The Charleston region is home to thirty different local governments. The Chamber’s Government Relations team is constantly monitoring council agendas to identify issues that the Regional Policy Committee (RPC) may decide to act upon or simply continue to track. When an issue is identified, staff determines if there is an existing Chamber policy position or if it needs to go the RPC to be evaluated. Staff then works with the RPC to develop a new policy position on that item if the committee thinks it is necessary. To see our current local policy positions, click here.
See below for a sample of recent local issues and how our RPC has responded.
Charleston County
- Council received an update on the Mark Clark Expressway project. The Chamber sent out an action alert and 30 business leaders submitted a letter in support of the project to council.
- The Charleston County Council allocated $23 million in ARPA funding for housing. The Chamber supported this decision.
- The Chamber supported the ZLDR amendments that allow salt marsh mitigation banks to proceed without variances. This will receive second reading at the August 23 council meeting.
- The Chamber supported amending the ZLDR resiliency amendments related to the proposed impervious surface requirements to only apply to special protection areas in the floodplain.
City of Charleston
- Passed an efficiency dwelling unit ordinance that will help increase the supply of housing. The Chamber supported this effort.
City of North Charleston
- Amended their definition of density. Roughly, for multi-family units, there is a 7-unit increase/acre according to staff and the Chamber supported this effort.
Mount Pleasant
- Mount Pleasant is discussing downzoning the Town’s current residential density in commercial districts. The Chamber is opposed to this effort and will speak at the Town’s next planning commission meeting.
- Mount Pleasant is repealing and replacing their economic development incentives to include expedited review and criteria about support for housing and transportation costs. The Chamber supported this effort.
We will continue to monitor the issues at the local level to keep you and your business informed.
