Charleston has introduced a new rule to make it easier and faster to approve city-owned development projects. The move is expected to reduce delays and save public money over time.
New Rule to Speed Up City Projects
The city has passed an ordinance to simplify the approval process for projects like fire stations and other public facilities. Earlier, such projects had to go through a long review system, which often caused delays.
With the new rule, projects will still go through a detailed review in the beginning. However, after the design phase starts, city staff will handle further reviews instead of sending plans back to the board again and again.
Why This Change Matters
City leaders say public projects are different from private developments. Ross Appel explained that delays in city projects increase costs for taxpayers.
In private projects like hotels, developers handle extra costs. But for public facilities, those additional expenses are paid by the public, sometimes adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Where the Rule Applies
The updated process will apply only to city-owned projects reviewed by the Design Review Board in suburban commercial areas. It will not affect historic downtown Charleston, where stricter rules will continue.
