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Local Legislative Agenda
Note: this list does not include state and federal issues


Support Aligning Land Use Ordinances with Flood Insurance Regulations
As the national flood insurance program rates take effect, more homeowners will want to get their Base Flood Elevation as high as possible, yet many local ordinances hinder that effort.

Solution: CTAR should research options and suggest changes for local governments to help homeowners reach Base Flood Elevation to lower their flood insurance rates.

 

Encourage and Foster Involvement in the NFIP’s Community Rating System
Charleston County jurisdictions have extensive involvement in the Community Rating System (CRS) and provide discounts to property owners in the NFIP, but more can be done.

Solution: CTAR should investigate ways – in alignment with CTAR Public Policy – to encourage cities and towns policies to provide additional discounts through the CRS. CTAR should also advise jurisdictions not participating in CRS to enroll in the program.

 

Preserve Private Property Rights
The greatest threat to property owners in the tri-county area is the erosion of property values through government interference such as the regulatory takings process known as a down zoning.

Solution: CTAR supports each city and county enacting an ordinance regulating the process of downzoning to ensure it happens only with property owner consent.

 

Create Better Conditions for Economic Development
Government doesn’t create jobs, but their regulatory, taxation and infrastructure environments allow the private sector to invest the capital and resources which result in job creation. Job creation and private capital helps the commercial real estate market and creates more homebuyers.  Promoting workforce development, and investing in such programs, will bolster our economy into a more prosperous region.

Solution: CTAR supports keeping regulations, fees and taxes on start-up business and property development to a minimum to encourage investment in our region. CTAR supports proper and responsible investments in infrastructure to create the adequate facilities need to facilitate growth in our economy.  To support our economy, homeowners, and homebuyers; we must protect the region from the mounting anti-growth initiatives.

 

Promote Housing Affordability
Every person who desires to should have the opportunity to own real property.  It is imperative that government actions foster an environment conducive to new housing and existing housing purchases for all income levels in all areas. The Charleston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has less affordable housing based on median income than our economic development competitors.

Solution: CTAR should identify recommendations through the CTAR’s Housing Affordability study and support these recommendations.  Regulations, fees and taxes unnecessarily raising the cost of middle class housing shall be eliminated.

 

Monitor Business License Fees
Real estate is a target of local governments to gain more revenue through business licenses. However, gross incomes for real estate are a deceptive measure as many rents are barely enough to pay the mortgage and costs associated with upkeep.  Additionally, owners only renting one to three residential units are not in the “business” of rental real estate.

Solution: Work to educate elected officials and staff of the uniqueness real estate poses for business license purposes and inform them the impact increases in business license fees have on real estate raise rents and take money out of the economy.

 


 

City/County Issue Priorities
*note: does not include state and federal issues*

Universal Issues (all cities and counties)

  • Support Aligning Land Use Ordinances with Flood Insurance Regulations
  • Encourage and Foster Involvement in the NFIP’s Community Rating System
  • Enact a process to protect property owners from government-initiated down zonings
  • Foster better conditions for economic development
  • Implement recommendations from CTAR’s Housing Affordability study to lower housing construction costs
  • Advocate for transportation and infrastructure development

Charleston County

  • Advocate for the completion of the Mark Clark Expressway/I-526
  • Protect property owners from changes to the Urban Growth Boundary that limit property rights
  • Monitor and provide input to the Comprehensive Plan Update

City of Charleston

  • Help property owners in deal with flood insurance increases
  • Enact a process to protect property owners from down zonings
  • Protect the ability to rent and invest in property
  • Oppose new fees and taxes on real property
  • Implement recommendations from CTAR’s Housing Affordability study to lower housing construction costs

Town of Mount Pleasant

  • Oppose arbitrary new taxes and fees on real property
  • Enact a process to protect property owners from government-initiated down zonings
  • Implement recommendations from CTAR’s Housing Affordability study to lower housing construction costs

City of North Charleston

  • Relieve restrictions on commercial estate signage
  • Remove “agent” from public nuisance violation
  • Monitor and work on the Joint Base Charleston JLUS model ordinance through COG

Town of Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms and Folly Beach

  • Review land use and building ordinances to ensure fair ability for property owners to meet BFE under the NFIP guidance.

Berkeley County

  • Work to restore 100% local property tax credit
  • Create a process for down zonings that mandates owner input into land use decisions

City of Goose Creek

  • Encourage legal and fair application of the business license state law
  • Encourage involvement and provide guidance to enroll in the NFIP’s Community Rating System

City of Hanahan

  • Encourage involvement and provide guidance to enroll in the NFIP’s Community Rating System

Dorchester County

  • Reduce reliance on transportation impact fee
  • Create a process for down zonings that mandates owner input into land use decisions

Town of Summerville

  • Continue work towards creating better conditions for economic development
  • Monitor the implementation of the Summerville Unified Development Ordinance

Read more legislative updates and news, here.

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