Greer planning director unveils five‑year goals and proposes housing assessment RFP

Alex Cahill, the city’s new director of planning and development services, told the Greer City Council on Aug. 26 that his department will pursue a five‑year strategic plan and a housing assessment and strategy report to guide policy and zoning changes.

Cahill said the housing assessment will “analyze current conditions, project future demand, and identify where the gaps in affordability and access truly exist.” He said the city plans to release a request for proposals for the assessment on Sept. 7 and expects the procurement process to take about two months.

The department’s priorities, Cahill said, include strategic alignment with council goals, expanded community engagement and workforce development. Cahill told council the planning team identified 98 goals during internal workshops and that staff will focus on a smaller set of actionable initiatives in year one.

On enforcement, Cahill described a community‑focused approach for the code enforcement and community standards teams: staff will prioritize education, early intervention and referrals to resources such as GCRA’s home improvement program before pursuing formal violations. “It’s not about rules, it’s about preserving property values, protecting health and safety, it’s about building pride in our neighborhoods,” Cahill said.

Council members asked whether the department had budgeted for the new initiatives; city staff said many items are already included in multi‑year budgeting and the council’s February budget retreat will align resources for remaining priorities. Cahill said the housing assessment will be a tool to pursue targeted policies, zoning adjustments and outside funding, not a study for its own sake.

The council did not take formal action on the presentation. Cahill said staff will return with the RFP schedule and provide biannual progress updates to council.