Design Review Board grants final approval, with conditions, for church addition at 407 North Magnolia
May 28, 2026 | Summerville, Dorchester County, South Carolina
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The Summerville Design Review Board on May 28 granted final approval for a proposed addition at 407 North Magnolia, while placing several conditions intended to improve streetside appearance, landscaping and material detail.
Staff opened the item as a previously-reviewed church project that earlier had come before the board for conceptual and preliminary comments. The current submission showed an addition that would provide new entry doors, restrooms and a porch; staff said the addition does not present zoning compliance issues but that the board had requested renderings, materials and a full landscape package at preliminary review.
Kevin Wnogle, landscape architect (HLA), and the applicant’s contractor Rob (U Design Build contractors) presented the plan, describing an added landscape island and sidewalk that meet ADA requirements, and acknowledging the project would reduce parking by about nine spaces. Wnogle explained that the team would offset new impervious area with additional planting beds and replace portions of pavement where needed.
Board members focused on the side elevation visible from the adjacent parking lot and Magnolia Street, and on how the new porch/column details and materials would tie into the older brick sanctuary. Members suggested adding a continuous brick water table or other detail to visually tie the new façade to the existing church brick, while acknowledging exact matches to historic brick may be impossible.
The board also urged additional perimeter and foundation plantings to soften the addition, recommended providing hard-copy material samples (brick, mortar/grout, mortar joint type and precast caps) for staff review, and suggested exploring whether a short sidewalk segment near an existing door could be reconfigured into planting to soften the edge.
A motion for final approval carried by voice vote. The board’s approval included conditions requiring submittal of the requested material samples, a final landscaping plan showing canopy and foundation plantings, and staff verification of any required ADA/ramp connections and the 10-foot curb radius at drive exits where noted.
Staff opened the item as a previously-reviewed church project that earlier had come before the board for conceptual and preliminary comments. The current submission showed an addition that would provide new entry doors, restrooms and a porch; staff said the addition does not present zoning compliance issues but that the board had requested renderings, materials and a full landscape package at preliminary review.
Kevin Wnogle, landscape architect (HLA), and the applicant’s contractor Rob (U Design Build contractors) presented the plan, describing an added landscape island and sidewalk that meet ADA requirements, and acknowledging the project would reduce parking by about nine spaces. Wnogle explained that the team would offset new impervious area with additional planting beds and replace portions of pavement where needed.
Board members focused on the side elevation visible from the adjacent parking lot and Magnolia Street, and on how the new porch/column details and materials would tie into the older brick sanctuary. Members suggested adding a continuous brick water table or other detail to visually tie the new façade to the existing church brick, while acknowledging exact matches to historic brick may be impossible.
The board also urged additional perimeter and foundation plantings to soften the addition, recommended providing hard-copy material samples (brick, mortar/grout, mortar joint type and precast caps) for staff review, and suggested exploring whether a short sidewalk segment near an existing door could be reconfigured into planting to soften the edge.
A motion for final approval carried by voice vote. The board’s approval included conditions requiring submittal of the requested material samples, a final landscaping plan showing canopy and foundation plantings, and staff verification of any required ADA/ramp connections and the 10-foot curb radius at drive exits where noted.
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