York County Council approves local vendor preference, several rezonings; defers one zoning request

York County Council on Aug. 18 adopted a local vendor preference ordinance, approved several rezoning requests and economic-development measures, and deferred one rezoning for two weeks.

The council voted on multiple public hearing items and routine business during a meeting that included presentations on county organizational values and several committee reports. Most motions passed by unanimous voice vote during the meeting.

The vendor preference ordinance, presented by Procurement Director Tiara Sheffield, creates a tiered local-preference system for county-funded services, supplies and construction up to $25 million. Under the ordinance, the preference ranges up to 5 percent for smaller-dollar procurements (starting at the county bid threshold of $50,000) and scales down to 1 percent at the top tier; state- and federally funded projects are excluded. Councilmembers who spoke in favor said the policy is intended to increase local contracting opportunities while maintaining competitive procurement standards.

Council also moved on multiple rezoning matters after public hearings: - Case 25-29 (tax map 7380000007 & 8): Rezoned from RMX-10 (residential mixed) to RUD (rural development) for about 11.49 acres in District 7 to allow an event/wedding venue while retaining existing structures; applicant representatives described plans to reuse existing houses, preserve the pond and pursue sustainability measures. Council approved the rezoning on first reading by voice vote. - Case 25-30 (tax map 714000019 & 20): Rezoned from AGC and OI to ID (industrial development) for roughly 28 acres in District 7 for a utility operations center that will include warehousing, offices and outdoor storage. The council approved the rezoning and included, at the applicant’s request, a request that the applicant voluntarily record a deed restriction limiting certain ID uses on the parcel; council discussion noted staff had recommended no additional restrictions. - Case 25-31 (tax map 1870000032/1580000011–16): Rezoned parcels from RUD to AGC for about 9.62 acres in District 3; approval included a condition to recombine parcels and record the recombination within 90 days (clarified by staff after the public hearing). - Case 25-32 (tax map 3970000001): Rezoned from RSF-40 (regional single-family) to RUD on 3.45 acres in District 3 to allow a manufactured home; council approved the first reading. - Case 25-24 (tax map 5950000135): A request to rezone 7.2 acres from ID to GC for a self-storage facility was deferred for two weeks at the applicant’s request.

In new business the council authorized applying for a South Carolina Coordinating Council economic development set-aside grant for “Project Cross” ($600,000, no local match required). The council also adopted an inducement resolution and approved first reading of a fee-in-lieu-of-tax (FILOT) ordinance related to Project Cross; the items were advanced by motion and voice vote.

Other formal actions taken by the council included adopting zoning and land-development code amendments (third reading) that convert certain AGC and RUD districts to legacy status and revise land-division and accessory-use rules as listed on the agenda; those motions carried by voice vote.

Votes at a glance (formal outcomes reported on the record): motion outcomes were recorded as approved or deferred during the meeting; in all cases where the chair announced a vote tally the council recorded the motions as carried (the meeting record shows voice votes with the chair declaring motions carried or deferred).