Dorchester County planning commission approves rezoning, code and fee amendments and utility substation plan

The Dorchester County Planning Commission voted to approve a rezoning for a Somerville property long used as Rusty’s Driving School, adopt zoning and fee-code amendments to align density and off-site sidewalk requirements, approve a $1,000 fiscal impact-analysis fee, authorize a flat planned-development fee schedule, approve the Big Sky Lane street-name request and approve a special-district plan for an electrical substation in the Summers Corner area. Several items were handled by unanimous voice vote or by consent; one rezoning application was deferred at the applicant’s request.

The actions affect land use rules and development costs countywide and clear the way for a proposed office/institutional zoning designation on East Fifth Street North in Summerville, changes to the county’s off-site sidewalk threshold intended to reduce burdens on townhouse developments, an administrative fee to cover fiscal-impact modeling, and the formal approval of a utility substation site near Ashley Ridge High School.

Staff presented the rezoning request identified on the agenda as RR-930 (property owner listed as Roberta Hires et al.; applicant listed as Lucius Hires III). A planner said, “Staff finds that the OI District could be supported in this area, therefore, staff recommends approval.” The commission approved the rezoning from TRM (Transitional Residential) to OI (Office and Institutional) by voice…