James Island, SC. Residents Say “NO” to Wal-Mart

James Island Residents Organize Against Wal-Mart [Live 5 News TV (S.C.)]

A group of James Island residents won a small victory against a retail giant Monday night.

The group, which calls itself Islanders for Responsible Expansion, convinced the James Island Public Service District to support them in opposing a new Super Wal-Mart, which would be built next to the existing Wal-Mart on Folly Road.

The James Island PSD voted unanimously for a resolution that opposed the project.

For the past few weeks, the IRE has collected almost 2,000 signatures from residents who also oppose the building of the new store, which would take up about the size of four football fields and add a grocery department.

The city of Charleston has approved 30 trees on the site to be cut down. The plan would also call for three acres of wetlands to be filled in. Residents who oppose the project say that’s unacceptable because they already filled in wetlands to build the existing store.

Before it can become a reality, Wal-mart has to get the city to sell them the land and the Army Corps of Engineers to allow them to fill in the wetlands.

“We really hope that city and Corps of Engineers listens to the public of James Island and Folly Beach,” said Amy Fabri, who was one of two speakers at the James Island PSD meeting.

Fabri also said that a larger store would only increase traffic and added that there are at least four grocery stores nearby. A Piggly Wiggly, Food Lion, Bi-Lo and Harris Teeter are all on an adjacent 4.5 mile stretch of Folly Road.

“We really don’t need to destroy three acres of wetlands in order to add another one,” Fabri said.

Fabri says those who oppose the new store aren’t against Wal-mart, but against destroying the way of life on James Island.

Calls placed to Wal-mart were not returned. Reports say there will soon be a public meeting in the store’s parking lot about the plans.

Citizens who oppose the plan are also having a meeting to explain why they’re against building the new store.

That meeting will be held Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Dept. of Natural Resources Auditorium at 217 Fort Johnson Road.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

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