Council approves first reading to rezone 0.56 acres at 300 Pokeville Road over neighbor objections

Easley City Council on first reading approved ordinance 202613 to rezone 0.56 acres at 300 Pokeville Road (parcel ID 501812979461) from General Residential (GR2) to Neighborhood Commercial (NC).

Carter Massenill, speaking on behalf of the applicant, told the council the buyers had purchased a brick house they plan to convert to a downtown flower shop and had prepared a voluntary restrictive declaration that would run with the land to limit certain uses. "We did that because my clients want to be good citizens," Massenill said, adding staff and the city attorney had reviewed the draft declaration.

Neighbors urged caution. Kimberly Waldera said the property across the street is not a rental and that surrounding parcels are residential, arguing the rezoning would create spot zoning and that notice and procedure under the city's UDO may not have been followed. "I would urge the council to please remand this back to the planning commission," Waldera said, citing UDO provisions she said required a public hearing and a 12-month prohibition on reapplication.

Joyce Sweetman, who identified herself as a downtown business owner who bought a house to open a floral shop, said she wants to be part of the community and encouraged support for local business development.

Council members debated traffic and neighborhood encroachment, and several raised concerns about ambiguous language in the UDO uncovered during work‑session review. Councilman Alexander said he had been prepared to vote one way but had heard both sides during the work session. One member said they planned to vote yes on first reading to keep the application alive but reserved final judgment for second reading.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 202613 (rezoning 0.56 acres at 300 Pokeville Road to NC): Motion to accept first reading — approved by show of hands; tally not specified in the record. Next step: second reading required for final adoption.

- Ordinance 202610 (establish PK zoning for parks/open space): Second reading — approved by council; tally not specified.

- Ordinance 202611 (adopt recommended tree and plant list): Second reading — approved by council; tally not specified.

- Ordinance 202612 (amend FY25–26 budget to accept $120,000 US DOT SS4A grant): Second reading — approved by council; tally not specified. The grant acceptance adds $120,000 to the city's operating budget for safe streets and roads work.

- Ordinance 202614 (add Flexible Review District to UDO): First reading — approved by show of hands; tally not specified.

- Resolutions 202607 and 202608 (appointments of Lucas Durham and Alex Hensley to the Zoning Board of Appeals): Approved by council; tally not specified.

Council did not record roll-call tallies in the public record provided; where counts were not called, the minutes reflect that motion and second were made and the council approved items by show of hands.

Why it matters

Rezoning to neighborhood commercial changes what uses can legally locate on a property and can affect adjacent residential character, traffic patterns and property values. Neighbors argued the request creates a 'spot zoning' effect in an otherwise residential area; the applicant offered a restrictive declaration to limit some future uses.

What happens next

The rezoning will return for second reading before a final decision. Council members signaled some will revisit their positions once legal and UDO ambiguities are clarified. The applicant and concerned neighbors asked the council to consider procedural questions and to ensure notices and legal reviews are complete before final action.