Planning Commission

TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA PLANNING COMMISSION DECEMBER 14, 2022 MINUTES PowerPoint Presentation Present: Kathy Smith, Chair, Garrett Lacy, Brett Bennett, Michael McCormick, Pam Ireland, Gary Davis, Bill Smyth, George Gates, Bruce Koedding. Staff: Michele Reed, Peter Stone, Kevin Mitchell, Marissa Poultney, John Farrell, Juliana Wright, James Ward, Lynnette Lynes Ms. Smith called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. 1. Approval of the Agenda Ms. Ireland moved for approval of the agenda. Mr. Bennett seconded the motion. All in favor. 2. Approval of Minutes from October 19th Meeting Mr. Davis moved for approval of the minutes. Ms. Ireland seconded the motion. All in favor. Mr. Gates stated that he had some corrections to the minutes. He stated that he abstained from the votes to approve the October agenda and September minutes. He also stated that there was discussion on changing the order of the October agenda that should be included in the minutes. Mr. Gates moved to have the minutes corrected to reflect the following: ➢ Mr. Gates abstained from the vote to approve the October agenda. ➢ Mr. Gates abstained from the vote to approve the September minutes. ➢ Inclusion of the discussion on changing the order of the October agenda. Ms. Ireland seconded the motion. All in favor. 3. Update on Planning Commission Recommendations Mr. Stone reviewed Town Council decisions with the Commission. 4. General Correspondence All correspondence was linked to the agenda and distributed to the Commission.  Planning Commission Agenda December 14, 2022 Page 2 of 5 5. General Public Comment Ms. Denise Fugo, Housing for All Mount Pleasant Executive Director, spoke regarding the time limit for attainable housing. Ms. Smith stated that those comments will be received during the public hearing for that item. There being no further comments, Ms. Smith closed public comment. 6. Requests A. R-21-22, Request to amend the Wilson Tract PD, Planned Development, specifically Sweetgrass Ph. III Amenity Area. Whereas the initial Zoning Map for Sweetgrass Neighborhood, permitted the use of an 87-foot X 150-foot boat storage area, the proposed amendment would expand the designated area for the allowance of further permitted storage. The 1.2- acre parcel is identified by TMS No. 558- 15-00-260 and indicated on a plat recorded by the Charleston County ROD Office in Plat Book L20, Page 0358. Mr. Stone reviewed staff comments with the Commission. Mr. Elliott Hood, HOA Board member representing the applicant, reviewed the request with the Commission. There being no comments, Ms. Smith closed the public hearing. Ms. Ireland moved for approval of the amendment. Mr. Smyth seconded the motion. All in favor. B. R-22-22, Request to Annex and Zone AB, Areawide Business, 1178 Highway 41, an approximately 0.58-acre parcel, identified as TMS No. 580-00-00- 029 and further indicated on a plat recorded by the Charleston County ROD Office in Plat Book O, Page 582. Property is currently in the County Zoned Mt. Pleasant Overlay District This item was withdrawn by the applicant. C. R-23-22, Request to Annex and Zone, OP, Office Professional, two unincorporated parcels, located at 912 Old Georgetown Road and 1182 B B Lane. The two contiguous parcels, comprise approximately 1.17-acres.  Planning Commission Agenda December 14, 2022 Page 3 of 5 The properties are identified by TMS Nos. 532-03-00-020 and 532-03-00- 018. Further Identified on plats recorded by the Charleston County ROD Office in Plat Book F, Page 215 and Plat Book CJ, Page 182. Mr. Stone reviewed staff comments with the Commission. Ms. Erica DeGroff reviewed the request with the Commission. There being no comments, Ms. Smith closed the public hearing. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the zoning. Mr. Smyth seconded the motion. All in favor. D. Proposal to amend Section 156.326, of Chapter 156, Zoning Code, of the Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances, pertaining to Principal Use Conditions. Proposed is to amend the condition associated with density for residential uses in commercial districts, specifically to lower the maximum density from 12 units per acre to 4 units per acre but allow up to 8 units per acre if the additional 4 units are dedicated to attainable housing. Ms. Reed reviewed staff comments with the Commission. Ms. Myra Jones, 730 Dragoon Drive, member of Commission on Homelessness, asked that the amendment be denied as it would limit the amount of attainable housing. She stated that the Comprehensive Plans notes that there is not a diversity of housing stock and supports providing lifestyle housing to better meet the needs of residents throughout their life cycle as well as the need for more attainable housing. She suggested that decreasing the density would increase home values, making them not attainable. Ms. Denise Fugo, Housing for All Mt Pleasant Executive Director, stated that Gregory Ferry development would not be successful without having the additional density to include attainable housing. She suggested that the majority of those taking advantage of attainable housing are single and aging women. She stated that one reason for a shortage in teachers is that there is no attainable housing in the Town. She asked that the density not be lowered so that more attainable housing is available throughout the Town.  Planning Commission Agenda December 14, 2022 Page 4 of 5 Mr. Dan Doyle, representative for Beach Company, asked that the amendment be denied as it will negatively affect their properties in the future. He suggested that more attainable housing is needed in the Town. He suggested that more attainable housing should be allowed not lessened. Mr. Allen McMann, 610 Chimney Block Drive, agreed with the previous speakers and would like the amendment denied. He suggested that if the attainable housing is reduced, it would mean more traffic, negatively impact greenspace due to sprawl, and inhibit growth in areas already built out. He suggested that it is already difficult to hire and keep vital workers for businesses and schools. Mr. Jason Munday, 972 Equestrian Drive, agreed that there should be more attainable housing so that there is a vibrant workforce. He suggested that smart growth should be considered as opposed to reducing the amount of attainable housing. He suggested that there are areas within the Town where more density makes sense. There being no further comments, Ms. Smith closed the public hearing. Mr. Davis moved for denial of the request. Mr. Gates seconded the motion. Motion failed on a 2 to 7 vote with Mr. Davis and Mr. McCormick in favor; Mr. Smyth, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Koedding, Mr. Lacy, Mr. Gates, Ms. Smith and Ms. Ireland opposed. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the request. Mr. Koedding seconded the motion. Ms. Ireland moved to amend the motion to allow 2 residential units within commercial districts with an increase up to 10 units per acre if the additional units are attainable housing as provided under 156.296(A)(3). Mr. Gates seconded the motion. Motion passed on an 8 to 1 vote with Mr. Smyth, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Koedding, Mr. Lacy, Mr. Gates, Ms. Smith, Mr. McCormick, and Ms. Ireland in favor; Mr. Davis opposed. Ms. Smith called for a vote on the motion as amended. Motion passed on an 8 to 1 vote with Mr. Smyth, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Koedding, Mr. Lacy, Mr. Gates, Ms. Smith, Mr. McCormick, and Ms. Ireland in favor; Mr. Davis opposed.  Planning Commission Agenda December 14, 2022 Page 5 of 5 E. Proposal to amend Chapters 155 and 156, of the Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances, pertaining to the creation of a new environmental program to encourage low impact development (LID) techniques for multi-family, mixed use, industrial and commercial development. Proposed is to establish a point system to ensure meaningful LID techniques are incorporated into each design. More specifically, amendments are proposed for LDR 155.054 Greenspace Preservation and Protection Plan to create a new sub-title of 155.054 Residential Greenspace Preservation and Protection Plan, and Environmental Guidelines for Land Development, and adding (5) to 156.201(I) Bufferyards, and modifying 156.173 Area and Paving Requirements (B). Mr. Mitchell reviewed the proposed environmental program to encourage LID techniques with the Commission. Mr. Dan Doyle, Beach Company, thanked staff for their work on these amendments. There being no further comments, Ms. Smith closed the public hearing. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the amendment. Ms. Ireland seconded the motion. All in favor. F. Street name approval for Carolina Park Business Center. Request approval to name Street, Interlock Alley. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the street name request. Mr. Bennett seconded the motion. All in favor. 7. Other Business A. 2022 Annual Development Agreement Report Ms. Reed reviewed the report with the Commission. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm. Submitted by, L. Lynes PlanComsn12142022