Peninsula Plan Public Forum held in Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The City of Charleston is in the process of creating a Peninsula Plan, but not without hearing from the community first.

On Tuesday, the city and a team of consultants held a public forum at the International Longshoremen’s Association on Morrison Drive where they presented on what they’ve learned from the community in the “Listen and Learn” phase of the planning process.

According to city officials, the Peninsula Plan will serve as a guide for development and other changes on the peninsula for the next 10-20 years.

“I’d like to see some more action on the Dutch Dialogues. I’d like to see a seriously limit high rises and keep our views of the water,” said Hollace Boswell, a Charleston resident of 50 years who attended the forum.

That is the kind of input being taken into consideration as the Peninsula Plan begins to take shape.

The presentation featured a consensus based on past community engagement. A few examples included the want for alternative modes of mobility aside from vehicles, lower intensity of development along the waterfront, and access to the water in different forms.

The Peninsula Plan is broken down into four focus topics: Water First, Neighborhood Design, Peninsula Mobility, and Economic Development. Phase 2 is just ahead and will focus on testing ideas gathered in the first phase.

The new plan will succeed the Downtown Plan which was created in 1999 and only accounted for part of the peninsula.

“Given the rate of change in Charleston since 1999 and frankly, you know, it was really written more in 1998. So, it was a long, long time ago. The issues that the city was facing were completely different. The rate of growth, the challenges, and pressures we’re facing are huge,” said Winslow Hastie, the President and CEO of the Historic Charleston Foundation.

City officials anticipate the Peninsula Plan will be finalized this summer. To keep up with progress and share input, click here.