Council rejects two map amendments and directs staff to add infrastructure review to rezoning criteria

Charleston County Council’s planning and public works committee, where all council members participate, disapproved two separate property rezoning or text amendment requests and unanimously directed staff to revise the zoning and land‑development regulations (ZLDR) and comprehensive‑plan approval criteria to permit consideration of infrastructure capacity and public‑safety impacts when evaluating future rezonings.

At the committee meeting, members voted to disapprove a comprehensive plan amendment request for ACP‑06‑25001 (25 Slain Cash Road) and later voted to disapprove ZLDR item 62500134 (Cairns / [Cairns] Road). Following the first disapproval, Councilmember Joe Boykin moved — and Councilmember Moody seconded — a separate motion instructing staff to amend the ZLDR and comp‑plan approval criteria so staff may consider drainage, roads, intersections, stormwater and related infrastructure when making recommendations on rezonings, planned developments and ZLDR amendments. "I'd like to make a motion to direct staff to amend the ZLDR to address infrastructure in the approval criteria for rezonings, planned developments, ZLDR amendments and comprehensive plan amendments," Boykin said; the motion passed by voice vote.

Proponents of the directive said the change is meant to give staff the ability to evaluate applications more holistically instead of relying solely on location inside the urban growth boundary. One councilmember noted that when the comprehensive plan and ZLDR were written they treated conditions as static while current realities — such as congested intersections on Johns Island — have changed. "This isn't a forever thing. If we get the infrastructure in place and we can support it, then they could come back in future time," a councilmember said, urging staff to consider current traffic and capacity when making recommendations.

Supporters also suggested involving the sheriff’s department in traffic and safety evaluations, for instance when signalization or other traffic controls may be necessary. Committee members emphasized the motion does not change a property owner’s by‑right development entitlements: developers may still pursue what is properly zoned today even after the approval‑criteria change.

The two disapprovals were voice votes recorded in committee minutes. The directive to amend the ZLDR passed unanimously and was framed as a policy‑stage change to give staff additional review authority; staff will return with draft language and implementation details.

Council did not adopt final ZLDR text at the meeting; the action was a direction to staff to draft amendments that would permit infrastructure, drainage, traffic, stormwater and public‑safety considerations to factor into future recommendations on land‑use changes.