Beall, says the townhomes would be too much for the area. He says he isn’t opposed to them being built there, but that he thinks 16 is too many. He says cutting the number of homes in half and only having eight would be better.

“Something has to be developed here, but I think what they are doing is just too much, it’s too much,” Beall says. “Too many apartments for this neighborhood and we already have some problems with the road, we have some problems with drainage, and I just think it’s a little bit too much in the way of additional apartments added to the neighborhood,” Beall says.

Margaret Fulk, another neighbor, says she owns her home on Theresa Drive and has lived there for almost ten years. She says she is very concerned if these townhomes get built, especially because of drainage problems.

“When I saw that they were looking to build sixteen new townhomes I was very concerned,” Fulk says. “Every time it rains, our backyard fills up with water, so I am worried that if they build more houses, the runoff will go into our yards if they’re filling dirt to build new places.”

She says that even with light rain, they still have puddles in their yard for days. Fulk says that the first thing that should be done is fixing the drainage problem before adding more homes.

“And with big storms, our street will be like a river will be going through it, so we don’t need any more new development on this quiet, sweet little street,” Fulk says.

Another resident, Nicholas Roberts, is also concerned about the flooding they already get and what it might look like if the new townhomes are built.

“It’s a great piece of property, but I think that they are going to find themselves in a lot of awkward situations with the amount of water they are going to be dealing with, and if they go to move the land around then it’s just going to push the water on people that are already flooding,” Roberts says.

He also brought up concerns about more children moving into the area and that with how much flooding they get it poses a safety risk.

“I feel concerned about, you know, particularly families with children and small children because these drainage ditches, not just with the traffic, but you know that’s really the scariest issue is a child wandering into one of the side areas and essentially drowning,” Roberts says. “I mean there is enough water to drown a child pretty much for days after it rains.”

The board said that overall, the development was out of scale and recommended that the applicant rethink some of the areas of concern, such as the height of the four-story townhomes.

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JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — There are mixed emotions for neighbors living on Sea Aire Road on James Island.

The town is beginning its search to attract more recreational amenities. One area town leaders are looking at isn't sitting well with neighbors.

It's a neighborhood where everybody knows everybody.

“I walk down to my friend's house all the time," said Sheila Hanna, a James Island neighbor. "We stand out in the middle of the street, me and several neighbors, and we can talk.”

READ MORE: "James Island community pushes back as discussions for potential development continue."

Hanna lives near Sea Aire Road. With James Island town leaders possibly looking to buy land to build recreational space, it's not sitting well with several people in the area.

"It would become almost overcrowded to where they would have to limit the number of people," said Jeremy Schott, a James Island neighbor. "People would still try to get in because it's a public space and area. I could see that causing some friction in the area.”

About two acres of green space on Sea Aire Road could become a public area. The idea is intriguing for some.

“I think it's great to have community services and places like that for people," Schott said, "especially kids that don't have anywhere to go."

READ MORE: "Residents petition for development pause on James and Johns Island citing concerns."

Still, others have concerns.

“This park is so deep into our neighborhood," Hanna said. "You would have to know it was there and to advertise that the traffic's bad enough. You can't go to the mailbox on some days when they do detours through our neighborhood, you can't even go to the mailbox safely.”

There's no word on what type of amenities would be built. With the proposal in its early phase, James Island Mayor Brook Lyon told News 4 she doesn't want to comment.

The next council meeting takes place on Thursday at the town hall.

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — James and Johns Island residents want something to be done about overdevelopment in the area.

They’ve created a petition to send a message to city officials.

“We're at a point where we're seeing too much happen too fast,” said James Island resident John Peters. "James Island is growing significantly in John's Island. We've already seen it grow significantly."

This petition calls for city officials of James and Johns Island to put a seven-year pause on development.

READ MORE: "James Island community pushes back as discussions for potential development continue."

They want to see a moratorium on single-family homes, multi-family homes and business development.

“It's important because Charleston has experienced rapid growth," Casey Buchanan, another James Island resident, said. "The growth is outpacing the infrastructure. We need to take a step back and try to develop the infrastructure, let the infrastructure catch up with all the development, and also just be more thoughtful about the kind of development, going forward.”

And there are other concerns.

“Flooding is my biggest concern personally,” said Peters. “When it comes to nature, where a big old pine tree can absorb more water and take care of what it's already doing for the natural atmosphere of the islands, versus taking it down and putting a palmetto tree up, and you're expecting it to do the same thing. It's not. It's not the same."

READ MORE: "James Island residents struggle with stagnant rainwater and neglected drains."

Buchanan stressed the importance of the ecosystem when making development decisions.

"We don't want to be developing willy-nilly and causing more problems in terms of stormwater management and any number of other things,” said Buchanan.

One James Island council member agrees.

“It affects the daily lives of everybody," said Darren Troy Mullinax, a member of James Island's town council. "Overdevelopment increases flooding issues. It increases traffic. It contributes negatively, overpopulation does to many people's way of life.”

And neighbors just want to see their community protected.

“We live in a beautiful place, um, and we have to protect that place,” Buchanan said.

If you’ve lived in the Lowcountry a while, you might know our bridge rule. If you have to cross more than one bridge, that’s a real inconvenience. But sometimes it’s worth it to cross multiple bridges, and one reason is to check out the food and beverage scene on Johns Island.

Food

From Mount Pleasant, that would be four bridges, which really means something if you make that trek. I’m arguing it’s worth it, because on my recent visits to the island I’ve discovered an array of great food and drinks.

Here are eight reasons to visit Johns Island, aka eight places to drink on Johns Island, listed in alphabetical order:

Colectivo

Since opening last fall, Colectivo has become a top-tier locale for cocktails and traditional Mexican food in the Lowcountry, not just on Johns Island. The Mexican red rice is a must-order side, while you can’t go wrong with any of the carnes. As for the cocktail menu, Clayton James’ concoctions shine when it comes to the Butterfly Southside, Next Epazote and Root and Rye. But go with your taste buds on this one; most of the drinks here are a step above.

Estuary Beans & Barley

With a huge outdoor patio for pups and families alike, Estuary is your one-stop shop for coffee or craft beer this spring, with some liquor options as well. Enjoy the sunshine and plants outside, shaded long tables downstairs or lounge area upstairs. Specialty coffee flavors rotate, and so do the brews. The 25 Island Wide Hazy IPA, Cabrinha Drifter Coast to Coast Lager and Lima De Noche are great summer sippers, while the ever-changing draft cocktails are fun if you need a different form of refreshment.

Lost Isle

One of the newest restaurants to open on Johns Island is one of the best. Lost Isle has an entirely outdoor setup, from the bar to the open kitchen and tables. The fire pits and blankets were a great touch during the winter, but hopefully now we won’t be needing those; just the mega-sized fans. The entire food menu here is fantastic, from the curry-braised collards and charcoal-roasted carrots to the smoked pork chop and grilled ribeye steak. But don’t skip the cocktails, a lot of which are batch-made and served on tap. You can opt for a classic Gintonica or Lost Paloma or go fruity with the Sheeney Neeney or Low Hanging Fruit. You can also get draft beer or wine by the glass or bottle.

Johns Island, once a sleepy rural community of ancient grand oaks and truck farms, is in transition. The core of the 84-square-mile island, once bypassed by beachgoers rushing to Kiawah or Seabrook islands, now is emerging as a bustling suburb with breweries, new restaurants, subdivisions with larger-than-city lots and apartment complexes — lots of apartment complexes.

In just the last decade, the population has doubled to almost 28,000 residents, making Johns Island among the fastest-growing communities in Charleston County.

Today’s Johns island, County Councilman Joe Boykin says, is like a cultural blender. New residents are being infused into the community, he said.

“And I think a lot of those folks enjoy a little bit of a slower pace, a little more of the hospitality that is the Lowcountry — like please and thank you and yes sir and no sir, kind of a thing. And they’ve got to love the food. I think there’s a lot going on.”

As the island matures, many wonder what’s lost — and what’s gained. They want to know how they fit into the growing community and how Johns Island fits into the larger area, too.

Jessica Welenteichick, co-owner of Sunrise Bistro at what has become a primary hub of the island at Main Road and Maybank Highway, believes her locally-cherished breakfast diner has fulfilled a big need for the community over the last 15 years.

“Everyone needs somewhere in a small-town that’s theirs,” Welenteichick said on a recent morning over coffee. “They need somewhere to go — somewhere they are recognized, remembered, find friends or whatever they are looking for. They can find it here.”

Whether it’s the restaurant’s homemade biscuits, coffee bar or a table reserved every week, Welenteichick said her team tries to adapt to a customer’s wants and needs, especially its regulars. She also said the diner offers a place for local groups to hold community meetings other than the nearby Johns Island Library. Why? Because the community’s expansion is sparking a growing need among locals to discuss concerns and questions, such as the horrors of traffic, more people and the need for better services.

“Right now, it’s sort of organized chaos out here as we are all trying to figure out, ‘Where do we go? Where do we commune?’ ” she said. “I think that’s all happening right now — right in front of our face.”

Efforts are being made to address traffic issues by expanding the intersection at Main Road and Maybank Highway. That may affect parking and potentially the premises of long-established eateries like Sunrise Bistro and Blackbird Market.

“As a resident I’m concerned about the people — as a business owner, I want more people — so I’m divided,” Welenteichick said.“It’s your for-lifers, who have grown up here, born here and are seeing it change so much and not having a voice— that’s the biggest concern.”

“The community from the get-go wants it an island, and wants the feel of an island, and I think [some] people are fighting for that.”

Cherly Glover, an islander for 60 years, recalls rural Johns Island childhood in which she crossed two-laned roads to visit cousins or neighbors about a mile away. Hardly a car passed in sight, she remembered, adding that about 40% of the people she grew up with never left South Carolina. The biggest portion of them never much set foot off the island, she said.

“Those who are left are still trying to hold on to what they do have,” Glover said. “The legacy of the island is that they’ve always been there for each other.”

Glover, who is Black, describes the presence of her generation on Johns Island as “a speck of pepper in a bowl of salt,” in comparison to its newcomers. But people whose families have been there for generations are still there — at the heart of its community.

“I think it’s just a mutual understanding that I’ve always been here, and you’re a newcomer,” Glover said. “The benefit of all of this is going to be that we’re already one community, if we live as one community.”

Within the blend of the new and old on Johns Island, there’s a community firmly rooted in its historically rich Gullah Geechee heritage. Much of what Johns Island represents today draws upon legendary civil rights figure Esau Jenkins, grandfather to the Rev. DeMett Jenkins.

“Preservation is the key,” she told the Charleston City Paper. “The same way we can’t lose our Gullah Geechee culture, we can’t lose all the things that comprise that, and so if we just build over, nobody will know it was there.”

Jenkin suggests that people take time to learn Johns Island’s history, talk to natives and go to local events, including churches which have played a pivotal role in shaping John’s Island’s current identity.

“It’s an intentionality that you have to bring to say ‘I’m going to learn the area in which I live, I’m going to learn about the people here, the history,’ ” Jenkins said.

Significant historical milestones that occurred on Johns Island include the establishment of The Progressive Club in 1948 by Esau Jenkins to serve as a community center for rural Blacks for education, voter registration and civil rights activism. Islanders are now revitalizing it to make it as “a center of history and hope.” Another historical landmark, the Moving Star Hall, is an old-time praise house that links today’s generation to the past.

Wild Olive, a pioneering restaurant on Johns Island that opened in 2009, greets visitors with the embrace of live oak trees and delightful Italian aromas wafting from the kitchen.“As a chef, being in the center of everything that I need to achieve greatness — the ocean, these wonderful farms — you just can’t beat it. It’s a chef’s dream to work here,” said Bradley Grozis, who has worked with Wild Olive for 15 years.

Johns Island is renowned for its rich agricultural heritage and generations of skilled farmers. And it is gradually starting to gain recognition for its newer food scene, too.

“What I love to do is take a classic Italian dish and utilize these beautiful local ingredients and turn it into something still Italian but special to John’s Island,” Grozis said. “As far as the ingredients go, you just can’t beat the freshness.”

Grozis attributes some of Wild Olive’s success over the years to its strong-sense of community between restaurants and farmers in the area.

John’s Island’s rich history, tight-knit community and thriving local businesses is evolving as it preserves its unique identity and charm. As the population grows and its heritage is revitalized, the island represents a true testament to resilience, unity and the enduring spirit of its people.

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