By Kathleen Dayton
Staff Writer

Fewer bridges will be allowed to be built on the state’s marsh islands following the House Agriculture Committee’s passage of new regulations limiting the number of bridges to islands of a certain size and distance from the mainland.

The regulations, passed April 18, go into effect May 21, barring bridges from any island less than 2 acres and imposing guidelines on the size of bridges that can be built to access larger islands.

“Basically, we set the perimeters of what length and size bridges would be to islands of varying sizes,’’ said Dwight Loftis, environmental subcommittee chairman.

The bridge limitations were set a couple of days before the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent report on domestic migration, which pinpointed the South as the primary destination for migrants within the United States. According to the report, the South had an average net immigration of 353,000 annually between 2000 and 2004, the highest of any region in the nation.

And with people looking to settle in the Lowcountry, these regulations could affect development plans. The proposed Long Island project, however, involves an island large enough and close enough to mainland to allow for bridge permitting..

Millionaire businessman Joe Kimmel and his partners in K&A Acquisitions Group LLC, based in Asheville, N.C., had originally proposed a residential development of more than 100 homes on the island but downsized the plan in the wake of public outcry over the development.

Under Folly Beach codes, the island is zoned residential, R-1, which allows four homes per acre. At more than 140 acres and with close proximity to other developed islands, Long Island could be permitted for a bridge.

Decades ago, a bridge existed between Long Island and adjacent Peas Island, which is being developed by Island Pointe LLC. Kimmel’s group is fighting for public right of way on Peas Island, which they will need if they plan a bridge to Long Island.

The House Agriculture Committee did not include additional environmental safeguards in its bridge limitations, leaving issues such as water quality and preservation of public views to local communities.

“We did not get everything we wanted, but it was still a big win for the environment,’’ said Nancy Vinson, director of the Coastal Conservation League’s Water Quality Program.

Miles Adler, Kimmel’s legal counsel, said Kimmel is looking for the best option for the property and has also been talking to environmental groups.

“This is a lengthy negotiation process,’’ Adler said. “Essentially, he’s trying to be methodical and careful and not do something without considering all the ramifications of his actions.’’

Kimmel has planned to develop a portion of Long Island with some of the land reserved for public access to nature and Civil War sites. The island is home to 98 species of birds, minks and bobcats and contains the remains of a fort built by Union soldiers. Kimmel bought the island from Coggins Investment & Trading Co. of Elberton, Ga., for $7.5 million.

The Coastal Conservation League has discussed the possible purchase of the island with Kimmel, Vinson said.

“We really appreciated his willingness to sit down and talk, but unfortunately we were not able to agree on a price,’’ Vinson said.

Kimmel was recently out of the country and unavailable to comment on his plans.

Tom Hall, building official and flood manager for the city of Folly Beach, said Kimmel has not submitted any new plans to the city.

“I think the city’s sentiments are, we would like to see it preserved, firstly,’’ Hall said. “Secondly, we would like to see very small, single-family development, but preferably nothing. The ultimate for us would be for one of the conservation groups to get it.’’

There are concerns not only for the environment, but also for costs to the city should Long Island turn into a large residential development, Hall said.

“Someone has to provide fire protection and police protection. It could be more than our little city could offer in services without greatly expanding,’’ Hall said.

Regardless of what the future holds for Long Island, the state’s limitations on bridges to marshland islands will curb development for smaller islands in the future.

“To me, these small undeveloped islands, that’s what makes our coast so unique,” said S.C. Rep. Robert Brown, who represents Charleston and Colleton counties. “We’re about to kill the goose that laid the golden egg. To me, if there’s anything worth protecting, it would be our marshes.”

Kathleen Dayton is a staff writer for the Business Journal. E-mail her at kdayton@charlestonbusiness.com.

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