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North Main residents tell Greenville council '7 is too many' for proposed Avondale infill
Summary
Neighbors and neighborhood-group leaders told Greenville City Council that a proposed plan to place seven homes on two parcels at East Avondale and North Avondale would harm neighborhood character, increase runoff and traffic, and threaten mature trees; developers said they are listening.
Multiple North Main and Avondale residents urged the council to seek a lower-density alternative to a proposed infill project that would place seven homes where two currently stand at 240 E. Avondale and 107 N. Avondale.
Tim Sellers, speaking for a group he called '1 Community, 1 Voice,' said the group submitted a packet that included a graphic, a community-impact map and a petition with 560 verified signatures supporting a lower-density outcome. "7 is too many," Sellers said, and asked the council to use its planning influence to encourage a different plan that better reflects North Main's pattern and infrastructure capacity.
Ron Wertz, whose property abuts the rear of the site, said his lot is in a FEMA flood plain and raised runoff concerns if the site were developed with additional impervious surface. He also cited the loss of mature trees and referenced Greenville's urban forest plan as a reason to protect canopy where feasible.
Paul Counts said the parcel's redevelopment exposed what he described as a zoning loophole that allows 40-foot frontage in a neighborhood where the average is substantially larger; he told the council it could increase local traffic on East Avenue by about 30% and urged prompt ordinance action to close the gap.
Samantha Mahoney emphasized pedestrian safety and walkability, describing narrow roads and blind curves near the site and saying that "squeezing that many homes onto this property runs entirely counter to the Greenville 2040 plan's core vision of preserving established neighborhood character." Denise Corey called the two lots "a jewel" of the North Main crown and urged preservation of the neighborhood's integrity.
Anthony Gallant, representing the Gallo Company and investor Equity Podium, thanked residents for engaging, said he and his colleagues had responded to many residents' inquiries, and asked for time to work with staff and neighbors.
Council members and staff acknowledged the concerns, noted a code vulnerability that can allow high-density infill on narrow lots, and said they would continue conversation with planners and neighborhood groups; no final action on the development plan was taken at the meeting. A city planning preview meeting was announced for July 28 where residents could review and ask questions about proposed projects.
