The developer of "the Lively" must hold at least one public meeting about the project. The time and place of the required meeting has not been determined.
The final decision on the project will be made by Charleston County Council and that meeting will be held at the County Office building at Bridgeview Drive in North Charleston. While County Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM, the date when this matter comes before County Council has not been determined. Most likely it will take at least several months.
The developer of "the Lively" on Folly Road is seeking a rezoning of the 10 acre parcel to planned development. Under its current zoning, community commercial, a variety of stores and shops can be put there, but also up to 120 apartments. The proposal is to add to this an additional 210 to 220 apartments, making this an ultra-dense project--330 to 340 apartments along with a variety of shops and artist studios. An existing small business and the parking lot of the Brickhouse Restaurant will be displaced.
This project is in unincorporated Charleston County, so any rezoning requires a vote by County Council. Before that happens, the Charleston County Planning Commission will be making a recommendation to County Council.
As part of the County's PD's process, the developer must hold at least one public meeting about the project. The developer has told the Town's Planning Director that he plans to hold four public meetings. He said that he would hold two before the meeting with the County Planning Commission and then after the Planning Commission makes its recommendation, two more before County Council makes the final decision at its regular meeting.
The exact dates and places for the developer's promised meetings have yet to be determined. I was told some months ago that County Councilwoman Anna Johnson wanted all public meetings to be held at James Island Elementary School on Grimball Road. County Councilman Joe Qualey said that some of the meetings should be held at James Island Town Hall.
When we asked the developer where he planned to hold the meetings, he said that he probably would hold the them at a local public school. (James Island Elementary is very close to the project.) Our Planning Director told him that he could also hold one or more of the meetings at James Island Town Hall.
While the Town is very happy to host any such meeting, I would encourage everyone to attend any meeting held at James Island Elementary. It is easy to find, has plenty of parking, and is a great facility.
The Charleston County Planning Commission meeting will have a time for public comment and will be held at the County Office building at Bridgeview Drive in North Charleston. The Planning Commissioners will make a recommendation to Council Council on whether or not to go forward. These recommendations are not binding on County Council. If the Planning Commission recommends in favor, County Council may still vote against the rezoning. And if the Planning Commission recommends against, County Council may still choose to rezone the parcel.
There will also be a public hearing and public comment before the rezoning is considered by County Council. The Public Hearing is actually the time specifically set aside to get input from the general public. County Council meets at the County Office building at Bridgeview Drive at North Charleston on the second and third Tuesday of each month at 6:30.
That is the key vote. It is County Council that makes the decision. If County Council votes against the rezoning, then the developer will be limited to 120 apartments.
Late Friday afternoon, I was told that County Councilwoman Anna Johnson was having a meeting on Monday, March 28 at the Elijah Lodge on Folly Road regarding the Lively project. I thought it was important that everyone on James Island know about it. Sunday, I received a text that the meeting was with the developer of the Lively and that it was to be limited to residents of district 8. That is people that live in County Councilwoman Johnson's district.
Monday, we got in contact with the developer. He said that he was aware of the meeting and that the Lively was on the agenda, but that he was not invited and did not plan to go. Apparently, the only member of County Council participating would be Councilwoman Anna Johnson and she planned the meeting solely for her constituents in District 8. She postponed the meeting Monday afternoon. Some speculate it is because people from James Island and Folly Beach who are concerned and skeptical about the project were planning to attend the meeting to tell her what they thought about it.
Regardless, there will be future meetings and hopefully none them will be cancelled at the last minute. As explained above, the developer must hold at least one and he has promised four. I am sure these meetings will be on James Island. However, the point of the meeting will be to inform people about the project, and, obviously, to convince people that it will be a good thing.
The actual decision for the rezoning will be made by County Council. And it is their meeting in North Charleston where those opposed to this ultra-dense development will need to make their voices heard.
Yes, if this site were still in the Town of James Island, this project would be a nonstarter. It would require a revision of the Town's comprehensive plan. Further, the "baseline" would be 40 apartments rather than 120.
More importantly, the key meetings would be here at James Island Town Hall--not up in North Charleston. Every member of the Planning Commission would live on James Island as would the Mayor and members of Town Council. More importantly, all the voters for the Mayor and members of Town Council would live here on James Island.
Sadly, only two of the nine members of County Council live on James Island. Worse, James Island voters have no say in the election of seven out of the nine members of County Council. Their districts are elsewhere. Only a small portion of County Councilwoman Anna Johnson's district is on James Island. Her district runs out to Johns, Edisto , and Wadmalaw Islands as well as Red Top and other rural areas of West Ashley. And even County Councilman Joe Qualey's district extends a bit into West Ashley and Johns Island, as well as Folly, Kiawah and Seabrook Islands.
Fortunately, everyone in Charleston County is aware of the traffic gridlock on Folly Road. I certainly hope that when the time comes, we can find at least five votes on County Council to oppose this unreasonable rezoning to allow for this ultra-dense project that will add to the traffic gridlock on Folly Road.
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