Mauldin council approves first readings on zoning and court rules, OKs mutual aid and property LOI

Mauldin City Council on Monday approved a slate of first-reading ordinances and several intergovernmental agreements and authorized the mayor to sign a letter of intent to pursue a City Center property, all by unanimous votes.

The council’s most consequential action was a motion authorizing Mayor to execute a letter of intent for purchase of property within City Center and to negotiate a final purchase-and-sale agreement, following an executive session on economic-development negotiations and contractual arrangements concerning Bridgeway Station. Councilman Matney moved to authorize the mayor; the motion carried unanimously (7-0). The council reported coming out of the executive session with no votes taken there, and then formally approved the authorization in open session.

The meeting also produced unanimous first readings on four ordinances: an amendment to Mauldin’s zoning code to allow childcare, preschool and after-school activities as accessory uses at religious institutions (section 10-16); a clarification of the separation requirement between packaged alcoholic beverage stores and residences (section 10-35); a right-of-way abandonment and quitclaim deed for Loblolly Circle; and an update to the municipal court judge appointment ordinance (section 24-7) to permit appointment of certified nonlawyers who complete state-mandated training and mentoring. Each ordinance passed first reading and will return for second reading and final action.

Council discussion highlighted two items. Councilman Allgood asked that the childcare accessory-use ordinance be amended on first reading to remove or reconsider a two-acre minimum lot-size standard that appears in the draft; Planning Commission representative David Deerhog explained the two-acre threshold appears in parts of the zoning code and may relate to spot-zoning concerns under state precedent, and the council asked the city attorney to review that question before second reading. On the municipal court ordinance, Councilwoman King and others described the state certification, one-year mentor program and annual continuing-education requirements that nonattorney judges must meet; the council cited South Carolina oversight of judicial training as a safeguard.

Public-safety measures approved included a mutual-aid agreement with Greenville County Fire Service effective through Dec. 31, 2029, and an amended memorandum of understanding with the Greenville County Drug Enforcement Unit (the council described the latter as a Drug Enforcement Task Force partnership). Both motions were moved by Councilwoman King and adopted unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Authorize mayor to execute letter of intent and negotiate purchase/sale agreement for City Center property: moved by Councilman Matney; second by Councilman Reynolds; outcome: approved, unanimous (7-0). - Ordinance (first reading) — amend section 10-16 (religious institutions) to allow childcare/preschool/after-school accessory uses with conditional standards: moved by Mr. Stenbeck; second by Councilman Matney; motion to amend minimum-area language raised by Councilman Allgood; outcome: first reading approved, unanimous. Legal review requested before second reading. - Ordinance (first reading) — amend section 10-35 (packaged alcoholic beverage stores) to clarify separation requirement from residences: mover/second not specified on record; outcome: first reading approved, unanimous. - Ordinance (first reading) — Loblolly Circle right-of-way abandonment and authorization to execute quitclaim deed: moved by Mr. Crowley; second by Councilwoman King; outcome: first reading approved, unanimous. - Ordinance (first reading) — amend section 24-7 (municipal court judge appointment) to permit appointment of certified nonattorney municipal judges who complete required training/mentorship and continuing education: moved by Councilwoman King; second by Mr. Crowley; outcome: first reading approved, unanimous. - Approve mutual-aid agreement with Greenville County Fire Service through 12/31/2029: moved by Councilwoman King; outcome: approved, unanimous. - Approve amended memorandum of understanding with Greenville County Drug Enforcement Unit/Task Force: moved by Councilwoman King; outcome: approved, unanimous.

Meeting context and next steps The ordinances passed only on first reading and will return for second reading or final adoption at a later meeting; the council specifically requested that the city attorney review the legal basis for the two-acre minimum referenced in the childcare accessory-use draft before second reading. The municipal court ordinance references state certification requirements; councilors noted the Supreme Court’s oversight of judicial training and the mandatory certification, mentoring and annual continuing education that will apply to any appointed nonlawyer judges. The city administrator also announced local events and outreach on the comprehensive plan; those items were informational and not subject to council action.

The meeting ended after the council recessed to and returned from executive session and took the open-session vote authorizing the letter of intent. No votes were taken during the executive session itself.