City presents proposed amendments to new development code

GRENVILLE, S.C. – Room for Improvement is Always There

About a year ago, the City of Greenville implemented a game-changing development code aimed at steering the city’s growth in a more structured and strategic way. Today, this new development code is under scrutiny as city officials call for public feedback, welcoming ideas on potential improvements and amendments to the code.

Being a part of the change

Among the Greenville residents who attended the recent session on the proposed amendments to the new code was Yvonne Reeder, a resident of Nicholtown. Speaking about the city’s initiative, Reeder expressed her gratitude, “I’m just thankful that Greenville is the type of city that believes in working together without neighborhoods, our builders, our contractors—that we’re not hardheaded, closed door people.”

Proposed Amendments

Over the course of the past year, city staff analyzed the new development code, identifying what’s working and what’s falling short of expectations. As a result, ten proposed amendments have been made to the code. Some of these amendments include less restrictive design requirements for new businesses looking to set up shop in an existing space and regulations for building breaks and setbacks with the aim of decreasing the visual impact of tall structures from ground level. They also plan to create a more significant separation between new developments and existing neighborhoods.

Another noteworthy proposed amendment would ban vape and smoke shops from setting up within a 1,500-foot radius of a school, church, park, community center, or a shop of similar nature.

Friendly Codes for Businesses and Residents

Interim City Planning Director, Mary Douglas Hirsch, spoke on these proposed amendments saying, “So really trying to make our code the most business-friendly code that we can be while balancing our neighborhoods and their interests as well.” The amendments have been constructed with feedback as the cornerstone, she said, “We do take the feedback to heart and look at how we can tweak our code,” she added.

Have Your Say

The next session welcoming public input is scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, between 4 and 6 p.m. at the Unity Park Prisma Health Welcome Center. If you’re interested in understanding the proposed amendments better or have a stake in the city’s development code, you can find out more here.