Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - October 15, 2024
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Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - October 15, 2024
The Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission met on October 15, 2024, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The commission considered a rezoning request, a preliminary plat approval, and a text amendment to the definition of a conventional restaurant. The meeting included public comments and board discussion, with two items approved unanimously and one text amendment recommended to City Council by a 3-2 vote.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the September 17, 2024 meeting were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rezoning Request (Rennsport Motorwerks, LLC):
- Mike Baldwin, representing the applicant, spoke in favor, stating the property is adjacent to existing commercial zoning and supports transitional zoning patterns.
- Cass Wygent, an adjacent property owner, spoke in favor, noting his own intention to rezone his property to commercial in the future and expressing no barriers to the request.
- No opposition speakers.
- Preliminary Plat (Emerald Park):
- Richie Brown of Stroud Engineering spoke in favor, explaining the plat removes two phases from a cluster subdivision to allow multifamily (single-family attached) under existing zoning, with utilities and stormwater already stubbed out.
- Ellen Moore, a resident of Davenport Farms, spoke in opposition, expressing concern that the development would introduce multifamily housing contrary to the neighborhood's expectation of single-family homes and that traffic from adjacent developments is already a problem.
- Pam, also a resident, opposed, citing traffic safety issues, lack of speed bumps, and concerns about the impact on neighborhood property values.
- Jeff Moore opposed, stating residents were misled about the future development and that the board's limited discretion under the preliminary plat process was unfair to the community.
- Text Amendment (Conventional Restaurant Definition): No public speakers for or against.
Discussion Items
- Rezoning Request by Rennsport Motorwerks, LLC: Staff presented that the 1.52-acre property on Port Terminal Road is currently zoned RA20 (Residential-Agricultural) and proposed CH (Heavy Commercial). The property is adjacent to CH zoning approved in 2018. Staff found the request consistent with the future land use map. The board had no questions after the public hearing. A motion to recommend approval passed unanimously.
- Preliminary Plat – Emerald Park: Staff explained the 14.49-acre property off Masters Lane is zoned R6A (allow single-family, duplex, multifamily). The plat extracts phases 9 and 10 from a previously approved cluster subdivision to allow multifamily development. The Subdivision Review Board approved the plat. During public comments, residents voiced strong opposition, citing traffic, safety, and lack of disclosure. Board members explained that under state law, preliminary plat decisions must be based solely on objective ordinance standards, not subjective impacts. A motion to approve passed unanimously.
- Text Amendment – Conventional Restaurant Definition: Staff presented a cleanup of the existing definition to align with state law. Key changes include requiring an inside dining area with seating for at least 10 people and clarifying that kitchen operations need not operate during all open hours. The current definition's ambiguous wording on alcohol sales percentages was replaced with the state's 30% food/70% alcohol sales threshold for restaurants that serve alcohol. Board member Carlos White expressed concerns that the amendment could allow restaurants to functionally operate as nightclubs, especially in a college town, and questioned enforcement. The chair and staff clarified that building codes and ABC regulations provide additional layers of control, and the amendment is intended to remove legal ambiguities. A motion to recommend approval passed 3-2.
Key Outcomes
- Rezoning Request (Rennsport Motorwerks, LLC): Approved unanimously. The commission recommends approval to City Council, finding the rezoning consistent with the comprehensive plan.
- Preliminary Plat (Emerald Park): Approved unanimously. The commission determined the plat meets all subdivision ordinance standards.
- Text Amendment (Conventional Restaurant Definition): Recommended to City Council by a vote of 3-2. The split reflected concerns about potential misuse and enforcement in a college city. The matter will proceed to City Council for final decision.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately [time not specified].
Meeting Transcript
This meeting will now come to order. Welcome to the October fifteenth, twenty twenty-four meeting of the city of Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission. My name is Zach Woodmancy, and I'm vice chair of this commission. Um Demond Harrison, would you like to do the invitation? Sure. Let us pray. God, we thank you for this day and for our lives. We thank you for this opportunity to come together to conduct this business that has been set before us. We pray now that you'll enable us to engage in active listening. Meaningful discussion, and that all that we do and seek to do might be in alignment with your will and your way. We thank you and ask all these things. In your name we pray. Amen. Uh Madam Clerk, would you like to call the role? Alan Brock. Is that what he Andrew Denton? Kimberstone. Billy Parker. Here. Alan Thomas. Demar Harrison. Here. John Collins. Here. Carlos White. Here. Brian Carter. Here. We have quorum. Thank you. You all have been presented in advance with the minutes from the September seventeenth, twenty twenty-four meeting. And have had opportunity to read and review the minutes. Are there any questions or corrections? Move to approve the minutes. Okay. In favor. No position. Great. Okay. On to new business. We have the request by Ren Sport Motorworks. L C to resume one point five two acres located along the western right of way of Port Terminal Road and four hundred feet uh north of East Tenth Street from RA twenty, which is residential agriculture, to CH heavy commercial. Staff presentation by Chris Kelly. More specifically, this property is located along the western right of way of Port Terminal Road and four hundred feet north of East Tenth Street. And just for added reference, I've added a text box to overlows, and that uh lows is south of the property. This is an image of the property taken on Port Terminal Road to your left would be East 10th Street. This is a survey of the property totaling 1.52 acres. This property is located it. Excuse me. This property drains to the Hardy Creek watershed.
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