kitchen countertopsNear Kiawah Island, SC

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Multiple four-story condominium complexes could be coming to Kiawah Island and residents there want the proposed plans to change.

They have concerns about the potential project on Upper and Lower, or Ocean Pines, Beachwalker Drive and say development on the island should not be rushed.

“The impacts are far-reaching for everyone on Kiawah Island, Johns Island, and people wanting to go to the public beach,” Kiawah resident Lance Spencer said. “The infrastructure costs that the city is going to have to bear and that taxpayers are going to have to bear are significant.”

Homeowners said they aren’t against development, but it needs to be done responsibly and they say what’s been proposed is far from it.

“We’re not naïve, we know the developers have the right to develop, but we just want them to develop more responsibly, meaning less density,” Homeowners Association representative for Kiawah Island Lynda Leffler said. “These two areas that they are trying to develop are the most dense on Kiawah Island.”

Their concerns include an uptick in traffic, stormwater management, and that the complexes won’t fit in with the surrounding communities.

“The additional building and construction that the partners and developers want to do is all just for profit with no consideration to the environment and the sensitivity of the environment to what is best for this community,” Kiawah Island property owner James Caltabiano said. “No consideration, it’s all just for profit.”

The complexes would be in a similar fashion to “The Cape” being built now on the island.

“It’s a monstrosity on the beach next to the county park that people come from all over to enjoy,” Caltabiano said. “Now they have The Cape to look at, and it’s terrible.”

Residents say the process to get this development approved has felt rushed and left little time for community feedback.

“The partners have a development agreement which expires December 4th of this year, so certainly they are trying to get everything approved before then, because in that development agreement they can put four stories on these buildings,” Leffler said. “We know they can do that, we just object to that and we wish they would tone it down to two stories.”

They said a two-story building would fit in with surrounding communities as well as address their other concerns.

“It would have a more positive impact on the environment,” Kiawah Island Cottage Association Board Member Cynthia Hadley said. “The stormwater retention is a huge issue in the sense that we experience more and more flooding as the ocean levels rise and the king tides come in. So, a smaller development is definitely what we’d like to see.”

To view the full proposed plans, click here and scroll down.

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Just 25 miles from downtown Charleston, Kiawah and Seabrook islands are the destinations for anyone looking to escape the bustle of the city.

These islands offer so much more than beautiful beaches. They have sports, spas, top restaurants and amazing shopping.

We’ve compiled a guide for tourists and locals drawn to the islands’ natural beauty. Whether you like fine dining or a relaxed day on the golf course or the beach, we have a guide for you.

Explore

The two barrier islands each offer world-class golf courses that have been featured in major sporting events. Anyone looking to live out their professional golf fantasy can find a home at Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course. The resort has twice hosted the PGA Golf Championship, in 2012 and in 2021.

The resort renovated all of its courses in preparation for the 2021 tournament which brought thousands of fans to the island.

Those looking for a golf membership should also consider the Seabrook Island Club. The club’s two courses, Ocean Winds and Crooked Oaks, are open to members, group outings and events.

The two islands aren’t just for golfers; they also feature world-class beaches. Kiawah alone has 10 miles of beaches. The Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission operates Beachwalker County Park, the only beach on the island open to the public.

Seabrook’s Pelican and North beaches also offer views of the sunset and sunrise, although they are not open to the public. The rest of Kiawah’s beaches are privately owned, so those looking for a longer stay should consider all-access options.

The islands are also a great place to explore Lowcountry wildlife. Those looking to get up close to dolphins should visit the northernmost tip of North Beach during low tide at Seabrook or Captain Sam’s Inlet on Kiawah. Bottlenose dolphins are known to strand-feed there — a technique the dolphins used to trap fish and drive them onto sandbars and shorelines.

Charleston is not considered a big city, but it is a city nonetheless. The hustle and bustle (and the traffic) seems to always be happening. Our readers shared their best moments of city life this week from all over the world.

The winner is Paul Stone with an image of children playing in the Fountain of Rings in Atlanta. The honorable mentions are Ken Schaub with a photo of the night life of Nashville, Tenn., and Nancy Kahrs with an image of city life in Iquitos, Peru.

Next week’s topic is Halloween, so share your spookiest and scariest snapshots.

The rules: Send your best photo to yourphotos@postandcourier.com by noon Thursday. Include your name, town and where the photo was taken. Add your name and the topic to the file. If you want your photo to be eligible to run in the newspaper, it must be at least 1,500 pixels, not have a commercial watermark and not have been published in another publication.

On Fridays, we first announce the editors’ pick of the week at postandcourier.com/yourphotos and declare a topic for the next week. On Saturdays, we publish an online gallery.

On Sunday, the photo pick of the week will appear in this section, Life.

All photos submitted will be considered for publication in The Post and Courier’s yearly magazine, My Charleston. Some images may be selected for other editorial or noncommercial use.

We reserve the right to not publish any photo for any reason.

Get a weekly list of tips on pop-ups, last minute tickets and little-known experiences hand-selected by our newsroom in your inbox each Thursday.

One of South Carolina's favorite spots along the coast has been ranked among the top 10 beaches in the country.

Kiawah Island's Beachwalker Park in Charleston County is listed as No. 8 on the 2023 list of best U.S. beaches released this week by “Dr. Beach,” aka coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman.

(Above video is the Friday morning headlines.)

The pristine beach is on the west end of Kiawah Island, and gives visitors ocean and river views, according to the Charleston County Parks website.

Charleston County Parks

Beachwalker is also the only public beach access on Kiawah Island, which is a 45-minute drive south of Charleston between Folly and Edisto beaches.

The park is operated through a cooperative agreement among Kiawah Development Partners, Charleston County Council, and the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission.

Recommended

Tiny Super Heroes ready for Halloween

North Carolina's Lighthouse Beach, in Buxton on the Outer Banks, came in at No. 5 on the list.

Located along Highway 12, Lighthouse Beach is about a six-hour drive from Myrtle Beach.

National Parks Service

Once the site of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the beach is convenient and renowned for its good shelling and great waves, according to the National Parks Service.

Florida’s St. George Island State Park earned the top slot on the best beach list.

The barrier island park offers nine miles of pristine beaches along the Gulf Coast.

With nature trails for biking and hiking, plus birding, fishing, boating and camping, St. George offers excellent swimming and sunbathing and is also a prime spot for stargazing with limited light pollution, the list says.

Leatherman has been ranking America’s best beaches since 1991.

He uses 50 criteria to evaluate hundreds of public beaches in the United States. The criteria include beach width, sand softness, water temperature and color, wildlife and more.

Half of the top 10 beaches in the United States for 2023 are in Florida and Hawaii.

None of Florida’s Atlantic beaches appear in the 2023 top 10; Leatherman pointed out that the Atlantic coastline is being affected this year by sargassum seaweed.

Top 10 U.S. Beaches for 2023

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.

Marion Square restaurant Gabrielle has two options for Thanksgiving Day: a brunch buffet during the day and a prix fixe holiday menu in the evening. For brunch, there will be a seafood display, breakfast staples, a carving station, and an extensive dessert selection. Dinner will be a multi-course meal from newly appointed chef Edgar Kano.

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.

Marion Square restaurant Gabrielle has two options for Thanksgiving Day: a brunch buffet during the day and a prix fixe holiday menu in the evening. For brunch, there will be a seafood display, breakfast staples, a carving station, and an extensive dessert selection. Dinner will be a multi-course meal from newly appointed chef Edgar Kano.

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.

Charleston, June 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Charleston, South Carolina -

Selling Kiawah is a leading real estate agent for luxury properties set in the pristine natural beauty of South Carolina.

Many dream of living an idyllic life on ocean fronts framed with spectacular landscape views in natural surroundings. Some of the best coastal towns and areas in the U.S. are located in South Carolina, offering a luxurious and sedate lifestyle with plenty of options for recreational activities. Surrounded by pristine natural landscapes, luxurious island homes on Kiawah Island seem like paradise.

Selling Kiawah is the leading provider of luxury properties in these sought-after coastal destinations of South Carolina. The company has a stunning collection of exclusive Kiawah Island Real Estate offerings nestled along the picturesque shores of the coastline. Homes are available on Kiawah Island, Johns Island, Isle of Palms, Seabrook Island, and Sullivan’s Island—renowned for their unparalleled beauty, world-class facilities, and exceptional quality of life. An added attraction of Lowcountry life is its proximity to the enchanting historical Charleston city and five championship golf courses designed by leading architects.

The agency’s portfolio of extraordinary properties can meet the desires of any discerning buyer. Whether seeking a spacious oceanfront estate, a charming cottage surrounded by lush greenery, an appealing apartment, or a contemporary villa with sweeping views, there is an option to suit every budget, taste, and preference.

The available properties feature impeccable craftsmanship, timeless architectural designs, and the finest amenities to ensure a life of comfort and indulgence. From gourmet kitchens equipped with state-of-the-art appliances to elegant master suites with private balconies, every detail has been meticulously planned to provide the ultimate luxury living.

For more information, visit https://www.sellingkiawah.com/

is the premier provider of luxury properties on the islands of South Carolina’s shoreline, including Kiawah, Johns, Seabrook, Isle of Palms, and Sullivan’s Islands. With a commitment to exceptional quality and service, Selling Kiawah offers an unparalleled collection of oceanfront properties, charming cottages, lovely apartments, and contemporary villas designed to exceed the expectations of even the most discerning buyers. The properties are available for sale in various sizes and budgets to suit the needs and preferences of every client.