There has been much discussion over the last two years about the city of Greenville’s new development code and zoning maps. It makes sense to know more about the city employees who worked to reshape and create the new code: the planning and development department.
Formally led by recently promoted City Manager Shannon Lavrin, the department contains a mix of development planners, urban designers, landscape architects, project coordinators and zoning code enforcement officers.
Mary Douglas Hirsch, the city’s planning administrator, said the department oversees a variety of tasks focused on planning and shaping the quality of life in the city of Greenville.
A few years ago, the planning department was divided into three divisions: current planning, long-range planning and urban design.
“It’s a strong way of organizing our talents,” said Edward Kinney, principal landscape architect. “I think it helps our teams communicate (with) each other and parcel out the work that needs to be done.”
Current planning
The current planning team oversees the day-to-day permit-review operations and the enforcement of the development code.
The team reviews plans submitted by developers to see if they align with the zoning ordinance. To make sure everything is built according to approved plans, the team inspects projects during and after construction.
Kristopher Kurjiaka, a principal development planner, leads the seven-person team made up of planners and zoning code enforcement officers.
“We also staff (the city’s) Board of Zoning Appeals which again deals with a lot more current zoning issues there,” Kurjiaka said.
Long-range planning
The long-range planning division helps to set the design standards and growth direction of the community by focusing on the city’s various master plans.
Michael Frixen, a principal development planner, explained the main team projects include the GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan and the corridor and small-area plans.
Additional tasks done by the long-range planning team include:
- Coordinate the city’s Planning Commission
- Manage the sustainability plan and the Green Ribbon Advisory Committee
- Administer the addressing policy
- Review subdivisions
Five staff members make up the division, led by Frixen.
Urban design
The urban design team focuses on architectural review and guidelines, open space, master planning and acquisition, and public realm design, Kinney explained.
“We do a lot of neighborhood and community interaction and communication,” he said. “We work with the development quarter to work through their designs and make sure that their designs meet code.”
The division also coordinates the city’s Design Review Board and the Historic Review Board. Kinney oversees the four-person urban design team.
While each division has its own roles and responsibilities, the three teams work in tandem.
“I would say everybody’s talents are varied and so we complement each other well,” Hirsch said. “It’s very much a team approach and I’m just really excited about the professionalism of the department and who we have.”
