Here’s a recap of the August meeting of the city of Greenville’s Planning Commission:
Approved: Annexation and rezone on Mauldin Rd
The Conestee Foundation was approved to be rezoned on Mauldin Road from a C-2, making it a commercial district, to C-3, a regional commercial district. The C-3 zone establishes the area for regional retail shopping centers as opposed to its original zoning as a commercial district.
Approved with conditions: Subdivision on Global Drive
A new subdivision on Global Drive was approved with conditions from the board. The applicant, Rick Cauthen, was encouraged to discuss sidewalk construction with Greenville city staff to confirm the connection of sidewalks and buildings to already existing sidewalks.
The board also required sidewalks from the main entrance, including a crossing to access the future sidewalk. The existing access easement needs to continue from the termination of the right-of-way until Global Drive and Dairy Drive connect to not obstruct the flow of traffic.
Deferred: ACRE apartment homes
A proposed multifamily housing development on Cleveland Street at the current site of the Scottish Rite Center was deferred until the September planning commission meeting.
The development, ACRE, would create 110 multi-family townhomes, which was met with concerns from several neighbors, many of whom spoke up at the meeting during public comment.
Paula Fulghum, a resident who created a petition regarding traffic safety on Cleveland Street garnering more than 200 signatures, was the first of almost 20 individuals to voice concerns during public comment.
“We would just like for the planning commission to slow down their decision so we can slow down the traffic,” Fulghum said, highlighting a concern many shared about creating more traffic and making the area more dangerous, with many residents pointing out it is already a “high-volume traffic area.”
A traffic impact study was also conducted, which is not required for the project to be approved, and indicated a traffic signal was not warranted. Although the study was not required, many discussed concerns about the accuracy of the study.
Not all concerns were related to traffic and safety; some worried about the handling of stormwater and also concerns for the transparency of the project. But the majority of the concerns revolved around overall safety for the community.
The applicant, Ron Liebel, agreed to hold a fourth neighborhood meeting to discuss concerns about the project. Despite the three previous neighborhood meetings and provided sign-in sheets, many attendees stated they were not aware of the project until recently. The deferment was the applicant’s decision to make, as Liebel could have asked for a vote, as the previous neighborhood meetings were compliant. The applicant will have to hold the meeting with 10 days’ notice in order to be on the agenda for the September meeting.
Denied: Rezone from RDV And RM-2 to C-4
The planning commission denied a rezoning in the West End from an RDV and RM-2 to C-4. The applicant, SCAP Ware, sought to rezone nine parcels located along South Academy Street between North Calhoun Street and McCall Street. This would rezone the area from redevelopment and single-family and multi-family districts to a central business district.
The applicant wanted to rezone to develop the site into a mixed-use project with commercial, retail and residential uses, stating interest in making multifamily units at affordable rates.
Residents nearby, however, stated concerns that approving the zoning into C-4 would bring “more unwelcome projects” and voiced their wish to stay a residential zone.
The board denied the rezoning, agreeing with residents that if the applicant were to sell the property before the proposed project was created, anything falling within the central business district could be built there.
Approved: Subdivision in West Greenville
An application for a subdivision in West Greenville by the Parker Group was approved and represents the second major development proposed for the Village within the year.
The project also represents the continued fight for affordable housing in Greenville, as stated by applicant Drew Parker, who voices his intentions to “leave things better than they found it.”
According to the Parker Group, approximately 80 to 95 people attended the neighborhood meeting regarding the proposed townhome project, with many noting the 28 units were not an issue and stated approval for the attempt to improve the property.
Approved: Subdivision on N. Pleasantburg Drive and Renaissance Row Drive
A new subdivision by Renaissance Custom Homes was approved to include 36 lots for single-family attached residential units and one commercial lot.
Although a prior change was approved by City Council in June this year, a recent change asks for approval to construct the 36 single-family attached units and single commercial parcel.
Planning commission approved the application for 39 lots.
