Refrigerated Trailer for Rent in Cane Bay, SC

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – Berkeley County is moving forward with a plan to bring more than 5,000 homes and other amenities to the Cane Bay area.

County Council approved the Cane Bay Lake Village development Monday evening. It comes after lots of discussion from the community, some in support and some against.

The development, proposed by Grambling Brothers Real Estate and Development, would create a neighborhood made up of 5,500 homes, park space, lake access, shopping and more.

The plan received some criticism from residents who say more people would make traffic and flooding worse than it currently is.

“The congestion is already here,” Berkeley County resident Leroy Godfrey Jr. said. “It needs addressing, and this development will only compound it. It’s a great project, but are we ready for it?”

Project developers are pitching in to help with traffic congestion on areas like Cane Bay Blvd., Black Tom Rd. and others.

In the agreement, Grambling Brothers is providing $10 million for traffic infrastructure, in addition to three acres of land for a new public school and fire station. Berkeley County Councilman Phillip Obie said at Monday’s meeting that adding these new services wouldn’t be possible without a project like this.

“If we did not have this development agreement, there would be no site set for schools,” Obie said. “There would also be no mechanism where the developer would agree to pay $1,850 per dwelling that belongs to the school district.”

Some residents were also vocal about stormwater management, asking the county to ensure the development is regulated under the new stormwater design standards created in 2026, as opposed to the manual from 2009.

“Flooding of tens of thousands of people,” Berkeley County resident Ken Lee said. “It’s existential. Roads are inadequate, and when the hurricane hits, you’re going to have calamity and apocalypse on the highways.”

The County ensuring that the flooding and stormwater management system within the project meets and exceeds the standards set in the 2026 Stormwater Design Standards Manual, benefiting residents who often deal with flooding in the downstream area.

Cane Bay Basketball Schedule

2026-27

Overall0-00.000 Win Pct

Region0-01st AAAAA Region 7

Home0-0Away0-0Neutral0-0

PF0PA0Streak-

* Region** Playoffs*** Tournament

Schedule CorrectionAll School Events

Plans for the Lake Village development in Cane Bay, which has been unpopular with many local residents, enters its lengthy public review process now that they have been presented to the Land Use Committee.

The large-scale residential development proposal must undergo six public presentations — three before the Land Use Committee and three readings before Berkeley County Council, which will consider a first reading later this month. A final reading is scheduled Sept. 28, sans any delays.

According to original plans, Gramling Brothers Real Estate & Development proposed setting aside 50 of the 5,500 projected housing units as affordable housing.

Land Use Committee Chairman Phillip Obie during a July 13 meeting requested the number of affordable housing units be increased to 250. Alison Simmons, the county’s planning and zoning director, confirmed negotiations of more such properties will be discussed with the developer before the first County Council reading.

Residents have raised a number of concerns, including traffic management.

Ben Gramling, president of the development company, said the five access points to be constructed along U.S. Highway 17A will be completed in the earliest phases of the development agreement.

“Our intent is to build these intersections right from the get-go to handle 5,000 units,” Gramling said.

According to the agreement, Gramling Brothers would give the county $10 million for road infrastructure improvements in the Lake Village community and surrounding area. That money would not include any fees required to build intersections as recommended by the S.C. Department of Transportation. At the Planning Commission’s request, a traffic study of the area will be completed every five years, with additional improvements made as needed.

The developer will also donate about 30 acres to the Berkeley County School District to serve as the location of a new school, in addition to paying a $1,850 school impact fee per home. Gramling also said no taxpayer money will go toward construction of the school.

None of that would be required if Gramling built the development under existing zoning regulations for the property.

Gramling is making a similar commitment for emergency services, donating 2.5 acres to the county for a fire and emergency service station. The developer has also agreed to a residential unit emergency services fee of $500 per home, equating to about $2.7 million in revenue to the county. Like with the school offer, neither commitment would be required if Gramling proceeds under current zoning regulations.

A key unifying piece of the Lake Village master plan is the Town Center. Featuring a mixed-use waterfront district sprinkled with restaurants and retail shops, the development would provide opportunities for recreational activities, a parking garage and additional residences above commercial spaces.

Rezoning of land use for this part of the development is prompting the approval process. Supervisor Johnny Cribb asked Gramling why he was willing to go through an extended process to build a bigger project.

“This is a one-time opportunity to do something that’s unbelievable,” Gramling responded. “We’re making an existing community better, and it’s going to give a lot of people an opportunity to live, work and play (and) stay in this part of Berkeley County instead of going (to) other places.”

Still, some residents are not convinced. A few in attendance shook their heads in disagreement as they listened to the presentation and responses from council members.

The developer engaged in public meetings with residents of affected communities over the course of 18 months.

Residents repeatedly requested for there to be no access points between Lake Village and the Windwood community, whether by road or trail. Gramling agreed, ensuring a 15-foot land buffer and a nature overlay on the southern end of the property bordering Windwood.

The development agreement is expected to be completed within 25 years.

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Berkeley County residents packed a public hearing to weigh in on a major proposed development in the Cane Bay area, prompting county leaders to use a stopwatch to manage the volume of speakers as the project moved through its second reading.

During the hearing in Moncks Corner, tensions flared as residents delivered emotional testimony. At one point, police escorted a person out of the room.

“Three times you've had me dragged out of here 'cause you don't wanna hear the truth," the individual said.

The proposal under discussion is a mixed-use development that county leaders described as covering 2,000 acres and bringing more than 5,000 new homes, along with additional amenities. The size was compared to “roughly the equivalent of 1,500 football fields.”

Another portion of the discussion described the development as a “massive 200-acre development.”

Supporters told county leaders the project could add conveniences and reduce some traffic impacts. One speaker said, “Restaurants that will be walking and go up car distance from many neighborhoods within Cane Bay, eliminating traffic on 17.”

Another resident voiced support for the plan, saying, “So we're gonna end up, in my opinion, with a really nice place that everyone is gonna want to get a shopping ad and re-creating that. So I'm in favor of it, and I hope you go all the way down.”

Others urged county leaders to reconsider, citing concerns about flooding and environmental impacts. One speaker warned, “A credentialed hydrologist and a data analyst have stood here and warned you that this developer's proposal will intensify flooding and downstream communities.”

The meeting marked the project’s second reading, and county leaders said nothing is final yet, though the vote represents another step toward potential approval.

Berkeley County has been hearing from residents since June, with opponents urging leaders to reconsider the plans over potential environmental damage.

The next County Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 28, when the council is expected to bring the plans back for additional public comment.