Planning commission deadlocks on Summerville Methodist annexation and MFR rezoning after hours of public comment

The Summerville Planning Commission failed to approve a petition to annex a 4.26‑acre parcel at Luton Drive and King Charles Circle and to zone it multifamily residential (MFR) on March 16, resulting in a 3–3 tie and a recommendation that the town council deny the request.

Representatives of the applicant, Ambassadors of 1857 doing business as Summerville Methodist Church, told the commission the church purchased the land to build a permanent campus and that internal documents include restrictions on distributing assets on dissolution to tax‑exempt organizations. "We can't sell that property even if we wanted to to a private entity," said Bill Helmley, a founding member, as he offered the commission copies of the articles of incorporation and the church constitution.

Pastor Ross Chellis said the congregation intends to be a long‑term neighbor and that the applicant seeks to match an existing in‑town parcel’s zoning so the two parcels can be combined and development can proceed more quickly. "I think your concern's valid, and I think they're justified," Chellis said of neighbors' worries, adding the church had tried to address those concerns in recent conversations.

Many residents expressed mistrust about granting MFR zoning. Larry Colette, president of the Dillington Plantation Estates HOA, said he welcomed the church but asked for deed restrictions or a right of first refusal for the HOA to reduce the risk that the property could later permit multifamily development. "Our risk is what we don't know," Colette said. Longtime resident Mark Bacher urged denial, arguing the church does not need MFR to build and accusing the applicant of refusing binding deed restrictions: "Some real Methodist wants their cake and eat it too," he said, adding that rezoning would open the door for a future sale to a developer.

Engineers and planning professionals raised technical points about parcel history, buildable acreage and litigation risk for the HOA if MFR were allowed on the lot. Several commissioners asked staff to explain alternatives; staff said churches are allowed in nearly all zoning districts except public lands, but the applicant sought MFR to match an existing in‑town MFR parcel so the two properties could be combined without a separate rezoning of the in‑town parcel.

After discussion the commission moved to approve the annexation with MFR zoning. The voice vote produced three ayes and three nays; under commission rules a tie vote fails. Staff said the tie means the item will go to the town council with a recommendation to deny. The commission did not adopt any deed restrictions or covenant as a condition during its consideration.

Next steps: the annexation and rezoning petition will be forwarded to the Summerville Town Council with the commission’s recommendation to deny; council action and any conditions will be determined by that body.