City of Charleston - BZA-Z - 2/18/25

Call to order

Roll call of board members and planning staff

Statement about the recording of the proceedings

Requirement for speakers to be sworn under oath

Explanation of the standard procedure for applications

Staff provides information and recommendations

Uncontested applications are usually approved

The board reserves the right to ask questions

Contested applications involve hearing from proponents, opponents, and applicant rebuttal

Board discussion is limited to members only

Decisions are made to approve, approve with conditions, or deny

Board authority includes appeals, special exceptions, and variances

Variance criteria: exceptional conditions, no detriment to the public good

Vote Requirements

Majority vote for most decisions.

Two-thirds vote for use variance.

Deferrals:

A1: Review of the minutes in the February 4th meeting

A5: 115 ½ Wentworth Street

A6: 1580 Savannah Highway

B1: 111 M Street

A2: 245 Huger Street

Fourth one-year extension of vested rights for 150-unit accommodations

Property at Nassau and Huger Street

Staff recommends approval

Approved 4-0

A3: 20 Miranda Holmes Street

Request for a special exception to vertically extend an existing non-conforming building

Adding a story and a half to an existing one-story building

Staff recommends approval

Letters of support from neighbors

Approved

A4: 12 Oliver Court

Request for a special exception to allow an 841 sq ft fitness center and one dwelling unit with zero parking spaces

Sister project to another development

Fitness center mainly for residents

Staff recommends approval

Support from neighborhood association and adjacent neighbors

Approved unanimously

A6: 35 Gibbes Street

Request a special exception to enclose an existing non-conforming rear porch

Staff recommends approval

Applicant modified drawings to remove variance request

Neighbor supports enclosure

Approved 3 to 1

A7: 729 East Bay Street

Request a special exception to allow a 5,965-foot event venue and an accommodations use

Request a use variance to allow a six-bedroom accommodation use

Staff supports with conditions

The use variance is granted to allow accommodations used only in conjunction with a scheduled event and may not occur independently of event-related activity

Approved unanimously

A8: 63 Kennedy Street

Request a special exception to build a single-family dwelling on a lot of insufficient size

Request a variance to build a structure with a non-standard side setback

Staff recommends support for both

Approved 4 to 0

A9: 134 Fishburne Street

Request a special exception to build a rear addition

Request variance to build a chimney within the East Side setback

Staff recommends for the special exception but recommends denial of the variance for the chimney

Motion for approval of the special exception and denial of the variance passed

A10: 108 Clement Crest Lane

Request variance to allow three off-site directional signs

Staff recommends approval of the variance

Variance is granted

B2: 1128 5th Avenue

Request special exception to build a single-family residence on a lot of insufficient size

Staff is recommending support of special exception

The motion for approval of the special exception is granted

B3: 42 Blake Street

Request special exception under Section 54-51 to build a single family residence on a lot of insufficient size

Staff is recommending approval of the special exception

Motion to reconsider item approved

The motion for approval of the special exception passes

B4: 79 Hester Street

Request special exception under Section 54-10 to allow conversion of an existing non-conforming garage into habitable living space

Staff is recommending approval

The motion for approval of the special exception is passed

B5: 1186 Norton Street

Request variance from section 54-31 to build a 780-foot accessory structure with a 30-foot front setback

Staff is recommending approval of this variance

The motion for approval of the variance is granted

Remaining items deferred

Adjournment