JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) — A new development coming to James Island will bring 96 new apartment units and 16 town homes to Folly Road, but at the cost of three grand trees.
The Charleston County Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved the developers from Banner Residential’s variance request to remove a 32-inch hickory tree, a 29-inch live oak and a 44-inch live oak for the project they’ve named “Banner on Folly.” The BZA also approved the encroachment of more than 35% into the critical root zone of two others.
During the meeting last week, Domonic Jones with Thompson Hutton and Banner Residential developer Robert McIntosh argued that preserving every grand tree on the site made the parcel effectively undevelopable, calling the removals both necessary and reasonable…