The developer of a building structure of 25,000 square feet or greater or of ten or more contiguous acres (10 acres) of land or that is projected to generate more than 100 peak hour vehicle trips, based on trip generation rates from the latest edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) trip Generation Manual or that is likely to have significant impact on transportation capacity, levels of service or on traffic safety shall prepare a report on the number of trips expected to be generated to and from the project at each access point on the parcel.

1. The following information shall be included:
   1. Existing conditions, including adjacent land uses and roadway conditions.
   2. Proposed site(s) usage, including number of lots, buildings, parking, internal circulation patterns and other factors that affect traffic on and adjacent to the site.
   3. Current ADT and design hourly traffic volumes, site-generated ADT with development at fully built status. Existing and projected (at 10 years after opening) traffic volumes on the adjacent roadway system.
   4. Capacity analysis and traffic improvement recommendations.
2. Traffic impact information will be forwarded on to the SC Department of Transportation or to Charleston County Public Works, depending on which body of government has jurisdiction over the primary access road. The State or County will determine if road conditions will not be significantly impacted, if the projected increase will necessitate road improvements and what improvements will be required.
   1. Any required improvements shall be installed by the developer prior to receipt of final Certificate of Occupancy.
3. The Town may grant exceptions to the requirements of this Section where an agreement between the developer and the Town can reasonably improve, maintain or rehabilitate conditions of the roadway affected by the amount of traffic being generated by the site.

(Ord., amended 10-25-2005.)

The lot, setback and height requirements shall comply with district regulations (as found in Chapter Two), unless modified by special provisions, variances, exceptions and conditions contained elsewhere in this chapter.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87, amended 01-20-00)

Lot width is measured between side lot lines along a line parallel to the front line and located the minimum front setback distance from the front lot lines.

In the absence of public water or public sewer, no building permit shall be issued until the lot meets all the requirements of this Ordinance and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

No lot shall be so reduced in size as to result in the violation of any requirement of Chapter Two, Minimum Lot Size requirements for each Zoning District or of the Subdivision Regulations in Chapter Five.

The Town Council or the Town Board of Zoning Appeals may reduce the required minimum lot area and width for a pumping, pressure regulating, or similar utility substation.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87)

Substandard approved lots of record, pre-existing lots (lots subdivided and approved before 1994) and those which do not meet minimum lot size requirements shall not be subject to the minimum lot area and width requirements provided they comply with setback and other building lot requirements and do not abut a lot in the same ownership at the adoption of this chapter.

A lot may be subdivided provided that all resulting lots and structures comply with the provisions of Minimum Lot requirements in Chapter Two and the Subdivision Regulations in Chapter Five. If a lot is occupied by a nonconforming structure, it may be subdivided provided that subdividing does not create a new nonconformity or increase the degree of nonconformance of the structure.

No lots shall be created within the town limits which do not have access to publicly-maintained or private street of record, except as provided below. Such access shall consist of frontage on a public or private street of a width of not less than 20 feet and a minimum right-of-way width of 50 feet.

1. In the subdivision of a single lot of record into two lots, a 20 foot minimum ingress/egress easement may be approved as access to the subdivided lot, provided that each newly created lot conforms to the underlying minimum zoning district standards. The location of the easement shall be clearly depicted and labeled on submitted plats.

(Ord. passed 11-28-06)

1. Except as provided elsewhere in this Ordinance, no principal detached residential structure shall be located on the same zoning lot with any other principal structure.
2. Where garage apartments are permitted, only one such apartment shall be permitted on any zoning lot.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87)

Where special setback lines have been established on any street by the Town Council by approval of a subdivision plat or otherwise, such setback lines shall prevail over the front setbacks established herein. (Ord., passed 8-17-87)

1. Front Setbacks of Adjacent Structures. Notwithstanding the front setback requirements of this Ordinance, the front building line of any structure or addition to a structure may be as close to the street as the front building line of the immediately adjacent structure on a separate lot on the same block, either to the right or to the left, whichever of the two is farther from the street. (Ord., passed 8-17-87)
2. Differing Setback Requirements at District Boundaries for Front setbacks.
   1. Where a zoning district boundary lies along a portion of a street and the front setback requirements in the two districts are not the same, the greater requirement shall apply on both sides of such portion of the street. This requirement shall not apply if the right-of-way exceeds 50 feet.
   2. Where a district boundary intersects a street line and the front setback requirements in the districts on either side of the boundary are not the same, the greater setback requirement shall continue along such street for 100 feet into the district having the lesser requirement.
3. Differing Setback Requirements as District Boundaries for Interior Setbacks.
   1. Where the interior setback requirement of a district on one side of a district boundary differs from the requirement on the other side thereof, the greater requirement shall prevail.
4. Reduction of One Front Setback on Narrow Corner Lot.
   1. Where the front and interior setbacks required by this chapter reduce to less than 40 feet the buildable width of any corner lot which was of record as of the effective date of this chapter, the front setback on the longer street side may be reduced as much as shall be necessary to increase such buildable width to 40 feet but shall not be reduced to less than 15 feet.
      1. In the event the street sides of such lot are of equal length, the reduction shall be made on the side which lies on the shorter side of the block. (Ord., passed 8-17-87)
5. Front Setbacks on Narrow Streets. Where a lot abuts a publicly dedicated street that has been accepted for street maintenance and has a right-of-way of less than 50 feet wide, the required front setback shall be measured from a line measured 25 feet from the center of such right-of-way. (Ord., passed 8-17-87)
6. Rear Setbacks from Wetlands. Rear yard setbacks for lots abutting wetlands shall be a minimum of 35 feet from the critical line as determined by the state or federal regulating agency.
   

All areas between the property lines and setback lines must remain open, unoccupied and unobstructed except as follows:

1. Eaves, cornices, chimney and flues, window sills and other architectural features may project into any required setback not more than 24 inches.
2. Open, uncovered porches, open fire escapes, uncovered decks and balconies may project into a front or rear setback not more than five (5) feet.
3. Fences, walls and hedges may be erected in any required setback or along the edge of lot, provided that in any residential zone, NC or GB District, no fence, wall or hedge located in a front setback or street side setback shall exceed four (4) feet in height, or shall exceed eight (8) feet along any interior or rear setback.
4. Trees, shrubbery and other landscaping may be located within any required setback.
5. Driveways, sidewalks, utility lines, wires and associated structures may be located within any required setback.
6. Satellite dish antennas may be placed in required rear setbacks.
   

1. On a corner lot, no structure, planting, sign, fence, wall or other obstruction shall obscure travel vision from 3 feet to 15 feet above ground level in a triangular area formed by measuring from the point of intersection of the front and side lot lines a distance of 40 feet along the lot lines and connecting the points to form a triangle.
2. A similar line-of-sight shall be maintained at private driveways of commercial or industrial activities except that the connecting points establishing the clear area shall be measured a distance of 15 feet from the intersecting lines of the street lines and driveway lines.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87) Penalty, see Chapter Six. Section 6.3.2.

In districts where multi-family and attached dwellings are permitted, zero lot line construction is also permitted with the provision that structures shall otherwise meet the minimum setback requirements of the district in which they are located. This applies to condominiums, cooperatives or any other units created in accordance with the Horizontal Property Act (SC Code 57-494 through 57-523) or agreements wherein common walls of units are shared.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87)

Height shall be measured by the vertical distance between the base flood elevation and the average height level between the eaves and ridge line of a cable, hip, or gambrel roof or the highest point of a mansard roof or the coping of a flat roof.

1. Where any lot in a zoning district abuts an interior lot line of another zoning district with more restrictive height requirements, the more restrictive height requirements shall apply to structures on such lot. (Ord., passed 8-17-87)
2. Fences or walls shall be measured from the ground level on the higher side of the fence or wall.
   

The height limitations of this chapter shall not apply to accessory farm structures, antennas, belfries, chimneys, church spires, conveyors, cupolas, domes not intended for human occupancy, flag poles, masts, monuments, radio or television towers, transmission towers, utility poles, water towers or necessary mechanical appurtenance extending above the roof of any building.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87)

Business, commercial and industrial (NC, GB, LI, GI) districts must be separated from adjacent residentially or agriculturally zoned districts as follows:

1. Development adjacent to residential property:
   1. Fifteen (15) foot landscaped bufferyard; and/or
   2. Opaque fence, not to exceed 6 feet in height; and
   3. Two canopy trees and six understory trees per one-hundred feet of contiguous property line.
2. Development adjacent to other commercial property or adjacent to street with residentially-zoned property on one side:
   1. Five foot landscaped bufferyard; and
   2. Two canopy trees and two understory trees per one-hundred feet of frontage.
      

All commercial properties shall be required to provide a landscaped buffer along the front property line, consisting of:

1. Two canopy trees and three understory trees per one hundred feet of frontage.
2. Ten to twenty large shrubs.
   

1. At time of planting, canopy trees shall be a minimum of two and one-half (2 1/2) inches in caliper, measured six inches above grade. Understory trees shall be a minimum of five feet in height.
   1. When planting or replacement of trees, plant material or other landscape features is required, such replacement shall be accomplished within a one-year growing season or as approved during the site plan approval process.
2. Existing natural plant materials which satisfy the size and type criteria of this section may be counted towards meeting the requirements of this section.
3. Opaque fencing, not to exceed six feet in height, may be substituted for the plantings with approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission and/or Town Council.
4. Landscaping shall be required on all new commercial developments and any renovation or remodeling, which equates to twenty-five (25) percent of the building’s value, of existing commercial structures.
5. Buffers shall be located along the perimeter of a parcel and shall extend to the parcel boundary but not on any portion of the right-of-way.
6. Where drainage or other utility easements run along the property boundary, required landscape buffers shall be planted along but not within the easements.
7. No development shall be allowed within the required planted buffer areas. On-premise signs, fences, walls, berms, mailboxes, driveway, sidewalks and other improvements may be permitted.
8. All required landscaping shall be installed prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
   

Landscaping along the abutting public street right-of-way, adjacent uses and within required parking areas shall be provided for all non-residential and multi-family residential off-street, surface parking, loading and vehicular use areas. Any off-street parking or loading or other vehicular use areas that will be entirely screened from view by an intervening building or structure or by a buffer provided to meet the buffer requirements of Section 4.2.2 shall be exempt from the street front landscaping requirements for parking areas. Such landscaping shall be provided as follows:

1. A landscaping area at least ten feet in depth shall be located between the abutting right-of-way and any off-street surface parking, loading or other vehicular use area, and between off-street parking areas and adjacent uses, except where permitted curb cuts are to be provided.
   1. Such planted areas shall consist of at least four canopy trees every one-hundred feet, and ten to twenty understory bushes, shrubs or other approved material every one-hundred feet.
2. Interior parking areas shall be required to provide one landscaped planter island for every twelve parking spaces in a row. The planter island shall have at least one tree of two and one-half (2 1/2) inches in caliper and other planted material as approved.
3. Existing Plant Material. Wherever possible, the developer is encouraged to preserve the natural landscaping.
   

Abandoned Sign. A sign which was erected on property in conjunction with a particular use which has been discontinued for a period of 30 days or more, or a sign the content of which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies or permitted temporary sign for which the permit has expired.

Awning Sign. A sign on a metal or similar material frame that is supported entirely from the exterior of the building.

Animated Sign. Any sign which uses movement, the appearance of movement or change of lighting to depict motion or action or to create a special effect.

Banner. Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted on a pole or a building.

Billboard. An on-premise or off-premise freestanding sign that exceeds the size limitation of a free-standing sign.

Canopy Sign. A sign on or attached to a permanent overhanging shelter which projects from the face of a building and is supported only partially by the building.

Combination Wall/Roof Sign. A double-faced projecting wall sign which projects above the roof line of a building and which is wholly or partially supported by the building.

Commercial Sign. A sign which refers to the name or type of business.

Community Sign. A sign listing only the names and/or use, or location of more than one business, activity or professional office conducted within a building, group of buildings or commercial center.

Dilapidated Sign. Any sign which is insecure or otherwise structurally unsound, has damaged or defective parts, is unsightly in appearance due to lack of maintenance or which is unable to withstand the wind pressure for which it was originally designed.

Facade/Wall Sign. A sign which advertises a business, product or service and is in any manner painted or affixed to any exterior wall of a building.

Flashing Sign. Any lighted or electrical sign that emits light in sudden transitory bursts of light.

Free-standing Sign. A sign, not including sandwich boards, which is permanently supported by one or more columns, uprights or braces in the ground.

Illuminated Sign. A sign designed to give forth artificial light or to reflect artificial light.

Monument Sign. A free-standing sign that is designed as one architectural structure incorporating the sign face and the sign support structure and is solid from the base of the sign to the top of the sign.

Non-commercial Sign. A sign which conveys a message not intended to promote a business.

Off-premise Sign. A sign that advertises activities, goods, products, and the like, that are available elsewhere than within the building or on the lot where the sign is located. (Billboards are generally off-premise signs.)

On-premise Sign. A sign that advertises activities, goods, products, and the like, that are available within the building or on the lot where the sign is located.

Permanent Sign. A sign which is permanently attached to a building, the grounds, or other structures and which meets the structural and installation standards of the International Building Code and electrical standards of the National Electrical Code. All permanent signs must be constructed to withstand a pressure of 24 pounds per square foot, which is equivalent to a 110 miles per hour wind.

Portable Sign. A sign not permanently attached to the ground or a building which rests on wheels or metal legs and is designed to be transported, and may be temporarily anchored by weights or cables attached to stakes driven into the ground.

Projecting Wall Sign. A double-faced sign, mounted to the exterior wall of a building, which projects perpendicular to the wall/building.

Readerboard Sign. A sign on which copy is changed manually or electronically and on which message applies to the business or property wherein the sign is located.

Real Estate Sign. A temporary sign advertising the real property upon which the sign is located for rent, for lease, or for sale and providing the name and location of the owner or his agent.

Roof Sign. A sign which is erected upon or above the roof-line or roof-eave of a building and which is wholly or partially supported by the building.

Snipe Sign. A non-permitted sign which is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes or fences, or to other objects.

Temporary Sign. A sign or information-conveying structure intended to be erected or displayed for a limited period, and is not permanently attached to the ground, building and/or any other structure.

Window Sign. Any sign which is painted on, applied to, attached to or projected upon or within the exterior or interior of a building glass area, including doors.

1. No signs, except signs exempted in Section 4.3.5, may be erected, altered, moved, or repaired within the Town until a sign permit has been granted by the Zoning Administrator The Town of Ravenel may order the removal of any sign which, after a permit has been obtained, is not constructed in accordance with this ordinance or which does not meet electrical or building code requirements.
2. Application for Sign Permit. An application for a permit may be secured through the Town staff. It shall be accompanied by a plan, showing the following information:
   1. The dimensions and height of the sign and, where applicable, the dimensions of the wall surface of the building to which it is to be attached.
   2. The dimensions and design of the sign’s supporting parts.
   3. A site plan and proposed location of the sign in relation to the boundaries of the lot upon which it is to be situated and distance from the right-of-way.
   4. The building frontage as it exists (or will be built) on the lot, and the setback of the building to which the sign is to be attached.
3. Sign Permit Issuance, Refusal. If Staff reviews an application for a sign permit and finds it meets the standards of this ordinance, a permit shall be issued authorizing the erection of or alteration of a sign. If Staff finds the application does not meet the requirements of the ordinance then the erection or alteration of the sign shall not be authorized and a letter shall be written to the applicant, advising that the request was refused.
4. Inspection. All signs are subject to inspection by the Town Inspector. The Town Inspector is authorized to enter at all reasonable times any property to determine if the code provisions are being obeyed. The sign owner will be notified by letter if any maintenance is necessary. The sign owner will have 30 days to complete the required maintenance. Town Council may grant an extension beyond 30 days if necessary. Lot owners may appeal by letter to Town Council, who must act by letter within 14 calendar days.
   

1. Height of Sign. The height of the sign shall be determined by measuring the vertical distance from the ground level at the base of the sign structure to the highest point.
2. Area of Sign. The area of a sign shall be that entire area within a continuous perimeter, enclosing the extreme limits of sign display, including any border that is part of the sign but not the frame. Both sides of the sign shall be used to calculate the maximum allowed sign area as provided in this section.
3. Sign Face. The sign face shall be that part of the sign that is or can be used to identify, advertise, communicate information or for visual representation which attracts the attention of the public for any purpose. It shall include any material, panel, trim or color forming an integral part of the display upon which or against which it is placed. The sign structure shall not be included as a portion of the sign face provided that no message, symbol or any of the aforementioned sign face criteria are displayed on or designed as part of the sign structure.
4. Sign Maintenance. Every sign, all its parts, portions, units, and materials, together with the frame, background, supports, or anchorage thereof shall be maintained in proper repair and a proper state of preservation. The display surface of all signs shall be kept neatly painted.
5. Setback from Right-of-Way. All free-standing signs shall be set back at least ten feet from the public right-of-way and shall be not be located as to block travel vision near entrance of a driveway. Signs shall not be located so as to obscure the travel vision as required in Section 4.1.12 within the vision clearance triangle at street intersections.
6. Sign Illumination. In non-residential districts, signs shall be illuminated by:
   1. A steady, stationary light of reasonable intensity shielded and directed solely at the sign or by interior light.
   2. Light sources to illuminate signs shall be shielded from all adjacent residential structures and streets and shall not be of such brightness so as to cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or automobile drivers or so as to create a nuisance to adjacent residential districts.
   3. Signs shall not have light reflecting background, but may use light reflecting lettering.
   4. Signs allowed in a residential area shall not be illuminated except for one spotlight directed on the subdivision identification sign.
      

1. “Snipe” signs;
2. Off-premise signs including billboards, except the re-establishment of billboards as allowed under Section 4.3.9.;
3. Signs which contain any flashing, animated or intermittent lights, or give the appearance of animation or movement, except for time and temperature signs and electronic message boards;
4. Signs which emit a sound, odor, or visible matter;
5. Signs which obstruct free ingress/egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required way; signs located in a manner or place so as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians or traffic;
6. Signs and/or sign structures; copying or imitating official government signs;
7. Signs located in the public rights-of-way except for signs placed there by government agency;
8. Signs using the words “stop”, “danger” or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in a manner that might reasonably mislead, confuse or distract a vehicle driver;
9. Signs painted on or attached to trees, rocks or other natural features, telephone or utility poles or attached to existing signs as advertisements for special events;
10. No sign of any kind shall be erected or displayed in any salt marsh areas or on any land subject to periodic inundation by tidal salt water;
11. Abandoned or dilapidated signs;
12. Portable signs, except as provided in Section 4.3.6;
13. Sandwich board signs;
14. Projecting or roof signs;
15. Commercial banners, pennants, streamers, balloons, and other gas-filled signs except as a temporary sign;
16. Signs placed or painted on parked motor vehicles with the primary purpose of an on or off premise sign.
    

1. Political campaign signs, with the following conditions:
   1. All political signs must be located on private property and shall be positioned so as not to conflict with travel vision.
   2. No political sign shall be affixed to any tree or utility pole.
   3. All political signs must be removed within seven days following the close of the primary or general election.
2. Official notices posted by any court, public agency or officer;
3. Historic plaques, markers, monuments;
4. Traffic, directional, warning or informational signs authorized by any public agency or denoting the location of underground utilities;
5. A building contractor’s or developer’s sign, not exceeding 15 square feet per face and temporarily displayed during construction of a structure or development of an approved project.
6. Signs or plates on residential and commercial structures or premises bearing the street number associated with the address of the residence or commercial structure. Numbers shall be a minimum of four (4) inches in height and conspicuously located to be visible from the street.
7. Real Estate and project signs shall be allowed without a permit provided they are removed within 30 days of the rent, sale, or lease of a property.
   

1. The following signs shall require the issuance of a Temporary Sign Permit by Staff prior to their installation. The permit shall cite the length of time any such sign may be displayed.
   1. Temporary and seasonal produce stands. The total area of all such signs shall not exceed ten square feet, nor shall any sign exceed ten feet in height and must be removed within five days of the closing of the stand.
   2. Temporary signs announcing a business, charitable, civic, educational, non-commercial or religious event. Such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet per sign face or ten feet in height. Such signs shall not be erected more than 30 days prior to the event, may remain in place a maximum of 30 days and shall be removed within five days after the event. A minimum of 30 days from the date of removal of a temporary sign shall lapse before a temporary sign permit may be issued for the same property.
   3. Temporary signs shall conform to all other general regulations regarding illumination, setback, etc., included in this section.
      

1. On- premise freestanding signs shall conform to the following table, Table 4.3.7T:
   
   TABLE 4.3.7T
   
   

   ZONING DISTRICT	MAXIMUM AREA/SIZE	MAXIMUM HEIGHT
   Residential and Agricultural	Single-Family: 1 freestanding sign, maximum of 4 square feet in total sign area (home occupation) Subdivisions/Multi-Family: 1 sign per entrance, maximum 24 square feet per sign face	6 feet 8 feet
   Neighborhood Commercial	1 freestanding sign per entrance, if entrances are 300 feet or more apart, the development may have 2 but not more than 2, maximum 100 square feet in total sign area, divided among not more than 4 sign faces, 50 square feet per sign face per side.	For 1 sign: 20 feet For 2 signs: 12 feet each
   General Business	1 freestanding sign per entrance, if entrances are 300 feet or more apart, the development may have 2 but not more than 2, maximum 200 square feet in total sign area, divided among not more than 4 sign faces, 100 square feet per sign face per side.	For 1 sign: 20 feet For 2 signs: 12 feet each
   Light Industrial	1 freestanding sign per entrance, if entrances are 300 feet or more apart, the development may have 2, but not more than 2, maximum 200 square feet in total sign area, divided among not more than 4 sign faces, 100 square feet per sign face per side. Additional signage may be allowed for each separate building not to exceed a total of 20 square feet in sign area for each additional business up to and not exceeding a total of 300 square feet.	For 1 sign: 30 feet For 2 signs: 12 feet If sign is set back 100 feet, then the sign may exceed maximum height by 1 foot for every 1 foot setback beyond 100 feet or more.
   Planned Development	Depending on composition of development, may select one single sign category above that is most appropriate.
   Historic District	NA	NA

2. Special Provisions for Freestanding Signs.
   1. In addition to the signage allowed in Table 4.3.7T., every Neighborhood Commercial and General Business development, may increase the total sign face area of its allowed freestanding sign(s) five square feet for each separate business entity located therein, provided such additional square footage shall not exceed 100 square feet per development.
   2. Readerboards must be incorporated into the overall design of the sign and size must be included in the total sign square footage.
   3. Readerboards which are constructed as a part of a drive-thru service are not deemed to be freestanding signs.
      

1. Wall or facade sign faces shall not occupy more than fifteen percent per facade of the building.
2. Where more than one business or use occupies a single building, each separate business occupying a space which includes an exterior facade may erect signage which shall not occupy more than fifteen percent per facade of the separate business entity; provided, however, that the total signage per facade of the separate business entity shall not exceed the fifteen percent coverage requirement.
3. Where a business occupies an interior space, said business or use may erect signage on an exterior facade provided the total signage per building facade or per facade of a separate business entity, where applicable, shall not exceed the fifteen percent coverage requirement.
4. Projecting wall signs shall not project more than five feet from an exterior wall of a building and shall be limited to one sign per wall.
   

The existence of a permanent sign, with the exception of existing signs or billboards located along Federal Aid Primary (FAP) roads, Interstate Highways, and National Highway System roads (hereinafter referred to collectively as “FAP Signs”), at the time of passage of this section which does not conform to the standards of this section or other ordinances of the Town of Ravenel shall be considered a nonconforming use, subject to the provisions of the regulations of this and other ordinances of the Town of Ravenel.

1. FAP Signs - Reconstruction. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Zoning Ordinance of the Town to the contrary, all existing FAP Signs shall be permitted to remain in existence, and may be altered, repaired, replaced, or relocated, provided the necessary permits have been secured from the Town, which permits shall be issued upon a showing that the following requirements will be met:
   1. That there shall be no increase in the size or number of sign faces (except that the practice of using cutouts, embellishments, or add-ons, which increase the size of a sign face by up to 150 square feet, shall continue to be permitted) and that there shall be no change in the orientation of sign faces in relation to the road or highway on which they are located which would make them visible from another road or highway.
   2. That the existing height of a billboard above the roadbed, excluding ramps, shall not be increased when relocated. A billboard, in its new location, shall not exceed 40 feet in height, except when placed adjacent to an elevated highway, in which case the sign shall not exceed 25 feet in height above the roadbed. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, however, a billboard which exceeds a height of forty (40) feet at the time this ordinance is enacted may be relocated to the same height above the roadbed at its new location.
   3. That no billboards that are not illuminated on February 4, 1997, shall thereafter be illuminated.
   4. That the billboard shall be relocated along the same FAP Road within 300 feet of its location on February 4, 1997.
   5. That the billboard shall not be relocated within 500 feet of another billboard.
   6. That the billboard shall not be relocated within the Historic District (HC), any single-family (R1, R2, R3, RD, or MHP) zone district or within any critical area as defined by the South Carolina Office of Coastal Resource Management critical area definition in effect on February 4, 1997.
   7. That the relocation of a billboard shall not increase the impact of that billboard structure upon marsh vistas or historical resources.
   8. That the billboard shall be relocated along the same road, which shall be a federal aid interstate highway, federal aid primary road, or a road which will be included in the new National Highway System (as provided for under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991). No change in the official nomenclature of roads classified as federal aid primary roads or National Highway System roads on February 4, 1997 shall impair the provisions of this Article.
   9. Billboards that are not in use for a period of six months shall not be permitted for re-establishment.
2. Existing on-premise signs advertising a legal non-conforming use shall be considered a legal, non-conforming sign during such non-conforming use of the premises and until such time as the non-conforming use has been abandoned or become conforming, whichever shall occur first; and provided further that conforming signs which may be hereafter erected on the premises of such non-conforming use shall not, in terms of sign faces, height or number, exceed that of the non-conforming signs being replaced.

(Ord. approved Feb. 4, 1997)

All new development and changes, alterations or expansion to existing development shall be required at the time of development or redevelopment to provide adequate, off-street parking spaces and shall be developed in accordance with this ordinance.

1. Location of Parking Spaces. All parking spaces required in this ordinance shall be located on the same lot as the principal building or use served or on a separate lot as approved during site plan review. Adjacent uses with different operating hours may share off-street parking spaces is approved during site plan review.
2. Mixed Uses. Where more than one principal or accessory use occupy the same building or premises, the parking spaces required shall equal the sum of the requirements of the various uses computed separately.
3. Requirements for Uses Not Specifically Listed. The parking space requirements for a use not specifically listed in this section shall be the same as for a listed use of similar characteristics or parking demand generation, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
4. Compilation of Total Employment. Except as otherwise provided, the number of employees shall be compiled on the basis of the number of persons employed on the premises at one time on an average day or average night, whichever is greater. Seasonal variations in employment may be recognized in determining an average day.
5. Fractional Computations. Where fractional spaces result, the parking spaces required shall be construed to be the next highest whole number.
   

1. Excluding aisles, maneuvering space, turnaround space, and drives, each required off-street parking space shall be no less than nine feet in width and 18 feet in length. No parking or maneuvering area shall be located in any public right-of-way. A scaled drawing or layout of all required parking areas showing the location, size, and arrangement of the individual parking spaces, loading spaces, and landscaped areas as provided under Section 4.2 shall be submitted to the Town for approval. (Ord., passed 8-17-87) Penalty, see Section 6.3.
2. In paved parking areas, each parking space must be clearly delineated by surface markings at least 4 inches in width. Markings shall be visible at all times. Spaces shall be so laid out to provide for the safe and orderly maneuvering of vehicles into and out of the parking space and lot.
3. Unpaved parking lots must have a curb stop to delineate the location of each space. Unpaved parking areas must have an all weather surface such as gravel, slag or other pervious surface, not including asphalt shingles.
   

1. Parking lots and vehicular use areas may be lighted; however, such shall not illuminate, nor cast glare into neighboring properties. Lighting fixtures shall be part of the overall project design and contribute to the landscaping effect.
2. Screening. All parking lots and vehicular use areas shall be screened from abutting properties or rights-of-ways by the minimum requirements of Section 4.2.

TABLE 4.4.5T

(Ord., passed 8-17-87)

1. Areas suitable for loading and unloading motor vehicles in off-street locations and specifically designated for this purpose, shall hereafter be required at the time of the initial construction or alteration or conversion of any building or structure used or arranged to be used for commercial, industrial, governmental, or multi-family residential purposes. Such off-street loading areas shall have access to a public alley or street and shall be provided and maintained in accordance with the following requirements of this sub-chapter, the computation of which shall not be included in the off-street parking requirements.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87) Penalty, see Section 6.3.

1. The number of off-street loading spaces shall be calculated on the basis of the use of the land or principal building on a lot, according to the requirements indicated in the following table:
   
   

   Type of Use	Square Feet in Floor Area: Spaces	Required
   Retail and personal service establishment	0—1,999	NONE
   	2,000—24,999	ONE
   	For each additional 25,000	ONE
   Wholesale, manufacturing; governmental and institutional (including places of public assembly; educational institution; recreation; business services, terminals and similar business uses)	0—24,999	NONE
   	25,000—49,999	ONE
   	50,000—99,999	TWO
   	100,000—249,000	THREE
   	250,000—999,999	FOUR
   	1,000,000 or more	FIVE
   Funeral home or mortuary	0—2,499	NONE
   	2,500—3,999	ONE
   	4,000—5,999	TWO
   	For each additional 10,000	ONE
   Offices or office building	0—4,999	NONE
   	5,000—9,999	ONE
   	10,000—20,000	TWO
   	For each additional 50,000	ONE
   Multi-family dwelling project, mobile home, development, hotel, motel, tourist home or similar establishment	0—9 units	NONE
   	10—20 units	ONE
   	For each additional 10 unit	ONE

Ord., passed 8-17-87)

Each off-street loading and unloading space required by the provisions of this sub-chapter shall be at least 12 feet wide, 40 feet long and 14 feet high. Such space shall be free and clear of obstruction at all times.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87) Penalty, see Section 6.3.

Required off-street loading and unloading areas shall in all cases be located on the same lot or parcel of land as the structure they are intended to serve. In no case shall the required off-street loading space be considered as part of the area provided to satisfy off-street parking requirements as listed in this sub-chapter.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87) Penalty, see Section 6.3

All uses, whether specified in this chapter or not, shall provide off-street loading areas sufficient for their requirements. Such space shall be adequate so that no vehicle being loaded or unloaded in connection with normal operations shall stand in or project into a public street, walk, alley or way.

(Ord., passed 8-17-87)

Upon submittal of a commercial development site plan or a major subdivision plan, the Planning and Zoning Administrator will determine any Exemptions to the Site Plan Review process as noted in Section 4.6.3.

Unless a Conditional or Special Exception criteria found in Chapter 3 indicates otherwise, Site Plan Review shall be held before a regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission, with input sought from the Town Council of the Town of Ravenel. Input from other public agencies that may have jurisdiction over the property will be obtained as needed and as determined solely by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Any exemption to the Site Plan Review process may still require a site plan or adequate site diagram to be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Administrator for approval.

It shall be unlawful to commence the clearing, excavation, or filling of any lot or parcel for the construction of any building or to commence construction of any building or to commence the moving or alteration of any building until a site plan has been approved for such work.

The following shall be exempt from Site Plan Review:

1. Single and two-family dwellings that are not part of a Major Subdivision Plat.
2. Accessory buildings to residential and farm-related uses.
3. Accessory buildings to non-residential uses that do not exceed five hundred (500) square feet, provided there are no other accessory buildings on the lot.
4. Any construction, renovation, routine repair, or maintenance that does not result in the addition of over two thousand (2,000) square feet of new space or additional space to an existing structure or does not increase the use to a more intensive use as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator.
   

The preliminary site plan shall be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Administrator and will be provided to the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance of their review of the Site Plan for approval. The preliminary site plan will show:

1. The proposed title of the project and the name of the engineer, architect, designed or landscape architect and the developer.
2. A north arrow, numeric and graphic scale, and date of the drawing.
3. Existing zoning of property and of surrounding properties and proposed changes in zoning, if any.
4. Boundaries of the development property and general location of all existing easements, property lines, streets, buildings and other existing physical features on or adjoining the project. Show the location of all trees 24" DBH and over.
5. The approximate location and sizes of existing and proposed storm drain easements, culverts, and underground utilities in or near the project identified on a topographic map.
6. The general location and dimensions of:
   1. proposed streets, driveways, curb cuts, entrances, parking and loading areas,
   2. proposed lots, easements, setbacks, open spaces, and a generalized land use plan,
   3. proposed main and accessory buildings,
   4. proposed location, height, width and material of all fences, walls, screens, buffers, plantings, and landscaping,
7. The general location, size, height and orientation of proposed or future signs.
8. Method and location of providing water and sanitary sewage disposal.
   

The Planning and Zoning Administrator shall follow the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding final site plan approval for reviews that are heard before the Commission.

The Planning and Zoning Administrator will approve final site plans that were found exempt from Site Plan Review before the Planning and Zoning Commission when the Administrator finds that the proposed project meets all applicable provisions of this zoning ordinance.

Appeals of a decision of the Planning & Zoning Commission may be made before the Board of Zoning Appeals as specified in Section 6.7.6. Appeals of a decision of the Planning and Zoning Administrator shall be made before the Board of Zoning Appeals as specified in Section 1.15.

Property owners shall have twelve (12) months from the date of approval of a Site Plan to secure a Zoning Permit for the proposed improvements, otherwise the approval shall lapse and be of no further effect.