Greer planning director lays out 5-year strategy, housing assessment RFP and education-first code enforcement

At the Greer City Council meeting on Aug. 26, Planning and Development Director Alex Cahill presented a five-year strategic plan for the department and said staff will release a request for proposals on Sept. 7 for a housing assessment and strategy report.

Cahill told the council the housing assessment will analyze current conditions, project future demand and identify gaps in affordability and access so the city can craft targeted policies, identify zoning adjustments and pursue outside funding. "A housing assessment and strategy report won't be just a study," Cahill said. "We want it to be a tool." The RFP, he said, will be a Greer-specific procurement and staff expects the consultant selection to take roughly two months.

Why it matters: Cahill framed the work as preparing the city for continuing population growth while trying to preserve affordability and neighborhood quality. The plan links housing analysis to long-range planning, code enforcement, and a proposed community impact and engagement division meant to give residents more voice in planning decisions.

Key initiatives and timelines - Housing assessment and strategy report: staff plans to release the RFP on Sept. 7 and run a roughly two-month procurement process. Cahill said the study will inform zoning and funding pursuits. - Community engagement and standards: Cahill described an "education-first" approach for the community standards/code enforcement team, emphasizing outreach and connections to existing programs such as GCRA's home-improvement resources when residents cannot afford repairs. - Long-range planning: Cahill said the department will pursue a 5-year update to the comprehensive plan this fall (state law requires periodic updates) and explore small-area plans, tree canopy plans, growth corridors, transportation mobility and open-space master plans. - Department operations and metrics: Cahill proposed dashboards, performance metrics, user testing for permitting processes, workforce development, succession planning and an eventual metrics program to measure impact. - Community events and next steps: Cahill said the next community standards event is scheduled for Sept. 4 at Praise Cathedral Church (Greer Mill community) and staff will provide biannual progress updates to council.

Staffing and department scope Cahill described a lean staff of about 20 people across plan review, code enforcement, building inspections and permitting. He said the department intends to preserve quick turnaround times and high technical quality while increasing strategic capacity.

Council response and follow-up Council members praised the presentation and asked about budgeting and prioritization. Administrator and staff indicated many of the items will be folded into the city's multi-year budgeting process, with additional alignment at the council budget retreat. Several council members urged council-level work on a citywide strategic plan to guide departmental priorities. Cahill and staff asked the council to champion community engagement where feasible.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article are listed in the speakers section below.