On Wednesday, October 28, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) will hold a public hearing on another critical area permit application related to the large residential development on Upper Cane Island in Beaufort, which dates back to a legacy planned-unit development (PUD) the City approved in 1997. 

The project’s developer, Kane Island Development Company LLC, has requested to construct a large community dock supplied with water and electricity and consisting of a 6’ x 96’ walkway with handrails leading to 39’ x 41’ fixed pierhead with a 25’ x 35’ covered roof, a 9.5’ x 17’ gangway platform with a 5’ x 65’ gangway ending in a 10’ x 10’ gangway landing float that connects to a 10’ x 125’ floating dock with a covered 3’ x 8’ fishing cleaning station. The developer also proposes constructing a 17’ x 128’ concrete boat ramp with 113 cubic yards of riprap, in addition to the 3,084 linear feet (1,306 cubic yards) of riprap already permitted by SCDES for the project in July 2026. 
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Take Action

SCDES Public Hearing on Kane Island Community Dock
Wednesday, October 28 at 6:00 pm
City Hall, 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort, SC 29902

Can't attend the public hearing? You can submit written comments to SCDES through the online portal following the link below or directly to mckensie.myers@des.sc.gov referencing the permit application number HQP-HA96-0NPG4.

For more information, visit the SCDES project page.

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Talking Points‍

SCELP has submitted comments on behalf of the Coastal Conservation League urging SCDES to require the scope and extent of the project be scaled back to reduce adverse impacts to water quality, critical area marsh, wildlife and continued use and enjoyment of the public waterway.  

You don't need to be an expert to make your voice count. Personal testimony about why this area matters to you carries real weight. You may wish to raise one or more of the following concerns in your comment:

• A Dock Master Plan should be required for the entire development to limit the proliferation of individual docks in exchange for a large community dock. This is also needed to determine the appropriate size for the community dock.
• As currently proposed, the community dock and private boat ramp are substantial, totaling nearly 3,000 square feet. Fortunately, the applicant has already eliminated an additional 600-square-foot “courtesy dock,” but the overall footprint is still too large. Generally, the maximum dockage allowed on Distant Island Creek at this location is 600-1,200 square feet for individual or joint-use docks. The community dock size must be further reduced to avoid long-term, cumulative impacts. 
• Private boat ramps are intended to provide water access where docks or other means are not already available. Residents of this private development do not need both a large community dock and a private boat ramp. If the boat ramp is not eliminated entirely, the width must be reduced to 12’ in accordance with the applicable critical area regulations. 
• Introducing these significant structures and impervious surfaces along a creek already known to experience high wave energy and natural erosion will exacerbate these conditions and further the loss of public trust resources. 

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