Some of James Island's most prominent live oak trees are threatened by an office development, residents say, although the project took a hit Thursday from a design review board.

No one is proposing to cut down the stand of live oaks off of Folly Road on the Ellis property, but if development comes too close to the massive, ancient trees, they could be harmed or even killed, some say. Opponents criticized the development plans at a public hearing Thursday.

ALAN HAWES/STAFF A hearing announcement sign stands beside a grove of live oak trees Thursday along Daniel Ellis Drive and Folly Road.

"The Ellis oaks are the only oasis left on Folly Road," said Shirley Hudel, a landscape architect. "Folly Road is going to look like Rivers Avenue if those go away."

Margaret Fabri, who lives on James Island, said the loss of similar trees nearby was a mistake that should not be repeated.

"It was just heartbreaking," she said.

The plans presented Thursday to the city of Charleston's Commercial Corridor Design Review Board called for four office buildings and parking to go on the site, which is next to the James Island Expressway.

Architect Reggie Gibson said that the plans were carefully thought out with the trees in mind.

"We wouldn't build there if we thought that those trees were going to be harmed," he said.

Board members echoed opponents' concerns, and unanimously voted against the plans.

City planner Bill Turner said the plans were "just too much for the site."

The decision does not prevent a scaled-down version of the development from coming back in the future, however.

Some opponents said they would be against any development on the site.

"Anything there is going to spoil the scene," said James Island resident Glenda Owens.

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