Zoning changes on Sullivan's Island?

The Planning Commission decided unanimously to schedule a public hearing for September 9th to receive comments from residents on a proposed amendment to Sullivan's Island zoning ordinances. 

If  approved by Town Council, the amendment would allow property owners to construct a stand-alone open-air structure (gazebo, cabana, pergola, arbor or other open-air structure) on a residential lot in the absence of a principal building on the lot, as long as the property owner established a conservation easement for the property. 

Under existing zoning ordinances, this type of open-air structure would only be permitted if there were a principal structure on the lot. Under the terms of the proposed amendment:

• The recreation structure could  range in size from 350-450 SF, depending on the size of the lot. 

• A maximum of 24 people would be allowed at the structure at any one time. 

• A maximum of 2 vehicles would be allowed on the property.

• The structure would not be permitted to have exterior lighting or sewer facilities.

• The stand-alone structures permitted by the proposed amendment would apply to all residential lots on Sullivan's Island. 

• For lots that are not currently vacant, a property owner wanting to build an open-air structure would be required under the new ordinance to remove all existing structures on the property. 

• Catherine Main, Executive Director of East Cooper Land Trust, has stated that any amendment should be written in such a way as to incentivize more property owners to do what the Marshall Blvd. property owners want to do.

Click on the power point presented by SI Zoning Administrator Joe Henderson at the August 12th Planning Commission meeting to see examples of properties on SI that could possibly accommodate the sort of open-air structure that would be allowed under the amendment.

• Included as examples in the power point are photos of a number of vacant lots on SI, showing how those lots would appear if the open-air structures permitted under the new ordinance were to be constructed. 

• Also included in the power point are photos of existing cabanas at the Isle of Palms, as well as photos of existing cabanas in what is known as the "Cabana District" at Myrtle Beach. 

The accessory structure issue is not on the agenda for the Town Council meeting tonight at 6:00. Council does not plan to vote on the amendment until at least the regular Town Council meeting on September 21st.

So now is the time for islanders with concerns and questions about the amendment to contact the Planning Commission and Town Council. 

And now is the time to let Town Council and the Planning Commission know how you feel about this precedent-setting change to SI zoning ordinances and to find out how members are leaning on approval of the amendment. 

Members of the Planning Commission are listed below.  Contact information for both Town Council and the Planning Commission are shown on  SI Community Impact, here and here.

Here is the link to the power point on the recreation structures presented by Zoning Administrator Joe Henderson: http://bit.ly/1ExHIYS

Here is the link to the text amendment, as currently proposed: http://bit.ly/1MtK6q4

Karen and Barbara

SI Community Impact

Planning Commission        

Gary Visser  (Chair)                    

Hal Currey (Vice-Chair)      

    

Charles Cole                          

Carl Hubbard                              

Carlsen Huey                                

Manda Poletti                          

Sydney Cook                


STAFF CONTACTS

Lisa Darrow, Asst to Town Administrator – Planning Commission Secretary

ldarrow@sullivansisland-sc.com   ph.  883-5744


Joe Henderson, Zoning Administrator

jhenderson@sullivansisland-sc.com  ph. 883-5731


Randy Robinson, Building Official

rrobinson@sullivansisland-sc.com ph. 883-5732