Council approves first reading of rezoning for Pleasant Drive property, applicant pledges to preserve pond

Greer City Council on first reading moved to rezone roughly 26.78 acres at 116 and 118 Pleasant Drive from Suburban Neighborhood to Traditional Neighborhood, a change staff said would better transition between nearby warehouse uses and lower-density residential areas.

Miss Cotti, speaking for planning staff, described the three contiguous parcels and said the comprehensive plan calls for mixed employment nearby but that Traditional Neighborhood zoning provides an appropriate buffer between industrial and suburban neighborhoods. She said the Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval by a 5-0 vote.

During council questions, staff explained that Traditional Neighborhood zoning allows smaller lots and reduced setbacks than Suburban Neighborhood zoning and that planning reviews zoning permissiveness, not a developer's proposed site plan. "We look at what that district allows, what could be the max buildout," Miss Cotti said, adding that staff considered the future land-use map, existing zoning and uses on the ground.

Michael Roth, representing TMC Development, told the council his team revised an earlier plan and is now studying a layout with fewer lots. "We would love to save" the existing pond and "study very hard how we can modify that pond to accept our storm water and maintain the integrity of that pond" while using it as active open space, Roth said. He said the smallest lots in the plan are about 55 by 125 feet, roughly 7,000 square feet.

Council members pressed staff on open-space calculations, stormwater treatment and whether activated ponds could count toward required open space; staff said the UDO allows up to 50% of a water feature to count toward open space if it is activated with a trail or other usable amenity.

At the vote on the ordinance's first reading, the council recorded votes of yes from Mr. Wood, Mr. Booker, Mr. Bettis and Mr. Lamb, and no votes from Mr. Lander and Mayor Danner; the first reading carried 4-2.

Because this was a first reading, the zoning change is not final. Staff and the applicant indicated additional design and civil plans must be submitted, and staff said any future developer would be constrained by the allowances of the zoning district in place at the time of development.