Grand trees won't be touched until inspections done

Though developers won approval Wednesday night to cut down 25 grand trees on property adjacent to Charleston's Angel Oak Park, the trees won't be touched until all inspections have been done and required permits are in place.

Final plans for Angel Oak Village were approved by the city in July. Wednesday night's zoning hearing was supposed to focus only on whether the trees, described as fair or poor in condition, could be removed. Instead, the three-hour hearing largely became a forum for opponents still hoping to derail Angel Oak Village, which will add businesses and 630 homes to the area.

"It may be late. I don't think it's too late 'til they start pouring concrete," Wadmalaw Island resident Lewis Hay said to applause.

He was one of about 60 people at the hearing, which was held in the Charleston County School District's board room at 75 Calhoun St. in anticipation of increased attendance.

Opponents might have lost the tree battle, but they seemed committed to continuing to fight the development on 42 acres that wrap around Angel Oak Park on three sides. Its boundaries are Maybank Highway, Angel Oak Road and Bohicket Road.

After Wednesday night's hearing, opponent Samantha Siegel promised Robert DeMoura of Angel Oak Development LLC that she'd be seeing him again. Siegel, of Johns Island, started an online petition drive against the plan.

The city's Board of Zoning Appeals-Site Design voted 4-2 to approve the request to cut down the trees. Amanda Barton and Joel Adrian voted no. The board focuses on site planning requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, including requirements for tree protection and landscaping, driveway spacing, and parking space design and maneuverability.

The board placed conditions on the approval, including:

--Each grand tree saved and "keeper" trees with slight encroachment must have individual, tailored treatment plans.

--Chain link fences must be installed as barricades for all trees 8 inches in diameter or greater, except pine trees.

--The developer must retain an arborist and hydrologist as part of the design team. The developer must plant native species trees to replace the 25 that will be cut down.

Angel Oak Village opponents claim the development endangers the Angel Oak. The Angel Oak tree is within Charleston's fenced, 2-acre park, which would be surrounded by an additional 150-foot undisturbed buffer. Supporters have said the oak is appropriately protected.

Reach Nita Birmingham at 937-5433 or nbirmingham@postandcourier.com.