City Council approves Medical University District overlay for MUSC properties after public hearing

Charleston City Council on Sept. 23 approved a proposed overlay zoning district for properties owned by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) on the Peninsula, approving the ordinance on a vote after a public hearing and a series of council comments and amendments.

City planning staff presented the overlay as a tool to enable MUSC to pursue a long-range “innovation district” plan that would allow mixed uses — including housing, retail and accommodations — and to provide the university with greater regulatory certainty needed for projects that can take a decade to move from concept to construction. “This is the second public hearing tonight to rezone the parcels that will be subject to a new proposed overlay for the Medical University District,” Josh Martin, a city planner, told council at the hearing.

Supporters, including university representatives and developers, said the overlay is intended to keep MUSC on the Peninsula, address stormwater and transportation needs comprehensively, and enable a planned cancer facility and other campus growth. Neighbors and preservation groups urged limits on height, stronger stormwater protections that account for neighborhood impacts, and clearer demolition notice for buildings on campus.

Why this matters: The overlay changes how zoning rules apply on MUSC-owned land: it sits on top of existing zoning but would allow uses and dimensional standards not otherwise permitted in the city’s LB (limited business) district. The proposal includes higher height allowances in parts of campus, adjusted parking rules, and an accommodations allowance capped at 250 rooms. Council’s approval moves the ordinance forward in the city’s legislative process; city staff said a second and final reading was tentatively scheduled for Oct. 14 if the ordinance moves forward as presented.

What the…