Planning commission recommends rezoning of parcels for Emmett Scott parking after resident objections

The Rock Hill Planning Commission recommended that City Council rezone a set of parcels around the Emmett Scott campus to Office Institutional on a 6–1 vote, clearing the way for expanded parking to serve the renovated McGirt Auditorium.

City planner Sean (Neighborhood Services) told the commission the rezoning would convert parcels currently zoned Neighborhood Commercial and Single-Family 4 to Office Institutional so the city could expand campus parking and resolve previous setback issues. Sean said the combined north and south parking areas will total 388 spaces and that the auditorium’s capacity will be “more than 800 people,” using a parking calculation of one space per three fixed seats. He said five parcels north of Crawford Road and four parcels south of it are part of the request and that Tim Street will be abandoned and partly absorbed by the new lot; a gate and a hammerhead turnaround will limit through traffic except for emergency access.

Why it matters: rezoning to Office Institutional…