Berkeley Builder Wants New OKs

August 14, 2006 - The developer of the Cane Bay subdivision will seek approvals from Berkeley County Council today that could allow another 5,000 homes to be built on the property along U.S. Highway 176.

Charleston developer Ben M. Gramling III wants to move forward with the second phase of the project. In all, the development will include up to 10,000 single- and multi-family homes mixed with schools and businesses on more than 4,300 acres. The development will also include a trail system, parks, open space and ball fields.

"This has been the plan from the get-go," Gramling said. "The county has known about it from day one."

County Council will consider a development agreement with Gramling that will specify construction plans for the duration of the project and obligate the developer to contribute to future road improvement projects in the area.

The agreement is still in the negotiation phases and is not yet available to the public. Final approval is expected to take three months.

"I am very pleased with it," Berkeley County Supervisor Jim Rozier said of Cane Bay. "I think it is a wonderful concept."
Council also will consider giving initial approval to the rezoning of about 2,300 acres in three parcels from the agriculture district to Planned Development Mixed Use, a district designated to encourage more open space in subdivisions. Cane Bay is in a targeted growth area in the county's comprehensive plan.

Gramling's company bought the former timberland from MeadWestvaco for $6.2 million in 2004. He said the time it takes to fully develop the property will depend on the market, but estimated that it could take 20 years.

"We think we're going to have the type of community with lots of activities, hiking and biking and swimming and soccer fields and canoeing and kayaking," Gramling said.

Rezoning for the first phase of the development was unanimously approved in March 2005. Site work began last fall as the county continues to approve portions of the property for construction.

Gramling donated about 200 acres of land for the new Cane Bay High School at the corner of Highway 176 and Marshall Acres Drive, and plans to also donate more for an elementary and middle school within the development.

Construction is under way at the high school, which is scheduled to open for the 2008-09 school year. It will alleviate crowding at Stratford High School.

Rozier said the proposed development plan for Cane Bay will be similar to the one County Council approved in April for The Parks of Berkeley, a 13,500-home subdivision planned for 4,559 acres near Cane Bay.

The 30-year agreement with The Parks locks in road construction projects, impact fees and land reserved for schools and public safety facilities. It was the first agreement of its kind for the county.

In other business, council will consider incentive packages for two code-named projects. Rozier declined to provide specifics on the projects but said the county is in negotiations with several industries that likely won't be finalized until 2007.

Typically, the incentives are designed to attract manufacturers and include a reduced tax rate of 6 percent for the company rather than the normal 10.5 percent, a rate historically set by the state for manufacturers.
Reach Yvonne M. Wenger at 745-5891 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.