Charleston council approves package of rezones, including Star Gospel Mission height change and Magnolia Road request

Charleston City Council on Aug. 19 approved a package of seven public-hearing items, including a map amendment to allow a taller building for Star Gospel Mission on Meeting Street and a contested rezoning request for 835 Magnolia Road in West Ashley.

The council voted, by voice, to take items E1 through E7 together with items E1 and E2 amended; the motion carried "as amended," the mayor announced after the voice vote.

The most contested item in the package was the request to rezone 835 Magnolia Road from SR-2 (single-family residential) to CT (commercial transitional). Philip (city planning staff) said the property is adjacent to the West Ashley Bikeway and that the church owning the site seeks the CT designation to add flexibility for a future sale and relocation. Members of the Maryville-Ashleyville neighborhood opposed the rezoning: Marsha Higgins, president of the Maryville Ashleyville Neighborhood Association, said the neighborhood submitted a petition and urged council to deny the change. "Rezoned to commercial, having a business located there ... we do ask you to please do not approve that this…