Berkeley County BZA OKs special exception for Somerville boat and RV storage site

The Berkeley County Board of Zoning Appeals on a voice vote approved a special exception for TMS221-00-0019, a previously approved boat and RV storage laydown yard in Somerville, allowing a revised layout that uses underground/rock-bed stormwater storage instead of a detention pond and increases gravel parking area.

The change was presented by Matt Klein of Klein Engineering on behalf of applicant Daniel Godin. Klein told the board the updated plan reduces the need for imported fill by storing stormwater under the drivable surface in a rock bed, saying, "to put a rock bed, a extra rock in bed underneath the drivable surface so that there's enough stormwater storage within the rock system underneath the actual what you drive on, and it spreads the water out and you bring in less fill."

The revision also enlarges the gravel parking area from the previously approved footprint; Klein said the nearest residences within the 500-foot notice area are not any closer under the new layout than under the prior approval. County staff reminded the board that a final site plan, including stormwater review, must be submitted to the county and approved before construction may begin.

Board member Shire moved to grant the special exception; board member Mills seconded. The chair called for a voice vote and the motion carried.

The approval allows the applicant to proceed toward the site-plan stage with the revised stormwater approach and expanded gravel storage area. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; staff noted the usual county stormwater and site-plan reviews remain required before operations commence.

The board discussion on this item was limited to technical clarifications about distances to nearby residences and the stormwater approach; no members of the public spoke against the application during the hearing.