Charleston County planning commissioners vote to disapprove Storybook Farm planned development

The Charleston County Planning Commission voted to disapprove a request to rezone parcels TMS 286-00-00-023 and 286-00-00-037 from Low Density Residential (R4) to the Storybook Farm Planned Development (PD-192), a proposal that would have allowed up to 147 multifamily units, including a minimum of seven workforce dwelling units.

Staff said the proposal failed to meet the county's approval criteria because its proposed density significantly exceeded the comprehensive plan's recommended range for the site. "Because one or more of the approval criteria is not met, staff recommends disapproval," Marshae Miller, planning staff presenting the case, told commissioners.

The staff presentation described the site's current use (a horse farm on the larger parcel and a single-family residence on the smaller parcel), noted portions of the property lie in FEMA flood zones (shaded X, AE7 and AE9), and summarized proposed project features: six multifamily buildings, community gathering space that would comprise approximately 30—6% of the project area, accessory amenities (community gardens, dog parks, pool, courts), and a traffic mitigation plan…