Council approves first reading (as amended) of measure to limit Design Review Board review for city projects after public objections

Charleston City Council on Feb. 10 approved on first reading, as amended, a bill that would limit the Design Review Board’s authority for city capital projects to a single conceptual review.

Lisa Jones of the Historic Charleston Foundation, speaking during citizen participation, told council that public review is "one of the most important safeguards" for major infrastructure and taxpayer-funded projects and said the proposed amendment "would permanently reduce oversight, not just for current projects, but for all future capital improvement projects of any scale in any location in the city." She urged council to oppose the amendment and preserve full DRB review and public engagement.

Anna Catherine Alexander of the Preservation Society of Charleston also asked the council to defer action, saying the broad exemption "appears to be a solution in need of a problem" and that the planning commission would consider the item next week.

A representative from the planning department placed an amended copy on the mayor’s desk and the council made a motion "as amended." The council then approved the motion by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tally in the transcript. The mayor confirmed the motion was "as amended."

Council members and commission representatives stressed balancing efficiency with transparency. Council referred several heritage-related recommendations from HARC and the Commission on History to standing committees for further consideration.

Next steps: The motion passed first reading as amended; the planning commission is scheduled to review related matters next week, and the council will consider subsequent readings per the normal ordinance process.