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Commission Recommends Approval of 2-Acre Rezoning for Funeral Home Near 2 Notch Road
Summary
Planning commissioners voted to forward case 25-045MA with a recommendation of approval for a 2-acre rezoning to general commercial for a funeral home/office; the applicant said state law limits conversion to other commercial uses, and commissioners cited nearby commercial activity and a narrowed acreage.
The Richland County Planning Commission voted Feb. 19 to forward map amendment 25-045MA to county council with a recommendation of approval. The applicant, Heather Lee, requested rezoning of a two-acre portion of a larger parcel on 2 Notch Road from Homestead to General Commercial (GC) to permit a modest office and a small funeral home.
Heather Lee told the commission that the application had been significantly narrowed from a previously denied, larger request and that state statutes governing cemeteries and funeral homes (Title 40, chapters 8 and 19 of the South Carolina Code of Laws) impose licensure and operational limits that constrain future uses. "Perpetual care cemeteries and funeral homes are governed under Title 40, chapters 8 and 19 of the South Carolina Code of Laws," Lee said. "Regardless of zoning, this property can only be used for licensed death care services." She also noted other commercial zoning nearby and supplied handouts summarizing state law.
Staff showed Kershaw County’s future land-use map to demonstrate commercial designation across the county line and confirmed that the applicant had reduced the request to meet ordinance minimums (the minimum to request GC where not abutting was two acres). Commissioners asked staff whether they had independently verified the state-regulation claims; staff said they had not performed that verification as part of the zoning eligibility review and explained that state licensing would be addressed when a specific use is proposed.
Commissioner Grady moved to forward 25-045MA to county council with a recommendation of approval, citing existing commercial activity in the area and the state's regulatory limits on cemetery/funeral uses; Commissioner Sierks seconded and the motion passed. The matter will be considered by county council at its upcoming zoning hearing.
