The Greer City Council on Nov. 25 held a public hearing and approved the first reading of ordinance 30-20 25, which would close and privatize a portion of Park Avenue so a developer can install a water line serving a new apartment project.

Residents who live along Park Avenue told the council they were surprised by the proposal and urged protections for safety and access. Kate Devicks, vice president of the Park Avenue townhome HOA, said she and 12 homeowners were not expecting privatization and stressed the potential traffic and safety impacts on narrow driveways during commute hours. “If just 20 cars per hour came out of the apartments on either side of Park Avenue, that would be 40 cars per hour during the commute time,” Devicks said, asking the council to clarify whether a gate would be required and how it would affect existing residents.

Developer representative Mike McCarthy told the council the developer needs the privatized segment to place a private water line under the road. He said he has continued discussions with the HOA and has worked to address resident concerns: “I appreciate the open dialogue with her,” McCarthy said, and he remained at the meeting to answer questions.

City staff described two technical options: (1) close (abandon) the city-owned portion of Park Avenue and deed the privatized segment to the developer with contractual protections, including a decorative gate; or (2) leave Park Avenue public and grant the developer a private utility easement beneath the road. Staff said a utility-only easement would require special protections — for example, placing the private main within a protective steel casing and adding long‑term signage — because it would be a private utility under public pavement and might not appear on standard public-utility plats.

“Matter like this is where governance becomes art and science,” City Administrator Merriman told council as staff summarized the trade-offs between minimizing long-term risk and enabling a downtown redevelopment investment.

On design, the developer said the privatized section would be widened on the apartment side with a five‑foot sidewalk and parallel parking on one side; the gate columns would use brick matching the new building. Staff said the gate could be required in the agreement and would not necessarily remain locked — fire and emergency access protocols would still apply.

Council requested that developers and staff provide the final plat and sketches and memorialize gate requirements and protections between first and second reading. The council set a second-reading target and asked for additional engineering details, public-access clarifications and conditions that would protect existing townhome residents.

Next steps: staff and the developer will supply the final plat, sketches and proposed contract language addressing the gate and protections before the council’s second reading, scheduled at a later meeting.