Charleston Metro Chamber supports Beach Company appeal
August 19, 2015
CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce supports The Beach Company’s appeal regarding the City of Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review’s (BAR) decision to reject The Beach Company’s most recent proposal to redevelop the Sgt. Jasper site in downtown Charleston.
The Chamber agrees with The Beach Company that the Board of Architectural review overstepped their bounds in rejecting the proposal. Their mission is not to provide feedback on specific changes to be made to the design of a project.
“The Chamber has a growing concern over development projects being denied or rejected when the developer has adhered to all the zoning requirements and regulations. The Sgt. Jasper decision is yet another example of this happening with more and more frequency across the region,” said Bryan Derreberry, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO.
In the case of the Sgt. Jasper site, the BAR rejected the entire design and rather than defer approval, denied the project altogether. This Thursday, The Beach Company and the City’s BAR enter into mediation, the next step in The Beach Company’s appeal of the decision.
“The Chamber supports the development process that exists under South Carolina law. If a developer, working with the local jurisdiction proposes development that fits within the local jurisdiction’s comprehensive plans and long term vision, and follows the normal development approval processes, projects should not be rejected without due cause,” said Derreberry. “In the case of the Sgt. Jasper project, what The Beach Company was proposing was well below the height requirement and density allowed for the property.”
About the Chamber
With 1,600 member organizations representing 125,000 professionals, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce serves as the collective voice of the business community, and a catalyst for advancing the region’s economy and enhancing members’ success through Advocacy, Innovation, Talent and Business Advancement. Visit charlestonchamber.net
.
