Beaufort County planning commission backs rezoning to allow Bethesda Methodist school addition

The Beaufort County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a zoning‑map amendment on Oct. 6 that would allow Bethesda Methodist to build an addition large enough to house a K–5 school in an initial phase, sending the commission’s recommendation on to county council via the Natural Resources Committee.

Staff presented the request as a map amendment for three parcels, noting the change is needed because the development would exceed the county’s 15,000‑square‑foot threshold that separates smaller church uses from larger institutional uses and that the proposal is consistent with the county comprehensive plan. "Because all of that, we do have the recommendation that staff recommends approval," staff told commissioners.

Applicant Roscoe Chambers, representing Bethesda Methodist, described a conceptual master plan for nine classrooms that in the first phase would serve about 108 to 144 students. "It's gonna handle anywhere from 108 students up to 144 max in this phase," Chambers said, and he acknowledged an application error that listed much larger long‑term numbers, saying the larger build‑out is a long‑term goal, not part of the current application.

Traffic and safety were central concerns. Commissioners and residents pressed whether the project's traffic impact analysis (TIA) had accounted for background growth and whether future expansion would require additional mitigation or SCDOT review. County staff/consultant Kevin Sullivan said the TIA followed the ordinance by studying intersections closest to the site, included background growth assumptions, and showed no degradation below the county’s level‑of‑service D for the intersections studied. "We actually studied that intersection as well... even with the background growth and then their actual project, our analysis showed it wasn't gonna be any significant impact," he said. Staff and the applicant also said any materially larger expansion would require a new study and likely consultation with SCDOT.

Residents raised practical concerns about on‑site stacking and off‑site backups on Doctor Martin Luther King Drive and nearby signalized intersections. Chambers said the site plan includes a looped drop‑off and two‑way on‑site circulation intended to keep queueing on the property: "We actually have a two‑lane stacking during school hours, which helps us a lot if needed." Commissioners noted Sunday congregation traffic may exceed weekday school traffic and asked staff to ensure any needed turn lanes or mitigation would be addressed in later engineering reviews.

Commissioners also asked about stormwater. Chambers said previous, pre‑COVID analyses found no need to expand the existing pond but that modern calculations (to be provided by Davis & Floyd engineers) would confirm whether expansion or underground storage is required.

During public comment, Willie Terrell, owner of Willie's Breakfast Bar & Grill and executive director of the Saint Helena Economic Development Center, urged proactive safety and infrastructure planning for the corridor that is changing with new educational and community uses. Terrell described a violent incident at his business earlier this year and asked the county to coordinate lighting, sidewalks, traffic mitigation and small‑business support. He asked that his group, Shed Works, be placed on the December agenda to present a community partnership framework for the Corners neighborhood market.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend approval of the zoning change (rezoning roughly five acres from a T3 place type to T4 village center zoning to allow the larger institutional footprint); the motion was seconded and approved by the commission. Chair announced the commission’s acceptance of the staff recommendation and said the item will move forward to county council review.

Next steps cited by staff include engineering‑level review of access and drainage, further TIA or updates if the project seeks a larger build‑out, and consultation with SCDOT if turn lanes or other off‑site mitigation become necessary. The commission also scheduled and reminded members about upcoming comprehensive‑plan workshops and asked staff to arrange a separate briefing on TIA methodology and level‑of‑service standards so commissioners have a clearer technical background when reviewing future traffic analyses.

The planning commission adjourned without further action.