ASHLEY LANDING REDEVELOPMENT
Faison, the owners of Ashley Landing Plaza, recently revealed their plans for the re-development of their shopping center which is boarded by Sumar Street, Charlestowne Drive, Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Old Towne Road. Faison owns 28.5 acres of this tract, which does not include all of the parcels within this triangular tract. The property is zoned General Business. The proposed redevelopment includes major ingress and egress improvements along the Sam Rittenberg access points around Amberly Road. The City and County have finalized plans to improve the intersections of
• Old Towne Road and Donahue Drive
• Old Towne Road and Charlestowne Drive
• Sumar Street and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
• Sumar Street and Old Towne Road
• Orange Grove Road and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
The re-development of Ashley Landing Plaza is designed to compliment the City’s designs for the former Piggly Wiggly site. Faison’s plans were presented to the West Ashley Revitalization Commission last year and again at my constituent meeting- “Coffee and
Conversation with Peter” last fall. Those presentations included relocating the Publix grocery store to the corner of Charlestowne Drive and Old Towne Road. At the meeting held earlier this year Faison revealed that the existing Publix would be demolished and replaced with 278 housing units.
The current zoning of this property, General Business, permits residential units to be
constructed on this site. The plans however for this redevelopment, including the application for both commercial and residential uses must be submitted to the Design Review Board (DRB) for approval. None of the proposed plans are subject to City Council oversight since Faison is not seeking a zoning change or variance. The DRB will review the architectural styling of the proposed structures as it relates to the immediate area. The Board can review the context of the area and the approach as to height, scale, and mass of a structure along with the architectural detailing and placement of equipment and services. The Board cannot review against density, traffic, storm water, or use. The DRB meeting provides for a public comment period which must focus on the narrow elements, as
stated above, the board can review. Before the application can be presented to the DRB it is subjected to review before the Technical Review Committee (TRC). The TRC is composed of members of City staff to ensure that the application meets certain City ordinances such as storm water regulations and traffic impact. There is no public input process at the TRC stage of review. A traffic impact study will need to show an analysis of existing intersections for current and future designs. It also must include an analysis of existing conditions for the site; of future background traffic; trip generation estimates based on proposed use; intersection analysis showing impact of proposed uses; a plan to mitigate impacts by improving intersections, incorporating transit; optimization of signals, driveway analysis showing impact of proposed uses, driveway location and details; and study additional or improved turn lanes from exterior roadways.
The most recent traffic counts for Sam Rittenberg Boulevard between Orange Grove
Road and Ashley River Road reports that it moves 23,700 average daily traffic, and for Old
Towne Road between Orange Grove Road and St. Andrews Boulevard the daily traffic count is 25,100. It should be noted that Commercial properties generate more vehicle miles traveled compared to multi-family residences. The Technical Review Committee will also require that the new construction on this site comply with the 2020 Stormwater Manual adopted by City Council. The new storm water standards include some of the most strictest requirements in the State. The implementation of these standards will be a huge improvement over the current structures which were constructed in the 1960’s. There has been voiced significant opposition to the proposal of the redevelopment by Faison of its property as to the construction of residential units. Ashley Landing is owned by a private developer and the proposed plans for residential units are allowed by the current zoning
ordinance. Once a property owner submits plans consistent within the allowed zoning ordinance, the City is limited to the oversight of the structure(s) erected. The Design Review Board has limited authority as to what can be built. I encourage all residents who wish to express either their objections to or support of the final proposed plans to do so once the application is placed before the Design Review Board. You can attend in person the DRB meeting or email your comments in advance of the DRB meeting. I will forward to you the date, time and location of the DRB meeting once the application has been placed on the agenda.
I have been informed that solicitations have been sent to attend the West Ashley Revitalization Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 8, 2023. The meeting will be held at the Reserve in Citadel Mall beginning at 5:30. The plans for Ashley Landing are not on the agenda for this WARC meeting. WARC is an advisory body and does not possess any authority to decide the plans for Ashley Landing. While public comment is set aside during a WARC meeting, as I mentioned above, the opportunity to voice your position will be at the DRB meeting. In the meantime I have raised the issue of reviewing the City’s current zoning ordinances to ensure that plans for mixed use development and re-development be consistent with good land use practices. I will keep you updated as to the progress of that review process. In 2018 City Council unanimously adopted Plan West Ashley, the blueprint for revitalizing West Ashley. The development of plan West Ashley included the most robust public outreach for planning (65 workshops) the City had accomplished until the adoption of City Plan passed in 2021. Ashley Landing was marked for redevelopment as an important hub. In addition City Plan provided in its housing section the City’s need for 16,000 new units of affordable units to be built by 2030. Plan West Ashley also includes as its core the overriding principle that any re-development or new development must be consistent with the character of existing neighborhoods. Sometimes a conflict arises between the good intentions to improve our region with the concern of doing harm to the status quo. I urge all residents to work with our elected officials and City staff to collaborate with one another in addressing your questions, concerns, objections or support for this and all future projects within our City and especially in West Ashley. I ask in doing so that we recognize the limitations of those restrictions the City is legally able to impose. Our City staff is charged with following those rules, regulations, policies, plans and ordinances. They are the most dedicated men and women our community can employ, who provide us with an invaluable source of guidance through this process. Let us work together to ensure that West Ashley is the most desirable place to live, work and play.
A. PETER SHAHID, JR.
CHARLESTON CITY COUNCIL
DISTRICT 9
MAYOR PRO TEMPORE – 2019
1861 WEST BATTERY LANE
CHARLESTON, SC 29407
843.323.6474
peter@charlestoncitycouncil9.org
