In 2004, the Charleston Surfrider Chapter fully launched its Morris
Island Campaign. The chapter opposes all development on Morris Island
because it is considered an ecologically fragile barrier island
providing refuge for wildlife and migratory shorebirds. Runoff and
increased boat traffic from development would severely impact the
water quality on Charleston's beaches and harbor. Any type of development
would jeopardize the island's historical and cultural character,
as well as devastate the sensitive marine forest and beach ecosystem.
"It's a moving island, subject to tremendous erosion and exposure
to storms. There's a reason no man-made structures have survived,"
explains chapter activist Bubber Hutto, a structural engineer for
the Navy. " If you take away all the historical context, you
still can't justify building a bunch of mansions on this island."
Morris Island's historical roots can be traced back as the launching
pad of the Civil War and the setting for the heroic charge of the
all-black 54 Massachusetts Infantry. Joe McGill, an associate for
the Charleston Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation,
stated, "The island needs to be preserved for its role in our
nation's history on several fronts." The island was recently
named at the top of the nation's 10 most endangered Civil War sites
by the Washington-based Civil War Preservation Trust. John Tucker,
superintendent of the Fort Sumter National Monument, stated that
they are fully opposed to the development plan and added, "It
would be the equivalent of building a mall beside the battlefield
at Gettysburg."
The proposed lots would cost from $2 million to $6 million. Homes
would cost approximately $1.5 million and would be built on pilings
13.5 feet above high tide to supposedly keep them safe from storm
surges that come during hurricanes. Development would take place
on about half of the 125 acres the developer has under option. Developer
Harry Huffman admits the island's topography and geographic location
present unique challenges. There is no bridge to Morris Island;
construction crews, and later, homeowners, would travel by private
boat. Electricity cables would have to go under the harbor. The
island's highest ground is about 10 feet above sea level. There
would be no cars or roads on the island; residents would travel
by golf cart.
The Charleston Chapter is a member of the Coalition to Protect Morris
Island, but even before the coalition was created, chapter activists
implemented their campaign and opposed the project by challenging
the permits at the Charleston OCRM office and submitting Freedom
of Information requests. To date, chapter activists have participated
in coalition strategy meetings, published letters to the editors
in local papers, and have been interviewed by local and national
newspapers and TV reporters. Chapter activists have telephoned and
sent emails to area mayors, council members, and municipalities
urging them to officially oppose the development in the hopes that
they can convince every municipality in Charleston County to pass
a resolution opposing the development.
In a recent victory, the chapter, along with coalition partners,
was successful in getting the James Island Town Council to pass
a resolution opposing the development. Charleston Chapter Chair
Peter Beck explained, "We had the Surfrider Foundation banner
out for the James Island Town Council Meeting and voiced Surfrider's
opposition to the development of Morris Island. Before the meeting,
the mayor and some council members indicated that they would not
interfere with the developer's plans to rezone the island, intending
to vote against the resolution. When Surfrider had the floor, we
showed everyone the December 2003 Making Waves issue, and informed
them that it is distributed to 37,000 Surfrider members around the
globe. At the end of the meeting, the council passed the resolution
unanimously. Other municipalities are considering similar resolutions
and will likely vote the same way because of our victory on James
Island. Our Surfrider Foundation members have worked hard to fight
this coastal development."
The intermediate goals in the campaign will be to block the Charleston
County zoning changes Harry Huffman needs to build the homes, as
well as the state approval he'll need to install septic tanks. The
long-term goal calls for identifying and securing the millions of
dollars needed to buy and preserve the island in its natural state.
One newly identified funding source could be generated from a proposed
half-cent sales tax hike included on the November ballot. Huffman
has also expressed interest in selling the property to a public
agency for preservation.
Thanks to chapter members Peter Beck, Bubber Hutto, Nancy Hussey,
John Pharr, William Carter and Paul Smith, who are leading the campaign.
For more information or to get involved in the campaign, click here...
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