The Greenwood Board of Zoning Appeals approved Nov. 10 a use-variance request for 1648 South US 31 that allows retail sales with outdoor display in a Commercial Medium zone, with board-modified conditions intended to limit visual and operational impacts. The motion passed 4-1.

Petitioner representation identified Kevin (Kevin Ottkite) and Mike Weaver of Weaver Group, who told the board they operate outdoor-structure retail (sheds, cabins, garages) and seek to expand into the Greenwood market. "When we saw this location, it seemed like a really good, unused lot at the time," Mike Weaver said, describing the family business and its regional expansion plans.

City planning staff opposed treating the proposed use as a simple retail display and instead characterized it as outdoor storage — an accumulation of goods and inventory that conflicts with the 2024 Greenwood Comprehensive Plan objective to improve corridor appearance along US 31. The planning director said outdoor display rules cap display at 30% of the yard adjacent to the street and concluded the proposal failed criteria 1–5 and could set a precedent for visual clutter.

Board members questioned whether the proposed items — in the board’s words, including garages and large two-car structures — were properly categorized as display rather than storage, and whether approval would be consistent with other sites. The applicant offered to constrain the display to 30% of the yard and showed renders intended to depict product display. "I see it more as display because we already have one down the road at Miller's Barns," a board member said, noting nearby examples.

After admitting all evidence into the record, the board approved the use variance with conditions read into the record and with two staff conditions (numbers 4 and 6) omitted by board decision. Key conditions require outdoor sales displays to be maintained in clean, orderly condition; prohibit outdoor storage unrelated to active sales; limit outdoor sales displays to no more than 30% of the yard adjacent to the street and directly adjacent to the primary structure; require fully cut-off lighting; prohibit banners/pennants/strings; ensure displays do not obstruct parking or pedestrian access; and require technical-review-committee review for any future site modifications.

The motion to approve with the stated conditions was moved by Mr. Moll and seconded by Miss Peters and passed by a voice/count vote of 4-1. The board directed corporation counsel to draft written findings of fact incorporating the staff report and evidence; final written findings and formal adoption of the board’s decision will occur at the next meeting. The applicant may work with staff on site compliance in the meantime.