Planning committee sends three annexation and rezoning requests to full council
January 06, 2025 | Summerville, Dorchester County, South Carolina
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The Planning & Development Committee voted Thursday to send three annexation and rezoning requests to the full council for consideration.
All three agenda items were forwarded without extended debate. The first petition asked to annex property owned by the Dorchester County Career and Technology Center — TMS numbers 145, 1503, 044 and 045 at 431–441 Old Trolley Road, totaling about 2.13 acres — and to zone it UCMX (Urban Corridor Mixed Use) upon annexation. The committee chair noted the Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval at its Dec. 16, 2024 meeting. A motion to send the item to council carried.
A second petition, from John H. and Nancy S. Hill, requested annexation of TMS 136-09-00036 at 1501 Central Avenue (about 6.4 acres) and UCMX zoning following annexation into Summerville municipal limits in council district 4. Committee members asked whether UCMX allows apartments; a staff member answered, “UCMX does allow for both, the Both. Townhomes or apartments.” Staff clarified the applicant’s stated intent is to build townhomes, but the UCMX zoning category also permits apartments and commercial uses if ordinance requirements are met. Committee members discussed the parcel size and the practical likelihood of an apartment project, and then voted to forward the petition to full council.
The third item was a request to rezone TMS 13010-000074 at 917 W. Fifth North Street (approximately 0.27 acre) from NMX (Neighborhood Mixed Use) to NR (Neighborhood Residential). Staff said the rezoning is intended to allow an existing use that was not legally permitted when it began to remain in place. The item was recommended to go to full council.
Why it matters: Annexation and rezonings change where town rules apply and what uses are allowed on properties. UCMX zoning allows a mix of residential forms and commercial uses; committee members pressed staff about whether the designation could permit apartments even when an applicant intends townhomes.
Committee members did not take final votes to adopt zoning or annex the parcels; they forwarded the matters to full council, which must act to complete annexation or adopt zoning changes.
Votes at the committee: motions to forward each petition to full council passed on voice votes.
All three agenda items were forwarded without extended debate. The first petition asked to annex property owned by the Dorchester County Career and Technology Center — TMS numbers 145, 1503, 044 and 045 at 431–441 Old Trolley Road, totaling about 2.13 acres — and to zone it UCMX (Urban Corridor Mixed Use) upon annexation. The committee chair noted the Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval at its Dec. 16, 2024 meeting. A motion to send the item to council carried.
A second petition, from John H. and Nancy S. Hill, requested annexation of TMS 136-09-00036 at 1501 Central Avenue (about 6.4 acres) and UCMX zoning following annexation into Summerville municipal limits in council district 4. Committee members asked whether UCMX allows apartments; a staff member answered, “UCMX does allow for both, the Both. Townhomes or apartments.” Staff clarified the applicant’s stated intent is to build townhomes, but the UCMX zoning category also permits apartments and commercial uses if ordinance requirements are met. Committee members discussed the parcel size and the practical likelihood of an apartment project, and then voted to forward the petition to full council.
The third item was a request to rezone TMS 13010-000074 at 917 W. Fifth North Street (approximately 0.27 acre) from NMX (Neighborhood Mixed Use) to NR (Neighborhood Residential). Staff said the rezoning is intended to allow an existing use that was not legally permitted when it began to remain in place. The item was recommended to go to full council.
Why it matters: Annexation and rezonings change where town rules apply and what uses are allowed on properties. UCMX zoning allows a mix of residential forms and commercial uses; committee members pressed staff about whether the designation could permit apartments even when an applicant intends townhomes.
Committee members did not take final votes to adopt zoning or annex the parcels; they forwarded the matters to full council, which must act to complete annexation or adopt zoning changes.
Votes at the committee: motions to forward each petition to full council passed on voice votes.
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