Committee denies agricultural-preservation rezoning for Earl Drive site

The Planning and Development Committee voted to deny a request to rezone a 9.005-acre parcel at 210 Earl Drive and Larry Court in Greenville from RM-20 (multifamily residential) to AG (Agricultural Preservation District) for agritourism uses.

Staff recommended denial, saying the parcel lies within the Riverdale-Tanglewood Community Plan’s mixed-use designation and that the AG district’s stated purpose — to preserve prime farmland and forestry areas — did not align with the area plan. Staff also noted ongoing enforcement action on the property and said the owner is working to clean it up; staff advised that enforcement matters do not inherently stop a rezoning application but could affect compliance timelines.

Committee members raised questions about existing nonconforming uses on the site and the extent to which rezoning to AG would allow broader latitude for agricultural activity, including structures and land-disturbing activities. One committee member said rezoning to AG could be “wild west” in practice if not carefully constrained; staff responded that AG was designed to preserve farmland and forestry and that the rezoning would not necessarily prevent follow-up enforcement for violations.

Planning commission recommended denial; the committee voted to deny the rezoning on a motion recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: The denial keeps the parcel within a mixed-use planning designation and preserves the planning commission’s and staff’s interpretation that AG zoning is intended to protect prime agricultural and forestry lands rather than convert infill or urban-fringe sites to agritourism.

Next steps: The transcript shows the motion to deny carried; staff noted a zoning-ordinance provision that can stay code-enforcement action during a rezoning or appeal process under certain circumstances, but the property owner remains responsible for bringing the parcel into compliance if required.