Rezoning approved for 196 acres along I-85/185: Greenville County Planning Commission notes

Here is a recap of the Greenville County Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 28:

Approved: Rezoning of 196.5 acres along I-85/185

An application was brought before the commission by Blake Navarro of The Furman Co. for the rezoning of 196.5 acres of property at 1430 Lakeside Grove Lane, Lakeside Road, Stables Road along interstates 85 and 185 between Powdersville and Gantt.

The rezoning would change the property from several zonings (S-1, Services District, R-S, Residential Suburban District, C-2, Commercial District, and R-MA, Multifamily Residential District) to a uniform I-1 Industrial District with future land use designated as a mixed employment center and open space.

Primary uses of the I-1 designation include advanced manufacturing and office space.

The commission’s staff noted in its comments that the property’s proximity to the interstate could also help facilitate movement of commercial traffic. The application was approved unanimously.

Approved: Virginia Pines subdivision and variance

Virginia Pines is a proposed subdivision located along Interstate 185 with access at Whispering Hollow Road near the Woodberry community. The subdivision would see a density of just over one unit per acre, with a proposed 6 lots on a total of 6.6 acres.

No one spoke in opposition of the application. The site’s engineer, Paul Talbert, answered questions. Commissioner Steven Bichel expressed concern about the cluster design and density.

This application was also brought with an internal access variance to relieve the development from building two access points into the community. The variance application noted that a water extension designated this development as a major subdivision as opposed to a summary plat.

The commission approved the application and its variance in a unanimous vote.

Approved: Owens Glen subdivision and variance

Owens Glen is a proposed subdivision with access at Owens Road and North Flat Rock Road just north of Woodville.

The rural conservation subdivision would see a density of roughly 2.37 units per acre, with a proposed 288 lots on a total of 121.41 acres.

This application also came with a landscape variance from Land Development Regulation 22.3.5B requiring a six-foot landscape screen. It noted that Duke Energy will not allow for the necessary screen due to an existing easement running vertically through the property.

Some members of the public spoke against the application, expressing concerns about overcrowding and how the project might affect the rural area. Concerns were also raised with traffic safety and how the width of existing roads might be impacted with added traffic and lack of pedestrian access. One person presented a petition against the development with 159 signatures collected.

The site’s civil engineer, Paul Harrison, and the applicant spoke in favor, noting their openness to recommendation and referring to a traffic study conducted in June 2024.

“Literally, what you’re doing is you’re taking probably the most curvy, switchback road in all of Greenville County that’s not north, and going to put 288 houses on it,” said commissioner James Wood, further expressing his discontent with the June 2024 traffic study. “The traffic at minimum is going to be horrible at best.”

“Yes, the roads are concerning but that’s not our privy to bring that into the decision,” said commissioner John C. Holland later.

After discussion, the commission approved the application by a 6-3 vote.

Approved: Reid Valley subdivision section II and variance

Reid Valley is a proposed subdivision with access to the property located on Center Road, just off Reid School Road, in Taylors.

The cluster subdivision would see a density of roughly 8.52 units per acre, with a proposed 31 lots on a total of 3.64 acres.

The application also came with variance from LDR 8.21 requiring a 20-foot undisturbed buffer along the development’s perimeter to accommodate a 42-foot right-of-way for access to the subdivision’s first section.

Some members of The Reid Valley Homeowners Association cited concerns about traffic congestion, overdevelopment and safety. The site’s civil engineer, Paul Harrison, spoke in favor.

The commission approved the application be a 5-4 vote.

Members of the community surrounding the Reid Valley subdivision appeared all in red to oppose its second phase. The second phase was approved. Photo by Tiare Solis

Approved: Arbor Gate subdivision and variance

Arbor Gate is a proposed subdivision with access along Woodruff Road near the Five Forks community.

The subdivision would see a density of roughly 2.56 units per acre, with a proposed 57 lots on a total of 22.22 acres.

The variance requested relief from LDR 8.8.1A requiring a secondary access point for the subdivision noting limited frontage along the site’s access on Woodruff Road. In lieu of the variance, the applicant submitted a proposal for a 26-foot ingress point from Woodruff Road.

The commission unanimously approved the application.

Variances

A variance application was submitted from LDR 10.3.7, which requires an HVAC screening for commercial uses. The applicant wanted to install a flush mount solar system and noted that a screen would block the sun and render it useless. Additionally, it would be more noticeable than if it were just to lie flush and uncovered. The commission approved the application unanimously.

Other rezoning matters

  • Rezoning of 8.95 acres located at 114 E. Warehouse Ct. and Artillery Road along Wade Hampton Boulevard going toward Taylors from an Office District (O-D) to an Flexible Review District (FRD): Denied, 6-3. 
  • Rezoning of 30 acres located at 213 League Road in Simpsonville from R-S to an Agricultural Preservation District (AG): Approved, unanimously. The intended future land use is a suburban neighborhood and floodplain.
  • Rezoning of 1.106 acres located at 25 New Dunham Bridge Road, 1008 and 1010 S. Welcome Road in Greenville from an R-12 Single-Family Residential District to R-MA: Approved, unanimously. The intended future land use is a suburban neighborhood.
  • Rezoning of 4.49 acres located at 2 Fisher Road and Shady Lane just east of Greenville from an R-20 Single-Family Residential District to FRD: Approved, unanimously. The intended future land use is a suburban neighborhood.
  • Rezoning of 7.85 acres located at 2004 and 2006 Pelham Road and Blacks Drive just east of Greenville from a Planned Development District (PD) to Planned Development District–Major Change (PD–MC): Approved, unanimously. The intended future land use is suburban mixed-use with some designation for a suburban neighborhood.
  • Rezoning of about 0.73 acres located at 5, 7, 9, 11, and 101 Talley St. near the Park Place community in Greenville from a Multifamily Residential District (R-M15) to an R-6 Single-Family Residential District: Approved, unanimously. The intended future land use is a traditional neighborhood.
  • Rezoning of about 1.364 acres located along Talley Street, Goldsmith Street, Loom Street, Hammett Street Ext. near the Park Place community in Greenville from a Multifamily Residential District (R-M15) to an R-7.5 Single-Family Residential District: Approved, unanimously . The intended future land use is a traditional neighborhood.

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