Community happenings
A weekly roundup of the public meetings, rezonings, subdivision plans and road projects that shape Johns Island, James Island, the beaches, Mount Pleasant and the rest of the Charleston area. Each item links to the official agenda or notice. Updated every Monday; last updated October 21, 2026.
Coming up
-
Maybank PUD and 62-lot concept plan off Maybank Highway and Fern Hill Drive
The City Planning Commission will hear a request to zone about 15.6 acres along Maybank Highway and Fern Hill Drive as a Planned Unit Development, plus a concept plan for a 62-lot neighborhood on about 13.5 acres. The parcels are being brought in from county R-4 and Maybank corridor overlay zoning. The commission makes a recommendation; City Council has the final vote.
Wednesday, October 21, 5:00 pm · 2 George St, Charleston · City Planning Commission agenda
-
City short-term rental ordinance rewrite goes to Planning Commission
Proposed changes to the city's short-term rental rules would tighten definitions and spell out limits, permit submittal and review criteria, insurance requirements and penalties. The draft keeps a cap of eight guests per unit. It applies citywide, including West Ashley, James Island and Johns Island; the commission recommends and City Council adopts.
Wednesday, October 21, 5:00 pm · 2 George St, Charleston · Draft short-term rental ordinance (Oct 16, 2026)
-
Zoning map rules, appeals process and architectural inventory updates
Two more citywide amendments are on the same agenda. One changes how zoning map boundaries are read, requiring the Zoning Administrator to confirm certain boundary lines, and updates the appeals process to Circuit Court for city land-use boards. The other adopts the latest architectural inventory map and lets Council approve future changes after BAR review.
Wednesday, October 21, 5:00 pm · 2 George St, Charleston · City Planning Commission agenda
-
Five annexed West Ashley lots up for city residential zoning
Five small West Ashley parcels (0.14 to 0.60 acres) recently annexed from the county are up for initial city zoning. Each would move from county R-4 to the city's low-density residential districts (SR-1 or SR-2). The commission recommends; City Council votes.
Wednesday, October 21, 5:00 pm · 2 George St, Charleston · City Planning Commission agenda
-
Wakendaw Road 10-lot plan, Belle Hall use change, data center and density talks
The Planning Commission will review a sketch plan for 10 lots on 6.5 acres off Wakendaw Road (R-1) and hold a hearing on adding commercial recreation as a permitted use in the Belle Hall planned development along La Mesa Road. A 13-lot Rifle Range Road plan was withdrawn by staff. Commissioners will also discuss density in the future land use plan and how to zone data centers.
Wednesday, October 21, 5:00 pm · 100 Ann Edwards Ln, Mount Pleasant · Mount Pleasant Planning Commission agenda
-
Freestanding emergency department on Folly Road in second TRC review
Roper St. Francis Healthcare's site plan for a one-story freestanding emergency department on about 1.8 acres at Folly Road returns for its second technical review. The parcel is zoned General Business. TRC reviews engineering, stormwater, traffic and zoning compliance before permits.
Thursday, October 22, 9:00 am · Online (Zoom) · City TRC agenda
-
Retail, urgent care, bank and restaurant designs at Commercial DRB
The board will give final review to a Wando Crossing retail building on North Highway 17, a bank on Coleman Boulevard and a restaurant on Ira Road, and preliminary review to an urgent care on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard. An extension of the Patriots Annex master plan is on the correspondence list.
Wednesday, October 28, 5:00 pm · 100 Ann Edwards Ln, Mount Pleasant · Mount Pleasant Commercial DRB agenda
-
County weighs new subdivision rules tied to restrictive covenants
After Planning Commission review on Oct 12, proposed county zoning amendments would add posted notice and title searches for subdivision applications, require notarized covenant affidavits and fix ownership affidavit issues. County Council's public hearing is set for Nov 10, with readings scheduled through mid-December.
Tuesday, November 10, 6:30 pm · 4045 Bridge View Dr, North Charleston · Charleston County ZLDR amendments page
Recent decisions and updates
- Project update
Main Road Segment A: CSX bridge construction starting this fall
The Main Road Corridor project (new US 17 interchange and widening of Main Road from Bees Ferry Road to River Road) lists construction of the CSX railroad bridge as beginning in fall 2026. Expect work zones near the US 17 and Main Road interchange.
- Notice
James Island starts its 10-year comprehensive plan update
Regional planning staff from the BCD Council of Governments presented a schedule and goals for the town's required 10-year comprehensive plan update on Oct 19. No votes were taken. The plan guides future land use and zoning; the commission meets next on Nov 12.
- Decision
Shoppes at Fenwick Allee sent back for revisions
On Oct 15 the city's Technical Review Committee gave a 'revise and return' result to a mixed-use building planned on about 1.6 acres in The Village at Fenwick PUD. It was the plan's third review; it also needs Design Review Board approval.
- Meeting
Town of James Island sets 16.0-mill property tax rate
Town Council's Oct 15 agenda included second reading of an ordinance confirming a 16.0-mill property tax rate for fiscal 2026-27, along with an update on a Nabors Drive sidewalk survey. Results will appear in the minutes once posted.
- Meeting
Oceanfront rezoning, new overlay and a fill rule for low-lying lots
The Planning Commission held a hearing on Oct 14 on rezoning parts of six oceanfront parcels on Atlantic Avenue from Recreation and Conservation (RC-1) to the RS residential district, and placing the remaining RC-1 land in a new overlay district. It also considered allowing extra fill on low-lying lots. Recommendations go to Town Council.
- Meeting
Front Beach commercial parking and zoning options discussed
At Council's request, the Planning Commission discussed commercial district parking rules on Oct 14. Concepts on the table include cutting restaurant parking requirements by 25% in the GC-3 district, or reshaping the Front Beach GC-2 district. These were discussion items, not a proposed ordinance.
- Decision
Mount Pleasant adopts two-year data center moratorium
Town Council gave final reading on Oct 13 to a temporary moratorium on accepting, processing or approving applications for data centers. It took effect on adoption and runs for two years unless Council extends it, while the town reviews where data centers may go and updates its zoning code and comprehensive plan.
- Meeting
Oakland Plantation PD amendment for 87 townhouses at first reading
Council took up first reading on Oct 13 of an amendment to the Oakland Plantation planned development that would add 87 townhouse units on a 6-acre tract. The Planning Commission had recommended denial and the Planning Committee made no recommendation. Rezonings need a second reading before they take effect.
- Notice
County short-term rental parking and bedroom rules at final reading
Amendments for unincorporated areas would require short-term rental permit applications to list bedrooms and all designated sleeping areas, and require one off-street parking space per sleeping area. The changes were scheduled for third and final reading on Oct 13; the outcome had not been posted on the county page yet.
How to take part
Most land-use boards take public comment in person and in writing. The agenda link on each item has the address, the case number and how to comment. Charleston County posts Planning Commission packets on its public input portal; the City of Charleston and the Town of Mount Pleasant post agendas in their online agenda centers.
Summaries are mine, written from the official agendas, packets and notices linked on each item. Agendas change, meetings get deferred and items get pulled, so confirm with the source before you go. Nothing here is an endorsement of any proposal.