[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6610764,"mediaKeyId","2901786-a1a093a4d60456155866b571a27a3126","parentId",2901786,"title","City Council approves rezoning at 15 Radcliffe Street after heated debate over parking garage and housing","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",995000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901786-a1a093a4d60456155866b571a27a3126&start=995&end=995","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901786-a1a093a4d60456155866b571a27a3126/thumbnail_995000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6610764/Charleston-City/Charleston-County/South-Carolina/City-Council-approves-rezoning-at-15-Radcliffe-Street-after-heated-debate-over-parking-garage-and-housing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610764-c501013b1071f73252fddd3ba19bc17f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771090984&Signature=XsPFysUfXqPeg8z6rN~5MmYc-4COfmL-qjI64WyACEeta-uALjkO7w0Ye4GMRX9SdoikVj64EoUJz5U1XLZKpYkB1lYlgQdECODJIiNv8zZJDjX1wEyuR5lPeVjYTsJ~pVyCBPXUuX1BtMIfNFw~0U09d~vDj0XL8Ql3oDbIJ35ThWBPLklzefD2ZQTXuS6KxkYRFMqhhczt8L~h9~WP7Ty3Cqu6~r-DSIG28u0yyygNL7gyb2FGH1XiuUkcCsUghEccjY8Kuk65DD0KMffoBOv0NMTr~eH-pTtTe4~KpQs8yoZtbC2u2Pc-JtXXxhqHiIxyBrFt7~4YzhObipMXjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charleston","date","2025-04-08T23:05:47.303Z","article","City of Charleston City Council voted to rezone property near Radcliffe and Saint Philip Streets to General Business (GB) after lengthy public comment and debate that focused on whether the change would permit a privately owned parking garage or facilitate housing.

Residents from Radcliffe Borough and neighboring areas and multiple neighborhood association representatives urged the council to oppose a privately owned parking garage proposed for parcels near 15 Radcliffe Street. Elaine Doyle, president of the Radcliffe Borough Neighborhood Association, told the council the group opposed “a parking garage in our community,” and raised concerns about long-term maintenance costs and public-safety impacts.

Frank Brumley, the property owner whose parcels are the subject of the rezoning, told the council the City’s 2019 parking study is out of date and that the site’s context has changed: “It went with the study has outdated outdated. Excuse me. It needs to be considered along with street parking and parking garages.” He also said his architect had previously worked on city projects.

Council debate centered on competing priorities: Peninsula council members and neighborhood residents pressed concerns about increased traffic, the character of the neighborhood, and whether a privately owned garage would produce public benefits. Other council members argued that rezoning would align the parcel with surrounding properties, remove a zoning anomaly, and could enable affordable housing or other uses that would support downtown vibrancy.

Councilman Greg Gregory framed his opposition in terms of neighborhood voice and long-term planning, saying, “To hell with what the neighbors want. This is what the power brokers want,” and urging caution. Councilman Ross Appel and others responded that the rezoning corrects a zoning anomaly and does not by itself approve any particular project. Appel said rezoning could facilitate affordable housing and that many steps would still be required before a parking garage could be built.

Councilman John R. Seekings, who chairs the traffic and transportation committee, and other council members emphasized the need to consider the city’s longer-term parking and housing needs, and referenced the city’s 2019 comprehensive parking/transportation study and more recent development pressures.

The council considered and approved a motion to defer the item earlier in the meeting after a motion to defer gained a majority on a roll-call; later, after additional debate, the council moved forward with approval on second reading and then advanced the item to third reading; the transcript records the item moving forward and final votes for second and third reading described by voice vote as passing.

Council members and several speakers asked that, if the rezoning proceeds, the city and developer work together to explore affordable-housing options and to ensure design, stormwater and BAR (Board of Architectural Review) processes are followed. Council members noted that rezoning alone does not obviate future review steps: stormwater, BAR and detailed site approvals would still be required before any structure could be built.

Public input included at least 14 speakers during the citizens’ participation period and a written petition opposing the garage with over 200 signatures; the city clerk reported two letters of support for the Low Line project and one letter opposing the garage had been received and forwarded to council.

Speakers who addressed the Radcliffe/parking issue included neighborhood leaders Elaine Doyle (Radcliffe Borough Neighborhood Association), James Doyle (Radcliffe Borough Neighborhood Association vice president), multiple residents urging opposition, property owner Frank Brumley, and a range of council members including Greg Gregory, John Seekings, Ross Appel, Parker, Mitchell and others.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Charleston City Council Meeting 4/8/25","oneSentenceSummary","After extensive public comment and council debate, City Council approved rezoning of property near Radcliffe and Saint Philip Streets to General Business (GB); supporters said rezoning could enable affordable housing while opponents warned it would enable a private parking garage and harm neighborhood livability.","taxTitle","Charleston City, Charleston County, South Carolina","taxId",3701,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6610768,"Preservation groups, bike advocates urge City Council to back Low Line Phase 1 funding",2628,796000,3424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901786-a1a093a4d60456155866b571a27a3126&start=796&end=3424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901786-a1a093a4d60456155866b571a27a3126/thumbnail_796000.jpg","/articles/6610768/Charleston-City/Charleston-County/South-Carolina/Preservation-groups-bike-advocates-urge-City-Council-to-back-Low-Line-Phase-1-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610768-240aa249697ef59b64748c0364ef2329/orig.mp4?Expires=1771090984&Signature=lkh6LCIvXkMzyoV~UZmr5KqNfwd0CJ62egB9~vmDmTGAv5-20wUHzwGnHQoGYB85m9~jh2TvFevVqHtMWlqS3gG7Fl4g6DUXOsaGrAuC9IqCWPx-2aeQho05sjtw4W45k2Vl33NMAseQqXCd9RhIl9zJjgJjz9MlFPOQgZAmjPpKhPNDQE~inLZHUcVTGikvt3gINnCmpyr51q7Ux2kuI0HwEEiAZjB-i5IiloRybScjikcGfeoJVqKZkpWIDSYN6kOMzTn9j75MzT6ooT0pteVEkFDrA-IULPuLqGeff1-06DaaMkON7WBicFKvjg3vQsFjrcwpxQFtZJA8j4qGpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Historic Charleston Foundation, preservation groups and bike advocates told the City of Charleston City Council they support funding a phase 1 contract for the Low Line and urged the council to use planning tools to protect neighborhood benefits.

The Low Line is a proposed linear public-space and green-infrastructure project intended to provide stormwater storage and treatment, active recreation and pedestrian and bicycle connections between the Upper Peninsula and downtown. Lisa Jones of the Historic Charleston Foundation said the project “not only enhances green space and biodiversity, but it provides needed storage and treatment of stormwater, flood abatement, active recreation, and alternative transportation opportunities.”

Sam Spence of the Preservation Society of Charleston said the Low Line should be paired with regulatory tools to ensure surrounding redevelopment returns public value to residents: “Why not consider similar kinds of overlays for this new pedestrian corridor?” He urged the council to consider city tools such as overlay districts to guide design and development along the corridor.

Advocates for active transportation also voiced support. Savannah Brennan of Charleston Moves said the project will “connect to many valuable projects,” including planned bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and recommended the phase 1 work include engineering and cost estimates for mid-block crossings and neighborhood street connections.

Council members who serve on transportation and related committees described the project as a focus of recent committee work. Councilman Peter Seekings, chair of the traffic and transportation committee, said the council “have now firmly gotten behind the Low Line, committed lots of resources, and we look forward to working with you in partnership to make this project go.” He also said the committee supports moving the project forward to more detailed engineering and cost-estimating work.

Those who spoke in favor tied the Low Line to resilience and multimodal goals already on the council’s agenda. Supporters asked the council to consider complementary planning actions — such as overlay districts or incentives — to ensure adjacent development generates civic and economic benefit for nearby neighborhoods and returns value to residents.

No formal contract award or ordinance tied to the Low Line appeared as a final vote on the council agenda in the transcript; council discussion indicated further public and committee-level review and standard permitting and design steps would follow.

Speakers during public comment and committee reports who addressed the Low Line included Lisa Jones (Historic Charleston Foundation), Jason Wilson (Bridal Spot Skatepark), Sam Spence (Preservation Society of Charleston), and Savannah Brennan (Charleston Moves). Council members who commented in committee or council discussion included Councilman Peter Seekings and Councilwoman Parker, among others.","Historic Charleston Foundation, preservation and cycling advocates urged City Council to fund phase 1 of the Low Line and to use zoning and design tools to ensure adjacent development returns benefits to nearby neighborhoods.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City Council approves rezoning at 15 Radcliffe Street after heated debate over parking garage and housing

Preservation groups, bike advocates urge City Council to back Low Line Phase 1 funding