Resident urges council to pause rezoning over chemical exposure concerns

Aaron Khan told Greenwood County Council during public comment that he experienced a chemical‑type odor and physical symptoms near a railroad corridor leading to a former plant site and urged the council to pause rezoning until environmental conditions are fully investigated and disclosed.

"When you rezone land tied to decades of industrial chemical use, you are not just planning for the future, and you are taking responsibility for the past," Khan said, noting that he documented timestamps of the exposure and interviewed a former mechanical engineer who independently identified the same location and similar symptoms. He said a Freedom of Information Act request (26‑109) regarding the site is pending with the county.

Khan asked council whether it would proceed with zoning decisions while material information remains outstanding. "If that information is not yet complete, why would we move forward at all?" he said.

Council members and staff responded during the hearing that some environmental reports had been circulated; the chair indicated staff could make reports available and that the county would follow up. Council did not take action on the specific site during the public comment; the comment was made in advance of third‑reading consideration of a separate rezoning item on the agenda.

The exchange underscored constituent concern about historical industrial contamination and the timing of land‑use approvals. Khan requested greater transparency and release of pending records before approvals take effect; council members reiterated they would review the records and that staff would provide available reports.

Next steps: Khan said he would continue to pursue information requests and urged the public and agencies to consider environmental condition verifications before rezoning approvals.