Sullivan’s Island Maritime Forest Under Attack Again by Front Beach Homeowners Who Want It Cut Down

Homeowners took their case to the South Carolina Court of Appeals trying to undo a Circuit Court Ruling from 2023

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. – A small group of island residents is now challenging a major court ruling at the South Carolina Court of Appeals — a ruling that protected Sullivan’s Island’s beloved Maritime Forest. Their goal: to cut down large portions of the forest to gain oceanfront views. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SC COURT OF APPEALS HEARING FROM OCTOBER 8, 2025.

In 2023, Circuit Court Judge Jennifer McCoy ruled in favor of the Town of Sullivan’s Island, blocking a controversial settlement agreement that would have allowed the destruction of the island’s natural barrier against hurricanes and storm surge. The judge called the settlement “invalid and unenforceable.” Since that controversial agreement passed, every councilperson who supported it was voted out of office or did not run for reelection. A ruling from the South Carolina Court of Appeals is expected in 2026.

Now, Sullivan’s Island for All (SI for All) — the grassroots group that led the fight to save the forest — is calling on the community to stay vigilant and help defend this hard-won victory.

Many believe that the group appealing the original ruling wants to cut down the Maritime Forest for better views, no matter the cost to the island’s safety, ecosystem, or future generations. We can’t let that happen.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT THIS SATURDAY

To mark the 5th anniversary of Sullivan’s Island for All and to celebrate how far support for the forest has come, the public is invited to a guided Maritime Forest tour this Saturday at 2:00 PM, meeting at Station 16 on Sullivan’s Island. The tour’s guide is Rebecca Fanning, The Town of Sullivan’s Island’s Director of Resilience & Natural Resource Management.

The event will highlight the forest’s importance, the community’s united efforts to protect it, and the next steps in ensuring it remains preserved for future generations.

BACKGROUND ON THE COURT RULING

In her original ruling, Judge McCoy found that the previous Town Council’s Settlement Agreement improperly bound future councils and granted excessive power to a handful of private citizens.

The Court concluded that the agreement:

• Imposed perpetual obligations that limited future councils’ ability to govern in the public’s interest.
  
• Circumvented zoning procedures and violated the Town’s authority to manage its land.
  
• “Bargained away” the Town’s discretion to act for public health, safety, and welfare.
  

The ruling emphasized that Sullivan’s Island’s leadership must always retain the ability to protect its residents — particularly from storm surge, flooding, and the impacts of climate change — and noted that the Maritime Forest plays a critical role in the island’s climate resiliency plan.

Had it gone into effect, the Settlement Agreement would have resulted in massive vegetation removal from the 195-acre Maritime Forest, increasing flood risks and harming wildlife habitats. Even South Carolina DHEC warned the Town that the proposed deforestation could worsen stormwater runoff.

HOW TO HELP

This forest protects every single home on this island. It’s not just trees — it’s our natural defense system, our wildlife refuge, and a vital part of our environmental legacy.

To support ongoing efforts to protect and preserve the Sullivan’s Island Maritime Forest, please visit SiForAll.org to make a donation today.

This Saturday at 2 PM, join the guided Maritime Forest Tour at Station 16 to celebrate five years of community action and environmental stewardship.

About Sullivan’s Island for All
Sullivan’s Island for All was formed by residents and allies dedicated to preserving the accreted land and Maritime Forest—placed into a public land trust in 1991—for the benefit, education, and enjoyment of all.

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