In a 4-1 vote, council members favoring the plan said it would help the town control development on the island.
Currently, the island is divided among three governmental bodies. Unincorporated residents are under county land use regulations, while all others are either in the town or annexed into the city of Charleston.
Town leaders and residents blame the city for overdevelopment and subsequent traffic congestion on the island.
"The rules of engagement on James Island have changed," Councilman Joe Qualey said. "If developers want to come over here to James Island, they're going to play by our rules, and these are the new rules," he said, referring to the plan.
The town based its plan largely on Charleston County's land-use standards.
Whereas the county allows four homes per acre under its low density suburban residential zoning, the town will only allow three, increasing the county's minimum lot size from 8,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet for the town.
Similarly, James Island's moderate density zoning for homes will cap at five homes per acre with a minimum lot size of 6,000 square feet. The county allows 10 homes and a minimum of 4,000 square feet.
The town imposed a height restriction for commercial properties of no more than 50 feet and will consider subdivisions of five lots or less to be minor versus the county's 10 lots or less. Minor subdivisions can be approved by county staff without going to the town's planning commission.
Of about 50 people attending an earlier public hearing Tuesday, most favored the plan. However, some spoke against the town's grand tree definition of 12 inches in diameter versus the county's 24 inches. All trees except pines are protected.
Resident John Mizzell said he uses some of the trees in his backyard for firewood, and the town's definition was too restrictive. Councilman Bill Woolsey, who voted against the plan, agreed.
"I think it is a wrong thing to do to change things to increase government restriction on people," Woolsey said.
"We're trying to curb density on James Island and maintain the character of James Island as it is today," said Leonard Blank, chairman of the town's planning commission, which led the formation of the plan, a seven-month process. None of the laws in the plan are set in stone, he said, as variances can be granted on a case-by-case basis, and laws can be changed if they become burdensome. The plan is effective immediately.
Copyright © 2003, The Post and Courier, All Rights Reserved.