Greenwood County Council approves multiple zoning amendments, bridge and cleanup contracts and budget changes

Greenwood County Council on April 7 voted unanimously on a slate of ordinances, contract approvals and budget amendments affecting rezoning, infrastructure repairs and disaster cleanup.

Key outcomes (votes recorded in meeting):

- Ordinance 2026‑02 (third reading): Approved removal of three parcels from the Fern Cliff special tax district after staff combined one parcel with an adjacent lot; motion approved unanimously.

- Ordinance 2026‑12 (third reading): Rezoned approximately 1.38 acres at 1703 Calhoun Road from R1 to C2 general commercial. Planning Commission had voted 11‑0; Council approved on third reading.

- Ordinance 2026‑13 (third reading): Rezoned approximately 1.28 acres at 2910 Highway 702 from RDD rural development to C2 general commercial; Planning Commission 11‑0; Council approved on third reading.

- Ordinance 2026‑14 (third reading): Approved a change of portions of three parcels (~11.74 acres on Montague Avenue Extension) from C2 commercial to MPR master‑planned residential; staff said MPR would allow substantially lower density than unfettered C2; Council approved on third reading.

- Contract approval: Alliance Consulting was approved as the top‑ranked firm to provide professional engineering and environmental due diligence for the Puckett’s Ferry rail site; the project is 75% funded through a Locate FC grant from the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Council authorized the county manager and attorney to negotiate and execute the required documents.

- Contract award: Watson Hill Road Bridge repair was bid and staff recommended awarding the work to Community First Developers, the low bidder at $74,300; Council approved award and authorized execution of documents. Staff expects reimbursement from FEMA/state sources as applications progress.

- Resolution for debris grinding (Hurricane Helene): Council approved an additional $225,000 from the general fund to finish grinding hurricane‑generated debris at the county landfill after earlier authorization was exhausted; staff said FEMA/state reimbursement is expected and applications are pending.

- Hospitality‑tax budget amendment: Council approved moving $85,722 (county share) from hospitality‑tax funds toward demolition of the former Palmetto Bank building and repaving a parking area at the Railroad Historical Center; total bid was $181,444 with $10,000 of in‑kind asphalt from Satterfield Construction.

First readings and public hearings scheduled:

- Ordinance 2026‑15 (first reading/title only): Rezoning ~34.88 acres at 314 Highway 221 South from R1 to I2 (heavy industrial); public hearing set for April 21. Gary Pollard spoke during public comment in favor of rezoning.

- Ordinance 2026‑16 (first reading/title only): Rezoning at 1511 96 Highway (AG2 to light industrial) for Chandler Construction's facility; first reading only.

- Ordinance 2026‑17 (first reading/title only): Restarted the three‑reading process to dissolve the Spring Lake special‑tax district after staff heard from property owners with differing views; public hearing set for April 21.

What council said: Treasurer Stephanie Dorn explained that staff re‑sent notices and encouraged property owners to attend the Spring Lake public hearing; Deputy County Manager Rob Rushin highlighted Planning Commission recommendations and utility availability on rezoning requests.

Next steps: Items scheduled for first‑reading public hearings return to Council after the April 21 hearing; contract documents for RFQ/bridge awards will be negotiated and executed under manager/attorney authority.

Source: Greenwood County Council meeting April 7, 2026 (meeting minutes and verbatim presentation text).