Spartanburg City Council Meeting - July 13, 2026: Rezoning, Abandoned Building Revitalization, and Recognition of Student Athlete
Spartanburg City Council Meeting - July 13, 2026
The City Council of Spartanburg, South Carolina, met on July 13, 2026, at 7:27 PM (timestamp from source). The meeting opened with a moment of silence for the passing of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Council member Smith was absent on vacation. The council approved the minutes of the June 22, 2026 meeting and the agenda for July 13, 2026 unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the minutes for the June 22, 2026 City Council meeting. Moved and seconded; passed unanimously.
- Approval of the agenda for the July 13, 2026 City Council meeting. Moved and seconded; passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mayor read a public comment recognizing Spartanburg High School student Riley Vaughn, who was named the 2025-2026 Gatorade South Carolina Girls Track and Field Player of the Year. The mayor highlighted her athletic achievements (including state championships in shot put and discus, national qualifying in multiple meets, and All-American honors), academic record (5.0 GPA), and extensive community service (including volunteer work at turkey giveaways, back-to-school supply drives, humane society, and church activities). Riley Vaughn is a rising senior and student body vice president. Council members and the mayor congratulated her and her family.
Discussion Items
- Rezoning of 154 Ridge Street: Planning Director Fredlin Frazier presented a request to rezone the property at 154 Ridge Street from DT5 (Urban Center) to DT4 (General Urban) to accommodate a single-family affordable home. The property is 0.11 acres, currently vacant, and part of the city's scattered site affordable housing program. The developer, Okanag Property Group, plans a three-bedroom, two-bath one-story home. A public information session was held on May 14, 2026, with no comments received. The Planning Commission voted 4-0 in favor on May 21, 2026. Council members asked about the lot size, zoning history, and privacy buffer for the adjacent Ellington apartments. The developer's representative agreed to consider adding a fence for privacy. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. Council then voted unanimously to approve the rezoning.
- Resolution for Abandoned Building Revitalization Act: City Manager Chris Story presented a resolution to certify the building at 630 Walford Street as an abandoned building site under the South Carolina Abandoned Building Revitalization Act. The building had been vacant for approximately 15 years and is undergoing a $2 million renovation. The resolution would allow the developer to apply for state tax credits, which would not affect city revenue but would increase property tax revenue. Council voted unanimously to approve the resolution.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes and Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Rezoning for 154 Ridge Street: Approved unanimously (vote to approve the rezoning to DT4). The ordinance will be considered for final adoption at the next council meeting on July 27, 2026.
- Abandoned Building Resolution for 630 Walford Street: Approved unanimously.
- Executive Session: Council moved into executive session following the regular meeting.
Council Member Updates
- Council members offered remarks on recent events. Council member Palmer eulogized Senator Lindsey Graham, emphasizing his civility and bipartisan work. Council member Ruth clarified a misunderstanding about her assumption that the BMW plant was in Greenville County, urging positivity. Council member Rogers shared observations from a vacation in Washington state. Council member Brown gave a brief update. The mayor highlighted the 100th anniversary celebration of Duncan Park Stadium on July 11, 2026, which featured baseball events and community participation.
Staff Update
- City Manager Chris Story reported that the "Red, White, and Boom" event on July 4, 2026, attracted a record crowd of approximately 8,000 people inside the ballpark, with many more watching from nearby. He thanked the event team for their efforts in providing cooling stations and free water.
Meeting Transcript
City Council meeting to order for this fine day of July the thirteenth. Um, we're gonna stand for a moment of silence, and we all have heard about the passing of Lindsay Graham keep his family in prayer, our state as well and the country. Council um Smith is on vacation. So she's missing us. I'm sure she's watching online. Hey, Megan, how are you? But uh and I'm back, so I was on vacation on the last one, but uh she will be out today. Approval of the minutes for June twenty second, twenty twenty-six city council meeting. So second. All in favor, aye. Any that opposed, eyes have it. Item four, approval of the agenda for the July 13th, 2026 City Council meeting. Second. All in favor? Any that opposed? I have it. We have public comment. Uh at this time we have a couple uh public comments, and the way it's gonna work, once you get up to the mic, and after you uh restate your name, uh you have two minutes to state your comment. And so we have Miss Moultrie, Miss Moultrie from Whitlock Street, okay. Miss Jones, Miss Jones from Fairfax. From Fairfax. Well, I I went by and talked with the uh clerk today, and the mayor has a public comment that he wanted to make in recognition of a student athlete at Spartanburg High School. And I have to read off her bio, guys, and just bear with me. And Miss Riley Vaughn, if you don't mind standing or coming down front so everybody can see you. But this was sent to her coach back in June 25th, 2026. Dear Coach Jones, the Gatorade Player of the Year program is proud to recognize Riley Vaughn as the 2025-2026 Gatorade South Carolina Girls Track and Field Player of the Year. In receiving this award, they uh they joined a 41-year legacy that includes past winners such as Peyton Manning, Paige Becker, Jason Tatum, and Mallory Swanson, and many others to name. As the top award high school sports, Gatorade Player of the Year award honors the most elite high school student athlete in 12 varsity sports for their athletic excellence, academic achievement, and exemplary character. All finalists, all the final candidates selected to determine by the selection committee, assessing thousands of okay, okay, okay. Now I want to get to you know, in order for Riley to win this award, her resume, resume. Let me know when that two minutes go up. All right. As I go through her resume. Ah, look at this. Come on, come on, come on, come on. Oh, that Wi-Fi. Yeah. Come on. You got you have to hear this. And then we're gonna, there we go. All right, this is just 2026 track and field highlights. She holds the uh a record at Clemson Spartanberg High School and Dorman. She's a record holder, qualified for the Adidas New Balance, Under Armour, and Nike High School Nationals. Nominated various times for the mile split after the other week. All county, all region, all state, state champions for both for both shot puts and discus. Discus, county champion, meet record holder, region, upper state champion, state champion, under armor high school national champion, shot putting county champion, meet record holder, region champ, meet record holder, broke school record twice. Upper state championship, meet high school record holder, broke school record three times, state champion, underarmor high school national, top three finisher, all American. And not only is she a student athlete, really, guys, but uh community service, turkey giveaway, back to school supply giveaway, uh humane society volunteer, stock the pantry, a total ministry located in Spartanburg, McCracken Middle School Leadership Workshop, prom and homecoming cleanup crew setup crew, work day volunteer, bake sale fundraiser, concession volunteer for football, basketball, volleyball, community uh uh carnival volunteer, prom homecoming ticket sales, youth group, connected scholars, bra mentor, Delta Gems, church uh activities, member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, uh student leadership, student body vice president this coming year, correct? So that says she's a junior, well, rising senior, so she's still in high school. Now, uh student body vice president, junior leadership of Spartanburg, Coach O Ambassador, uh student organization, student council, beta club, national high school, national honor society within my high school and nationally.
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