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★ ★ ★PUBLICRECORDSEP 22 2026
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Charleston City Council Meeting Summary – September 22, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 22, 2026
BodyCharleston, South Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:02:45

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0:14

Thank you.

0:15

Everything's good.

2:39

All right.

2:40

I'd like to call this September twenty second meeting of City Council to order.

2:46

Adam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

2:49

Councilmember Greg.

2:50

Councilmember Sheeley.

2:52

Here.

2:52

Council Member McBride.

2:53

Here.

2:54

Councilmember Polkay.

2:55

Councilmember Brady.

2:57

Present.

2:57

Councilmember Di Alessandro.

2:59

Councilmember Waring.

3:01

Councilmember Seagings.

3:03

Councilmember Tinkler.

3:06

Councilmember Appel.

3:08

Councilmember Scarden.

3:09

Mayor Cogswell.

3:11

Here.

3:11

I'd now like to ask Councilmember Tinkler to give the invocation and lead everybody in the pledge of allegiance.

3:19

Thank you.

3:19

If you pard my voice, um I'm losing it.

3:23

Um if we could bow our heads, I'll stand.

3:27

Gracious God, thirty-seven years ago a powerful storm came ashore that shattered any sense that we were in control.

3:35

As we gather tonight, grant us the serenity to accept what lies beyond our power and the understanding to act uh where our choices have meaning.

3:45

Help us take this city as it is, not as we might wish it, and leave it better than we found it.

3:51

Teaches to see hardship not as an ending but as a doorway and to meet each decision one at a time with patience, determination, and humility.

4:00

Together, we are resilient.

4:02

Amen.

4:22

Okay.

4:25

Tonight we have two very important proclamations.

4:36

Martha Rivers Ingram, and I'd like to call on her brother John and other members that are here tonight from the arts community to join me up, if you will, on the diocese.

4:46

I read this resolution.

4:48

Come on up, come on up, come on up.

4:50

We got a lot of people here.

4:54

That's right.

4:57

A different show, right?

5:00

Thank you.

5:09

Hello, viewable.

5:10

Good to see you.

5:13

Come on up, guys.

5:14

Come on up.

5:14

Crowded in.

5:23

Come on, we can make room.

5:24

We can make room.

5:26

Oh hi, bye.

5:27

That's right.

5:28

That's right.

5:29

Keep moving, keep moving.

5:35

Come on, guys, I got I got little league teams that do better than this, guys.

5:39

Come on.

5:42

No pictures.

5:43

No, yeah, they're gonna be pictures.

5:47

All right.

5:48

Whereas Martha Rivers Ingram was born in Charleston, South Carolina on August 20th, 1935, and was raised and educated in this city, attending Ashley Hall before continuing her studies at Vassar College.

6:03

And whereas, although she went on to build her career and family life in Nashville, Tennessee, following her 1958 marriage to Bronson Ingram, Martha Rivers Ingram remained deeply and actively invested in Charleston for the whole of her life.

6:18

And whereas, having already led the development of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in the 1970s and the Shermer Horn Symphony Center in the early 2000s, Martha Rivers Ingram brought that same experience and resolve to Charleston, where she personally committed the first 20 million towards the redevelopment of the Gilead Center and ultimately helped raise nearly half of the project total cost.

6:44

And whereas the redevelopment of the Gilead Center followed closely on the heels of the renovations of the Dock Street Theater and the Meminger Auditorium, now known as Festival Hall, continuing a broader revitalization of Charleston's performing arts venues, to which Martha Rivers Ingram's leadership and generosity were central.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████17%
Affordable Housing██████████████14%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Public Health Awareness████4%
Pending Litigation████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Food Trucks And Vending████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Charleston City Council Meeting Summary – September 22, 2026

The Charleston City Council met on September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM (with proceedings continuing until approximately 8:58 PM) to consider proclamations, zoning requests, public comments, appointments, and committee reports. The meeting began with an invocation by Councilmember Tinkler, followed by proclamations honoring Martha Rivers Ingram and declaring September 26 as Mesothelioma Awareness Day.

Consent Calendar

  • Appointments: Approved appointments to the Commission on Women, Redevelopment and Preservation Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Site Design, and Tourism Commission (motion carried unanimously).
  • Bulk Zoning Approvals: Items 3–6 (rezoning of Jack Primus Road, Ironstone Alley, Terracotta properties, Westeria Road, Walpole Way, Huntington Drive, and Mean Street) and items 8–9 (additional annexations) were approved together via voice vote.
  • Committee Reports: The Ways and Means committee report was adopted as amended (includes a deferral); no further details provided.
  • Minutes: The September 8 council minutes were approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • 806 Magnolia Road Rezoning (Opposition): Six speakers (including Eva Zankel, Thomas Haran, William Hicks, and online comments) opposed rezoning from SR2 to DR9, citing incompatibility with the surrounding neighborhood, traffic, flooding risks, and a petition of 313 signatures. They argued the rezoning would exceed the comprehensive plan’s 4–8 units per acre and could set a bad precedent.
  • Parkshore Park Pickleball Courts: Several residents (Samuel Schumann, Robert Neiss, and others) raised concerns about noise pollution, loss of habitat, and lack of transparency. Letters were submitted: 22 opposed, 8 in favor. The project was reportedly deferred for further public input.
  • Food Truck Regulations: Laura Stosel urged the council to restrict permitted items to pushcarts, not tents or trailers, especially near the Exchange Building.
  • Dominion Energy Price Hikes and Merger: Multiple speakers (Marcus McDonald, Daryl Orion) called for the city to formally intervene with the Public Service Commission, hold a town hall, and oppose the proposed merger with NextEra, citing affordability impacts on seniors and residents.
  • Other Comments: Anthony Bryant addressed mail tampering and first amendment concerns; Nick Saltmarsh thanked city staff for support in opening a paddle club; Grayson Padone expressed concern about decisions eroding Charleston’s character.

Discussion Items

  • 806 Magnolia Road Rezoning (SR2 to DR9): Planning Director Morgan presented the request, noting the property is a 100-year-old house on a lot adjacent to SR2 neighborhoods. Staff supported DR9 as a “missing middle” housing solution, but the Planning Commission voted 6–2 to recommend disapproval. Council debate centered on the lack of appropriate zoning categories (no DR8), the risk of spot zoning, and the developer’s claim that SR2 was not financially feasible. Councilmember Tinkler moved to accept the Planning Commission’s denial, citing the mismatch with the comprehensive plan and the neighborhood’s character. Councilmember McBride noted the need for a zoning code update. The motion passed.
  • Jack Primus Road Rezoning and Other Annexations: Morgan explained that the Jack Primus Road parcel was unzoned after annexation in the 1990s and would be zoned SR1 for Habitat for Humanity affordable housing. Councilmember Waring clarified that annexation often benefits property owners through reduced taxes and does not typically increase density. The items were approved.
  • Parkshore Park Pickleball Courts: Discussed during citizens participation; council noted the matter had been deferred, with plans for further community engagement.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote to Deny 806 Magnolia Road Rezoning: Council voted to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendation (motion by Councilmember Tinkler, seconded, voice vote passed with no opposition recorded). The property remains zoned SR2.
  • Approved Rezonings and Annexations: Items 2 (Jack Primus Road SR1), 3–6 (annexations with SR2 or SR1 zoning), and 8–9 (additional annexations) were all approved via voice votes.
  • Appointments Approved: All recommended appointments to city boards and commissions were approved.
  • Ways and Means Report Adopted: The report was adopted as amended (including a deferral).
  • Next Meeting: The next City Council meeting is scheduled for October 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. Everything's good. All right. I'd like to call this September twenty second meeting of City Council to order. Adam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Greg. Councilmember Sheeley. Here. Council Member McBride. Here. Councilmember Polkay. Councilmember Brady. Present. Councilmember Di Alessandro. Councilmember Waring. Councilmember Seagings. Councilmember Tinkler. Councilmember Appel. Councilmember Scarden. Mayor Cogswell. Here. I'd now like to ask Councilmember Tinkler to give the invocation and lead everybody in the pledge of allegiance. Thank you. If you pard my voice, um I'm losing it. Um if we could bow our heads, I'll stand. Gracious God, thirty-seven years ago a powerful storm came ashore that shattered any sense that we were in control. As we gather tonight, grant us the serenity to accept what lies beyond our power and the understanding to act uh where our choices have meaning. Help us take this city as it is, not as we might wish it, and leave it better than we found it. Teaches to see hardship not as an ending but as a doorway and to meet each decision one at a time with patience, determination, and humility. Together, we are resilient. Amen. Okay. Tonight we have two very important proclamations. Martha Rivers Ingram, and I'd like to call on her brother John and other members that are here tonight from the arts community to join me up, if you will, on the diocese. I read this resolution. Come on up, come on up, come on up. We got a lot of people here. That's right. A different show, right? Thank you. Hello, viewable. Good to see you. Come on up, guys. Come on up. Crowded in. Come on, we can make room. We can make room. Oh hi, bye. That's right. That's right.

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