Council approves Pioneer Alley planned unit development and adds neighborhood architectural review safeguard

Charleston City Council on July 15 approved zoning and a planned unit development (PUD) for a collection of lots at 105 Cannon Street, known as Pioneer Alley, and adopted an amendment to the project's architectural guidelines to give the nearby neighborhood association a formal role if the original architect cannot continue.

City planning staff described the site as previously used primarily for parking behind the former Hominy Grill and said the proposal would allow infill development that is intended "to be in keeping with the character" of the Cannonborough-Elliottborough neighborhood. The PUD calls for a mixed-use building at the corner with up to 3.5 stories, about 25 residential and short-term rental units across the site, and up to 5,000 square feet of commercial space at the corner.

The council first voted by voice to approve related items for the site. Later, a council member offered an amendment to the PUD's Appendix 7 architectural guidelines to add a Pioneer Alley architectural review provision and to require a developer-appointed, South…