Berea Community Meeting About Rezoning

3 Comments

• Gerald Pollard says:

  March 4, 2015 at 8:26 pm

  I think It’s terrible @ what has happened to the Berea community over a span of time. The quality of life has definitely been on a downward spiral for quite a while. There are apartments and duplexes all over the community—and from the looks of some of them they should be in inspected by the county building codes. As a matter of fact some of them should be condemned. I blame a lot of this by a lack of representation from our elected officials on county council and those who represent this district in the state house. pplIt’s like nobody cares. Anyone can see the litter problem is bad—my sister-in-law goes out herself and picks up litter along Berea Drive and Eunice Drive. She has been trying to get our county councilman to take some action on this problem – but to no avail. Some time back I ask our school board member if she would take action to clean up a sidewalk in front of Berea Elementary School which had become over grown with brush and debris which I felt was a safety hazard as kids walking to.and from school as they would have to step out into the street to go around the mess. To my amazement the school board member took no action on this issue. Par for the course?
  We need to work toward not allowing the old elementary school being rezoned. In reality that should have been the location for the library as that parcel is in the center of Berea.

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• Dave Stevenson says:

  March 6, 2015 at 4:03 pm

  As reported to the Westcliffe Subdivision via Nextdoor

  A report to Westcliffe Neighbors – Berea Community: 6 March 2015

  The Berea Community meeting held last evening at the Lions Club was by all accounts a success. In attendance where some ~75 Berea area citizens from various Berea areas and subdivision’s. Westcliffe was well represented with ~10 people I know or recognized. Our 19th District Councilmen Willis Meadows attended as did Debbie Bush with the Greenville County Schools.

  As explained earlier here on the Neighbors site, the meeting purpose was to inform of re-zoning applications, which in the opinion of many are not in the best interest of the Berea Community. These applications involve the following properties:

  113 Hunts Bridge, a vacant parcel located directly behind the old Berea school. This property as is currently zone OD-Office, the applicant is seeking a change to C-3. The purpose for this requested change permits a “repair shop” including the selling of automobiles, tires etc. The applicant’s daughter provided the intended use to me this past week. In short, all present are against such a change and do not want a C-3. Willis Meadows reminded all that this is in fact the second request by the same owner. Willis will continue to oppose the C-3 request, but urged all to attend the Planning & Development Committee meeting on 16 March and subsequent Council meetings. A petition had been developed opposing this application same. Many of the 75, if not all signed asking for denial.

  104 Farrs Bridge Road, the old Berea school building, most know this has been for sale for several years. The history of this property was covered by Ms Debbie Bush, Greenville Schools; in short an application has been filed by The Sembler Company http://www.sembler.com a 50+ year development company specializing in commercial build-outs of all manor and sizes. In this case it was learned from Willis Meadow’s that the “possible”, at least at one point in January call’s for this 3.96-acre plot to accommodate an Advance Auto Parts store (7000-sf) on 1.12-ac, a fast-food (unknown) restaurant (3900-sf on 1.19-ac and a retail store (unknown) 10,000-sf on the remaining 1.65-ac. In short, no one wants this change, reason’s varied from there is already enough business in the area, to the letting go of what to some is of historical value and should be preserved, if nothing more than a park. The current structures are currently beyond reasonable cost to repair and will eventually have to be razed. It was noted the cost of such would be a burden on the school tax payer and not the applicant as would occur if the application is approved.

  Though there was discussion, no position of the body whole attending this meeting was offered and thus no petition has been developed. Should a petition be developed I will report that. One thought was to have the Berea Community voice its concern’s at the public hearing for or against; but, to also state that should the application be approved, Council as a stipulation to any approval require inclusion of community representatives to work with the developer’s engineering / architectural team to insure as best as possible the project not only fits the Berea Center area, but causes other business’s in the area to improve their properties appearance.

  For those not familiar “Berea Community” a web site http://www.BereaCommunity.org was developed by Mr. Chris Campbell a lifelong resident. He intended the site be used as a media to keep all in the Berea Community informed; and as a tool to develop Berea in a positive light through community involvement. It is not a formal business, or a subdivision site, it is simply a vehicle permitting community interaction that causes a positive outcome for all homeowner’s. Take a look, at Mr. Campbell’s informative post concerning these zoning issues. Go to the sight and sign up for news and notifications. We will certainly not abandon our Nextdoor Westcliffe site.

  For Kay Looper, President, W-C HOA

  By: Dave Stevenson..

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• Dave Stevenson says:

  March 6, 2015 at 4:38 pm

  UP-Date:

  Berea – Re-zoning Docket CZ-2015-21, 104 Farrs Bridge Road.

  Update; I spoke with Mr. David Davis, Sembler Company, the applicant.
  All answers paraphrased:

  Question: Is the site plan as shown in the 21 January 15 rendering of the property changed?

  Ans: No, the rendering has not changed.

  Question: Is the Advanced Auto tenant still the same and who are the other tenant’s?

  Ans: Advanced Auto is the tenant as shown on the rendering. Both the fast food restaurant and retail are tentative. I cannot say pending the signing.

  Statement: The community is of course concerned that as has occurred in the past an applicant states a use purpose under a commercial application and then changes to something much different. Could this be the case.

  Ans: No, we deliberately asked for a C-1 to help relieve such concerns.

  Question: I notice the 3.96 acres has been broken into three separate parcels; will Sembler be the owner or has this been done for resale.

  Ans: Yes. Sembler will own, however depending on market conditions we may sell a parcel.

  Question: Has Sembler in the past, for other like projects cooperated with the community in planning for the appearance of its property’s such as trees, other vegetation plantings and signage?

  Ans: Yes, we have done that. Though it’s a drive we would come up and meet with you (the community) concerning this.
  Question: Will you be attending the 16 March Public Meeting?

  Ans: Yes.

  Regards, Dave S.

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