Minutes from Greenville County Council Meeting 03/16/15:
Docket # CZ-2015-17
Property location 113 Hunts Bridge Rd. is currently zoned O-D (Office District). Ramon Guerra requested to change zoning to C-3 (Commercial) for the purpose of opening a tire/automotive business. Five or 6 people spoke against this citing that Berea has many of these type businesses already. A petition with over 250 signatures was also submitted. Other than Ramon Guerra, no one spoke in favor of this.
Docket # CZ-2015-20
Property location 1201 N. Franklin Rd. is currently zoned for O-D. Craig Galloway who owns the adjacent laundromat requested it be rezoned to C-3 for the purpose of adding parking spaces for the laundromat. No opposition was presented.
Docket # CZ-2015-21
Property location 104 Farrs Bridge Rd. is currently zoned O-D. The Sembler Group would like to have it re-zoned to C-1 so that they may purchase it from the Greenville County School District. A spokesman for The Sembler Group said a major auto parts retailer plans to build there along with a fast-food restaurant. They mentioned they were interested in working with the community and presented several ideas on ways to honor the history of the area.
Councilwoman Lottie Gibson asked those in support of the rezoning to stand and one person stood. She then asked those who were opposed to stand and 30 people stood. At least 8 people spoke in opposition citing the following reasons: the Berea economy cannot support another auto parts retailer. Tire Inc., Auto Zone and O’Reilly Auto Parts are all within sight of the proposed development. Concern was expressed that at least one of these businesses would have to close and leave yet another vacant property. Currently, there is an abundance of vacant property including where Kmart and Winn Dixie were located as well as the now closed Blockbuster.
It was also brought up that Berea doesn’t need another national chain fast-food restaurant with no ties to the community. There was a good bit of discussion about trying to preserve the old Berea School as a historical site.
A letter by senator Mike Fair was presented that asked the County Council to postpone the decision to re-zone to allow more time to work out a “memorandum of understanding” that would allow a park to be placed on this property. Petitions opposing the re-zoning were also submitted.
Council informed the community that we need to speak with the School Board. They meet the 4th Tuesday of every month (except July) at 7:00 p.m. The meetings are held at the District office located at 301 Camperdown Way in Greenville.
—– Supporting documents —–
Sembler’s proposed site plan
(not updated with proposed Berea Community signage) Now updated!
Senator Mike Fair’s letter – Click Here
Chris Campbell’s prepared statement – Click Here
Map of empty buildings in the heart of Berea – Click Here
Re-zoning Brochure for Greenville County – Click Here
—– Next Steps —-
Re-zoning public hearing was Monday March 16th
Re-zoning 1st reading today at the County Council meeting was Tuesday March 17th
ALL DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
March 24th is the Greenville County School Board Meeting at 7:00
March 25th there will be a Planning Commission meeting at 4:00 MUST ATTEND!!!
This is where they will discuss further and take recommendations from staff.
April 21st is Second Reading in County Council Chambers at 6:00
May 5th is the Third Reading in County Council Chambers at 6:00
—- What can you do? —
Write a letter to the Greenville County Council.
Contact members of the Board of Trustees of Greenville County Schools.
Write suggestions and other ideas at the bottom of this page.
—- Other —-
We are forming a Berea Community Association consisting of members representing the different subdivisions in the area, local business owners and other concerned citizens.
More information about this will be available soon.
I am interested in joining the Berea Community Organization. Dianne Cheek, my mother, and I own Dianne’s School of Dance in Berea.
Great! We will have more information about that soon. Please sign up for our e-newsletter.
I have a small business in the Berea area and I would like to be in the know about what is going on with the Berea Elementary School property. Thanks for keeping me in the loop.
i am interested. I love Berea and would love to see it go back to being the family community it use to be. This family is not going anywhere and I am ready to make a stand.