Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009

Developer wins Kiawah wall OK

KIAWAH ISLAND -- In the high-stakes battle over the future of Capt. Sam's Spit, state regulators gave the island's developer a green light this week to build an unusual underground wall below the spit's dunes.

The state's approval earned plaudits from the developers, who have vowed to build on the spit in an environmentally sensitive manner. Opponents vowed to appeal. "I can't even understand why they're doing it," said Sidi Limehouse, head of Friends of The Kiawah River. "I do know we're going to fight it to the very end."

Kiawah Development Partners has said it plans to build up to 50 homes on the spit next to Charleston County's 2-acre Beachwalker Park. According to permitting documents, the company wants to install the 340-foot-long underground sheet pile wall to protect a future road and utilities.

It's the latest chapter in a saga that features prominent developers who are proud of their environmental stewardship, a congressman who unsuccessfully tried to help them and one of the most beautiful undeveloped beaches in the state.

The developers' plans first came to light last year after Post and Courier Watchdog revealed that U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., introduced a bill to remove the spit from a federal zone designed to protect fragile coastal lands. By removing the property, future homeowners would be eligible for federal flood insurance, making the land more marketable. The bill triggered an outcry, and Brown killed his bill under pressure from constituents.

Kiawah Development Partners vowed to continue its development effort. As part of their plans, they sought a permit to build a 2,513-foot-long sloping revetment along the Kiawah River to prevent what nature has done several times over the centuries -- cut through to the ocean and flush sand toward Seabrook Island's beaches. Erosion already has eaten into the spit near the county park's parking lot.

In a setback to the developers, the state said no to the 2,513-foot revetment but approved a 270-foot-long structure near the county park.

Kiawah Development Partners appealed that decision to an administrative court, leading to a trial this summer. A judge is expected to make a decision later this year.