Charleston council approves multiple West Ashley rezoning and annexation items, OKs senior housing amendment; one application withdrawn

Charleston City Council on April 22 approved a series of rezoning and annexation items presented by city planning staff, including a Planned Unit Development (PUD) rezoning for the West Ashley Circle commercial site and an amendment to a nearby PUD to allow an 80-unit independent senior living facility.

City planning staffer Morgan told council the West Ashley Circle project would rezone a parcel to a planned unit development for commercial uses, creating a walkable cluster of retail, office and financial services near the Glen McConnell Parkway and Bees Ferry Road intersection and working around existing overhead power lines. Morgan said the project includes stormwater detention, trails and landscaping, and that the Planning Commission recommended approval.

The council also considered an amendment to a separate West Ashley PUD near Saint Francis Xavier Hospital and Henry Tecklenburg Drive. The amendment would allow an 80-unit affordable independent-living senior facility, and increase the allowable height from 55 feet to 60 feet to accommodate a planned four-story building. Morgan said planning staff and the developer view the location as appropriate for senior housing because it is adjacent to other senior facilities and the Waring Senior Center.

Several other annexations and rezonings across West Ashley — including parcels on Wapu Road, Orange Grove Road, Metkin Road, Agatha Street, Ridgewood Avenue, Vanderbilt Drive and Bolton Road — were presented as part of the same package. Morgan said the Planning Commission recommended approval of the items that came before council.

Developer Jason Freeman, representing Gateway Development Corporation, spoke briefly in support of the PUD amendment for the senior project, identifying his firm as the owner of a nearby apartment development and saying the team seeks the 80 independent-living units.

Councilman Bridal said he had spoken with the developer and with colleagues about the West Ashley Circle item and emphasized that the site will be commercial-only, not residential, noting the area is already seeing multifamily construction nearby and that the rezoning would add daily-use commercial options for nearby residents.

On a single motion that combined several agenda items, the council approved items 2 through 9 and 11 and 12; item 10 (2362 Brevard Road) was noted as withdrawn by the applicant. The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the public portion of the transcript excerpt; the mayor called for those in favor to say “aye,” and the motion carried.

Votes at a glance: - Items 2–9; 11 and 12 — Approved (planning commission recommended approval). Specific parcel addresses and proposed zoning changes were presented by staff; where the transcript did not provide ordinance or case numbers, those details were not specified. - Item 10 (2362 Brevard Road) — Withdrawn by applicant.

The council moved swiftly through the package after the public hearing; three people had been signed up to speak on the matters and two spoke on the record: Anthony G. Bryant and Jason Freeman. The package included a mix of commercial and residential annexations, and staff emphasized stormwater and access considerations for several West Ashley sites.

Background and context: Morgan said the West Ashley Circle PUD is aligned with the city’s comprehensive plan for a city-center-type node and noted existing multifamily construction and retail nearby. For the senior housing amendment, Morgan said the change from 55 to 60 feet was requested so the developer can build a four-story structure appropriate for the independent-living concept and that the site has lower traffic impact than an office use would.

Next steps: Approved rezonings and annexations will proceed with the clerk’s formal actions and any required implementation steps; the withdrawn Brevard Road item may be resubmitted by the applicant at a later date.