Planning commission approves Oakleaf Meadows change from villas to single-family lots; engineer explains utility constraints

The Berkeley County Planning Commission voted to approve a major plan change to Oakleaf Meadows, converting the units from villas (attached) to single-family detached lots, after hearing technical testimony about utility locations and prior waiver history.

Steve Sionovich of Fox and Associates, representing the applicant, explained that water meters and sewer cleanouts were installed for a panhandle-builder villa configuration, and that accommodating an alternative villa footprint would have required ripping and replacing hundreds of feet of newly installed water line — a cost the developer said was not financially viable. He told the commission that switching to a single-family product avoids that utility conflict while still meeting minimum lot-area requirements for all but one lot, which was adjusted to include contiguous open space.

Sionovich also reviewed prior waivers granted on April 3, 2023 and April 20, 2026 that modified parking and lot-width requirements for the development. Planning staff confirmed that the county engineer had found the revised plan compliant with the subdivision ordinance. Mr. Franklin recused himself from the Oakleaf Meadows item due to a conflict of interest.

Commissioners asked whether changing from villas to single-family homes reduces parking and traffic; staff and the applicant said the number of lots and vehicle trips remain essentially unchanged and that single-family lots generally reduce the formal off-site parking requirement applied to attached units. “The Berkeley County Public Service Water District does not permit water meters in paved surfaces,” Sionovich said, explaining the technical driver behind the proposed change.

A motion to accept staff recommendation and grant approval for the major plan change passed during the meeting.

Next steps: staff will record the approved major plan change and the developer will proceed with submittals consistent with the revised single-family configuration.