Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Map Amendments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pacolet planning commissioners recommend rezoning several parcels, approve church parsonage change
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended multiple map amendments — including approving a church parsonage rezoning and changing a Dollar General parcel from C2 to C3 — and instructed staff to refine C1/C2 designations to avoid forcing existing restaurants through conditional-use reviews.
The Pacolet Planning Commission on Monday recommended a set of zoning-map changes that would shift several parcels out of the central business district and protect existing residential uses, approved a parsonage rezoning for a local church and voted to reclassify the Dollar General parcel as central business.
Ms. Kirby, speaking for Pacolet United Methodist Church, asked the commission to rezone the church’s parsonage from C3 to C2 so the house can be sold as a standalone residential lot. Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the request as a recommendation to town council.
Commissioners then reviewed a larger map amendment that would move properties on Church Street, Pine Street, North Highway 150 and Memorial Drive from C3 (central business) to C2 (neighborhood commercial). Staff advised the changes were intended to allow existing residences to remain as conforming uses rather than become nonconforming if a property is vacant more than six months. The commission asked staff to supply a keyed map so members and owners can clearly see parcel boundaries before final council action.
A separate discussion focused on the Dollar General shopping-center parcel, which was listed as C2 (neighborhood commercial) in the draft map. Several commissioners said the parcel is part of a larger commercial block and recommended consistency with adjacent C3 zoning. Patrick, who led the map presentation, compared allowable uses across districts and said C4 would permit more intensive commercial uses such as dealerships or larger retailers; commissioners preferred the simpler approach of making the parcel C3 so it matches surrounding businesses. The group moved and seconded that change and sent the recommendation to council.
The commission also reviewed Ordinance 2026-02, a proposal to make restaurants a conditional use in C1 (neighborhood-commercial). Staff warned that adopting that change without first correcting the map could require incumbent restaurants (specifically Phil’s and China King, both currently in C1) to seek conditional-use approvals if their parcels later become vacant. Commissioners directed staff to evaluate current C1 parcels and prepare recommendations on which should be reclassified to C2 or C3 to avoid unintentionally disrupting existing businesses.
What’s next: The commission will forward its recommended map amendments to town council and will return with a keyed map and suggested parcel-by-parcel adjustments for C1 properties before council votes. Staff also said it will prepare the targeted recommendations requested by commissioners.
