Daniel Island residents push back against tree removal proposal; developer defers request

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) — A proposal to remove two dozen mature trees on Daniel Island has been temporarily pulled from the city’s agenda following strong public pushback.

The request, filed by the developer of Nowell Creek Village, asked the City of Charleston’s Board of Zoning Appeals – Site Design to approve the removal of 24 protected trees along Daniel Island Drive to make room for rental townhomes.

According to an updated city agenda, the request has now been marked as “deferred”, meaning the developer has withdrawn it from Wednesday’s meeting and could resubmit it for consideration at a later date.

The plan sparked concern among many residents, who said the trees help define the look and feel of the island’s entrance.

“It was a surprise, because the renderings for this location for two years showed them further back and the trees were actually an amenity, so it was called out as a public walkway,” said Tory Sullivan, the treasurer of the Daniel Island Neighborhood Association.

While the association has not taken an official stance, board members said they have been closely monitoring community feedback.

“I’ve registered my complaint. It’s against the variance, and I think there’s a reason these are called protected trees,” said resident Rebecca Bechhold. “They form a border, both visually, they’re an environmental factor, and it’s the ambiance of Daniel Island to have more trees and vegetation and not less.”

“If these were little saplings, it’d be a different story,” added resident Joe Carr. “But these are big, mature trees that are providing habitat for wildlife. It’s not going to look good if they’re just replaced with yet another development.”

Residents had been submitting comments to the city online ahead of the planned June 4 meeting. With the item now deferred, it is unclear when, or if, the developer will bring the proposal back before the board.

The item was listed as Agenda No. B-2 under the address 100 Coastal Drive on the BZA-SD’s June 4 agenda.

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Author: AC Barker