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Commission questions county thresholds for traffic studies on small commercial vs. larger housing projects
Summary
Commissioners asked why a traffic impact analysis is required for a 1-acre commercial rezoning but not for a nearby 4.3-acre, 40-unit townhome project; county staff said trip-generation thresholds come from a published manual and that the county engineer can require a TIA based on cumulative impacts.
During departmental updates commissioners raised concerns about the applicability of traffic impact analyses (TIAs) for projects of differing sizes along the Clements Ferry / I-526 corridor. A commissioner noted it "doesn't seem to make sense" that a one-acre commercial rezoning might trigger a TIA while a four-acre, 40-unit residential proposal would not.
County staff explained that the trip-generation numbers used to determine TIA thresholds are published in a manual (TRPGEN) and that the engineering department handles the determinations. A county staff member explained that "the county engineer or designee has the ability to require a traffic study if it is determined that there will be cumulative traffic impacts," adding that staff will verify thresholds and follow up with commissioners before the next meeting. Staff also noted they would coordinate with Charleston regarding other nearby proposed developments that could change cumulative impacts along the corridor.
