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Council members warn CCSD school may not open without required River Road mitigation
Summary
City staff told the Traffic and Transportation Committee that SCDOT’s permitting changes have increased off-site requirements for the River Road roundabout and that required mitigation may not be finished before a new Charleston County School District school is due to open.
Charleston City staff and council members told the Traffic and Transportation Committee on Jan. 28 that required off-site mitigation for a new Charleston County School District school — including a roundabout and turn lane work on River Road — may not be completed before the planned school opening, jeopardizing the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).
Council Member McBride, who represents the area, presented a short video and maps showing the school location and neighborhood connections. James Wallace of the city’s Transportation and Traffic staff told the committee that during permitting SCDOT required curb-and-gutter be extended to the project limits, a change that affects off-site construction scope. Wallace said CCSD indicated it may not obtain required permits or finish mitigation in time and that the district is discussing contingency “plan B” routing if mitigation is incomplete; Wallace said CCSD expected to have a clearer timeline in February.
City staff previously tied issuance of final CO/TCO to completion of off-site mitigation. The administration said it had sent or would send a letter to the school board outlining the city’s concerns and that the mayor would contact CCSD to convey the committee’s concern. Committee members said withholding a CO until mitigation is complete is a possible enforcement mechanism to prevent unsafe conditions at the school opening.
Members also raised neighborhood impacts: McBride and other council members urged proactive traffic calming in adjacent streets that may see new cut-through traffic; staff said the city has advised CCSD to begin the neighborhood signature and speed-hump process ahead of time but noted the Fire Department sometimes objects when traffic calming is proposed without demonstrated post‑opening need. Committee members requested CCSD provide status updates on neighborhood traffic-calming petitions and mitigation timelines.
The committee asked the mayor and staff to contact CCSD immediately and to include the topic on the committee agenda in February for a progress update, with CCSD representation invited. The mayor’s office and staff said the city’s letter and a potential decision on withholding CO would be considered carefully but emphasized public-safety concerns about opening a school before mitigation work is completed.
