Proposed downzoning of church and school properties — abandoned July 14, 2026

Following a June 2026 Council motion, the Planning Committee studied rezoning R-1 and R-2 church and school properties to PI-1, Public Institutional-1, to match their Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use designation of Community Facilities. The Committee's report to Council on July 14, 2026 identified 163 properties recommended for Community Facilities on the Future Land Use Map: 33 already zoned Public Institutional in the Town, 12 in Charleston County, 35 zoned PD within a Planned Development District, and 83 zoned something other than PI or PD. That last group breaks down as 35 church properties (including Christ Our King and University School of the Lowcountry), 17 Town-owned properties, 10 privately owned properties (including Trident Academy and an adjacent vacant lot), 8 utility company properties, 6 Charleston County School District school properties, 3 funeral homes, 2 library properties, 1 airport property and 1 post office property. OUTCOME: Council Member Whitaker moved to direct staff NOT to move forward with the rezoning, explaining that the appropriate time to align zoning with the Future Land Use Map would be the next Comprehensive Plan update, approximately four years away. The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY on July 14, 2026. In its place, Council Member Hyatt moved to direct staff to prepare a text amendment providing that residential development on property recommended for Community Facilities on the Future Land Use Map could only occur through a Council-adopted Planned Development or a Council-approved Future Land Use Map amendment. That text amendment (Chapter 156.039) went to the Planning Commission on August 19, 2026, which RECOMMENDED DENIAL. It had not returned to Council as of the date checked.