City Council - Regular Meeting

Call the City Council meeting for June the 11th, 2026 to order and I'll ask that you please rise for the indication and the pledge. Let us pray. Dear Lord, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the opportunity to be here. We ask that everything we do be pleasing in your sight and at the end of this meeting you carry everyone home safely. In your son's name we pray. Amen. If you'll join me in the pledge, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

All right, so we will now proceed with the printed agenda.

First, we will have the recognition of new employees. When I call your name, please come to the front and give me a second. We're having some technical difficulties. Fire Department, Elena Jones. Police Department, Jonathan Bernard. Robert Carlos. Eric Ellis. David Fulmer, Breonna Slark.

first on on behalf of the mayor and city council i'd like to welcome you as our newest employees to the city of north charleston as you look out you see many residents here in attendance and i would just remind you that those are your constituents those are your customers and i would ask you to keep that in mind as you're out performing your duties for the city if you'll turn around and face this way this is your city council And they're the ones that control your raises, so I would be very nice to those folks as you continue on in your career. But again, just on behalf of the mayor as well as city council, I'd like to welcome you, congratulate you, and hope that you have a long and prosperous career here at the City of North Charleston. So thank you very much. And as the mayor normally says, you don't have to stay if you don't want to. So that's up to you, but welcome.

Will Rahim Karim and Herbert Frazier Rahim come to the front? In honor and appreciation, the City of North Charleston proudly recognizes and extends its deepest gratitude to Raheem Kareem and Herbert Frazier Raheem for their unwavering dedication and outstanding service to our community. Your exemplary actions have profoundly impacted the city's quality of life and contributed significantly to the continued progress of North Charleston. By consistently going above and beyond, you serve as a model of exceptional citizenship. On behalf of the residents and officials of the city of North Charleston, we thank you for your invaluable civic service. Now, therefore, be it resolved, I, Reginald L. Burgess, Mayor of North Charleston, do hereby recognize you for impacts towards the betterment of the City of North Charleston. We urge all to join us in wholeheartedly acknowledging this honor.

So on behalf of the mayor and city council, I'd like to be the first to congratulate you. We do have the proclamation that was read tonight for both of you. And if you'd like to say a brief word or two, that would be fantastic as well.

Very brief. No, I would like to say that we work with Lowcountry Alliance and Model Communities, and we've been working very closely with Councilman Brown for almost 20-some odd years.

More than 20.

More than 20, yeah, a long time. And that has been a pleasure, and he's been an excellent representative of the city of North Charleston.

May I approach him? I just want to add something to it. Just like you said, it's been more than 20 years, and over the years we've been working together. Some of the stories the mayor can tell about other communities, he said tumbleweeds would be there in the communities, but we've seen state ports authority mitigation. We went through also taking away the incinerator, roads issues. There's a lot of things that they have done over the 20 years, and I've got to say I really thank them when I started looking at the communities, who has really been there throughout the tough time, the heavy lifting, that really have meant a whole lot to the communities. And when I met them, there weren't any canes that they had, but that shows you how the time and how time progressed, and I want to really thank them for all that they have done and still doing within the communities. Thank you very much, sir.

The first item on the agenda is a request to approve the minutes from the May 28th, 2026 meeting.

Move to approve.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Ms. Jerome? Aye. Dr. Ganaway-Paisley? Aye. Mr. Emdy?

Aye.

Mr. Brown?

Aye.

Mr. Hudson?

Aye.

Mr. Brown?

Aye.

Mayor Pro Tem Skipper?

Aye.

We have the final reading of an ordinance to approve the 2026-2027 budget ordinance.

Move for approval.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Ms. Jerome. Aye. Dr. Ganaway-Paisley. Aye. Mr. Emdy.

Aye.

Mr. Brown. Aye. Mr. Hudson.

Aye.

Mr. Brown. Aye. Mayor Pro Tem Skipper.

Aye. Mayor Pro Tem. Aye.

Yes, sir.

Items three through five, I think we have discussed those pretty much earlier and those are final readings in committees before. If there's no obligation or from council, can we do those by title only, sir?

Without objection, we'll do items three through five by title only.

Final reading of a supplemental ordinance authorizing the issuance and sales of not exceeding 26 million aggregate principal amount limited obligation refunding bonds, hospitality fee pledge. An ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designee to execute a deed from the city of North Charleston to Charleston Habitat for Humanity, Charleston, South Carolina, to donate certain real properties located at 2207 Dover Street, Lot 317, TMS number 46914, parcel 148, and 2253 Eastern Street, lot 388, TMS number 46914, parcel 197, for the purposes of constructing affordable housing. An ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designee to execute a deed from the city of North Charleston to Bridge North Charleston in North Charleston, South Carolina to donate certain real properties located at 1998 Joppa Avenue, a portion of lots 26 and 28. TMS numbers 46616... parcel 29 and 2144 Garfield Street, lot 509, TMS number 46914, parcel 337, for the purposes of constructing affordable housing. Move to approve. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Ms. Jerome? Aye. Dr. Ganaway-Paisley? Aye. Mr. Emdy?

Aye.

Mr. Brown?

Aye.

Mr. Hudson?

Aye.

Mr. Brown? Aye. May I approach them, Skipper?

Aye.

We have the first reading of an ordinance rezoning the property addressed at 7890 Dorchester Road, Charleston County, TMS number 397, parcel 245 from B1 Limited Business to B2 General Business in Council District 1.

Good evening. So first item is, as was stated, a proposed rezoning at 7890 Dorchester Road from B1 Limited Business to B2 General Business. The property can be seen here highlighted in blue at Dorchester Road. And I can't see that here.

Here.

You can see the property in light blue representing the B1 Limited Business District, surrounded by B2 in the red here at the corner. The subject property is designated suburban residential within the mixed-use corridor of Dorchester Road. So what that typically addresses is more suburban-style development, auto-centric, and larger lot type of commercial development. So it's intended to sustain lower density neighborhoods. It's also within the mixed use corridor of Dorchester Road. This designation is intended to provide for commercial, retail, office, and higher density housing adjacent to principal transportation corridors throughout the city. These are areas intended to promote development of mixed uses that will enhance access to a wider range of services in nearby neighborhoods. You can see the property here in the photos with our public notice sign as is required. The surrounding area is comprised of general and limited commercial uses along Dorchester Road. to the east and west of the subject property are B2 zone properties, including some B2 and B1 zone properties that are directly adjacent to the fireside townhomes, which are located to the north of the subject property. Staff's recommendation is approval. The mixed-use corridor designation supports a combination of multifamily commercial, office, retail, and light industrial uses. Given the subject property's location along a major transportation corridor, the proximity of other general business uses, and the support from the comprehensive plan, Staff is recommending approval of the proposed rezoning of the property from B-1 Limited Business to B-2 General Business. This was at the May 11th Planning Commission meeting where it received a 4-3 recommendation of approval.

Are there any questions from council? Hearing none, this item will be referred to the committee meeting on June the 18th.

Our next item is an ordinance rezoning the property address that's 1935 Burton Lane, Charleston County TMS number 46603 parcel 92 from R1 single family residential to R2 multifamily residential in Council District 10.

So again, this is the 1935 Burton Lane rezoning. Property highlighted here in blue. This property is located, it's currently zoned R1 single family residential. They are requesting R2 multifamily residential. It's currently a vacant and undeveloped lot. You can see the surrounding zoning is R1 with some B2 immediately across Burton Lane. Subject property is designated traditional neighborhood development within the mixed use corridor of Spruill Avenue. That traditional neighborhood designation is applied to areas of the city to provide for higher density neighborhoods, smaller lots, a mix of housing types, as well as multi-family uses within the proximity of the mixed use corridors. Mixed use corridor designation is intended to provide for a mix of those uses together in closer proximity on transportation corridors to provide for better access to residents. These areas are intended to promote the development of a mix of uses that will enhance access to a wider range of services for nearby neighborhoods. Subject property here in the photos, again, a cleared vacant lot on a street that's mainly developed to single family houses. There is a mix of residential types and commercial businesses, as I stated, across the street on Burton. Given the subject property's location in proximity to principal transportation corridors, the neighborhood's mixed residential development, and the support from the comprehensive plan, staff recommends approval of the proposed rezoning from R1 single-family residential to R2 multifamily residential. The Planning Commission at their May 11th meeting also recommended approval unanimously at that meeting.

Are there any questions from council? Hearing none, this will be referred to the committee meetings on June the 18th.

Our next item is an ordinance rezoning the property addressed as 9650 Dorchester Road, Dorchester County, TMS number 171, parcel 197 from B2 General Business to R1 Single Family Residential to PDD Plan Development, District Kusaw Crossing in Council District 9.

So as title says, this is the subject property highlighted here in blue on Dorchester Road next to the Lowe's on Dorchester Road. We can see the property zoning is currently B2 with some R1 single family residential.

Let's see, since that's slowing down.

Again, this is, as far as the comprehensive plan designation, it's suburban residential on the mixed-use corridor, Dorchester Road. As I've stated in previous cases, suburban residential is mostly larger lot, auto-oriented development. Mixed-use corridor provides for mixing of those uses to put people and businesses next to each other as much as possible. You can see here the subject parcel is an undeveloped and wooded lot. Land use in the area is a mixture of single-family homes, general commercial uses, and wooded undeveloped lots. The property directly to the north of the subject parcels are undeveloped wooded lots. To the east is mostly undeveloped wooded land, and to the west is a Lowe's Home Improvement Center. To the south is King's Grant subdivision, a 428-lot single-family community. So the proposal is to rezone the property to a PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, THE 14.44 ACRES WOULD INCORPORATE A COMMERCIAL AREA PROPOSED ALONG THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE PDD TO, AND IT'S INTENDED TO PROVIDE FOR GENERAL AND LIMITED BUSINESS. THIS AREA ALLOWS ALL PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES FROM B1 AND B2 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF APARTMENTS, DANCE HALLS, BANQUET OR RENTAL HALLS, VENUES, CLUBS, MUSIC HALLS, OR ANY SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENT. Adult bookstores and sexually oriented businesses, temporary or transient lodging, highway-oriented uses in storage lockers and storage garages are also prohibited in that area. The residential area, which would be highlighted in blue on the map, proposed along the mid-portion of the property is intended to encourage single-family attached dwelling units, townhomes, triplexes, quadplexes, and similar attached units. residential configurations. The area permits all uses permitted in our one single family residential and our two multifamily residential excluding apartments. So As the proposed land uses and master plan of the planned development is consistent with the surrounding existing land uses, as well as is consistent with the comprehensive plan, staff is recommending approval of the proposed rezoning from B2 General Business and R1 Single Family Residential to PDD Planned Development District, Coosaw Creek. This property was at the Planning Commission on May 11th for a public hearing where the Planning Commission recommended denial unanimously.

Are there any questions from council? On, per the request of the applicant, this particular item is gonna be deferred to the July committee meetings. So it'll be on the July committee meetings.

Our next item is an ordinance amending section 7-7.2 and 7-8 and adding section 7-9 of the zoning regulations of the city of North Charleston to clarify zoning map and zoning text amendment requirements, as well as to establish a planning and zoning department fee schedule.

So the proposed text amendment is for a new fee schedule for the planning and zoning department, which we haven't had one in the past, in addition to permits, the department processes, variance requests, rezoning applications, plats, zoning verification letters, and other items. Of the items processed currently, only two are charged a processing fee which would be the rezonings and variances which have a $75 fee that's incorporated to cover the cost of our advertising, the required public hearing notice that is placed in the newspaper. New plan development districts and PDD amendments are subject to the same $75 fee for rezoning despite being more administratively complex. After reviewing nearby jurisdictions fees, which we can see here on the chart, and I'll move down in just a moment, staff is Proposed in consideration a fee schedule which consolidates existing fees into one section, revises some of the fees, and it also establishes new fees for items for which no fees currently are collected, which would include zoning verification, letters, and plats. Staff is also proposing minor amendments to Section 7.2 with regard to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Section 7.8 to clarify the rezoning process timeframe. So as far as the chart goes, you see the current fees here, our proposed fees, minor increases as well as adding some fees where we had never collected in the past, as well as comparative table to show that we are still considerably cheaper than the region when it comes to any of these fees that may be collected for these types of processes that we do. You can see the red lines here. These were basic cleanups, trying to just changing chairmen to chairperson, kind of modernize that, addressing the fee here, and adding that fee schedule to 7-9. Staff's recommendation of the proposed changes and additions is approval and approval.

Are there any questions from council? Hearing none, this will also be referred to the committee meetings on June the 18th.

We have the first reading of an ordinance adopting a bill to be entitled an annexation ordinance of the city of North Charleston, annexing an area of Charleston County known as 55X, TMS number 47512 parcel 91, and make a part of present city council district six as shown on a map prepared by the GIS department for purposes of this annexation dated June 2nd, 2026, bearing the title Area proposed for annexation by the City of North Charleston, Section 55X in Council District 6.

Move for approval. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Mr. Brown. Aye. Dr. Ganaway-Paisley. Aye. Mr. Emdy. Aye. Mr. Brown.

Aye.

Mr. Hudson.

Aye.

Mr. Brown.

Aye.

Mayor Poston-Skipper.

Aye.

We have one speaker tonight. When I call your name, please come to the front. State your name and address for the record and you have three minutes. Ms. Lori Smith.

I'm here with my work, so do you want me to give you that address? I'm sorry. Okay, so our office is located at 1357 Remount Road, Unit 3, and my name is Lori Smith. And I just want to thank you for the opportunity to speak with you tonight. My name is Lori Smith, and I'm the Executive Director of NAMI Charleston Area. I'm joined this evening by Susan Ash, our fundraising coordinator and a resident of North Charleston. Mental health is personal to me because my own family has been impacted by mental health challenges, and that experience drives my commitment every day to help others find support and hope. We are the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. We provide free support groups, educational programs, and advocacy for individuals living with mental health conditions and their families throughout Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley County. And our goal is simple, to ensure that no one has to face mental health challenges alone. This year, we are expanding our outreach into the underserved communities excuse me, including rural areas, the Charleston County Detention Center, and populations experiencing homelessness. We're also working to bring programs such as Sharing Hope and Homefront to more residences across the Lowcountry. We're proud to serve many North Charleston residents and would love to continue to strengthen our partnership with the city. We invite you to join us at the Festival of Hope on July 25th and our NAMI Walks event on October 3rd as we bring community... together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote recovery. We welcome opportunities for collaboration, volunteer engagement, and financial support to help us expand programs, reach more individuals in need, and bring life-saving mental health resources to underserved areas of our communities. Together we feel we can build a healthier, stronger, and more

Connected North Charleston, and we thank you for your time and all you do for our community Thank you Thank you very much Mayor Pro Tem yes, ma'am if I may Lori can you give us the times and dates? I mean you give us the dates, but can you give us the times and location of your two events I? Thank you. Mayor Pro Tem.

Yes, ma'am.

I just want to say to Ms. Laura that I recognize the growing need for mental health awareness, education, and support within North Charleston. And your organization's commitment to providing free programs and advocacy and family support is an important resource for our communities. I thank you.

Is there anything else to come before council? Hearing nothing, this meeting is adjourned.