Dorchester Council moves to extend moratorium

SUMMERVILLE — Dorchester County Council intends to renew the moratorium on new residential developments before it expires next month, giving the county more time to finish a plan to make sure building doesn't get ahead of roads and schools when the economy picks up again.

The county's six-month suspension of new developments expires June 10. Council voted 6-1 Monday to give first-reading approval to renewing it for another three months.

"Our concern is that development proposals that are waiting in the wings will come in (after the moratorium that was passed last December expires) before we have a good comprehensive plan in place," said Councilman Jamie Feltner, who lives on Dorchester Road, one of the county's most congested areas.

Feltner wanted to extend the moratorium for another six months, but council ended up passing a 120-day compromise proposed by Willie Davis of St. George.

Council will hold a public hearing before final approval, which is expected at the June 2 meeting.

Chris Murphy was the only one to vote against it.

"I'm against this," said Murphy, a Summerville attorney. "I think the economy is taking care of building here as in the rest of the country."

The moratorium affects new developments of at least 10 units in School District 2, which includes the Summerville area and not the more rural parts of the county. It does not affect projects that have already been approved.