Charleston has moved a step closer to a new downtown cruise ship terminal after the South Carolina court of appeal upheld an earlier ruling.
After a legal fight lasting years, the court said neighborhood and environmental groups do not have a legal right to block the issuing of a construction permit.
The city has been planning a $35 million cruise ship terminal for years but opponents have cited increased traffic congestion and pollution would affect the city’s historic neighborhoods.
However the court says these groups showed no real fact-based evidence.
The complaint ‘presented only speculative claims that the proposed passenger terminal would adversely affect their property values and businesses,’ it said.
The State Ports Authority says the decision ‘moves us one step closer to building a modern cruise terminal on the northern end of Union Pier that will reflect the beauty of Charleston and allow the ultimate redevelopment of the rest of Union Pier.’
The Port Authority said its voluntary limit on ship size – with a maximum limit of vessels with no more than 3,500 passengers – addresses the concerns over pollution and congestion.
"Our analysis continues to show that a modern and more efficient cruise terminal at the northern end of Union Pier will actually lessen the impacts of cruise vessels in Charleston," Dhand, the agency’s SPA spokeswoman Erin Dhand said.
The ruling was called a ‘shocking decision’ by opponents such as the Coastal Conservation League and are ‘looking at all options’ for another appeal.
