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Dorchester County planning panel denies rezoning for Highway 15 property
Summary
The Planning Commission voted 4–1 to deny a request to rezone 7.88 acres along Highway 15 in Saint George from Agricultural‑Residential to Commercial Light Industrial, citing floodplain, wetlands and inconsistency with the comprehensive plan.
Planning staff recommended denial of rezoning request RR953, saying the 7.88‑acre parcel on Highway 15 North in Saint George falls entirely within the AE flood zone, contains roughly two acres of highland per a wetlands field sketch, and sits within a mapped riparian corridor that calls for low‑impact development. "For the reasons stated in the analysis, staff recommends denial," said Planning staff during the presentation.
Commissioners questioned whether a formal wetlands survey had been submitted; staff said only a wetlands field sketch was provided and that the property owner acknowledged about two acres of highland. Commissioners also noted a legal nonconforming car lot nearby and a church across the street but repeatedly cited the future land use map and town zoning as reasons the more intense uses allowed in a CLI district would be incompatible with the area.
A commissioner moved to deny RR953; another commissioner seconded. During discussion, one commissioner said the adjacent car lot "is probably gonna stay there" but agreed the request would allow uses — including warehousing and some manufacturing — that staff found incompatible with surrounding low‑density and traditional neighborhood designations. Planning staff reiterated that the proposed use group for construction offices and outdoor storage requires CLI under the county ordinance.
The commission voted to deny RR953, with the record showing the motion passed 4–1.
The action means the parcel will remain in Agricultural‑Residential zoning; any future development will be subject to the county's technical review and floodplain/compensatory‑storage rules, and would require coordination with Dorchester County water and sewer and the Town of Saint George for service connections.
