Mysterious 'Cathouse' Sign Has Some Residents Riled

Jay Luzuriaga doesn't know who would spend the time and money to install a "cathouse" sign on the property at Maybank Highway and Woodland Shores Road. The sign advertised that the site would be the future location of a "cathouse," a slang term for a house of prostitution.

"It's ridiculous," said Luzuriaga, who owns the property with JLW Maybank I LLC. "We had our guys tear it down."

The Riverland Terrace resident was in New York on Nov. 27 when James Island Town Planning Director Roy DeHaven called him with the news that a "cathouse" sign had been affixed to an existing sign on the corner lot that advertised available commercial space.

The professionally made sign included several silhouettes of nude women with cat ears and tails surrounding the words, "Coming soon ... the Terrace Cathouse ... We'll make you purrr ... Made possible by the recent town of James Island's refusal to rezone at the request of the Riverland Terrace Neighborhood Association ... We appreciate our meddling neighbors!"

Two weeks before the appearance of the "cathouse" sign, James Island Town Council had voted not to move forward with a developer's request that two adjoining lots on that corner be rezoned as a Planned Unit Development.

Developers JLW Maybank I LLC purchased the corner lots, one commercial and one residential.

Under zoning laws, the commercial lot can allow for a number of uses, while the residential lot can only have a residential structure on it.

The developers requested that both lots be rezoned to a Planned Unit Development, so a bank could be built on the site.

The council voted 3-2 against moving forward with the rezoning.

Some, including Councilman Joe Qualey, thought the Planned Unit Development was a fair compromise, since the commercial lot could be developed into anything from a gas station to a junkyard.

The majority of the council, however, recalled the negative opinions of more than 100 residents who attended a town Planning Commission meeting about the rezoning.

Town Hall was flooded with calls the day the sign went up.

"Our phone lines were jammed with complaints," said Charles Rhodes, a James Island Public Service District Commission member who works at Town Hall during the day. "People were very upset and wondered what we were going to do about it. It kind of offended them, being called 'meddling.' "

The development company has since resubmitted plans for the parcels, further narrowing what could be built on the corner. The new submission might be presented to the town Planning Commission on Dec. 13.

Luzuriaga says he would like to know who is responsible for the "cathouse" advertisement.

"It certainly doesn't help our cause," he said. "I just want to know who spent the money to do it. It had to cost $100. I guess the lack of rezoning has frustrated some people."

John Meffert, Riverland Terrace Neighborhood Association president, could not be reached for comment.

Dale Lanford, the vice president of the Riverland Terrace Neighborhood Association, responded to an e-mail through the association's Web site at www.rtnahome.com, stating, "I am aware of the sign that was put up, and I am discussing it with my executive committee. We are in the process of determining the facts and source of the sign."

Luzuriaga said the developers are working with the neighborhood on revised plans for the lot. He said there will be drawings and renderings for residents to view Dec. 8 at the property.

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