Board of Adjustments Meeting: Sidewalk Greenville LLC Special Use Permit Amendment (January 26, 2017)

On January 26, 2017, the Greenville Board of Adjustments met to consider an amendment to a special use permit for a mixed-use dormitory development at 523 South Pitt Street. The applicant, Sidewalk Greenville LLC (represented by Michelle Clements), requested to increase the number of beds from 400 to 413 while reducing the total units from 150 to 144, and to add an adjacent property for additional parking. After discussion of pedestrian safety and traffic concerns, the board approved the amendment with a condition requiring submission of a traffic impact analysis (TIA).

Public Hearing & Applicant Presentation

• Applicant Statement: Michelle Clements explained that the changes were driven by the acquisition of an adjacent church property to provide more parking and utility connections. The revised plan includes 86 student units (down from 90) and 58 market-rate units (down from 60), with a net increase of 13 beds (2 student beds and 11 market-rate beds). Parking remains at 290 spaces, maintaining the 0.7 spaces per bed ratio from the prior approval.
• Staff Report: Presented by Ms. Blunt, the report noted the property is in the downtown commercial (CD) zone, located in the West Greenville certified redevelopment area. The proposed development includes a five-story building with parking garage, 21,927 square feet of retail space, and a surface parking lot. Staff had no objection and recommended conditions consistent with the previous approval, including a required traffic impact analysis.

Discussion Items

• Pedestrian Safety at Green Street/Dickinson Avenue Intersection: Several board members expressed concern about the safety of pedestrians, particularly students, crossing the busy intersection near the site. Mr. Watts questioned barriers and pedestrian routing; Ms. Clements acknowledged the intersection is dangerous but stated that the developer is limited in what it can do within the right-of-way, and that the city and DOT control improvements. She noted plans to direct pedestrians toward Eighth Street and to work with the city on pedestrian enhancements.
• Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA): Board members discussed whether to require the TIA be submitted to the board for review. After debate, they agreed to add a condition that the developer provide the TIA to the board as a public document, not as a prerequisite for approval.
• Board Deliberation: Members noted the project had already been approved once and that changes were minor. They emphasized that pedestrian safety is a citywide issue and that the developer had made efforts to concentrate vehicle access on Pitt Street. The board concluded that the immediate concern does not rest solely on the developer, and the city would likely address safety concerns.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Close Public Hearing: Approved unanimously.
• Motion to Accept Staff Findings of Fact: Approved unanimously.
• Motion to Approve the Petition with Additional Condition: A motion by Mr. Taft, seconded by Mr. Watts, added a condition requiring the developer to provide the traffic impact analysis to the board for review. Approved unanimously.
• Final Vote: The special use permit amendment was approved. The applicant was congratulated, and the meeting adjourned.