Purpose.
Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-299.59
in effectSec. 54-299.59. - Purpose.
(1) Intent. City Council intends for Conservation Developments to facilitate innovative residential developments that:
(a) Utilize creative and flexible site design compatible with surrounding development patterns;
(b) Accommodate and preserve features of historical, cultural, archeological, and/or environmental significance;
(c) Conserve existing, intact, undisturbed forests, understory, grasslands, soils, and other upland ecosystems.
(d) Provide common open space of high quality with multiple access points;
(e) Decrease stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution by reducing the amount of impervious surface in the development and incorporating GI;
(f) Reduce infrastructure costs by mimicking predevelopment site hydrology into the stormwater management design for the development; and
(g) Maintain unobstructed scenic views or vistas, especially from street rights-of-way.
(2) Definition. A Conservation Development is a development utilizing innovative site planning techniques to concentrate buildings, structures, and impervious surfaces in specific areas within the development and to allow the remaining land to be used for common open space. Such techniques may include, but shall not be limited to, any or all of the following:
(a) Reduction or, when appropriate, elimination of (i) minimum lot areas per family; (ii) minimum setbacks; and/or (iii) minimum lot frontage; and/or
(b) Increase or, when appropriate, elimination of maximum lot occupancy;
but only to the extent such techniques facilitate the preservation and use of the remainder of the development as common open space.
(3) Conservation Site. "Conservation Site" or "Site" means all properties, lots, parcels, waterbodies, watercourses, wetlands, and other areas included within a Conservation Development, whether or not such properties, lots, parcels, waterbodies, watercourses, wetlands, or other areas will be developed.
(Ord. No. 2021-040, § 3, 4-13-21)
Source: City of Charleston, South Carolina, Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/sc/charleston/codes/zoning?nodeId=ART2LAUSRE_PT19CODE_S54-299.59PUFetched: 11/7/2026