Planning commission approves split of downtown design review into historic and urban design commissions
October 10, 2025 | Columbia City, Richland County, South Carolina
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Columbia Planning Commission approved a zoning text amendment to reconfigure the city’s Design Development Review Commission (DDRC) into two separate bodies: a Historic Preservation Design Review Commission and an Urban Design Review Commission.
Staff said the change follows recommendations in the downtown strategic plan adopted earlier this year and is intended to place historic‑preservation expertise on one commission and urban design expertise on the other. The new historic preservation commission would have seven members with historic‑preservation expertise; the urban design commission would have five members with relevant urban design experience.
“When the DDRC was first formed in 1998 we had five historic districts and one urban design overlay. Now we have 15 historic districts, four urban design districts and about 200 landmarks,” staff said, arguing that the workload and subject matter have grown and that separating the commissions will make reviews more efficient.
Staff also said projects that fall in both a historic district and an urban design overlay would be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Design Review Commission to avoid requiring applicants to appear before two boards. Commissioners asked about how guidelines would be applied in overlapping overlay areas; staff said historic guidelines are generally more specific about architecture, and downtown design guidelines focus on the public realm and building‑to‑street relationships, and that staff from both areas would collaborate on reviews.
The commission voted to approve Zoning Text Amendment TA‑2025‑0015. No members of the public spoke on the item.
Staff said the change follows recommendations in the downtown strategic plan adopted earlier this year and is intended to place historic‑preservation expertise on one commission and urban design expertise on the other. The new historic preservation commission would have seven members with historic‑preservation expertise; the urban design commission would have five members with relevant urban design experience.
“When the DDRC was first formed in 1998 we had five historic districts and one urban design overlay. Now we have 15 historic districts, four urban design districts and about 200 landmarks,” staff said, arguing that the workload and subject matter have grown and that separating the commissions will make reviews more efficient.
Staff also said projects that fall in both a historic district and an urban design overlay would be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Design Review Commission to avoid requiring applicants to appear before two boards. Commissioners asked about how guidelines would be applied in overlapping overlay areas; staff said historic guidelines are generally more specific about architecture, and downtown design guidelines focus on the public realm and building‑to‑street relationships, and that staff from both areas would collaborate on reviews.
The commission voted to approve Zoning Text Amendment TA‑2025‑0015. No members of the public spoke on the item.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting