Easley City Council takes first reading on rezoning, approves business-license update, trail easement, maintenance agreement and road acceptance

At a regular meeting, the Easley City Council advanced a rezoning measure on first reading and approved four separate items including a state-required business-license ordinance, a recorded easement for properties adjoining the Doodle Trail, a maintenance agreement for a right-of-way, and acceptance of roads from a homeowners association.

The council took first reading of Ordinance 2025-07 to rezone about 0.844 acres at 715 North A Street from neighborhood commercial to Residential 7.5. Council members moved the ordinance to the floor for a subsequent second reading; no final adoption occurred at this meeting. Council discussion noted concerns in planning‑commission minutes about traffic on the street and driveway configuration for the proposed residences. A council member said the owner had been unable to sell the property as neighborhood commercial and was proposing homes instead. The council voted to place the ordinance on the next reading.

The council adopted Ordinance 2025-08, a revised business-license ordinance, to comply with the state Business License Standardization Act. City staff explained the update is required on an every‑other‑year schedule to align local license classes with the state’s classifications. “Every odd year…we’re required…to update it in accordance with what they have determined are the classes of businesses,” said Mister Couch, city staff. The council voted to adopt the revision.

The council approved Ordinance 2025-09 to authorize the conveyance of a recorded easement across the Doodle Trail for parcels associated with the Martin estate. Tom, city staff, told the council the driveway crossing the trail has been used for years but was never a recorded easement and the estate is working to formalize access. “They’ve used it and…but it’s never been a recorded easement,” Tom said.

Council members also moved forward with first reading of Ordinance 2025-10, a right‑of‑way maintenance agreement with Doodle Trail Properties (Doodle Trail LLC). The agreement permits the adjacent property owner (Southern Weaving) to maintain plantings and the right of way beside the trail to improve appearance at their driveway approach; the council approved the measure on first reading.

Finally, the council considered Resolution 2025-13 to accept certain subdivision streets from the Meadowridge Homeowners Association into the City of Easley road network. The mayor noted and the ordinance will be updated to fix a scrivener’s error in a street name (Dane -> Lane). The motion passed; the mayor announced there were two opposed votes but did not name the dissenting members.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-07 — Rezoning (715 N A Street; ~0.844 acres) — Action: first reading advanced to next meeting; final adoption not taken. Vote: motion to bring to the floor approved; roll-call tally not specified. - Ordinance 2025-08 — Revised business-license ordinance (Business License Standardization Act compliance) — Action: adopted. Vote: chair called the vote; council voted to adopt; individual tallies not specified. - Ordinance 2025-09 — Conveyance of recorded easement across Doodle Trail (Martin estate parcels) — Action: adopted. Vote: chair called the vote; none opposed, individual tallies not specified. - Ordinance 2025-10 — Right-of-way maintenance agreement with Doodle Trail Properties (maintenance/beautification adjoining trail, Southern Weaving referenced) — Action: first reading approved; final adoption not taken. Vote: motion carried; individual tallies not specified. - Resolution 2025-13 — Accept roads from Meadowridge Homeowners Association into city road network — Action: adopted. Vote: mayor announced two opposed votes; detailed tally not provided.

The meeting record does not include roll-call vote tallies by member for these items; where individual yes/no counts were spoken the chair summarized results (for example, “none opposed” or “two opposed”) rather than reading a member-by-member roll call. The council also noted and will correct a typographical street-name error in the Meadowridge resolution before final paperwork.

No other formal ordinances reached final adoption at this meeting; the rezoning and the right‑of‑way maintenance agreement remain on subsequent reading or procedural steps.