James Islanders have mixed views on Wal-Mart plan

A Wal-Mart Supercenter may be coming to James Island now that the first of two major environmental hurdles has been cleared.

Last week, Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals-Site Design gave Wal-Mart Stores East permission to cut down 30 grand trees near its Folly Road store. The next obstacle will be getting permission to fill about 3 acres of protected wetlands.

"Without those things the project can't move forward," said Larry Barthelemy IV of ADC, the engineering firm hired by Wal-Mart.

The company is looking to build a 176,000-square-foot supercenter, which includes general merchandise and groceries, behind its current 123,000-square-foot store, which would later be demolished.

Because Wal-Mart's property isn't large enough for both stores, the company has discussed buying about 3 acres, which are mostly wetlands, from the city of Charleston.

City staff and Barthelemy say the area will benefit from the project.

Eric Schultz, principal planner with the city's zoning division, said the city supports the project in lieu of Wal-Mart "leapfrogging to another site."

Christopher Morgan, director of the city's planning division, said the area would get a better designed store that may reflect the island's character since it would have to go before the Design Review Board, which was not required when the current store was built.

The city also can get more green space, Morgan said. To fill in the nearby wetlands, the Corps of Engineers may require Wal-Mart to buy green space and make sure it's permanently protected, which can be accomplished by giving it to the city to manage.

Morgan also believes the appearance of Folly Road would be improved if Wal-Mart adds retail space for other businesses between its store and the road, as it has discussed.

Of the few residents who attended the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting, four spoke in favor of the supercenter. One said it would save time by providing groceries in the same place. Another said it would be a better store than the one there now.

"I have no objection to them building this," said Robert Fennessy, who lives across Folly Road from Wal-Mart. "Whatever it takes."

Two people urged the board to deny Wal-Mart's request to cut down the trees.

Penelope Davis said she was "vehemently opposed" to the supercenter, especially because Folly Road has more traffic than it can handle already.

Charleston City Councilwoman Kathleen Wilson said she wasn't for or against the project, but felt the public should have more of an opportunity to weigh in.

"If this is approved, it's done for perpetuity," she said.

The supercenter is not necessarily what's best for the island, which already has seven grocery stores, Wilson told the board. "Somebody's going out of business."

Several conditions were added before the board unanimously granted Wal-Mart's request to cut down the grand trees, defined as 24 inches in diameter at chest height. The trees include sweet gums, red oaks, red maples, magnolias and a live oak. One of the conditions is that no trees be removed until the project gets final approval. Another states that Wal-Mart must plant 648 caliper inches of replacement trees on site, or potentially 259.

Morgan said getting approval to remove the trees is a "baby step" in a long process Wal-Mart must undergo before it begins construction. The public will have other opportunities to comment on the project, including at a public hearing required by the Corps of Engineers and when the necessary land sale goes to City Council.

Reach Kristen Hankla at 937-5548 or khankla@postandcourier.com.