Public Shares Concerns, Ideas for MeadWestvaco Land
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June 14, 2007
By Kathleen Dayton
Charleston Regional Business Journal Staff WriterThey want their river to remain clean and their wildlife to remain abundant. They don't want traffic congestion, light pollution, trailer parks or golf courses. Some of them said, "We don't want to be another Mount Pleasant."
Residents of Ravenel, Adams Run, Hollywood and other nearby communities made their opinions known Wednesday night as they filled Ravenel Community Hall at the invitation of MeadWestvaco, the paper giant that intends to master-plan 72,000 acres of former forest land it owns along the eastern edge of the Edisto River in Charleston and Dorchester counties.
Wednesday's community meeting was the first of the public planning meetings the company has scheduled to discuss the area now called East Edisto. The paper company has owned the land since the 1920s, but needs much less land now for fiber production as a result of technological advances at mills, as well as genetic and horticultural advances in timber production. Company officials in April announced plans to develop some of the land while keeping some in conservation easements to preserve an area that is both historically and environmentally significant.
Ken Seeger, senior vice president of MeadWestvaco and president of commercial development and land management, said the company has partnered with EDAW, a global master planning and design firm based in San Francisco, to create a conservation-driven plan for the area.
"This master plan is a master plan that will span decades and that tries to anticipate not only your needs but the needs of our children and grandchildren," Seeger said.
The East Edisto area is known for its rural character as well as its history, abundant wildlife and hunting preserves, and the Edisto River, a black water haven for fisherman and kayakers.
"We're very apprehensive," said area resident Michael Cordray, "People are very concerned, as evidenced by the number of people in this room."
MeadWestvaco officials counted 120 participants at Wednesday's meeting and asked them what kinds of things they would like to see as East Edisto develops and what kinds of things they would hope not to see in the area.
Residents overwhelming said they wanted to preserve the rural character of the area. Traffic congestion, high-density development, clear-cutting of forestland, and availability of affordable housing were among their biggest concerns. Residents said they would prefer to limit the amount of multi-family residences built in the area and would prefer no trailer parks or golf courses. They said they wanted better schools, and community-serving retail, but not a Wal-Mart.
MeadWestvaco officials said their goal was to contain the rural character or the area but also contribute to the community by creating jobs, small towns and villages that are sustainable.
One participant wanted to know if MeadWestvaco was using the term "village" because it sounds better than subdivision.
Seeger said the company does not plan subdivisions, but rather self-sustaining communities where people can walk to work, school, shopping or recreation.
"We are not strictly looking at this as a financial transaction," he said. "This comes from the heart. The company really cares about the land. I know people are skeptical about that."
Information about East Edisto, including future public meeting schedules, is available online at http://www.eastedisto.com/.
Meetings Schedule:
Givhans/Ridgeville
6:30 p.m. today at Ridgeville Town Hall Gym, 105 School St., Ridgeville
Clubhouse/Geddisville/County Line Road/Ravenwood
7 p.m. June 25, Sand Hill United Methodist Church gym, 1961 Summers Drive, Clubhouse Community near Ridgeville
Summerville
6:30 p.m. June 26, Summerville Adult Education Center, 1325 Boone Hill Road, Summerville
General Public Meeting
6:30 p.m. July 12, Charleston Area Convention Center, Ballroom C-2
