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Council moves to certify abandoned industrial site to help redevelopment; traffic and turn-lane questions remain
Summary
The council considered a request to certify a former industrial site (Obelisk Real Estate Partners) as an abandoned building to allow the developer to seek state tax credits; members raised traffic and turn-lane cost concerns and noted the development is already proceeding under prior approvals.
Charleston County council members reviewed and moved to adopt an abandoned-building certification for a property owned by Obelisk Real Estate Partners so the developer can apply for state corporate income tax credits tied to redevelopment.
Council members said the property has been blighted and unused for years and that approving the certification would enable the developer to pursue state incentives and redevelop the site for warehousing and contractor-oriented uses. County staff and the applicant said the proposed project represents about a $21 million private investment and could create about 200 jobs. Staff said the certification does not change zoning but is a required local endorsement for state tax-credit applications.
Members pressed staff about traffic impacts. Councilman Boykin said neighbors have reported longstanding backups on Main Road and asked whether the traffic study and required turn-lane improvements had been analyzed. County staff said a traffic study was done and that SCDOT required a turn lane; the developer will pay a portion of the turn-lane cost. Staff estimated the turn-lane work could range roughly between $350,000 and $400,000 and said the developer—s plans include the improvements negotiated with SCDOT.
One council member said the project had already cleared previous fee-in-lieu and incentive approvals and characterized the site as industrially zoned and an appropriate redevelopment opportunity. Another member asked staff to provide additional traffic information before final county action; the chair agreed to gather more details for Tuesday—s full council meeting. The county did not vote to deny certification at the committee level.
