The Charleston City Council has recently approved a project (and rezoned the land accordingly) that will allow a developer, Robert DeMoura of  Angel Oak Village LLC,  to build over 600 hundred homes and 80,000 square feet of retail space, all only 150 feet away from Angel Oak Park on Johns Island.  The small park surrounds the 1400 year old Angel Oak, which is not only a natural phenomenon, but also an important historical, cultural, and religious landmark. 

            The plan was passed through City Council very fast with very little public knowledge.  Letters on file with SCDHEC/OCRM, the Department of Natural Resources and the US Department of the Interior: Fish and Wildlife, clearly state their strong opposition of the plan, citing numerous ways development could harm the environmentally fragile area that the project site consists of.  Both agencies agree that a 150ft buffer is not sufficient protection for the tree, yet the city seems to be ignoring this. The developer has received a variance for the removal of Grand Trees, and has submitted his application to disturb 4.23 acres of wetlands, an important home for many state and federally protected species.  No environmental impact study has been done.  There is also an archeological report which states that part of the land proposed for development is recommended for the National Historic Registry. Join us in the fight to save this timeless natural wonder!  Visit: www.savetheangeloak.org, sign the online petition, http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-angel-oak-on-johns-island-sc, and write your city officials to voice your opposition to this horrible plan!

Please feel free to contact me at savetheangeloak@gmail.com. 

Samantha Siegel