Charleston is embarking on a comprehensive update of its zoning code, a move that will have a significant impact on residents and the city’s development trajectory.
The current Zoning Ordinance, dating back to 1966, is due for a modern overhaul to better guide the city’s growth and development. The overarching theme for this update is “Setting New Standards,” aiming to make the code more user-friendly, organized, and responsive to Charleston’s evolving needs.
According to the City of Charleston’s website, the key aspects of the code update include:
- User-Friendly Development Code: The city plans to rewrite the regulations to improve clarity, organization, and accessibility, incorporating clear language, illustrations, and streamlined administrative procedures.
- Zone District Restructuring: Proposed revisions aim to direct new development towards higher elevations for increased resiliency, support mixed-use development, and establish zone districts that align with the area’s historic context.
- Resilience to Rising Water: Addressing the challenge of rising water levels, the code update focuses on increasing development resiliency, particularly in low-lying areas, with a point-based system and elevation-focused development directives.
- Diverse Housing Types: Encouraging a variety of housing types, including duplexes, triplexes, and cottage homes, alongside enhanced incentives for affordable housing production.
- Modernized Development Standards: Updating standards for parking, open space, landscaping, lighting, and neighborhood compatibility to improve development quality and reduce conflicts.
Moreover, the update aims to enhance multi-mobility options, promoting safe, connected, and active transit choices such as bicycle parking and improved bus shelters.
The city is hosting a public meeting on Wednesday at the International Longshoremen’s Association Community Hall building at 5 p.m. to discuss the zoning code rewrite. This initiative underscores Charleston’s commitment to a resilient, diverse, and forward-thinking urban environment.
You can also fill out an online survey here today through April 25th to give your feedback.
