Historic Jones Mill Annexation Advances: Fountain Inn City Council Notes

City Council Meeting in Fountain Inn

The Fountain Inn City Council recently held a meeting where several important decisions were made regarding various projects and developments in the city. Here are the key highlights from the March 14 meeting:

Initial Approval: Annexation Request for Jones Mill Property

The City Council gave initial approval for an annexation request for 8.22 acres of land on Jones Mill Road. This property includes the historic Jones Mill, and the applicants, Charles Gray and the Fountain Inn Museum, have proposed plans to preserve the mill and establish a nature park on the site. The nature park will feature walking trails, pedestrian bridges over Durbin Creek, informative displays, and picnic shelters. The final approval for this annexation request is scheduled for April 11.

Initial Approval: $2M in City Sewer System Bonds

The City Council also approved the issuance and sale of up to $2 million in city sewer system revenue bonds. This funding will support the Durbin Creek Basin Sanitary Rehabilitation Project, which aims to remove inflow and infiltration from the sewer system, reduce sewer overflows and backups, and upgrade the existing sewer infrastructure. The final approval for this funding will be reviewed on April 11.

Tabled: Rezoning for Retail and Self-Storage Facility

A rezoning request for 3.49 acres of land at 1314 and 1318 N. Main St. was tabled during the meeting. The applicant, Alex Dmyterko of Century Development Partners LLC, plans to develop a three-tenant retail/office building and a three-story, 90,000-square-foot self-storage facility on the site. The final decision on this rezoning request will be made on April 11.

Initial Approval: Church and Parking Lot Expansion, 37 Townhomes

The City Council granted initial approval to rezone 7.31 acres of land at 200, 202, 303, and 307 Fairview St. and 112 Parsons St. The proposed development includes the construction of 37 townhomes on the north side of Fairview Street and an expansion of the Beulah Christian Fellowship church on the south side. The project also includes an expansion of the onsite parking lot and the creation of a new trail system to connect the properties. The final decision on this rezoning request will be made on April 11.

Final Approval: Budget Amendment

The City Council finalized an amendment to the 2023-24 budget to account for additional appropriations. The approved expenditures amount to $361,845 and cover various costs, including increased special events expenses, support for the police department’s victim advocate department, funding for annual performance bonuses, and maintenance expenses for parks in the city. The funds for these expenditures are sourced from Greenville County tax revenue and interest income.

City Projects and Updates

City Administrator Shawn M. Bell provided updates on several city projects during the meeting:

Woodside Streetscape Project

The Woodside Streetscape project is currently underway, with the relocation of water valves and upgrades to stormwater infrastructure in progress.

Woodside Connector

The contractor for the Woodside Connector project has started demolishing the existing trail to make way for the new connector.

Other Highlights

Other highlights from Bell’s report include the installation of dugout covers at Emanuel Sullivan Sports Complex and P.D. Terry City Park and the introduction of an online form for residents to report stormwater issues to the public works department. Additionally, the city has received a $10,000 Palmetto Pride anti-litter grant.

Overall, the Fountain Inn City Council meeting addressed significant development projects and budget amendments that will impact the city’s infrastructure and community spaces. The decisions made during the meeting signal progress towards enhancing the city’s amenities and promoting growth in Fountain Inn.