Developer asks Greer council to consider privatizing Park Avenue to reduce tap fees

Mike McCarthy, vice president of the Meridian Group, told the Greer City Council on Sept. 9 that his company is asking the city to consider privatizing a stretch of Park Avenue between two parcels for the James apartment project so the development can be served by one water tap instead of two.

McCarthy said the request stems from a breakdown in communications with Greer CPW about a fee increase. “The request as mentioned earlier is simple, the why gets a bit complicated, but I'll try to be concise and stay out of the weeds here,” McCarthy said. He told the council that while Meridian was working closely with CPW on utility design and budgeting, an October 2024 email notifying a subset of developers (not including Meridian) said tap and capacity fees would rise by almost four times effective Jan. 1, 2025. The James began construction in September 2024, and McCarthy said the team learned of the fee increase only when they went to make their taps in March 2025.

McCarthy said the project currently has two taps, on Line Street and Trade Street, because Park Avenue bisects the development. Privatizing the block of Park Avenue between the two parcels, he said, would permit running a single six-inch line across that now-public road and maintaining one tap on Trade Street, reducing the effect of the fee increase on project costs. “Our intent would be to work with the neighbors and engineering towards a solution that would make this a no harm accommodation,” McCarthy said.

Mayor Danner did not rule on the request at the meeting. She told council members the matter will return for a public hearing and two readings and suggested members who are not familiar with the details meet with staff beforehand. “At this point in time, I think it would be most prudent since we will be having a public hearing, and then 2 readings, following that that, we save any questions or comments at this point in time until, we come back again for, further, review of this and discussion and the public hearing,” the mayor said.

No formal action was taken Sept. 9. McCarthy’s petition was received as a petitioner’s request; the council directed that the matter be handled through the public hearing and ordinance-reading process so council and staff can further review technical and neighborhood implications.

Background and next steps: McCarthy described a timeline in which construction began in September 2024, an Oct. 2024 CPW email alerted some developers to a fee increase effective Jan. 1, 2025, and Meridian attempted to tap lines in March 2025. The council indicated it will schedule a public hearing and subsequent readings before any ordinance or privatization is adopted. Staff and council members were asked to meet to review details ahead of that hearing.

Ending: The council did not set a date at the Sept. 9 meeting; McCarthy and city staff said they will appear again when the public hearing and ordinance readings are scheduled.