Planning commission recommends rezoning Fir and Sanborn parcels from commercial to single-family

The Rock Hill Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council rezone roughly 2.41 acres along Fir and Sanborn Streets from General Commercial (GC) to Single-Family 5 (SF-5).

Planning staff told the commission the area is largely surrounded by single-family detached homes and that six of the seven parcels in the request sit north of Sanborn Street on what was formerly a mobile-home park. Staff recommended approval, saying SF-5 would be compatible with nearby uses and aligned with the city’s goal of phasing out scattered GC zoning.

Staff noted the site would require a preliminary plat and that existing remnant curb cuts would be handled through South Carolina Department of Transportation encroachment permits; a traffic impact analysis was not required because the proposal would increase lots only from seven to ten. Sidewalks were not required because sidewalks do not exist in the immediate area to connect to.

Tyson Hafely, the applicant, said the city has capacity to serve the proposed lots with water and sewer. No members of the public signed up to speak in favor or opposition.

After a brief discussion and without public comment, the commission moved and seconded a recommendation of approval to City Council. Commissioners who had declared recusals for the first item were noted at the start of the hearing; the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final action.

The commission’s recommendation does not itself change zoning; City Council will take the final vote at a later meeting.