BCSD ready to move forward with long-awaited Tanner Plantation/Foster Creek area school
April 11, 2016
Berkeley County School District (BCSD) announces significant progress on the long-awaited elementary school in the Tanner Plantation/Foster Creek area of Berkeley County.
The school district has completed the school design plans; has financial resources provided by the citizens of Berkeley County to provide for the construction of the school; is ready to close on the property on Williams Lane for a cost of $1.16 million; and is ready to build a school for the children of Hanahan and area communities.
Because of this progress and the recently completed property and road due diligence, the school district is ready to move forward with the school planned to open in the Tanner Plantation/ Foster Creek area in the fall of 2018. The district is prepared to close on 21 acres of property located off Williams Lane. The school district set aside $22 million of the bond referendum funds approved by the citizens of Berkeley County in November of 2012 to obtain the property, complete the required road and sidewalk improvements, and to construct a 900-student school on 21 acres of property off Williams Lane, currently owned by the City of Hanahan.
Background and History
Beginning during the fall of 2012 until now, BCSD considered five properties to build the school planned for the Tanner Plantation/Foster Creek area. The school district and the City of Hanahan continuously worked together to find common ground regarding the purchase of property on Williams Lane. The district was prepared to buy 21 acres on Williams Lane from the City of Hanahan in March of 2015 when the city withdrew the offer based on attendance zoning desired by the city that not only would apply to the new school, but also to the existing schools in the Hanahan area. The school board’s concern centered on the balance between the city’s interest and that of the total community. Since the use of public funds was involved, the school district favored attendance zones that would benefit all students while being financially responsible. During the same time period, the city council changed the property zoning designation of the Williams Lane property, originally transferred to the city from RGT Charleston Partners for a deed recorded price of $5. The zoning change increased the value of the property from $550,000 to the current appraised value of $1.16 million.
In an effort to move forward and build the school, the school board stepped up and passed a resolution of compromise on August 11, 2015, which addressed the city’s concerns about current and future attendance zones. The compromise resulted in the city reopening the offer to sell the 21 acres to the school district. On October 27, 2015, the school board voted and approved the contract for sale and purchase of the property, and the city council followed with an approval on November 10, 2015.
BCSD then moved forward toward closing, but needed to extend the due diligence period of the contract because earlier surveys had to be updated to meet South Carolina Department of Transportation and environmental requirements. The extended due diligence period was satisfactorily completed on April 9, 2016, and the school board is excited to see the proposed project become a reality.
To provide a safe, secure and appropriate access to the property and meet the requirements of the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the intersection of Williams Lane and Foster Creek Road will be improved to include turning lanes, which will be monitored by a police officer at the beginning and ending of each school day. Improvements also include sidewalks and the widening of Williams Lane, beyond the school district’s property line, creating a walk-in opportunity for students. Neither the needs of the school nor the requirements of the South Carolina Department of Transportation warrant extension of Williams Lane to Henry Brown Blvd.
During the property acquisition process, the school district has remained focused on working with Berkeley County communities to best serve the students and families in the district, while also making fiscally responsible decisions.
