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Neighbors and council debate special-exception process after developer seeks school on Advent United Methodist land
Summary
Residents of the 5 Forks area urged county council to review the board of zoning appeals special-exception process after a developer pursuing a 900‑student charter school on Advent United Methodist Church land asked for a hold and a special exception. Speakers said the BZA process can be a backdoor to rezoning and highlighted traffic, drainage and
Residents near Woodruff Road and the 5 Forks area urged Greenville County Council to review how special exceptions and holds are handled by the board of zoning appeals after a developer working with Advent United Methodist Church sought a special exception and a 30‑day hold related to a proposed 900‑student charter school.
Why it matters: Neighbors say the proposed school and associated traffic would conflict with the 5 Forks area plan (adopted in 2021) and harm established residential neighborhoods. Speakers asked council to examine whether the appeals process lets developers bypass formal rezoning and community review.
Multiple speakers described localized impacts. Michelle Slade, secretary of the Stonehaven I homeowners association, said the plan’s two right‑turn exits and proposed circulation would push traffic through English Oak Road and Stonehaven I, which lacks sidewalks and has a single neighborhood road. “They will come through that neighborhood 5 to 600 cars twice a day,” Slade said, and urged council to “take under review the special exception variance that has been requested.”
Jenny Trump and others described limited public-notice windows and scheduling that make it difficult for residents to respond to BZA filings; Trump said the appeals board gave the developer a 30‑day “hold” at an earlier hearing, a procedural option residents said they could not easily obtain. Mary Anne Coleman and Danette Vandegrift, long‑time residents, told council they worked on the 5 Forks area plan and asked council to enforce it.
Council response and direction: Council members reminded residents that ethics rules prevent individual council members from appearing before the BZA on behalf of constituents, but several councilors said the issue merits fuller review. Councilor Tripp offered to put the broader topic on the Planning & Development Committee agenda; the chair asked staff to place an item for the committee to consider special exceptions/variances for schools and churches in the future.
No formal vote or zoning decision was made by council; the BZA process continues independently. Council asked staff to add the matter to the planning committee’s workplan so the body can consider possible changes to BZA procedures, notice and use of holds.
Community context: Speakers repeatedly cited the 5 Forks area plan, drafted with 39 participants and adopted to guide development for the area. Neighbors asked council to honor that community plan rather than allow ad hoc deviations through BZA exceptions.
What’s next: Planning staff and the Planning & Development Committee will be asked to review BZA procedures, public-notice timing and the use of holds and special exceptions for schools and churches and report back to council.
