Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat]

Today's meeting was my today's meeting was noticed in compliance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. This commission acts in review and recommending capacity for comprehensive planned amendments, text amendments to the Charleston County zoning and land development regulations ordinance, resonings, and plan developments. The commission has decision-making authority on road name change requests, public project reviews, appeals of administrative decisions on final plats and subdivision matters, as well as matters pursuant to chapter 29, title 6, section 6-29-340 of the code of laws of South Carolina as amended. [clears throat] If you wish to speak at today's meeting, you should have filled out the sign-in sheets by the door. Um, I'm Cindy Floyd. I'm the chair of the commission. To my right, we have Pete Pelotus, the vice chair, Luke Morris, Gary Lasain, and Adam McConnell. To my left, David Kent, Warwick Jones, and Logan Davis. Also seated to my right, Commission Attorney Mark Bell. And seated to my left, Andrea Melich White, Deputy Director of Zoning and Planning. And Andrew, would you please introduce the staff present today? Sure. We've got Mar and Lynn who will be presenting today. Nikki is out today. We've got Stephanie. Tamara will also be presenting today. Um and I believe I saw Eric. Thank you. Eric Davis just walk in and he is the director of our um how what is the name of your department now? It used to be green belts.

Housing and land. Thank you. Housing and land management department. Okay. All right. [clears throat] In order to get a good recording of the meeting for the minutes, please speak loudly and clearly into your microphones and please do not talk over one another. The first item on the agenda is approval of the minutes from the December 8th, 2025 meeting. Is there a motion and a second? Second. Okay. Commissioner Davis, I. Commissioner Leain, I. Chair Floyd, I. Commissioner Jones. Hi. Commissioner Kent. Hi. Commissioner McConnell. Hi. Commissioner Morris. I. Vice Chair Palato.

I.

The eyes have it. The next item on the agenda is case ACP-06-25-0000125 and ZLDR 06-25-0000134. A request to amend map 3.1.12 Ashley River Road plan Ashley River Road Corridor Overlow zoning district of the comprehensive plan and map 5.10 Ashley River Road Corridor Overlay zoning districts Ashley Hall Road to Church Creek and map 5.10 10 point C Ashley River Road Corridor Overlay zoning district Ashley River Road to Church Creek Village commercial area of the zoning and land development regulations ordinance the LDR are to change the zoning designation of tax map number 353-05-0000-001 from the neighborhood commercial designation to the community commercial designation. Um when Carlile is going to make a presentation for the staff.

Thank you, Chair Floyd. Good afternoon, commissioners. Um this comp plan amendment and Zeldar text amendment request is for 2338 Ashley River Road. Uh it's in the St. Andrews area. So for the zoning history, in 1985, the subject property was zoned Neighborhood Commercial CN. Uh that year, reszoning request was submitted and withdrawn. In 2004, a reszoning request was made to reszone the property from neighborhood commercial to community commercial, which was disapproved by county council. In 2015, the Ashley River Road Corridor Overlay zoning district was created and the property was zoned neighborhood commercial in the village commercial area of the overlay. In 2021, the neighbor neighborhood commercial CN and commercial transition CT z zoning districts were combined to create the neighborhood commercial NC zoning district. The overlay district consists of three areas with seven zoning districts. Uh the village commercial area of the overlay has property zone neighborhood commercial and community commercial. The village commercial area has a mix of medium to high intensity commercial development and is intended to be developed with less intense commercial development than the commercial core area. Uh uses for the requested CC district include include those in the current NC district plus all other uses allowed in CC. Density for residential development would increase from the current four units per acre to 16 units per acre allowed in CC. Here's the property location within the county. And this is the current comp plan map for the overlay district. And this is the Zeldar map for the overlay district.

This is the Zeldar map for the village commercial area. This is the future land use map. And for the current zoning, um, this map shows the subject property. Uh, it has frontage on Ashley River Road and has a building which is a woodworking school and a car wash building that is not currently in use. The adjacent parcels are zoned uh, NC with the ones to the north containing a Dollar General store and a single family residence and the parcel to the south has a single family residence which is currently being developed into a church. The property across the street is in the city of Charleston and has this uh senior living complex. This is the uh flood zone map of the prop for the property and it has shaded X and AE1 flood zones. This is the aerial view to the north and to the south. This is a photo of the subject property and photos of the adjacent properties. This is a comparison of land uses between the current NC zoning and the requested CC zoning. Uh with the uses in bold being allowed in CC but not NC. As mentioned earlier with CC the density would go up to 16 units per acre up from four currently. These are the comp plan amendment approval criteria of which one needs to be met. The applicant chose criterion C and this is his response. The staff recommendation is that due to the future land use of the property and with the implementation of the overlay district having the most intense commercial area be the commercial core area with the village commercial area

intended intended for less intense commercial development. Uh the criteria may not have been met. Therefore, staff recommends disapproval. The Zeldar text amendment must meet all three criteria. This is the applicant response to criterion A and criterion B and criterion C. The staff recommendation is that if the comp plan amendment is approved, then we recommend approval of this LDAR text amendment. [snorts] for public input. One comment in opposition was received and no comments in support were received and this request was noticed as required.

We appreciate the staff's comprehensive report. Are there any questions for staff from commission members? Warrick, the uh the properties between the subject property and the uh community commercial to the north are part of the city. What is the zoning and how does that compare to the two uh zonings that we're considering at the moment? Yes. So most of the property that's in the city that's near the subject property are zone uh GB within the city which is general business which is basically their version of CC. Yes.

You any other questions? We'll now hear public comments. Um, each speaker will be limited to two minutes. Please state your name and address before giving your comments.

We have Walt Sprouse. Good afternoon. My name is Walter Sprouse. Uh I'm the managing director and owner of Cooper Sprouse LLC which is the owner of the property and requesting uh the resoning. Uh my son uh Sam Sprouse is here with me and uh he is the owner and founder of the Charleston woodworking school. He'll be telling you a little bit more about that. One perk about that is that I get free shirts here all the time. Uh, I do, uh, want to make sure that you know that these are the plans, what we just handed out to you for that old car wash. I'm quite sure that y'all have driven by on Ashley River Road and seen this car wash. Uh, we continue to have problems with people sleeping there, uh, with trash being dumped there. Uh, we've had all the wiring stolen out of that abandoned car

wash. It looks horrible. It looks bad. We know it looks bad and what we want to do is to renovate it and to come up with something that looks like this. By the way, we don't really intend to put a pink or an orange roof on it. It's just I was running low on ink whenever I printed all these things. So, um, so that's the plan for that. But, as you can see, it has several bays in there. And what we intend to do is to try to make this into more of a professionallook uh location where we're looking at maybe three or four offices at the most. Uh it's our goal to make sure that we have something nice in front of the woodworking school because right now all the students of the woodworking school, they have to drive by this building, this whole car wash every day. The second thing too is that we're requesting the reszoning. Uh because out of this village commercial area there uh I counted 86 parcels 79 of them are already zoned CC. There's only three that's zoned NC and then the surrounding property just like what you mentioned is in the city and they're zoned general business which is the same as as CC here. So so of this in the village commercial area 91.8% 8% of all the properties in there are zoned at what we are requesting. Uh we're not going to do anything radical there. I think we had someone to write in and say, "Well, they could put a truck stop." Obviously, we're not going to do that. We're not going to have a kennel, things like that. We're going to have something nice there. But what we want to do is to make sure that we have more opportunities to market this building to professionals without having to come back and do u a um conditional use for every single one that we have to um um that that's interested in in doing something with that building. Um we

think we have a good plan for that. We think it'll be something that all of you would be proud of. Uh we will um obviously invest some money to make it look good. But uh the other thing too is is about the the size of of the buildings. The building is currently 3,800 square ft. So obviously there's very limited things what we can have in there already. Looks like my time's expired. So I'm going to have to sit down. But I do thank you uh for the time to uh to speak. And um I do also want to thank Wyn. He has been a tremendous help. Even though he recommended disapproval, he uh he did a really good job in helping me fill out all this paperwork. So we thank you.

Sam Sprouse.

Good afternoon. I'm Sam Sprouse. I'm the owner and founder of the Charleston Woodworking School. Uh we're the only woodworking school in the southeast uh that does our type of program. It's a year-long program. Um starts since September, goes through June. Um the reason why we want to get this moved over is to have more options. um you know one of the conditions uh for uh moving to CC um not only just for professional uh offices and stuff like that um there's a section under there uh for specialized trades uh which is where I come in. So if some of my students wanted to rent out space down there they wouldn't be allowed to. um you know, having an opportunity for a former student to move into a building right there near the school where they can come ask me questions, you know, when they're first getting started in their businesses. Um it's it would be very nice to have that option. Um if you know what I mean. Um so that's the biggest thing for me. Um you know, I'd like to see some other professionals in there, too. Whatever works. Um, but you know, to be able to do this and get this switched over now and not have to come back and do conditional uh exemptions and all that other uh stuff would be uh very very helpful um to to a lot of folks. So, thank you.

All right. Has anybody got any questions for the applicants? Is the the two speakers or the applicant Luke? Um I I don't know if it's quite for the applicant, but now it's for staff. [laughter] So, uh it and I guess maybe it's for both. Um it looks like you're looking because you would have to have conditional approval for artisan and craftsman and potentially retail sales is probably the issue. Um where those are both it looks like allowed by right under CC. Correct.

Um under NC. So for uh for the conditional approval that's just meet these criteria that are pretty plainly written out. They don't have to go in front of a board or anything for that, do they?

No. Um I believe one of the issues is [clears throat] currently in NC with the woodworking school already on the property that's you're allowed to have 5,000 square feet for the use. Um, and so that's basically using that up in in NC. So to be able to um renovate the car wash into like office space or flex space, um, they'd have to uh either reszone or get a special exception from the board of zoning appeals for that. So if I heard that last comment correctly, they they could not do this renovation under the current NZ NC zoning.

That is my understanding from site plan review. Um is that that 5,000 square feet condition is already used up by the like it basically applies to the property and so it's already used up by the woodworking school. So demolition is the only option for the car wash um under current zoning I believe. So I mean unless unless they wanted to bring back the car wash use which was already there prior [laughter]

they could use any other use that's allowed by ride or is that 5,000 square feet the max for commercial use? Well, it's a I think under almost all the uses, it's like a it it applies to the property. Um that 5,000 square foot limitation. It's 5,000 square feet regardless of the size of the property. Correct. Which seems to be the issue for us. They could get a special exception to go over. Is that how the condition is written when?

Well, yes. like to uh go over that 5,000 square feet, the the remedy under NC would be to go to the BCA and ask for a special exception. And I think it goes up to 10 10,000

clarify questions. Yeah, you're allowed to answer. Sure. Go ahead. Yeah, please. [clears throat]

If we were to go back for an ex for a special exception, the main thing we're looking at using that for obviously would be the expansion of the woodworking school. We built it 5,000 because that was a maximum. So we said at some point we actually built the building so we could have a mirror image of the current building so that would complete uh the woodworking school and and go up to 10,000 square feet. That's why we put it back in the back. Uh the other thing too is that um that's that's what we intend that um special exception for is for the expansion of the woodworking school. and since we can't use it for the uh for the car wash. So, uh so that's why one of the main reasons we wanted to make sure that we asked for approval for the reszoning and and especially for the consistency since 92% of the properties in this overlay district are already zone CC anyway. So that would help us a great deal in doing some with that instead of tearing down a building because you know as all of you know you tear a building down there's no property tax revenue coming in on that. So um but um but I just wanted to clarify that about we our intention is also to expand the woodworking school at some point. So thank you for allowing me to make that.

Thank you for clarifying that Cindy. when um how does the city's zoning which are on each side compared to CC? So that general business is uh

basically their version of CC. And I spoke to the city um their they said if if this property was being annexed into the city that they would um zone it LB, which is limited business, which is their version of NZ, the current the current zoning it has. you have ahead. I'm just a little non plus. There doesn't seem to be logic to it. We're surrounded by one and yet they want to maintain it. I It doesn't make sense. Yeah. Um that the city has their own kind of criteria and stuff. I can't really speak to that.

Did Did they give a reason why they would do LB and not the GB if if they already have GB next door? I think it's because uh all the stuff that's GB was already zoned that um in the past and their kind of overall approach anything new coming in that's annexed in in that area they would want to do as LB because of how much GB is already there and just their view on how much is there already it that's my understanding

is Is it that or is it that they just try to mirror whatever the current existing zoning is? So, because it's neighborhood commercial, they're going to try to marry it up to whatever is close. Not necessarily. I mean, that that's possible, but yeah, I mean, my understanding just from my discussion conversation was that anything coming in in that area, they would look to do as LD. So, I want to clarify something from the applicant. So, you're planning on expanding the woodworking school and doing something with the with the car wash area.

We will be expanding school at some point in the future. Not right now. We want to get the car washed up and looking good. Yeah, you know, it to me it seems like it's a spot zoning. I mean, if you the way it's currently zoned and that to be consistent the area, it should be NC. Um, so I guess I'll make the motion that we approve but also recommend approval of the ZLDR map amendment.

A second. Can we Can we Are you saying CC? You stay NC. So CC CC. Yes. Okay. Well, the problem with going to CC is that you open up all these other uses and they they're not planning on doing that, but as we all know if that that's not that's not what we can go by. So, [sighs] does the overlay put any restrictions on the CC or is it It does have It does have some restrictions. If you give me a minute, I will look at what those are for you.

Still can't have car sales in that. I'm not sure. Let me look. I think that was one of the main things for that area if I remember correctly. Course my computer decided to freeze up. This is village commercial, right when? Yes.

Okay. All right. Yep. Okay. Okay. So, prohibited uses um let's see, multif family development that is not part of a mixed use development, a towing facility, vehicle sales on property greater than 3/4 of an acre, um display of goods, indoor outdoor shooting ranges, fireworks stands, permanent and temporary, self storage and tattoo facilities. And then they have some uses that would require special exception, which would be vehicle storage, vehicle sales on properties that are greater than 3/4 of an acre, bars and lounges, vehicle and boat repair or service, restaurant, fast food, um, uh, gas service stations, recreation, entertainment indoor, and liquor, beer, or wine sales.

Okay. Anybody else have any questions, comments? Um, well, I got several. Uh, I don't think anyone up here is against what y'all want to do because I think that under neighborhood commercial, it should be allowed. Um, the 5,000 square foot thing. I'm trying to quickly find it. Um, and I can't. The conditional requirements for artist and craftsman seem pretty simple. Um, some of it seems like it could be a little difficult to prove about the decibb and all, but um, at the at the base of this is saying is the comprehensive plan out of date or incorrect. And [clears throat] I would say that this is at the periphery of what is kind of a node if you look at the zoning map, uh, which would be this, uh, intersections of 61 and parsonage and 61 in Dogwood. Um while the immediately adjacent properties in the city are general business just one property over it starts limited business as you get along Magwood. Um and I don't know what the history of that is. The legacy of zoning can be pretty frustrating to figure out. So who knows when these were determined to be that zoning category. Um, and I I feel like if there was a better way to carve it out so they could do what they wanted to do rather than give all these additional uses that they're not interested in. Um, and I don't know if staff can find like the 5,000 foot rule really quickly. I can't find it myself on the

deal. It's use it's use specific. So like office uses in neighborhood commercial have a limit of 5,000 square ft. But it may also be that these folks may want to do something that's not allowed. I heard something about maybe flex space, that kind of thing, which depending on, you know, how what they come in and describe that as um that may not be allowed in CN where it might be in CC.

I mean, my familiarity with certain things like woodworking, construction, um or construction for woodworking shops, the ventilation requirements and things like that. There's going to be plenty of hurdles that are going to be very project specific depending on what you want to put in that space. Um, I'm almost like, have has there been any exploration into separating that backside out so you can meet those square footage requirements instead of the spot zoning? Because like Cindy said, I'm worried that this could turn into a precedent of well, like we're trying to help the property owner out meet what need they're trying to put on the property. Um, the zoning is just not quite what it needs to be for that. and then it bumps you up into 16 units per acre. Um, and and I don't know at the end of the day if that criteria of this doesn't meet the comprehensive plan or that the comprehensive plan was incorrect is quite there. Um, I'm still kind of on the fence. I don't know if there's a better way to to do this than resoning. I'm just kind of not sure I'm into the resoning in order to meet y'all's needs. So the um I think it's 6.4.26 is the 5,000 square foot. Um

okay. Yeah, that's for office uses and then like what they discussed having um students you let's say they wanted to do the a flex space type thing as Andrea mentioned it that might not be possible under NC um and I'm pretty sure with the use of artisan craftsman that there's a 2,000 square foot limit um for that use which I believe that car wash building is like 3,800 square feet so they might bump up against that 2,000 square foot. And flex space, how is that viewed in the ZLDR? Like, is that a specific use or

No, I mean, I don't there isn't a a specific flex space um definition, but I believe it's kind of considered almost like warehouse type, special trade contractors, things like that. Okay. Gotcha. I feel like it would be under this when we're looking at the comparison chart between neighborhood commercial and community commercial that those two lines heavy construction services or general contractor commercial or industrial machinery or equipment construction tools heavy duty vehicle leasing or rental those to me are scream flex space uses I mean that's typically what they're seeking is flex space But

anybody else? We have a motion and a second. Call the role. On the motion to approve along with the ZLDR amendment. Are we we're approving the request, not the staff recommendation. Correct. The request plus the uh map amendment text amendment. Right. Mhm. Second. Uh, Commissioner Davis. I, Commissioner Lasain. I, Chair Floyd, I. Commissioner Jones, I. Commissioner Kent, I,

Commissioner McConnell. I, Commissioner Morris. Nay, but y'all already got it, it sounds like. [laughter] Vice Chair Paloo, I. and the eyes of it. County Council will hear this request at their public hearing on February the 10th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers and again at their February 19th, 2026 planning and public works committee meeting at 5:00 p.m. The request will then undergo three readings for approval at council's discretion. The next item on the agenda is the monthly subdivision report.

The TV's working.

Yes. [laughter] All right. Hi. So, I'm Tamara Avery with the subdivision staff and I have uh three developments that I just wanted to inform you all about today. The first one is a final plat, but it is a planned development. So, I thought you all might be interested in it. Um it is located on River Road in the St. John's Fire District and it was planned development PD 174 that was Murray Creek subdivision and it has a micro farm with it. So they are completed with construction and submitted the final plat. Um the property is going to be 39 lots including the micro farm and it will be public water, public sewer and accessed by a 50 foot wide rideway and that is going to be a private ride ofway within the development. The second project is SBDV03284 which is currently under review. That is also a plan development. The Orange Hill plan development. So that will consist of 68 single family residential lots and a golf course located on John's Island. It is in the St. John's Fire District. The plan development PD 191. It is 452 acres. We are waiting to get the breakdown of wetlands and highlands. So, a lot of that is wetland acreage. Um, but we're waiting on the Army Corps letter. So, uh, again, this property is located on John's Island as part of the Orange Hill plan development. The project will include single family lots and a golf course. They will be serviced by public water um, and septic systems

and it will be accessed by variable width rightway off of River Road. And the third one that we have received is a preliminary plat um to take six adjacent parcels totaling 6.77 acres and to create 24 single family lots. And this project is located in the West Ashley area, the St. Andrews PSD. It's zoned R4 and all of the parcels combined 6.77 acres. So, the property is located off of Woodland Road in the West Ashley area. The project will include 24 single family lots with HOA open space. The lots will be serviced by public water. Oh, sorry, I forgot to hit that. Um, by [clears throat] public water and public sewer and a 50 foot wide rideway as well. And those are the projects that I have this month.

Thank you. Um the last item on the agenda is the chair's remarks. So we need to talk about the subcommittees for the infrastructure and missing middle. I think we decided to put together make one committee to do both issues which since they overlap. So, we've got um Susan Cox, Luke Morris will be the chair, Adam McConnell, and Pete Pelotus will be on that committee. And I think your first meeting is set for the 26th, January 26th.

Okay. All right. There's no uh as a reminder, a planning commission workshop featuring a conceptual a conceptual PD development plan presentation will begin immediately following the conclusion of today's [clears throat] commission meeting. There's no further business. This meeting of the Charleston County Planning Commission stands adjourned. The commission will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, February 9th, 2026, beginning at 2 p.m. in council chambers. All right. Welcome [clears throat] to the January 12th, 2026 Charleston County Planning Commission workshop. The workshop has been noticed in compliance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. The first item on the agenda is a conceptual plan development workshop brothers residential plan development and uh Mr. Riierton make the presentation. Okay. Okay. Good afternoon everyone. I'm Eager, one of the brothers, Eager Zakaras, and that's my brother right there. So, it's a pleasure to be here with you guys. So, the property is located in 2828 River Road. It's owned by Eagle's Home LLC and the subject subject part so it's 1.28 28 acres. Right now it's a current zone AGR. So the intent that's our property right there. The intent of the brother's

residential is to get to extend change like the density of the of them over there. So, we're planning to do like uh four lots with a density of 3.13 units per acre. Created a unique housing development provide a smaller customuilt homes that will be a cost a cost effective housing option for Chson County as as you guys can see over there. So our property is located 30 feet away from a R4 zone and near the Urban Grove boundary zone and this is not just about the real estate like uh so we're not just thinking about this construction with this new project it's all helps like uh generated those opportunity for local supplies and reg contractors increasing the low country economic and like with new residents come to the PD. So also increase like the good and service people looking for support the local economic like bar restaurants and etc. and then also like increasing like manufacturers, transportation which all helps like the economic development element of Charleston go. So and also on this project we're trying achieve like prior investment implementation and

coordination counter comprehensive plan. We did a meeting, a committed meeting back in the day, me Junior, you junior and Michelle back in June 13 and 2025. We explain, we get to the neighbors. We get know we know everybody of them. We were present or intents and what we're trying to achieve on that area. on that time you can see the list of the neighbors around our property. So by that time no one was against it. They all listened and then that's what we're looking for. So we was looking for to know each other and and say and also we are coordinated with uh measurement and relevance agents to make sure that this project will be successful design and a coastal with a low country would have been said like uh we're I we're coordinator of Department of Defense S do in Charleston County. So just like to get a letter from Department of Defense. It took us like eight months to get a letter from them. This is like a it's not like a fast project. We're just going to come in and get out. It's take time and and project and think and then we also coordinate we starting coordinate with Charleston County and back in May 2024. We still got a lot to to do. But there and also we're trying with this new PD

we will achieve like the population mental go of Charleston County comprehensive plan which is Jones Island now in believe it's August they opening like a new ski elementary school and there's already like the new hospital it's coming soon to Jones Island that with 11 milesi away from the property and that one it's already have been built. There's like the Trident M center too. So with with those houses we could get more people out there and you know if you guys approve it and so it helps like the community as well. And then that's a location PD as well. We're trying it's going to achieve like the the Charleston County comprehensive plan house elementary goes creating an affordable neighborhoods with quality homes as you can see over there. So we're trying key of the committee is like good homes well thought through the beginning to the to the end and then with a good cost and so that way we can and on those four units we're going to have like two units the ziggonate for in. You can bring it to the

yellow dwellings units which will be designated for workforce units with uh they're going to be locked in in a 30-year mortgage and then with that Yeah, they're on right there. Thank you. with those ones. So people with two units of those like people with less earning less than 80% of area media income can be living on those two houses over there and also like addressing like social equity and difference with a different background people. So we have those two and two more houses. So that way it's sensitive to the neighbors. It's so we're trying to help the communities as well like people that earn less than than the others. So we we we can have options for them over there. So that's what we're trying to do. Well, that's now I'm gonna Junior's my brother's going to be taking care of this board. Good afternoon. It's I'm glad like to be here with y'all and pretty much like we're looking like uh this is like the this the shark that we are trying like to you know like the that we're proposing like the new dimensions. So like if we look like uh the main thing over here that's going to be affected on this chart, it's going to be like the density that we're like instead one house per per acre like we're going like to 3.3 like the density is going to like the the density is going to increase a little bit and

you know like uh Charleston County here's like the is going to is the goals that we're going to be meeting with this PD. We know like back in April like uh you guys had like a meeting like to discuss about like the affordable housing because of all the demand that like uh the people coming into the town. We are having like we're shortage on house and like uh me and my brother like we bought this property thinking that we're going to subdivide it for ourselves but like we we find we we found that we could not subdivide it. And what we thought would be like we what we thought would be like bring to the community like if you guys let us like give us like this opportunity to subdivide this property, we will build like two houses for the neighbors at bare cost. like we're not going to be make any money like uh you know like it's going to be two houses at 275,000 for the community and you know like they're going to be like three-bedroom houses and you cannot find like a house in Jones Island for you know like on their house and like uh and like we we can negotiate like the terms on the rates on the on the deed if needed what we could do we could increase like the like uh the did like uh to be the restrictions on the deed. it it's at least 25 years but we could increase it like for 30 60 years to keep giving back to the community you know like in 50 years from now when we you know like most of us is going to be all gone like our you know like we still have a mark over there that we gave to the community those houses and they still going to be locked on the did and people is still going to be glad like uh it's just going to be like two families out of all the thousands of people

that's like uh uh that's like need affordable houses. But those two two families, they're going to be blessed for having like uh do that house at that pro that price. And so why we're doing this is, you know, like my brother explained a little bit, it's like to address like the community and in order like to help like uh in order like to help like uh on this subdivision like for us to build like those houses at that price, we'll need like a flexibility on the zoning to make like on the those other two houses that's going to be a bare p a rental price. So we could, you know, like make the money on the other two to sell to be able to provide to the community like that those two houses at 275, you know, and like uh we can see like when I was looking through this, it's a large, you know, like we started like way back in 2024 and what I was seeing is like large developments, you know, like you guys hear like a lot of large developments over here like with, you know, over 30 40 a lot of houses and what they do most of them they they provide like a rental as affordable saying that's going to be affordable houses units but like uh they're not really giving up like on their fee. They're not really giving up like on 25 years the company will get back like those deeds and they could sell it or but like the majority of the people they either giving like rent as affordable houses on the if we look on the affordable houses like uh act like if we look on the zoning you can see

that you can offer them as rent or offer them like as sale you know but you got to be like less and 80% of the average of the income over there. And a lot of those buildings, a lot of those large developers, they do like tiny houses like 900 square ft or even like in the max like a thousand square ft on the Charstone comprehensive plan. If we go over there and look right now, the sample of like affordable houses is a tiny house. It's like a thousand square ft house, you know, like on the Charleston County comprehensive plan, there's a picture of the of the houses that a sample that that was going on in the community and it's just a tiny house. So we we wanted to be different different you know we want like to go over there and and have like those two families that's you know if approved like be there going to be blessed for like you know like the county gave me this opportunity to be on this house for this price and they could not even like for the price that we factor like the to to be on the on the affordable range like the the price of the mortgage is not is cheaper than the rent if I was going to rent a house on the neighborhood. So like uh so like on our point it's a great project for the community of you know like uh accord uh us like the to the zilo US is like 4.5 million and house shortage and here like on the last like the meeting that happened on April like one of the one of the councils like mentioned that like we're char we're behind like thousands of units and I know That's the goal of the Charson County is like to, you know,

bring like give the opportunity to the workers like the the people that need most and they're most like serving ourselves, you know. So, we're trying we're trying to give that to the community if you guys allowed. And like back there when we were doing the PD, you know, like one I met like with the Charleston County Charleston County like uh task force, Jones Island task force and their concern were like uh their concern where like you know if you guys allowed like this to happens to us you know like it would be like uh you know it would spread all the way around like on on the county and that's going to be unstoppable and cause like more problems than solving problems. But you know like I challenge like the other developers if you know like all the other developers like were able like to provide you know houses at for retail not for rent at with the same square footage with the same like aspect of this house that we're building you know like they they will not they will not be able like to you know build it like with $275,000.

Okay. And could you could you you've gone on for a number of minutes now. Could you kind of wind up and do a summary of what what you're asking for? Yes. So, pretty much what Yes. Pretty much like what we're asking for, you know, it's like the you know, pretty much what we're asking for is like to increase like the the density of this property from one I one one house per acre to 3.13. and some of the some of like the the changes on the like on the on the current like zoning, you know, some of the setbacks, you know.

Okay. All right. And here's like uh when we started like in 2024 when I met Mar and I met like and we've been through throughing this process and if you guys look like when I was studying this and looking around there's a lot of inconsistence like around the neighbors not all the neighbors where they're not like at one acre like there's houses over there that's like 6540 and there's you know there's a lot of like uh inconsistent around. So the area over there is not consistent like the not like all the zones are consistent.

So basically you would like to subdivide your lot into four four parcels and you're going to make the the end point the cost point will be $275,000. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Yep. And Yep. And if you guys have any questions, anybody have any questions? Anybody on the commission have questions? Warwick, just a comment.

You're on the wrong side of the urban growth boundary and you're subdividing intensely compared. I mean, people take the urban growth boundary very seriously and so do most of us. So this would be transgression maybe is not the right word but it would be something that would one would be rather reluctant to do. Yeah.

I'd like to commend you guys, you know, for for your effort of what you're trying to do. Uh but as my fellow commissioner said, you've you've chosen the wrong property with the wrong zoning to do a upzoning to to that intensity. Uh I think you're asking was it for a PD? Yes. And I believe, and please correct me if I'm wrong, there's a minimum of five acres needed for a PD. No. No. No. You can do a PD with one acre

in the county. Okay. All right. Well, maybe a different spot, but you're what you're what you're pushing in the workforce housing model and things of that sort. Once again, I I commend you for it and I wish you guys great success uh you know, moving forward. Luke um just echoing both comments and again commend you because I'm an architect not a developer and it takes a nerve to be a developer so put your own money on the line. Um

but yeah just like uh my my um colleagues have said it's outside the urban growth boundary. Um just looking at this it turns into you know four driveways coming out on the river road. It's a pretty fastmoving essentially highway or at least a predecessor to highways um with not great visibility. Uh and these affordable housing options essentially depend on vehicle transportation. Um if y'all are passionate about getting into like essentially providing affordable housing or more housing to help with the shortage, um it's typically or I would prefer something where it's like we don't need to rely on a deed restriction. and we can change the size of the properties being sold in order to meet whatever that price range is. Um seems to be something if we can make it happen in the zoning code. Uh something that would be better for I think the community as a whole. But um yeah, just echoing wrong location. Um but commend you in trying. So

yeah, thank you. Next, Gary Worth. Hello. How y'all today? Fine. Um I mean I guess enough is said. I was here I was here a few weeks. Oh, I'm Gary Worth. I live on John's Island. Thank you. 2493 Simland Drive. John's Island, South Carolina. Okay. Right off of Burden Creek Road. [laughter] right by the airport. Okay. Um near this property.

Yeah. Uh yeah, I commend these guys, but I mean I was here a couple of weeks ago where some guys trying to jam two houses on a lot on Burton Creek Road and that was not going to happen. So I just don't see how four houses with septic tanks and driveways and all of that's going to work. So I appreciate your time. I ask that y'all dis disagree with Louise Maybank.

I'm Louise Maybank, 2129 Briger Hill Road, One Mall Island. First of all, um, greetings to my former compatriots, Cindy, Andrea, and Warrick. Glad to see you again. I'm sure you all are wondering why in the world I'm here for 1.28 acres of land on John's Island. But uh, as you may know, I have followed this for years from various perspectives and I'm really here to speak about protecting the integrity of the underlying zoning for John's Island. I was party to as a citizen way back when when this law was first drawn way back when when we set the zoning um segments for the John's Allen and drew the um urban growth boundary and I've since then followed it through some other volunteer works with the green belts and with the land trust and also one more island land planning and I I look at these things when I see them when they come before me and when this particular one came I said wait a minute this is serious this is a tiny little piece of land in the middle of AR outside of the urban growth boundary and it's precedent setting and but from my perspective a historical perspective it was it was worthy of coming up and saying this is this is a serious trend that needs to be nipped in the bud that that yes we need all of the things that we need but we need to be very careful where they are to protect the, as I said, the integrity of the underlying zoning that has been there for decades, literally, many decades. And so, um, I, um, you know, we all understand the the reasons for more housing and more of this and more of that. But the most important thing I

from my perspective that I think your body needs to do is to think about the integrity of the law and that this is a a trend setting, precedent setting request and um should by all means not allow be allowed to creep into the overall zoning of Charleston County. Thank you. Thank you,

John Slogar. You always hate to uh follow Louise May Bank because [laughter] she's so good. Um John's logo 5528 Frisco Lane John's Island representing the John's Island task force. Um as as as Louise mentioned, you know, it what they're proposing violates several sections of the um ZLDR as well as the comp plan. Um the f first the future land use of this AGR is one unit per acre. That is the future land use according to the comp plan. Second um if you do a PD in the rural areas the um you're not allowed to have higher densities in urban areas you are and rural areas you're not. So again they're looking for higher densities with a um uh PD. Third and most importantly is that we're all concerned about affordable housing. We all know about this. Um so in 2021 and I was part of this effort there was extensive public engagement and there was uh affordable housing density bonuses that were allowed outside the urban growth boundary. That happened in 2021 if I got it right. Um for AGR zoning what this is there's a bonus of two units per acre or four units per acre if um there's 50% or 100% of the properties are affordable or workforce housing. So by right right now, no no reasonzoning required. They can put in um uh affordable housing units um in accordance with the current PDR um ZLDR, but they're asking for um um but only 50% of the units are affordable. So therefore, by right, they can only put two houses on this property. Um and even that, of course, as an upzoning as a bonus density. I won't call it an upzoning obviously. Yes. Um uh affordable housing is is uh very important and they can do it by right. Uh what we don't want to do is simply spot zone this particular property outside the urban growth

boundary. So I ask that if this PD comes back before you that you recommend this approval. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. That's all of our speakers. Um there's no further business. Is there any further business? This planning commission meeting is observe. [laughter] You know, we're leaving. Ajourned.