Greenwood council approves first readings on liens, encampments, zoning and site lease; rezoning for 60-unit project advances

The Greenwood City Council on April 21 approved a series of first readings and related actions covering municipal code changes, encampment procedures, zoning and a site lease, and voted to enter executive session to discuss economic development.

At a glance (votes): All motions described below carried unanimously with six votes.

What the council approved or acted on

- Ordinance 25-005 (first reading): Amend Chapter 18 (Environment) to remove inconsistent time frames for lien filing so that liens may be recorded when abatement work is completed. Staff explained liens are effective when the work is done but that filing provides public notice; the change removes conflicting 30/60-day references and allows filing immediately. County collection cooperation is under separate negotiation; county tax-collection integration was discussed as a later step with a target timeline of 2026.

- Ordinance 25-006 (first reading): Add an encampments-on-public-property article (Chapter 26, Article 8). The ordinance, modeled on a municipal association template, gives police written procedures: generally post a 24‑hour removal notice for city-owned property and a 3‑hour notice for emergency/safety hazards; property left may be collected and logged into evidence; controlled substances and medication would be handled according to SLED and other evidence protocols. Police and staff cited public-safety and hazardous-waste concerns, including used syringes at encampment sites.

- Ordinance 25-007 (rezoning, second/first reading as presented): Rezone approximately 0.36 acre at 359 Maxwell Avenue from R-7 (high density residential) to CC (Core Commercial). Planning staff said the front portion of the parcel historically held commercial uses and the requested CC zoning would allow a street-facing storefront with living space above. Planning commission recommended approval.

- Ordinance 25-008 (first reading): Authorize the city manager to execute an updated site lease agreement with the Lakeland Toros Soccer Club Inc. The lease updates acknowledge upcoming city-funded improvements to the facility and restates that the club currently operates and maintains the premises. Council asked staff to clarify maintenance responsibilities for city-built improvements (stormwater, restrooms, drainage) before second reading.

- Ordinance 25-009 (first reading): Rezone approximately 3.1 acres at 202 Mineral Court from R-10 to NPR (a master-planned residential district) to allow redevelopment of the former Mineral Court apartment site. The proposed plan calls for 60 apartment units (6 one-bedroom, 36 two-bedroom, 18 three-bedroom), a clubhouse, playground, and ~100 parking spaces. At roughly 19 units per acre under the proposal, the development would exceed the 10-units-per-acre ceiling under R-10 but staff and developers said the NPR zoning is intended to allow greater density in exchange for site amenities and open space. The project will pursue low-income housing tax credits; the final LIHTC application deadline was identified as imminent in May.

Staff, developer and nonprofit comments

Planning staff and the development team described the Mineral Court parcel as a long-vacant site previously cleared with CDBG funds; Greenwood Housing and Community Development (formerly Greenwood Area Habitat for Humanity) told council it is partnering with a nonprofit developer to produce affordable multifamily housing. Steven Baggett, board chair of Greenwood Housing and Community Development, said the proposal is a nonprofit partnership using federal and state tax-credit resources: "This is a case of 2 nonprofits coming together to do something good for Greenwood." A Banyan Foundation representative said the organization builds and manages affordable multifamily housing and will use third‑party on-site management and an asset-management team.

Encampment concerns and evidence handling

Police and staff stressed health and safety risks at existing encampments: fecal contamination, used syringes, and drug paraphernalia found in city parks and trails. Staff described work already undertaken to remove hazardous encampments and said the proposed ordinance gives clearer authority and procedure for posting notices, collecting abandoned property and routing controlled substances through evidence-handling and destruction protocols.

Lease with local soccer club

Council approved first reading of an updated site lease with the Lakeland Toros Soccer Club Inc. but asked staff to clarify which party will maintain improvements the city funds (stormwater infrastructure, restrooms and other capital work) versus those the club will maintain as its expense. Staff said that maintenance responsibilities can be finalized between readings.

Executive session

Council voted to enter executive session to discuss prospective industry location/expansion in the county service area; the meeting record shows the motion passed unanimously and the council left the public portion to meet in closed session.

What was not decided

- The hate-crime ordinance requested during public comment was not introduced and will require a separate council action to be scheduled. - Specific maintenance divisions for the Lakeland Toros lease were left for staff and the club to clarify before second reading. - The Mineral Court project remains subject to planning commission final recommendation and to completion of financing applications for LIHTC.

Why it matters: These ordinances affect enforcement timelines for municipal abatement liens, provide police with clearer procedures to address encampments on city property, adjust the city zoning map in two locations, and advance a nonprofit-led affordable housing proposal. Together the measures reflect actions that could change enforcement practice, land use, and near-term housing supply in Greenwood.