A joint letter from The Town, The Club, and SIPOA
An Open Letter to the Seabrook Island Community
Dear Residents, Property Owners, Employees, and Friends of Seabrook Island:
The leaders of the Town of Seabrook Island, the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association, and the Seabrook Island Club are united in asking for your help.
Charleston County Council is currently preparing a Transportation Sales Tax referendum that may appear on the ballot in 2026. The draft project list under consideration includes approximately $4.25 billion in funding for road, transit, bike/pedestrian, and greenbelt projects throughout the county.
Unfortunately, the draft project list does not include a single dollar for projects within the town limits of Seabrook Island.
This omission is particularly concerning given the importance—and vulnerability—of Seabrook Island Road, the only means of vehicular access to and from our community.
Low-lying segments of Seabrook Island Road regularly experience tidal flooding during high tides and storm events. When flooding occurs, access to the island can be significantly restricted or completely cut off. This creates serious risks for residents, employees, and visitors and can delay response times from police, fire and emergency medical services.
During a nor’easter in December 2023, first responders were forced to rescue occupants from vehicles stranded in floodwaters on Seabrook Island Road. The roadway became impassable, and our entire community was effectively cut off from the rest of the county until floodwaters receded.
Each day, approximately 7,700 vehicle trips travel along Seabrook Island Road. The corridor serves more than 2,100 full-time residents, 2,600 dwelling units, and thousands of visitors, while also supporting more than 2,400 businesses, contractors, and employees who rely on safe and reliable access to the island. It is also a vital gateway to destinations such as the MUSC Medical Pavilion, Bohicket Marina, Freshfields Village, St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center, and numerous local employers.
For years, improving Seabrook Island Road has been identified as the Town’s highest transportation priority. The proposed Seabrook Island Road Improvement Project would elevate flood-prone segments of the roadway and improve drainage to reduce tidal flooding and improve reliability.
Importantly, this project is already well advanced in design and permitting and is expected to be shovel-ready by the time sales tax collections begin in 2027.
Simply put, this project must move forward. Reliable access to Seabrook Island is not optional—it is essential for public safety, emergency response, evacuation, and the continued vitality of our community.
If the Seabrook Island Road Improvement Project is included in the countywide transportation sales tax program, it can be funded through a revenue source Seabrook Island residents and visitors are already paying. If it is not included, the Town will need to pursue other funding options, such as bonds repaid through property taxes or other local taxes.
That outcome would be fundamentally unfair. Seabrook residents, property owners, employees, and visitors already contribute millions of dollars to the county transportation sales tax—helping finance projects throughout Charleston County. It is only reasonable that our community receive an appropriate investment in return. The Town’s request amounts to roughly one penny for every $10 in transportation sales taxes collected.
Our shared message to Charleston County is simple: Seabrook Island deserves transportation funding that is Faster, Fairer, and Safer.
- Faster because this project is ready to move forward as soon as funding is secured.
- Fairer because Seabrook Island residents and visitors have contributed to the transportation sales tax for decades but have not received comparable investment within the Town.
- Safer because reliable access to the island is essential for emergency response, evacuation, and everyday travel.
We Need Your Voice!
Charleston County is currently asking the public to provide input through an online survey that will help determine which projects are included in the referendum.
We encourage every resident, property owner, employee, and visitor who cares about the future of Seabrook Island to participate.
Please take a moment to complete the county’s survey and tell County Council that our community needs Seabrook Island Road Now!
Your voice can help ensure that Seabrook Island receives the transportation investment necessary to protect public safety, strengthen our resilience to coastal flooding, and support the economic vitality of our community.
Thank you for your support and your advocacy.
Sincerely,
Bruce Kleinman
Mayor
Town of Seabrook Island
John Lassiter
President
Seabrook Island Property Owners Association
John Carpenter
President
Seabrook Island Club
