Personal Injury Attorneyin Johns Island, SC.

A new development is coming to a neighborhood right off of Maybank Highway has some neighbors talking.

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - A new development is coming to a neighborhood right off of Maybank Highway has some neighbors talking.

As you hit Timberline Drive and Maybank Highway, it takes you directly into the new neighborhood, Maybank Village. The new development is hard to miss as it sits at the front of the community.

The groundwork for a new Spinx gas station has just begun. The project has been in the works since 2021, and members of the neighborhood say they’re not happy with the development. There is only one way into the upcoming gas station, and it requires drivers to enter the neighborhood first, then turn right to get into the station.

Residents say they don’t understand why Maybank Highway needs another gas station with several stretching across the highway already.

“Why? We don’t need a gas station here. If you go a mile down Maybank that way, there’s two gas stations. If you go down Maybank that way two miles, there’s two more gas stations. So why do you need a gas station here in the middle of Maybank that’s going to cause horrendous traffic jams,” Treasurer for the Homeowners Association Bill Antonucci said.

There are serious concerns about the bright lights and noise that might come along with the Spinx Station as well.

“This gas station is coming so close to our residential properties. These people in this house right here are going to have gas pumps and gas tanks right in their backyard. The people that are building this site, people in the city council, and the people in the zoning departments don’t seem to care. We’ve had people write to them and nobody seems to care. Nobody is responding,” Antonucci said.

Despite the frustration from members of the community, the City of Charleston is allowed to do this based on zoning regulations.

“The business in question is being built under the site’s base zoning, which is a property right protected by state law,” a city spokesperson said in a statement. “That’s why the city strongly supports a comprehensive, all-of-the-above traffic-relief strategy for Johns Island, including the widening of Maybank Highway, the construction of both the northern and southern pitchforks and the completion of I-526. The city will continue to work closely with our state and county partners until Johns Island residents see real traffic relief as a result of these and other critical roadroads projects.”

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

JOHNS ISLAND — Five miles from the line of cars crawling through the island’s busiest intersection, three miles from a sparkling subdivision strewn with strollers, half a mile from a shabby horse stable, right off a road of mossy oaks, inside a farm stand spilling with wet tomatoes, cayenne peppers and kale, Janice Lane is furious about traffic.

“It’s just gotten crazy,” said Lane, who on a recent Thursday afternoon was bagging squash at Fields Farm Market. “Too many people. Too many subdivisions.”

Lane is old Johns Island: She moved to its rural, southern part in 1985, back when downtown was only a half-hour drive away. Now, it takes her the same time to reach the intersection of River Road and Maybank Highway from her house — 1.5 miles down the road.

Lane doesn’t live within the city of Charleston’s boundaries, but all of Johns Island is growing. Population surged from around 15,100 people in 2010 to nearly 22,900 in 2021, census data shows. A single-family home now goes for $687,000 on average. Fast-food restaurants line Maybank Highway, and subdivisions keep cropping up.

The island’s growth coincides with a political development. For the first time, residents within the Charleston city boundaries of this historically rural, yet rapidly urbanizing, area will elect their own Charleston City Council member; that council member will no longer represent parts of outer West Ashley, allowing them to concentrate on island-specific concerns.

Redistricting created a newly drawn District 3, which includes the parts of Johns Island and a sliver of James Island within Charleston city limits. District 5 Councilman Karl Brady currently represents Johns Island voters in a bloc covering parts of outer West Ashley. City Council adopted the new map last fall, which takes effect for the approaching Nov. 7 election.

It’s an exciting change for residents who have lamented the dilution of their political voice. It’s also a testing ground for three candidates, all of whom say they’ll address the island’s biggest problem — development without the infrastructure to match.

Stephanie Hodges, Jim McBride and Bill Antonucci will vie for a seat at City Hall. At stake is the future of a fast-growing area some residents worry is losing its rural quirk.

‘Sorry I’m late. I live on Johns Island.’

Traffic is the most common gripe among District 3 voters. The area, they say, wasn’t designed for so many cars.

Only two routes transport drivers on and off the island. Limited lanes lead to bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic, and a busy intersection at River and Maybank aggravates the congestion.

Some say the proposed Interstate 526 extension, which would connect West Ashley to Johns and James Island, is a salve. But that project is years away, if ever. Plans to widen parts of Main Road and build a bypass around the clogged intersection are distant, too.

A bumper sticker sums up residents’ frustration.

“Sorry I’m late,” it reads. “I live on Johns Island.”

Dated infrastructure hasn’t slowed development. A builder in July purchased 300 acres of land, a tract large enough to accommodate 430 homes. Over 200 rental homes will hit the market soon. And new businesses — a butcher shop, wine bar and gym — will start opening this year.

Construction is especially dense along Maybank Highway, which bisects the island. A Circle K, CVS and bank of storage lockers are landmarks. Cars amble down the road as early as 3 p.m., two hours before rush hour.

Driving is the best way to navigate the terrain. Bus access is limited, and few sidewalks line thoroughfares, forcing children to walk to school beside speeding cars.

Some residents dislike the big box stores cropping up on the island, an area renowned for its tomatoes and towering oaks. Others welcome the convenience. Most everyone says better roads are a must.

Infrastructure was the issue animating an Oct. 5 candidate forum, where Hodges, McBride and Antonucci pitched themselves as the best candidate to address traffic woes.

Hodges, the owner of a nutrition policy consulting business, moved to the island in 2018. She cites several proposals to relieve traffic — a roundabout at Cane Slash Road, another lane off the island that dodges trees.

Bike lanes, bus routes and sidewalks would ease congestion, Hodges told a crowd of 40 people at the Berkeley Electric Cooperative. And the area needs more affordable housing: “People who have grown up here and want to raise their families here can’t afford homes,” she said before the forum.

Hodges points to her policy research background as preparation for City Hall. McBride says his military experience will help him handle infrastructure projects.

The retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel floated ideas for reducing traffic, including creating reversible lanes along parts of Maybank Highway during rush hour. That proposal could require trimming an oak canopy to install signals. He told The Post and Courier that idea isn’t set in stone, adding he’d balance “the pain of the traffic is causing with the impact to the trees.”

“Growth is OK as long as it’s controlled,” he said at the forum.

Advocating for zoning rules limiting the number of units per acre is a “consideration,” he told The Johns Island Advocate, a community newspaper. McBride moved to the island in 2021.

The first steps are underway toward a proposed golf course as Charleston County leaders considered it at a meeting Monday.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The first steps are underway toward a proposed golf course as Charleston County leaders considered it at a meeting Monday.

The new course would be built between Bohicket and River Roads and Charleston County Planning Commission discussed the golf course and the accompanying neighborhood.

Dana Beach, the Founder of the Coastal Conservation League, said the development is important because it will set a precedent for the rest of Johns island. He said it’s important to clearly define the edges of Charleston County’s Urban Growth Boundary to avoid increased development on the island in the future.

The Orange Hill Project pushes right up against that boundary, which was set by the county to limit urban sprawl.

The 933-acre project includes a private golf course and 121 homes. While a plan for a golf course and neighborhood was already approved by the County for this area in 2004, the plan developers presented Monday actually reduces the number of homes plotted on the land and changes the location of the golf course and its entry point.

Beach said he’s happy to see the number of homes decreasing; however, he thinks the best thing Orange Hill developers could do for the Island is to place the undeveloped land under a conservation easement, essentially protecting the undeveloped land from further development forever.

“It really signifies a commitment to the future of the island, as a place that is not highly developed,” Beach said.

When asked if they would put a conservation easement on the undeveloped land in the project, developers said it was something they would consider. But they said over 200 acres of the property already have wetland covenants in place that protect the property from being developed.

“It’s difficult to have preservation covenants placed on wetlands, we have to get through the permitting process before that would happen,” Ray Pantlik, with South Street Partners, said.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, so there's plenty time to abandon plans to actually cook a turkey or battle traffic to get home. Presenting a map of restaurants that will be open, for those looking for a place to get ham and fixin's prepared by some of the best chefs in the South. Plus, insight on who is serving prix fixe options and where to gorge on pie.

Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Kiawah offers plenty of experiences for Thanksgiving from the super fancy Ocean Room to a traditional buffet at the Jasmine Porch. Book early.

If there’s a football game playing somewhere then Uptown Social is open, including on Thanksgiving. The rollicking sports bar will serve high-caliber bar pies, wings, chicken Parmesan sandwiches, frozen cocktails, and plenty of beer.

Thanksgiving dinner at Marion Square restaurant Gabrielle will be a multi-course meal from newly appointed chef Edgar Kano. For $95, customers can dine on heritage turkey and all the sides in the elegant dining room at the Hotel Bennett.

White tablecloth restaurant Charleston Grill tends to sell out Thanksgiving service early, but perhaps snag a seat at the bar. This year, the team put together a three-course meal for the occasion.

Enjoy Thanksgiving high above the city at rooftop hotel restaurant the Watch. Linger in the sunset with a few drinks and friends. This year, there will be a Thanksgiving buffet including roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and much, much more. The cost of the spread is $65+ per adult.

On Thanksgiving Day, Southern restaurant Poogan’s Porch will serve a $75 prix fixe menu with classic items from its daily menu and a traditional holiday feast — they also offer pick-up orders for customers to feast at home.

Sorelle will serve an Italian-American feast on Thursday, November 23. Chef Nick Dugan and his team will create dishes like chestnut agnolotti, porcini sformato, and heritage turkey. The multi-course menu is $125.

Thanksgiving is traditionally a sold out event at Peninsula Grill, but give the reservation line a try. Better yet, slide into the champagne bar if there's a free seat.

Go Italian for Thanksgiving at Frannie and the Fox. The restaurant offers wood-fired pizzas and creative cocktails, along with seasonal items like the apple panzanella salad and the squash agnolotti with guanciale. Bonus: For locals with out-of-town family members needing a hotel, the Emeline is extending a 20% discount to friends and family of locals during the week of Thanksgiving with the code LOCALSLTO23.

Steakhouse Burwell's opens on Thanksgiving Day with a menu of wedge salad, baked oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktails — and, of course, steak.

Kiawah offers plenty of experiences for Thanksgiving from the super fancy Ocean Room to a traditional buffet at the Jasmine Porch. Book early.

If there’s a football game playing somewhere then Uptown Social is open, including on Thanksgiving. The rollicking sports bar will serve high-caliber bar pies, wings, chicken Parmesan sandwiches, frozen cocktails, and plenty of beer.

Thanksgiving dinner at Marion Square restaurant Gabrielle will be a multi-course meal from newly appointed chef Edgar Kano. For $95, customers can dine on heritage turkey and all the sides in the elegant dining room at the Hotel Bennett.

White tablecloth restaurant Charleston Grill tends to sell out Thanksgiving service early, but perhaps snag a seat at the bar. This year, the team put together a three-course meal for the occasion.

Enjoy Thanksgiving high above the city at rooftop hotel restaurant the Watch. Linger in the sunset with a few drinks and friends. This year, there will be a Thanksgiving buffet including roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and much, much more. The cost of the spread is $65+ per adult.

On Thanksgiving Day, Southern restaurant Poogan’s Porch will serve a $75 prix fixe menu with classic items from its daily menu and a traditional holiday feast — they also offer pick-up orders for customers to feast at home.

Sorelle will serve an Italian-American feast on Thursday, November 23. Chef Nick Dugan and his team will create dishes like chestnut agnolotti, porcini sformato, and heritage turkey. The multi-course menu is $125.

Thanksgiving is traditionally a sold out event at Peninsula Grill, but give the reservation line a try. Better yet, slide into the champagne bar if there's a free seat.

Go Italian for Thanksgiving at Frannie and the Fox. The restaurant offers wood-fired pizzas and creative cocktails, along with seasonal items like the apple panzanella salad and the squash agnolotti with guanciale. Bonus: For locals with out-of-town family members needing a hotel, the Emeline is extending a 20% discount to friends and family of locals during the week of Thanksgiving with the code LOCALSLTO23.

Steakhouse Burwell's opens on Thanksgiving Day with a menu of wedge salad, baked oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktails — and, of course, steak.

JOHNS ISLAND — A Mexican-inspired restaurant is now open in a brand-new building, just like many of the structures that line this busy stretch of Maybank Highway. Like its modern home, the cocktail menu at Colectivo, which debuted Sept. 6, is firmly planted in this era of dining.

Classic cocktails are turned up a notch with house-made ingredients (see: Butterfly Southside) and served in the correlating glass — the Cap n’ Cup with Cappelletti Aperitivo and mezcal arrives in a Nick & Nora, while lighter options like the Spice Tea with amaro, lemon and coconut milk are served in tall Collins glasses. The list of 10 drinks is joined by local craft beers, a non-alcoholic margarita and a multi-page list of mezcals, a smoky spirit that has become trendy of late.

The dinner menu has its contemporary flair, too.

Birria bone marrow sopes capitalize on diners’ fondness for the unctuous, fatty tissue meat, which can be scooped straight from two bones and placed on a masa tart with sweet potato. Seasonal fruit — watermelon and jicama when we went — is tossed in a sticky chamoy sauce and sprinkled with Sour Patch Watermelons. (Yes, the sour chewy candy.) An Arizona-style quesadilla glistens with bubbling cheese while resting on a pizza stand.

At Colectivo, traditional Mexican dishes are paired with creative cheffy spins, showcasing the spirit of a chef who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

That chef is Arizona-born Alex Yellan, who owns Colectivo with business partners Chad and Holly Dennis. Yellan spent time at Mexican restaurants D.F. in Portland, Ore., and Empellon Taqueria in New York City, among others, before moving to Charleston to join Sean Brock at Minero, where he helped launch the tortilla program.

He left Minero for a few years to work at Tu before returning in 2019 as executive chef. (This was before Minero closed its East Bay Street location and moved to Johns Island, two miles away from Colectivo.) Yellan ran the kitchen at The Tippling House before striking out on his own.

Drawing on his many years of experience, Yellan is honoring the home-cooked meals he had during two long stints in Mexico. Colectivo’s food is representative of the dishes he started to crave when he came home.

“There were just piles of tortillas everywhere, there was chicharron as far as the eye could see,” said Yellan, recalling meals cooked by the family he was staying with in the Yucatán. “It just changed what I thought about Mexican food.”

Rather than stacked on the table, tortillas are neatly wrapped and presented at Colectivo. Patrons can choose between flour and corn before filling the tortilla with braised beef belly, charred spring onion, salsa verde, onions and cilantro — that’s the Suadero. It pairs particularly well with the aromatic flour tortillas, made with White Sonora that is sourced from Hayden Flour Mills in Arizona.

To make those tortillas, the heirloom flour is combined with salt, lard and, later, warm water. After resting for an hour, it is cut into balls. Some head for the big iron press that forms the base for Colectivo’s open-faced quesadilla, while the rest are run through a tortilla machine and finished on the griddle, bringing out the flour’s nutty scent.

Another labor of love, the beef belly is salted for 24 hours and paired with lard, onions and bay leaf, then braised for eight to 10 hours. Colectivo’s barbacoa (lamb), carnitas ribs and cochinita pibil (Yucatán-style pork) are also cooked overnight.

Platters come with meat, tortillas, small sides and salsas ($22-$26), more than enough for two people. Make sure to leave room for Colectivo’s shareable botanas (snacks) and mariscos (seafood).

Seafood is a big part of Mexico’s culture and cuisine — the country has 7,000 miles of coastline, 4,500 of which faces the Pacific Ocean. That means mariscos restaurants and food stands are prevalent in Mexico. One of the mariscos dishes often found is the cóctel, a Mexican shrimp cocktail that is much different than ones served at fancy American steakhouses.

Yellan’s take on a classic cóctel arrives in a tall glass, brimming with shrimp and octopus submerged in a spicy gazpacho-like sauce and served with saltines and tostadas for dipping. A dish steeped in tradition, this is one botana that should be ordered at Colectivo, though I must note that the sauce has a gentle but persistent kick.

While this and the candy-topped watermelon and jicama appetizer require a slight sense of adventure on the part of the diner, other nostalgic Colectivo will please even the pickiest of guests.

Choose from guacamole, tamales, ceviche and shrimp tacos, with sides like Mexican red rice and and fingerlings with liquid gouda cheese. The other night, it was hard not to spot the other tables with pizza stands, holding the thin open-faced quesadillas colored by roasted poblano pepper spirals slicing through melty cheese.