Save the Gullah/Geechee Witness Tree at Sol Legare--Thank you Queen Quet!
We are so touched by Queen Quet's powerful essay about the historical importance of the Sol Legare grand sand oak, a witness tree located in the Gullah/Geechee community of Sol Legare.
You can read Queen Quet's essay here: https://gullahgeecheenation.com/2026/07/09/saving-de-gullah-geechee-witness-tree-at-sol-legare/?fbclid=IwY2xjawS-IMRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEekAda45E1iLlYU04MtpkzlkA6vd4Z2krOncRtJbpBGUIRM4D0pETtmeFWNOc_aem_ts3kT3yuW07s9eeh170kVA
Thank you Queen Quet, for your advocacy and inspiration!
The official comment period has now closed for us to comment in to the Charleston County Board of Zoning Appeals to deny the variance requested to remove the 40-in DBH, B-rated, healthy, 200+ year old Sol Legare grand sand oak tree. Thank you to all who have written into the BZA and also signed this petition!
The Charleston County BZA will meet on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., in Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, Room 249, Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building, 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston, SC 29405. This hearing is open to the public and will be recorded. The BZA public hearing will be livestreamed (for viewing only) at: charlestoncounty.org/departments/county-council/cctv.php
The meeting agenda is here: https://engage.charlestoncounty.org/Customer/File/Full/9475f197-22ff-48ae-ac50-661b7329d9db
The agenda item pertaining to the Sol Legare oak is on page 3 of the agenda, under "Old Business":
CASE# BZA-10-26-00915 Richardson Road Right-of-Way – James Island (near TMS # 330-12-00-067) Variance request to allow the removal of a 40-inch DBH Grand Sand Live Oak Tree located within the Richardson Road Right-of-Way to provide access to TMS #330-12-00-068 and #330-12-00-069, including proposed Lots B-5-A and B-5-B and existing Lot B-6. Applicant: Bryan Heatherly of HH Action LLC Representative: Neil D. Thomson, Esq of Ford Wallace Thomson LLC
Here is the link to the meeting packet with more specific information on this agenda item, including Staff's Report: https://engage.charlestoncounty.org/Customer/File/Full/eadd3559-7b35-4cf2-ae88-665ae62f4b9f
Please note that this issue has come up to the County's BZA several times since last fall. We are hoping to finally get a resolution on this important matter at Monday's BZA meeting. Please attend and speak in person to ask the BZA to DENY the variance request to remove this special tree if you are at all able to!
Thank you all for your support!
Save James Island
https://www.facebook.com/savejamesisland/