Planning commission approves paving and sidewalk waivers for York School District agricultural arena

The York County Planning Commission on May 12 approved two land‑development waivers allowing a proposed York School District agricultural arena near Hickory Grove Road to use gravel and grass for most parking areas and to omit a sidewalk and pedestrian connection to Hickory Grove‑Sharon Elementary.

Staff planner Jeff Kershner presented the request for the York County District Agricultural Arena (project W2503) and said the proposal triggers two waivers from the land development code: Section 154.027 (general parking design standards) and Section 154.121(b) (sidewalk standards). The district anticipates a 1,500‑seat arena that requires 375 parking spaces under the code; Kershner said the plans show roughly 388 spaces of which about 80 will be paved plus a paved apron and paved Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)‑compliant spaces near the arena entrance. The remainder is proposed as gravel and grass overflow parking, used for larger events anticipated fewer than eight times a year.

Kershner said staff found the waiver standards were met because the gravel and grass parking would limit stormwater runoff compared with conventional paving, would complement the rural agricultural character of the site, and would include paved ADA parking and a paved apron at Hickory Grove Road. For the sidewalk waiver, staff agreed with the applicant that a continuous pedestrian connection was not warranted because the arena is a district facility used countywide rather than an extension of the adjacent elementary school, and because Hickory Grove Road is posted 55 mph (45 mph during school hours), creating safety concerns for road crossings.

Scott Childers, who identified himself as chairman of York School District 1 and as representing the York 1 Foundation, told the commission the project serves all four county school districts, FFA and 4‑H activities, and that South Carolina Department of Transportation had reviewed the site entrance. “We do want this to be agricultural aesthetically as well,” Childers said, describing the grass parking as intentional and noting that staff and attendants would be used during larger events.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on practical details. Commissioners asked how grass and gravel parking spaces would be delineated; Kershner said the civil plans would show drive aisles and parking dimensions so the area can accommodate the required number of spaces even though lines will not be painted on turf. Staff confirmed trailer parking and much of the site driveway are gravel; ADA spaces and the apron at Hickory Grove Road will be paved. Commissioners also asked whether children traveling between the elementary school and the arena would walk across the road; both staff and the applicant said students would be transported by bus for school activities and that the applicant does not plan a marked crosswalk. A commissioner suggested temporary stakes or flags to guide grass parking during events, citing practices used at county parks.

After the public hearing, the commission voted to approve the paving waiver and the sidewalk waiver. Motions were made and seconded by planning commission members; no recorded opposition was announced on the transcript. Staff recommended two separate motions, one for each waiver; both were approved by the commission and staff will forward the approvals and file plans for final review.

Key project details recorded in the hearing: the arena is proposed on tax parcel 104‑005, is sited opposite Hickory Grove‑Sharon Elementary on Hickory Grove Road, and is described as a hybrid agricultural/school use with a 1,500‑seat capacity that the code treats as a school use for certain requirements. The applicant’s plans indicate roughly 388 parking spaces are available, about 80 of which will be paved plus the required ADA spaces and the paved apron at the road entrance. The sidewalk waiver was supported by staff on the basis of safety concerns for cross‑road pedestrian traffic across a posted 55 mph road.

The commission then moved on to other business.