[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6558179,"mediaKeyId","3275548-da0c8450ffcc909bff51a628931acd62","parentId",3275548,"title","Planning commission approves paving and sidewalk waivers for York School District agricultural arena","audioSeconds",1719,"startMs",433000,"endMs",2152000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275548-da0c8450ffcc909bff51a628931acd62&start=433&end=2152","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275548-da0c8450ffcc909bff51a628931acd62/thumbnail_433000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6558179/York-County/South-Carolina/Planning-commission-approves-paving-and-sidewalk-waivers-for-York-School-District-agricultural-arena","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558179-909117a45d7329ca86140f0c59135575/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048678&Signature=CGrMeXlvN9YRxha2THv-lEUTz3SqfSXdpe29oJhW6i1qUC-02UomX~UwbDTTjDRXxijnx6qU-CcOxbZ5yZo5CksHgoMGCfa6VRGOj8JDlqLMlKmwrEMt5GiIJTHpY4diQAWofIWgd4qqsjh2U7nqygdaTr1GPg67~cp4BBdNRipPtl9q1oX2o6HWd7N5CHmL6yQkxg98~hQi-eC~BbbrVFxGYSVoXRmPzZcfSXp1ggyBCQng4nqM8wJGjvyNxs6aVMekBj3sQIMweAo0laeucaVplY7UCr0N0pr5e2C2Mkv01QEvSzJpbg~264mwN4FiVF~X~ZL8Ju0gitYmZ6pGxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","York County SC","date","2025-05-13T11:27:09Z","article","The York County Planning Commission on May 12 approved two land‑development waivers allowing a proposed York School District agricultural arena near Hickory Grove Road to use gravel and grass for most parking areas and to omit a sidewalk and pedestrian connection to Hickory Grove‑Sharon Elementary.

Staff planner Jeff Kershner presented the request for the York County District Agricultural Arena (project W2503) and said the proposal triggers two waivers from the land development code: Section 154.027 (general parking design standards) and Section 154.121(b) (sidewalk standards). The district anticipates a 1,500‑seat arena that requires 375 parking spaces under the code; Kershner said the plans show roughly 388 spaces of which about 80 will be paved plus a paved apron and paved Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)‑compliant spaces near the arena entrance. The remainder is proposed as gravel and grass overflow parking, used for larger events anticipated fewer than eight times a year.

Kershner said staff found the waiver standards were met because the gravel and grass parking would limit stormwater runoff compared with conventional paving, would complement the rural agricultural character of the site, and would include paved ADA parking and a paved apron at Hickory Grove Road. For the sidewalk waiver, staff agreed with the applicant that a continuous pedestrian connection was not warranted because the arena is a district facility used countywide rather than an extension of the adjacent elementary school, and because Hickory Grove Road is posted 55 mph (45 mph during school hours), creating safety concerns for road crossings.

Scott Childers, who identified himself as chairman of York School District 1 and as representing the York 1 Foundation, told the commission the project serves all four county school districts, FFA and 4‑H activities, and that South Carolina Department of Transportation had reviewed the site entrance. “We do want this to be agricultural aesthetically as well,” Childers said, describing the grass parking as intentional and noting that staff and attendants would be used during larger events.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on practical details. Commissioners asked how grass and gravel parking spaces would be delineated; Kershner said the civil plans would show drive aisles and parking dimensions so the area can accommodate the required number of spaces even though lines will not be painted on turf. Staff confirmed trailer parking and much of the site driveway are gravel; ADA spaces and the apron at Hickory Grove Road will be paved. Commissioners also asked whether children traveling between the elementary school and the arena would walk across the road; both staff and the applicant said students would be transported by bus for school activities and that the applicant does not plan a marked crosswalk. A commissioner suggested temporary stakes or flags to guide grass parking during events, citing practices used at county parks.

After the public hearing, the commission voted to approve the paving waiver and the sidewalk waiver. Motions were made and seconded by planning commission members; no recorded opposition was announced on the transcript. Staff recommended two separate motions, one for each waiver; both were approved by the commission and staff will forward the approvals and file plans for final review.

Key project details recorded in the hearing: the arena is proposed on tax parcel 104‑005, is sited opposite Hickory Grove‑Sharon Elementary on Hickory Grove Road, and is described as a hybrid agricultural/school use with a 1,500‑seat capacity that the code treats as a school use for certain requirements. The applicant’s plans indicate roughly 388 parking spaces are available, about 80 of which will be paved plus the required ADA spaces and the paved apron at the road entrance. The sidewalk waiver was supported by staff on the basis of safety concerns for cross‑road pedestrian traffic across a posted 55 mph road.

The commission then moved on to other business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","York County Planning Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The York County Planning Commission on May 12 approved two waivers allowing a proposed York School District agricultural arena near Hickory Grove Road to use gravel/grass parking and to omit a required sidewalk connection across a 55 mph stretch of road.","taxTitle","York County, South Carolina","taxId",5759,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558169,"Commission backs raising data center height to 80 feet with added setbacks; asks council to review fire‑safety and special‑exception option",1242,3206000,4448000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275548-da0c8450ffcc909bff51a628931acd62&start=3206&end=4448","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275548-da0c8450ffcc909bff51a628931acd62/thumbnail_3206000.jpg","/articles/6558169/York-County/South-Carolina/Commission-backs-raising-data-center-height-to-80-feet-with-added-setbacks-asks-council-to-review-firesafety-and-specialexception-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558169-244a5785a68d5f59b25c202e30894d54/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048678&Signature=NE7Df4HlKnFJmzN6MBIBYNlf7nM6vYWitHMSLZ-sUq5edp9~dRtSInjs2tUZS4FMa-mWon0-CzOSh-cbfUK7n2O-b3BJrRuefHvqbgW7vjMsEuRs9j2LyuUe1wjSwr-OMtgK1L2YHfQY-k0A8moFKQDGThKXIDMbQDqJ25dpgIPzpGCoNGsPV4SgxupCHAdetnICLfm1irXLFe0rHdUrWPaRB1iiaMrV9gxLVlfAem0ZrAA3SqRRgNZpcfPCbeOR8RJ068Pf3skP2Vts-t47H8V5nfYLwMNE7~Zp063~tWKKHSYd0cKIGPSPJA6OrHQg4ErmXMzL0PuNQzNzk5SAjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The York County Planning Commission on May 12 voted to recommend a text amendment that would raise the maximum permitted height for data centers to 80 feet in certain districts, provided additional side and rear setbacks are added for each foot of height above the district minimum. The commission approved staff’s recommended amendment and asked county staff to provide fire‑department capacity information and to include a recommendation about managing taller data‑center proposals (for example, via a special‑exception process) when the record is forwarded to county council.

Staff explained a pending proposal from QTS, a data‑center provider, that prompted the request: QTS notified the county that new racking and cooling technology requires additional rooftop equipment and vertical clearance that cannot be accommodated by the current 60‑foot maximum in the ID (industrial development) zoning district. Diane (county planning staff) summarized the draft amendment: the maximum building height for a data center would be 80 feet, provided that for each additional foot of height above the district minimum the applicant adds two additional feet of side and rear setback beyond the zoning district minimum. The front setback would not increase under the proposed formula.

Staff said the proposed 80‑foot standard was within the range used by peer jurisdictions and that half of the jurisdictions surveyed required additional setbacks when granting extra height. The staff presentation included a numeric example: if a data center in the ID district requested an 80‑foot height where the base maximum is 60 feet, the 20‑foot increase would require an additional 40 feet of side and rear setback (2 feet of additional setback per extra foot of height).

Commissioners debated the appropriate procedural vehicle. Some members argued the county should review taller data‑center buildings on a case‑by‑case basis through a special‑exception or special‑use process that would allow conditions tailored to the site. Others expressed concerns about emergency response, asking staff to check county fire‑department ladder reach and local firefighting capabilities and to include that information in the record for council. Staff noted variances are generally difficult to obtain because they require hardship findings and that special exceptions tend to address allowable uses rather than an across‑the‑board height standard; staff recommended the code change with added setbacks as a predictable, county‑wide standard.

A motion to recommend the code change but ask county council to instead require a special‑exception review for taller data centers failed. The commission then approved staff’s recommended text amendment with an amendment directing staff to convey planning commission concerns about fire‑fighting capacity to county council and to discuss whether the council preferred code change versus special‑exception review. The final motion passed after a second; no roll‑call tallies appear in the transcript. Staff said the request is likely tied to a large proposed QTS project described in the staff report as about 5,260,000 square feet; staff also noted the amendment would apply only to data centers as a defined use in the zoning code.

Commissioners asked for fire‑capability information and for staff to note that sprinkler, monitoring and other automatic systems are typically part of data‑center construction; staff agreed to supply the additional information to council.

The planning commission’s recommendation and the staff report — including the amended directive to report on fire capabilities and the special‑exception question — will be forwarded to county council for a final decision and any code change adoption.

","York County Planning Commission recommended a text amendment to raise the maximum building height for data centers to 80 feet with increased side/rear setbacks, approved staff’s draft language and asked staff to report fire‑department ladder capabilities and to present whether special‑exception review should be considered by county council.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558174,"Planning commission approves five rezoning requests; details and locations listed",1074,2160000,3234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275548-da0c8450ffcc909bff51a628931acd62&start=2160&end=3234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275548-da0c8450ffcc909bff51a628931acd62/thumbnail_2160000.jpg","/articles/6558174/York-County/South-Carolina/Planning-commission-approves-five-rezoning-requests-details-and-locations-listed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558174-bcd9f67cd7aee65052ef630e71b8b344/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048678&Signature=IKQgqwr3WR2MVrvJsCGCG2P9Zp~ZWA2Vr2xyb~0sT9mP47oZ59lS9KSb81MZMZKg2KhERx85mknyw9Jf0sQ5JwElaDhEfbnOLnCBJ1ORZyw2vmdH-z9wNPgO9hdK7i8kVOQDXGF-r3Y801RVzEwzE90RmEIIPM11bEqHUz53loh3GVAy7J7fhuMC-tp3ZkG~2GHnAV3HMOijbohXI7DvAVKKoDQ3wQ7crnHCS4LGe58a2c-owLVz6TqNjjWXYq1CIxuGj7gUs-28c1qHJeJxdoOjn75C0zHcQNc5nf44YO10aMhbaauPhqA-inMbVZtB~MGKA56gnygRgaq21KKsrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The York County Planning Commission on May 12 approved five separate rezoning requests, each moved, seconded and approved during the meeting.

The commission approved:
- Rezoning 25‑12 (tax map 622002): Applicant Gregory Scott Cannon — parcel at 1781 Yorkshire Road (about 4 acres, Rock Hill). The parcel was rezoned from UD (urban development) to LI (light industrial) to allow trucking operations and vehicle repair and to remove the property’s nonconforming status; staff said the change aligns with the I‑77 corridor employment future land‑use designation.

- Rezoning 25‑13: McAfee Redevelopment LLC, on behalf of owner Anita Feimster — rezoned roughly 30,000 square feet of a 1.58‑acre parcel from GC (general commercial) to RUD (rural residential) at 2782 York Highway to recombine the southern portion of the parcel with an adjacent lot and to support the ongoing McAfee redevelopment.

- Rezoning 25‑15 (tax map 457012): Applicant John Teisinger on behalf of John Teisinger IRR Trust — rezoned roughly 10 acres from RCEF‑40 to AGC (agricultural conservation) near Lincoln Road, allowing farming and a second home on the parcel.

- Rezoning 25‑16 (tax map 386007): State of Donald K. Johnson and Pamela Pendleton, PR — rezoned a 14.49‑acre parcel from RSF‑40 to AGC to enable recombination with adjacent estate parcels and future family division; staff recommended approval to match neighboring zones.

- Rezoning 25‑18 (tax map 721027): Applicant Markelos for Kroger Capital Investments, Inc. — rezoned a 5.73‑acre parcel in Fort Mill from UD to LI to expand uses to include outdoor storage; staff said the site and surrounding area are industrial in character and the request aligns with the artisan employment future land‑use designation.

Staff presentations noted the rationale for each request and recommended approval; commissioners asked clarifying questions about site access, recombination, and how the rezonings fit the future land‑use map. Each item was moved, seconded and passed with no recorded opposition in the meeting transcript. Motions and seconds were recorded but the transcript does not provide a roll‑call tally of individual votes.

The commission then moved on to a separate item: a proposed text amendment on data center building heights.

Summary of record actions: each of the five rezoning requests was approved and will be forwarded to county council for final action, per the county’s land‑use process.","On May 12 the York County Planning Commission approved rezoning requests for multiple parcels, removing several legacy UD designations and allowing uses ranging from trucking and vehicle repair to industrial and agricultural uses. Staff recommended approval on each item.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission approves paving and sidewalk waivers for York School District agricultural arena

Commission backs raising data center height to 80 feet with added setbacks; asks council to review fire‑safety and special‑exception option

Planning commission approves five rezoning requests; details and locations listed