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 would make the parking use consistent with the rest of the campus and allow the city to develop additional lots ahead of scheduled events at McGirt Auditorium. Commissioners and residents said the plan affects nearby homeowners’ daily life and property conditions.

Discussion focused on impacts to nearby properties, especially a single-family home at 835 Crawford Road owned by Raymond Massey, who told the commission he was not fully informed when he agreed to an easement and said construction noise, increased parking and a new bus stop have already harmed quality of life. “I really don’t like it,” Massey said, summarizing his view that the new parking will box in his family’s long‑held home.

Commissioners asked staff to clarify site details: Sean said the three parcels immediately north of Crawford Road include gravel parking used by Trinity Baptist Church, and that 835 Crawford will retain the house while the rear is developed for parking under an easement. He also said a future connection into Rock Street would require an encroachment permit from SCDOT.

Residents and property owners pressed staff about buffering, lighting and traffic controls. Staff said the civil plans call for a 10‑foot‑wide landscape buffer and a 6‑foot solid fence on three sides adjacent to the Massey parcel. On lighting, staff gave two closely timed explanations: one planner said parking‑lot lighting is reviewed with civil plans, must meet setbacks and is generally required to be turned off in the late evening (he said “I want to say it’s 11 p.m.”), while another staff member later read the ordinance language that “any lighting located within 100 feet of a residential structure . . . has to be turned off between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for security or safety lighting.” Staff also said any proposed SCDOT‑rated pedestrian crossing across Crawford Road would be finalized with SCDOT.

Public comment and property acquisition status were central to the debate. Several commissioners said portions of the site already have construction and that the city is close to finalizing ownership of several parcels; staff said purchase and construction agreements and some easements are executed but that final closings were still being completed. Commissioners and members of the public asked that Council be told that some nearby owners felt inadequately consulted before easements were negotiated.

Formal action: the commission first voted down a motion to recommend rezoning every parcel listed in the staff packet. A subsequent motion narrowed the set of parcels; that motion passed 6–1. The commission’s favorable recommendation now goes to City Council for final action; staff said Council will consider second reading on Monday, Jan. 13.

What’s next: City Council will hear the rezoning at second reading; staff said the city attorney will confirm which parcels are under contract and whether construction may proceed prior to final closings. If Council approves, staff expects the parking work to move forward to meet auditorium event commitments.