Planning commission denies Wade Hampton rezoning for special events site

The Greenville County Planning Commission denied a request to rezone 3316 Wade Hampton Boulevard to S1 services district for a proposed special-events venue and food-truck park on May 27.

Staff planner Todd Baxley told the commission the 1.7-acre site was consistent with surrounding zoning and "staff recommends approval of the requested rezoning to S1 services district." Commissioners pressed staff about on-site vehicle storage and whether the site was operating as a junkyard or an auto repair facility, and sought clarity on previous variances and code enforcement.

Commissioners asked whether vehicles on the site were tagged and insured and whether the current use fit the junkyard ordinance; staff said the lot appeared to be used for auto body work and that true junkyard activity would trigger specific junkyard standards. After discussion a motion to accept staff’s recommendation failed and the commission voted to deny the application; the denial was recorded on the motion to deny (commission counted five in favor of denial at the meeting).

The commission’s action is a recommendation to the County Council's Planning and Development Committee, which will take the final legislative action. The staff report and the commission’s minutes note the property’s past variances and the need to avoid creating new nonconforming situations if conditions change.

The commission forwarded the denial and its rationale to the Planning and Development Committee. The applicant may address the commissioners’ concerns, including parking/storage practices, and may resubmit or pursue alternatives such as conditional zoning if permitted by county rules.