Planners hear little dissent to Magnolia plan

Magnolia, the largest development planned in the Charleston city limits since Daniel Island, drew few questions and little criticism Tuesday when it was presented to the city's Planning Commission.

"I was pleasantly surprised," said Robert Clement, one of the Magnolia Development LLC partners, who attributed the plan's warm reception to years of outreach to community and city leaders.

Magnolia would be a mixed-use community in the Neck Area larger than many towns in South Carolina, with up to 4,400 homes and as much as 2.55 million square feet of office, retail and hotel space.

Completion of the entire project could take 15 to 20 years.

Traffic would use four new streets connected to King Street Extension or a new bridge across the Ashley River marsh to Heriot Street.

Winslow Hastie of the Historic Charleston Foundation called Magnolia "a unique opportunity to create a 21st century extension of Charleston."

Members of the Planning Commission, who will vote on the Magnolia concept plan next week, asked no questions about the plan.

"I think we're like a sponge at this point," said Commissioner Keith Waring. "We need to work through all the details."

The development has enjoyed the support of Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, the Greater Charleston Empowerment Corp. and city planning officials, who have worked closely with the project team to shape the plan.

The city's 2003 Charleston Neck Plan laid some of the groundwork for the development, which would reclaim a 216-acre area known for industrial pollution. The site between Interstate 26 and the Ashley River just below the Rosemont community is home to three brownfield sites covered by the federal Superfund law and 15 properties covered by cleanup agreements with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Magnolia would be a neighbor to the Rhodia chemical plant.

Audience member Terry DeFee expressed concern about putting a development so close to Rhodia, where large amounts of dangerous substances are on site, such as trainloads of chlorine.

"This could all be for naught if you have a major incident," said DeFee, who was a union official at Rhodia's predecessor, Albright and Wilson.

Clement said several residential areas are closer to Rhodia.

"If a tragedy happens at Rhodia, it is not a Magnolia concern or a Rosemont concern, it would be an entire community concern, based on which way the wind is blowing," Clement said.

As to next week's Planning Commission vote, the lack of opposition to the project Tuesday indicated which way that wind is blowing.

"I think it bodes well for next week," said Commissioner William Gordon Geer.

Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com.