Charleston County planning panel backs Orange Hill plan development, adds condition on tree mitigation and community involvement

The Charleston County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a rezoning and plan-development request for the 933.097-acre Orange Hill property on Johns Island, including a development agreement that would vest project rules for 10 years and require a mix of habitat protections, affordable-housing contributions and public-safety payments.

The recommendation, made after a staff presentation and public comment and adopted with a condition tying any off-site tree mitigation or tree-fund expenditures to Johns Island with community participation, moves the request to county council for two public hearings and potential ordinance readings.

Staff told the commission the project parcels (TMS 215000030, 215000163 and 2560000120) total 933.097 acres, roughly 628 acres of high ground and 304 acres of freshwater wetlands. The current entitlement (PD 83A) allowed 181 single-family lots; the proposed Orange Hill plan development (PD 191) would reduce that to 120 dwelling units. The developer also proposes a conservancy tract where, under the recorded restricted covenants, only a single dwelling would be allowed.

Under the draft development agreement described to the commission, the property owner (identified in the record as Kiowa Resort Associates) would have a 10-year vested-rights term unless extended by mutual consent. The agreement requires annual review by the zoning administrator and may be amended or canceled by mutual consent or successors in interest.…