Here’s a recap of the Greenville County Planning Commission meeting on March 27.
Approved: Woodland Summit subdivsion
Woodland Summit is a proposed residential development located on Adams Mill Road near the intersection of Scuffletown and Woodruff roads in Five Forks.
The development would consist of 87 lots on 37.35 acres for a density of one dwelling per 0.43 acres. It was previously denied in Nov. 2023 due to the proposed location’s traffic congestion and limited access points. The developer has since revised the traffic study, added accessibility to mulch-covered open space, and added turn lanes.
Members of the community returned in opposition expressing concerns about how future occupants may impact the area’s traffic congestion and the proposed subdivision’s location near the center of Five Forks. Added concerns included the design’s lack of exterior sidewalk, mulch’s weakness during rainfall and scarcity of parking.
Representatives from the site’s engineer and developers – Gray Engineering, Mark III Properties and DRB Homes – spoke in favor of the development.
The commission approved of the subdivision with the addition of external sidewalks, commitments made in the traffic study and impervious material for open space.
Approved: Harrington subdivision phase 6
Harrington subdivision phase 6 is an addition to a residential development located along Reedy Fork Road and Fork Shoals Road just south of Lake Conestee.
The proposed development would be made up of 68 lots on a nearly 24-acre area for a density of about one dwelling per 0.35 acres.
Darren Webb with the site’s developer, Mark III Properties, spoke in favor of the development. The commission unanimously approved the development.
Approved: Freya’s Meadow subdivision
Freya’s Meadow is a proposed subdivision located along Old Whitehorse Road and Hodgens Drive between Berea and Parker.
The subdivision will consist of 35 lots on roughly 31 acres. This matter was initially supposed to go before the planning commission in February but was withdrawn by the applicant prior to the meeting.
Members of the community spoke in opposition of the subdivision, citing the neighborhood’s rural character. Added concerns included how the development would affect water quality and runoff given the area’s topography, noting a preference for natural buffers to the design.
Representatives from developer, SK Builders, spoke in favor of the subdivision and addressed the community’s concerns.
The planning commission approved the application with added buffers and an emergency access cul-de-sac.
Approved: Settlement Manor Apartments buffer
The Settlement Manor Apartments is a proposed affordable housing project located on East Settlement Road just off White Horse Road northwest of Berea.
The applicant brought this application before the planning commission to request a variance from Section 8.22.22.A.3. of the county’s Land Development Regulations (LDR) requiring a minimum 100-foot riparian buffer from stream banks located on a property.
A riparian buffer is an area near a stream or body of water that separates the development from the water. The buffer must be a strip of greenery such as trees or shrubs. The stream in question runs through the middle of the site.
Greenville County Council recently passed an update to riparian buffer requirements for new developments in the hopes of protecting the county’s waterways. Prior to the update, a project of this size would have required a 35-foot undisturbed buffer.
The applicant, Hallmark Development Parker’s LLC, requested the buffer be distributed throughout the property. The developer noted that given the newly-required size for the buffer and the configuration of the development, a riparian buffer would consume nearly half the development’s area.
After no opposition and with the support and presence of the developer, the commission approved the application.
Approved: RJW Sales, LLC variance
RJS Sales, LLC is a firearms and hunting supply store with a proposed location at 102 CCC Camp Road in Greer just off Highway 14.
The store’s owner, Ross Williamson, brought the application before the commission requesting a 20-foot building setback buffer variance in lieu of the required 25-foot building setback buffer requirement. Williamson stated that buffer was a driveway used by a former tenant that would be unnecessary to his business.
After an attempted land swap with the business’s neighbor fell through, the two neighbors decided a variance would be a better route.
The commission heard the concerns and approved this application.
Approved: Private road width variance
The application was brought before the commission to waive the rule for minimum requirement of a private roadway on Tanyard Road from 20 feet to 18 feet. This property is located near Paris Mountain State Park between Taylors and Travelers Rest.
The site would be a new development on 19 acres with a total of six lots per acre giving way to a low density of rough three acres per lot. The applicant argues that given the low density of the development, the 20-foot roadway would not be required.
The commission approved the application.
Rezoning matters:
- Rezoning of property located at 21, 25 and 27 S. Charles Drive in Greenville from a Services District (S-1) to Multifamily Residential District (R-MA): Approved
- Rezoning of property located at 6040 Ponders Court, Independence Boulevard, and Interstate 85-South in Greenville from Office District (O-D) to S-1: Approved
- Rezoning of property located at 207 Worley Road and Haughty Court in Greenville from a Single-Family Residential District (R-12) to S-1: Denied
- Rezoning of property located at 3795 E. North St., in Greenville from a C-1 Commercial Dsitrict to C-2 Commercial District: Approved
