I. Rezoning Approvals
The council approved rezoning for several properties.
Northern Street was rezoned from R1 (single-family residence) to R2 (knowledge family residence) in district eight, TMS 47613000, 31.
Echo Avenue (1991) was rezoned from R1 (single-family residence) to R2 (multi residents).
Meeting Street Road (3223) was rezoned from R1 (single-family residence) to R2 (multi-family) in city district 10, TMS 469, 1100206.
Little Lance Road (58k addresses, 34, 01) involves annexing an area from Charleston with no additional residents in the Wagner council district, PMS number 390000049.
II. Short-Term Rentals (STRs)
The council addressed an ordinance amending Section 4-21 to set a minimum number of short-term rentals permitted by city council district.
Nixon Assembly Concerns:
Trevor from Pressure Alley advocated for enforcement and restrictions, noting that Nixon has 35 STRs, often concentrated. In some cases, there are 11 or 12 STRs within a 300-foot radius of a resident.
Requests included:
Proximity Limits: No more than one SDR per 100 block of a roadway or within a 425-foot radius of another STR.
Enforcement Support: Allowing community support in enforcing the ordinance and accepting evidence of violations.
Permitting Process: A new process to replace old applications with institutes based on the ordinance.
Resident Impact (Nixon):
Larry Lewis from Summit Street shared his experience of living in Nixon for five years, where 11 STRs operate within a 300-foot radius of his house.
Incidents included:
A party with 75 people in a two-bedroom house.
Frequent noise disturbances requiring police intervention.
Domestic disputes and a prostitution ring.
Issues with trash and illegal parking.
Lewis argued that residents' property rights should take precedence over investors' rights and suggested limiting the number and density of STRs.
Enforcement Difficulties:
Becky, a Nixon resident, expressed the difficulty in enforcing regulations and noted safety concerns related to unruly guests. She recounted incidents, such as police apprehending someone at gunpoint and domestic disputes occurring close to her home.
She also mentioned issues such as illegal drug use and the negative impact on community building.
City-Wide Concerns:
Keagan Robbins emphasized that every rental bought is a house taken off the market for families.
Robbins cited numbers, noting over 1000 listings in North Charleston, over 300 in Park Circle, and 27 in Nixon.
Robbins also raised concerns about tax rates, with many STRs operating at a 4% homeowner tax rate instead of 6%.
Robbins asked the council how they would crack down on unregistered STRs, ensure adequate resources for enforcement, create a clear reporting process, and communicate the ordinance effectively.
STR Association Input:
Brandon Bruce, a member of the Short Term Rental Association of Mount Pleasant, stressed the need for strict and immediate penalties for non-compliant STR owners.
Bruce suggested requiring photos of parking to be communicated to guests.
Property Owner's Perspective:
Jonathan Smith shared his situation of selling a property with permitted SDR rentals and his concern about a potential 35% loss in property value without STR permits. He requested that the buyer be able to apply for and receive permits quickly and offered to forfeit a permit for another property.
Council Discussion:
The council discussed revisiting the ordinance in six months to assess progress.
Concerns were raised about enforcement and staffing.
A grace period for properties under contract was discussed.
Ultimately, the motion passed to move forward and revisit the ordinance.
III. Zoning Regulation Amendment
The council addressed an ordinance amending Section 5-1-10, concerning conditions for churches and private schools.
IV. Noise Ordinance
The council discussed an ordinance amending Section 13-126 to regulate noise in residential and commercial areas.
The old ordinance was criticized for being vague and relying on officer discretion.
The new ordinance is modeled after policies in Mount Pleasant and Charleston, using decibel levels.
Police will use decibel meters at the complainant's property line, issuing warnings before citations.
Concerns were raised that decibel levels might be too restrictive.
The ordinance includes time restrictions and permit exemptions.
The regulations cover various noise types, including vehicles and fireworks.
Specific regulations were outlined for amplified sound from commercial establishments.
A resident living 100 feet from a restaurant expressed concerns about loud music.
Council members suggested a compromise on time restrictions.
The council agreed to revisit the ordinance.
Firefly was consulted during the drafting process.
The decision to use Sunday and Thursday in the regulations was based on practices in Charleston and Mount Pleasant.
V. Finance Committee Meeting
The meeting was called to order on February 20, 2025.
The minutes from the January 16, 2025, meeting were approved.
Director Rob Jared presented the financial report.
Revenue updates were given for look box and sales tax, foundation tax, and non-finalized tax.
The hospitality tax had a rough start but was improving.
The local option sales tax was up.
The state accommodations tax was slightly down.
A budget report was presented.
*meeting auto transcribed, please excuse any typos & misspellings
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