Greer council adopts housing assessment and strategy as nonbinding policy framework

Greer — The City Council voted July 14 to adopt the City of Greer Housing Assessment and Strategy report, a nonbinding policy framework staff says will guide future housing work and improve the city’s competitiveness for state and federal grants.

Alex Kale of the planning and development department presented the report and its strategic recommendations, saying adoption would "establish an evidence-based housing policy framework grounded in demographic data, market analysis and stakeholder input" and would not by itself create new programs or authorize budget appropriations. Kale said adoption is a prerequisite for some grant programs and would give staff a council-endorsed direction for future ordinance or budget proposals.

Council members focused much of the debate on possible next steps that could follow the report, including a housing trust fund to fill financing gaps, targeted capital-stack strategies, and a rental registration and inspection program. Kale described a housing trust fund as a long-term option that could be funded from several sources and noted a 2023 legislative change allowing municipalities to explore using a portion of accommodations tax revenue for housing trust funds (the provision sunsets in 2030). He said rental registration would require staffing and budget appropriations if council chose to pursue it as an ordinance.

Several council members asked how adoption would affect private property rights. Kale and other council members repeatedly stressed that the resolution is a policy framework, not an ordinance, and that any regulatory or budgetary proposals (for example, a rental registration ordinance) would return to council for separate votes. Council discussed phasing recommendations as short-term "quick wins" (communications and education), midterm items and longer-term initiatives that would require separate approvals.

Supporters pointed to rising housing costs: the mayor cited local median home values that rose from roughly $200,000 in 2020 to over $300,000 in early 2024 and noted median prices approaching $400,000 based on developer conversations. Opponents or cautious members asked that the document be framed so future councils are not constrained and recommended receiving and acknowledging rather than adopting; staff and other council members explained that adopting a nonbinding framework is intended to give direction without imposing immediate legal or fiscal obligations.

The council approved the resolution by roll call, with one member voting no. Kale said staff would return with more-detailed proposals for any specific programs or ordinances that the council requested to examine further.