BZA defers decision on proposed 4‑bed short‑term rental on St. Andrews pending parking and management clarifications

The Charleston County Board of Zoning Appeals deferred a special-exception request to operate an extended short-term rental (up to 144 days per year) at 333 Curtis Avenue in the St. Andrews area after the applicant requested more time to address parking and operational concerns.

Staff presented the proposal as an extended home rental in the R-4 district with four rental bedrooms, occupancy limited to eight guests and a proposed six on-site parking spaces (two required plus one per bedroom). During questioning board members pressed the applicant’s representative about whether the owner currently held any limited-home-rental permits, how the property would be managed, whether advertising would limit guest numbers and how parking—some of it shown on grass—would be enforced. The applicant’s local property manager, Taylor Lentz, described proposed guest-screening procedures, noise-monitoring devices and plans to provide contact information to neighbors.

Several board members said the narrow driveway, a drainage ditch at the property frontage, and the layout made it difficult to be confident the site could safely accommodate six cars without additional improvements or a change in the number of bedrooms. The applicant indicated the owner lives out of state and asked for a deferral to secure owner approvals and explore options such as limiting bedrooms or improving the driveway surfaces. The board voted unanimously to defer the application; staff told the applicant to work with county staff and return within 90 days with revised plans or commitments.

The deferral pauses any final determination; if the applicant later chooses to pursue the original plan and the board denies it, a new application cannot be filed for 12 months unless appealed to circuit court.