Charleston County's is going through the 5-year review of their comprehensive plan ("comp plan"). Among other things, the comp plan guides future zoning changes which should be of great importance to all of us.
Earlier this year we asked you to supply your recommended changes and over 140 of you did so. The County included many of your inputs into their latest draft, but not all of them.
The County has now gone out for feedback on their draft. This is an opportunity to continue to press for changes to limit growth on Johns Island. You have until August 30th to supply your inputs, but please take a few minutes today to respond to them.
You can respond in one of two ways. You can read the draft comp plan and supply your comments here (this website seems to work best on a desktop or laptop computer). Or you can email your comments to meustace@charlestoncounty.org (this link works well on a mobile devlce).
Our recommended changes are listed at the end of this newsletter. These changes include:
- Not increasing housing densities,
- Limiting the impact of planned developments, and
- Providing better traffic flow.
For your convenience, it you click on the email link we have already included these recommended changes in the body of the email.
Please respond today. Johns Island will thank you for years to come.
Recommended Changes to the Comp Plan
Table 3.1.1, Future Land Use Residential Densities: Change the Future Land Use for Rural Agriculture and Rural Residential to 1 dwelling per 8 acres and 1 dwelling per 3 acres, respectively. This can be done for Johns Island only as was done for the Future Land Use for Rural Cultural Community Protection on Wadmalaw and Edisto Islands.
Map 3.1.7.B, Johns Island Maybank Highway Corridor Overlay Zoning District Infrastructure and Connectivity Map: To be effective, the Southern Pitchfork and Cane Slash Road must be aligned. Show the rerouting of Cane Slash Road to the north to align it with the Southern Pitchfork.
Table 3.9.1, Priority Recommendations 2023-2028, Item 8: Change to “Review and amend the Comprehensive Plan and the ZLDR, as applicable, to increase open space, clustering, and other requirements necessary to achieve the increased density in the Rural Agriculture and Rural Agricultural Future Land Use designations through the Planned Development process, and better define open space as it relates to Planned Developments”
Chapter 4.1, Definitions, Open Space: Modify the definition of Open Space to be "Any parcel of highland or portion thereof, exclusive of impervious surfaces and golf courses, set aside, dedicated, designated, or reserved for either public or private use or enjoyment or for the use and enjoyment of owners, occupants, and/or their guests of land adjoining or neighboring such open space."
Appendix A1, Planning and Land Use Strategies, ii. Planned Development Zoning Districts, Open Space: At the end of the sentence “These density bonuses shall not be applicable to …” add “(3) Rural Agriculture and Rural Residential Future Land Use designations on Johns Island”.
