It's looking more and more like a developer who wants to build a 49-unit townhouse complex next to Ivy Hall will get his wish.

Town Council voted 9-0 Tuesday night (Feb. 14th) to give first-reading approval to a zoning change that would clear the way for the townhouses. Rezoning requests must pass two readings before they can take affect. Council’s next regular meeting is March 14th.

Tuesday's vote was somewhat expected since it came a day after the town's Planning Committee voted 4-0 to recommend approval (see story below). Two members of Ivy Hall's POA Board attended the meeting but weren't called to speak. Panelists had nearly six months of Ivy Hall reaction on record at their disposal.

However, one comment made during the meeting needs clarification. Town planning director Joel Ford said Ivy Hall had "signed off" on a proposal by the developer to improve the drainage of one of our ponds. Actually, the Board hasn't entered into any agreement with the developer but has been in talks with him about possible procedures to improve our drainage.

 Reaction to council’s vote by Board President Bob Lang was mixed.

“We had hoped that the property’s density would remain similar to our neighborhood, but it looks like that’s not going to happen,” Lang said. “On the positive side, the proposed townhouses are expected to be a lot nicer than we had originally thought with an average price per square foot that is very close to the current average square-foot selling price in Ivy Hall. And we’re pleased that council is insisting that the developer continue to work with us to help improve our drainage issues."

The developer, Tom Gibbs, says prices for his 1,029-square-foot units would be $165,000, or $159 per square foot – which is about on par for a townhouse in Mount Pleasant, according to the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. Gibbs said some other units in the development would be priced at $209,000.

During Tuesday's council meeting, Gibbs said the townhouses would be owner occupied and deed restricted so that buyers couldn't quickly turn around and sell them for a profit.

Tentative renderings of the townhouses show two-story buildings with single-car garages on the first floor. Gibbs said the exact architecture and community layout have yet to be finalized.

The Board will continue to follow this issue to the end.

Added Lang: “Mr. Gibbs owns a lot more land along Gregorie Ferry Road, and we would hope that he and the town continue to be mindful and respectful of the 252 households in Ivy Hall as that land is developed.”

For more information please read other stories on this page, background stories here or call the town's planning department at 884-1229.

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As expected, the town's Planning Committee voted Monday to recommend approval of a zoning change that would allow a 49-unit townhouse development next to Ivy Hall.

The zoning change must pass two Town Council readings before taking affect. The first such reading will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall.

Monday's unanimous (4-0) recommendation by the planning committee came with a contingency that the developer, Tom Gibbs, continue to work with Ivy Hall on improving our drainage.

During the meeting, Ivy Hall POA President Bob Lang once again voiced concerns about the increased density of the proposed project. The panel's vote showed that those concerns apparently don't carry as much weight as the town's desire to have more affordable housing.

For more information please read other stories on this page, background stories here or call the town's planning department at 884-1229.

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The town's Planning Committee deferred action Monday (Feb. 6) on a zoning request that would allow for a townhouse development next to Ivy Hall.

The four-member panel deferred the matter to a special meeting scheduled for 12:30 p.m. next Monday (Feb. 13th). The meeting (click here for the agenda) will be in Room 103 at Town Hall, located at 100 Ann Edwards Lane behind the Staples shopping center.

The committee's recommendation will be forwarded to full Town Council during its meeting next Tuesday (7 p.m. Feb. 14th at Town Hall).

No reason was stated for the committee's deferment, but it appeared that time constraints figured into it. The committee on Monday mostly listened to a drainage report by planning department staffer Kevin Mitchell.

In his report, Mitchell, an engineer who reviews drainage requirements for the town, said the townhouse development wouldn't make Ivy Hall's drainage problems any worse than they already are.

"Ivy Hall's flooding won't go away," Mitchell said, "but it's not going to be worsened by this development."

When asked how the drainage issue could be improved, Mitchell said a large pipe installed on the developer's property that would gravitationally direct storm water to a creek some distance away would probably work.

At this point, no such pipe is necessary to meet the town's drainage requirements. But Mitchell and the developer, Tom Gibbs, said they'd like to look into it more.

Two Ivy Hall residents, including POA President Bob Lang, spoke during the meeting. Both reiterated concerns about drainage, density and buffers.

For more information, please read background stories here or call the town's planning department at 884-1229.

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In a meeting today, the town's Planning Committee once again will consider zoning requests by a developer who wants to build a low-income townhouse project next to Ivy Hall.

The meeting starts at 2:15 p.m. and will be in Room 103 at Town Hall, located at 100 Ann Edwards Lane (behind the Staples shopping center).

The developer, Tom Gibbs, is petitioning the town to change the zoning of a 6.2-acre parcel off Gregorie Ferry Road from Community Commercial or Economic Development to Residential Town House. This zoning change would allow for a multi-family development consisting of more than 8 units per acre. Ivy Hall's density is 2.9 units per acre.

Gibbs wants to build a 49-unit complex on the site for a density of 7.9 units per acre.

Despite strong opposition by Ivy Hall residents, Gibbs' plan seems to have the support of most members of the Planning Committee and Town Council. It's unclear if that support is because the town wants more affordable housing here or that it wants the tax revenue that such a development would generate.

As always, at least one representative from the Ivy Hall POA will attend the meeting and voice our concerns. Any other resident who wishes to attend or at perhaps call or e-mail one of the committee members beforehand is invited to do so.

The zoning request is the fifth item on the agenda. Click here for a link to the agenda on the town's Web site.

For more information, please read the two related stories below or go to the background page here. You can reach the town's planning department at 884-1229.

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A developer who is petitioning the town to build a low-income housing project next to Ivy Hall has put more land near our neighborhood on the market.

The 13.4-acre tract on Gregorie Ferry Road (click here to see a pdf map) is mostly in the county and mostly zoned commercial. A small portion is in the town of Mount Pleasant and zoned Economic Development. It's unclear if some of the tract is zoned residential, but it's possible.

The property is listed for $3.3 million on the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors' Multiple Listing Service. The listing agent is Matt Scarafile of Prudential Carolina Real Estate. A note on the MLS ad indicates that the seller is willing to work with a potential buyer on any annexation and zoning matters required to fit a particular use for the property.

How this affects the developer's ongoing efforts with the town on the low-income project is unknown.

As more is learned about this latest twist in the low-income housing saga, the information will be shared here on the Web site.

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All Ivy Hall property owners, as required under our Covenants, must pay an annual assessment fee to the Property Owners Association. The fee is used to pay for maintenance of common areas, insurance and other neighborhood expenses. For a detailed explanation of the annual assessment, read Article IV of the Covenants.

Notices of this year's fee -- $150 per household -- were mailed in early December, and the payment deadline was Jan. 31. Late fees and/or other penalties may apply. Mail your check made out to "Ivy Hall POA" to the following address:

Ivy Hall Property Owners Association
P.O. Box 2327
Mt. Pleasant, SC  29465

Thank you for your cooperation!

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