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| Home / College Guide / State university bill sparks neighborhood concerns in Charleston |
| Posted on Wednesday, February 04 @ 00:00:33 PST |
State university bill sparks neighborhood concerns in Charleston
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A proposed state bill that would allow state-owned universities to host events regardless of local zoning restrictions has raised concerns among Charleston residents.
H. 5015 would permit state universities to override local zoning laws when hosting events on campus. The legislation is currently being reviewed by the Education and Public Works Committee.
Lawmakers cite zoning challenges
State lawmakers said they introduced the bill because of challenges colleges have faced in hosting events.
“The zoning doesn’t match up with the use of the campus. So this is codifying saying that these types of events are allowed on a state university,” Sen. Ed Sutton, District 20, said.
Sutton said the spaces could host cultural events, food festivals, commencement speeches and other events that could help the economy.
Residents express concerns about neighborhood impact
Community members worry about how the legislation would affect their neighborhoods.
“Park Terrace has historically been a family community. You’ve got very young children who go to bed at 7:00. So having concerts, especially as many as they were talking about per year, and the size of the venue too,” resident Joe Clarke said.
Clarke said he believes the bill would undermine local democracy.
“Board of Directors for the Citadel can override the elected officials that I voted for here in Charleston? Makes no sense,” he said.
Clarke added that he does not think live concerts belong in historic neighborhoods.
Lawmakers say safeguards remain in place
Sutton said residents should not be concerned because universities would still need to follow local regulations.
“You still have to follow all of the local noise ordinances, safety ordinances that I previously mentioned. So this is not a free pass,” he said.
Sutton also said colleges would still need to ask the city to accept their plans and go through the special permitting process for events.
Copyright 2026 WCSC. All rights reserved.
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