County Council Chambers
301 University Ridge
Re-zoning of 104 Farrs Bridge Road – O-D to C-1
If re-zoned the land will change from office property into commercial property. The land is under contract and will likely be sold and part of the land will be developed into an Auto Parts Store. The rest of the land use is proposed and may possibly not be developed if willing tenants can not be found.
What can be done to stop it?
- Call Senator Michael L Fair 803-212-6420 and ask him to stop the sale of public land in the heart of our community.
- Call our County representative Willis Meadows 864-419-8419 and ask him to stop the sale of public land in the heart of our community.
- Come to the Rezoning Hearing on March 16 2015 at 6 p.m. and show your support for those community members who will stand and speak. We only have 10 minutes, so you may not get a chance to speak. But the County council will see you are there and recognize how big this issue is.
- Print out the petition that denies the re-zoning and get signatures from your neighbors and friends who live in the community.
What information do we have?
The Sembler Company has made a down payment and the land is under contract. If the re-zoning is approved then the school will be demolished and “possibly” used for an Advance Auto Parts store, fast food restaurant and a unspecified retail store.
The Sembler Company is a 50+ year development company specializing in commercial build-outs of all manor and sizes. Willis Meadow’s was able to get a copy of the proposed land (updated 3.9.15 with better quality pdf supplied by Sembler).
A community meeting was held and there was lots of discussion. Many wanted to save the land for a park even if the buildings had to be demolished. There was no concise position of the community attending. So a petition has not been developed at this time, please check back soon. A petition is now available to download using the green button bellow.
One thought was to have the Berea Community voice its concerns 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 businesses in the area to improve their properties appearance.
Quick interview with the developer
Berea Community member Dave Stevenson spoke with David Davis, Sembler Company, the applicant.
All answers paraphrased:Berea: Is the site plan as shown in the 21 January 15 rendering of the property changed?Davis: No, the rendering has not changed.Berea:: Is the Advanced Auto tenant still the same and who are the other tenant’s?Davis: 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.
Berea: 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?
Davis: No, we deliberately asked for a C-1 to help relieve such concerns.
Berea: 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.
Davis: Yes. Sembler will own, however depending on market conditions we may sell a parcel.
Berea: 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?
Davis: Yes, we have done that. Though it’s a drive we would come up and meet with you (the community) concerning this.
Berea: Will you be attending the 16 March Public Meeting?
Davis: Yes.
More information provided by Davis
The new site plan shows a larger buffer along Sulphur Springs. The property had slightly more curvature too it when we got the survey. So the buffer had to get a little wider to accommodate.
The site plan now shows All the existing trees along Farrs Bridge and hunts bridge. In their surveyed location, and approximate sizes. All to be kept.
The lighter/grey line work is all the existing survey info. I can remove it from the plan if needed.
Again, if there are any questions, please let me know. If I can answer them before the hearing, and get your support, I would like to do what I can.
Thank You,
Dave Davis
Do we need another auto parts store in Berea?
There are 2 other auto parts stores within 1000 feet of the proposed site.
Does Berea need a park?
We do! According to a recent study conducted by the Greenville County Planning Department. The study shows that we are underserved in parks given the size of the population of the Berea Community.
Why didn’t the community try to save the school before now?
In 2011 community members told The Greenville County Planning Department (GCPD) they would like to see the Berea School used as a community center or a park. These comments and suggestions were given in workshops setup as part of the Direction Northwest focus study. The GCPD told Berea residents that the information would be submitted to County Council so that a plan for the area could be approved. The plan was never approved.
In 2012 a presentation of branding for Berea area was given to the community with members of the Parks & Rec, County Council and Greenville County Planning Department in attendance. In it there was mention of what the community would like to see done with the area, which included using the Berea School land as a park. Download and view the presentation here.
How much would it cost the community to save the land and renovate a building for a community center?
Here is a petition that oposes the re-zoning of the land.
This is the long form petition for Berea School —-
We have drafted a petition that will deny the re-zoning to give the Berea Community time to find funding to save the school and property.
It also stipulates that if County Council passes the re-zoning we ask that the developer work with the Berea community on the aesthetic appeal of the area including some sort of monument that recognizes the historical location.
Download the petition here and let us know that you are getting signatures.
All petitions need to be returned before March 15 to have ready for the meeting on March 16.
—- This petition is for Berea School —-
Rezoning Hearing
March 16 2015
6 p.m.
County Council Chambers
301 University Ridge
Leave comments down here.
I am going to have to disagree on this issue. While I did not attend Berea Elementary I don’t feel this connection that others do. This building has stood empty since Greenville Tech moved their campus This is progress. If we want the Berea Community to grow we have to let go of things. There has been no other person with the vision to develop this property. If it’s saved what is going to be done? Just let it continue to stand empty and boarded up? It appears that the developer is sensitive to the concerns the community has about the property. My old elementary school was torn down to make room for apartments and I was glad to see that the property was being used for something else besides an empty building
I have to agree with Jeff Burgess’ comments. I grew up in Berea and live walking distance from the elementary and high schools. While I don’t want more apartments built, I am all for progress. The elementary school has stood vacant for years. The community cannot afford to purchase the property – if we could it would have been bought years ago. If we can purchase the property, we won’t be able to do anything else with the property due to extra costs and lack of funding. If the developer comes in and works with the community to make sure it develops the property in an aesthetic manner then I don’t think we should be a road block. If we stop the C-1 rezoning, we could end up with something worse. Eventually, the building will collapse on itself from lack of care – we can’t afford that in the center of Berea. We need something that will look good and brings a good name to Berea – a reason for people to come and spend their money here. We can hold out for something better…but how much longer and will there actually be anything better? Don’t pass up an opportunity that may not come again.