Residents oppose rezoning request for Orange Grove Road parcel, citing traffic and safety concerns

Charleston County Council held a public hearing May 13 on a request to rezone 1488 Orange Grove Road (TMS 352-13-069) from the R4 zoning district to UR, a change staff said would allow greater housing density and a broader mix of housing types.

County planning staff told council the property is 0.5 acres inside the county's urban growth boundary and that the comprehensive plan designates the site for the urban/suburban mixed-use category. Staff said R4 allows approximately 4 dwelling units per acre while the requested UR zoning allows up to 16 units per acre, and concluded that criteria A and B "may have been met" and recommended approval. The presentation noted site constraints and development standards would likely limit how many units could actually be built.

The matter drew multiple speakers from the adjacent Mulmar Street neighborhood, who opposed the rezoning on traffic and safety grounds. "Mulmar is a small residential street that already shoulders more traffic than normal because of the large…