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Commission approves new home and partial shed demolition in Phillips Community Historic District
Summary
The Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of historic appropriateness for a new single‑story, three‑bedroom home with attached garage at 2985 Bennett Charles Road and retroactive approval and partial demolition of an existing shed.
The Charleston County Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved a certificate of historic appropriateness for a new single‑story, three‑bedroom home with attached garage, and for retroactive approval and partial demolition of an accessory structure at TMS 583‑00‑00‑04702985 (2985 Bennett Charles Road) in the Phillips Community Historic District.
Staff presenter Monica Eustice explained the applicant proposes a 1,768‑square‑foot ranch‑style brick house with a shingled roof, a front screened porch and an attached one‑car garage. The site contains an existing garage (approximately 780 square feet) and a 330‑square‑foot shed; the applicant requests retroactive approval of the shed and seeks demolition of 96 square feet of that shed to make room for the new home. Eustice said the applicant provided responses to all applicable approval criteria and staff recommended approval.
Applicant and property owner Barb Widdecombe, who said she moved to the Phillips community 40 years ago, told commissioners she filed the application to remain in the Phillips community and to build a smaller home to "age in place." Widdecombe said the builder warned that material selections such as brick versus hardiplank might change because of price fluctuations but that the house plan and square footage would remain the same. When asked, she confirmed that the remaining portion of the shed and the garage would still be usable after removal of the 96‑square‑foot portion.
A motion to approve the application based on all three approval criteria was made and seconded. The roll call vote was: Michael Walsh — Aye; Brent Halvorsen — Aye; Michael German — Aye; Amy Gerard — Aye; Pat Jones — Aye; Chair Melanie Millar — Aye. The ayes carried the motion.
Eustice noted the Phillips community was designated as a Charleston County Historic District in 2021 and that the district covers about 420 acres; staff provided examples of nearby contributing resources and recent nearby CHAs. The commission recorded the decision and gave standard appeal instructions to interested parties.
