One lot, two height limits: A proposal would pin down the dividing line

A Charleston zoning proposal would require the city to spell out where height-district boundaries cross individual parcels—and confirm those locations when reviewing site improvements.⁠[1]

The amendment appears on the South Carolina city’s Oct. 21 Planning Commission agenda, with staff recommending approval. The records reviewed do not establish a commission recommendation or a City Council decision.⁠[2][3]

For parcels falling within more than one height district on the Old City Height District Map adopted by Ordinance 2017-085, the zoning administrator would maintain a list showing measured boundary locations. Those measurements would have to match the intent of city staff who helped create the map.⁠[1]

The proposed text also includes discretion to extend the less restrictive district’s requirements up to 50 feet beyond a zoning boundary that divides a lot, if the administrator finds that appropriate and consistent with the zoning code. But it expressly excludes the Old City map’s height-district boundaries from that allowance.⁠[1]

During zoning review for site improvements, the administrator or a designee would have to confirm boundary locations for both lots divided by zoning lines and parcels with multiple height districts. Disputes over the administrator’s location determination could be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals–Zoning.⁠[1]

Another part of the same ordinance would add language allowing affected property owners to request pre-litigation mediation when appealing decisions from the Board of Zoning Appeals, Board of Architectural Review, Design Review Board or Planning Commission to Circuit Court. The draft describes the appeal revisions as incorporating 2003 state-law amendments.⁠[1][2]

The city’s meeting materials say ordinance amendments receive a Planning Commission recommendation before a second public hearing at City Council. This draft would take effect upon ratification.⁠[1][3]