Battle of Watson Hill

  • Dave Munday
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  • Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Thursday, March 22, 2012 6:17 p.m.
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Arnold Fox guides his horse, Pistol, across S.C. Highway 61, as he does several times a day while working for Middleton Stables. Except for the ribbon of asphalt and the blurred car in the distance, this scene could be from a hundred years ago. But this i
Brad Nettles /The Post and CourierArnold Fox guides his horse, Pistol, across S.C. Highway 61, as he does several times a day while working for Middleton Stables. Except for the ribbon of asphalt and the blurred car in the distance, this scene could be from a hundred years ago. But this i

SUMMERVILLE — A decade ago, a Revolutionary War cannon was found in Four Hole Swamp west of Ridgeville, pointing north. But when Dorchester County leaders exhibited the old cannon in a small park near the Water and Sewer Department, they mounted it facing south. A county official joked at the time that the cannon would guard against North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey advancing any farther into Dorchester County.

A lot of good that did.

During the past 10 years, North Charleston continued to march up Dorchester Road toward Summerville, fueling complaints about overcrowded roads and schools. The county became the fastest-growing in the state.

Then in the spring of 2005, North Charleston crossed the Ashley River to back plans for Watson Hill, bypassing the county's efforts to downsize a megadevelopment on a scenic highway near a historic plantation.

It was a shot heard around the world. Letters of protest from those wanting to protect the natural beauty of the historic plantation district poured in from around the nation. The battle continues in court.

Now, more than 20 communities in the area are updating or rewriting their comprehensive growth plans, an effort mandated by state law. For the first time, state lawmakers say they must, at the very least, let each other know what their plans contain. But the Battle of Watson Hill shows that getting along is easier said than done.

Pushing the limit

Watson Hill is just up the road from Middleton Place, a 17th- century plantation on the Ashley River. If the project is built, traffic would funnel out onto S.C. Highway 61, a two-lane, state-designated scenic highway. Huge old oak trees drape their limbs across the road, easing visitors driving from Charleston back in time well before they reach Drayton Hall, Magnolia Gardens and Middleton Place.

Watson Hill is in Dorchester County, although North Charleston annexed it, and Summerville is fighting that annexation in court.

If Summerville wins the lawsuit, Watson Hill would remain under Dorchester County's control. The county's map of its comprehensive plan, which County Council plans to finalize by Thanksgiving, shows Watson Hill in a big green area across from Middleton Place. The green stands for an area of limited development.

Dorchester County would allow about 800 houses at Watson Hill. That's about twice as many as conservationists wanted, but it was the best compromise with property-rights advocates the county could achieve.

North Charleston Mayor Summey said he would allow 1,200 houses at Watson Hill, the limit of what Highway 61 could handle until another bypass road is built.

An unclear future

It's not clear what's being planned at Watson Hill now, though there are signs of a compromise on the North Charleston side. It's possible the plan is being revised so Dorchester County and Summerville won't fight it.

Shortly after North Charleston won its last court victory a couple months ago, Summey said Watson Hill developer Richard Lam had significantly reduced the number of houses on the site, and the new plan "would make everybody happy." Lam declined to give details when contacted.

Just last month, North Charleston City Council told its attorneys to try to negotiate a settlement with Summerville. Nobody would say what a settlement could involve. City officials said council was simply giving the city's attorneys authority to act if a settlement were proposed.

Summerville officials said they didn't know, and Summey was coy about it.

"Summerville's a good neighbor," Summey said. "I think there's a way everybody could be a winner. The day that issue resolves, I (still) have to work with Summerville."

Asked if North Charleston would consider not annexing the Watson Hill tract, he thought for a second.

"Probably not," he said.

Seeking cooperation

As the Watson Hill battle drags on, politicians are being pressured to find a way to keep this fiasco from happening again.

One proposal is to get the state Legislature to pass a law that would prevent a municipality from changing a parcel's zoning for five years after an annexation. That would take away the incentive for developers to shop around for the best zoning deal, which is what happened at Watson Hill. But lawmakers also would have to appease property owners wanting to sell their land.

Another possibility is for conservationists to buy more land to limit development. That's what happened a couple years ago at Poplar Grove, which is on the southern edge of Dorchester County's historic-preservation district. Conservationist groups raised $10 million to buy land that included 3,000 acres at Poplar Grove, allowing the developer to downsize it to 450 houses from 3,500.

But when it came time for Watson Hill, the money had run out.

A couple years ago, a reporter asked most of the local leaders if the Lowcountry needs more regional planning, and they all agreed it does. But when it comes to deciding what's most important to the region — lowering a tract's density vs. building more affordable houses, for instance — priorities sometimes clash.

"I hear all these folks calling for more regional planning," Summey said at the time. "But I think the issue is there are different beliefs out there about what that means."