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Truck parking and sandblasting rezoning deferred after residents raise ownership, tax and safety questions
Summary
A request to rezone about 7 acres for a truck stop/parking and a sandblasting business was deferred after residents and heirs raised questions about property ownership, a fuel tank on site, tax impacts and the lack of a submitted lease and traffic/study documents.
The Berkeley County Planning Commission deferred action on a rezoning request for about 7 acres (portion of TMS 210-00-00-012) near Cypress Garden Road after public comment raised ownership, tax and safety concerns.
Planning staff described the request from applicant Tobias Jordan as a rezoning of a 7-acre portion of a larger parent parcel from Agricultural Flex 1 to Light Industrial (LI) to allow truck parking and a small sandblasting operation. Staff said the parcel is within the county's employment/growth corridor designation and that the applicant had not yet submitted a preliminary plat or a traffic study; STAC had recommended approval pending those materials. The conceptual plan showed roughly 945 linear feet of frontage and, conceptually, space for up to 45 parking spaces.
At the hearing, Tobias Jordan said the primary use would be truck parking for area drivers who have nowhere to park and storage for his mobile sandblasting equipment; he said he would not be parking trucks he owns. Jordan acknowledged a portable diesel tank exists on the property but said it belonged to a third party who stores dump trucks there, not to Jordan's operation.
Family members and neighbors objected or sought clarity. Mary Smith, who said she lives at 931 Cypress Garden Road, said permission had been given previously to family members to place trucks there and asked whether rezoning would raise property taxes; staff confirmed that subdividing and converting a portion to light industrial use would change the tax assessment for that portion. Rose Presley and other heirs said they were uncertain about ownership and asked whether the applicant had authority to seek rezoning; staff told the commission that applications typically include a certification that the applicant is an owner or authorized agent and that staff had not yet received a copy of the lease the applicant referenced.
Commissioners and members of the public asked whether the diesel tank and existing truck parking posed public-safety risks given nearby residences, and whether the proposed use would be truck storage for third-party trucks or parking for vehicles owned by the lessee. Staff and the applicant said they had not completed a traffic study and that a preliminary plat had not been submitted. Several commissioners suggested the applicants and family resolve ownership and lease questions and asked the county attorney whether the commission should accept a rezoning petition from a nonowner; the chairman recommended deferral so those issues and technical reviews could be completed.
The applicant agreed to the deferral. Commissioner Steiner moved to defer the rezoning to the February meeting; Miss Hoover seconded the motion, and the commission voted to defer the matter.
