Greenwood City Council Approves Comprehensive Plan Changes Amidst Rapid Growth

Greenwood City Council Approves Comprehensive Plan Changes Amidst Rapid Growth

On Monday, the Greenwood City Council made significant adjustments to its Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Maps in response to rising development pressures. These changes aim to guide the city’s strategies for future growth, ensuring a balanced approach to urban planning.

Comprehensive Plan Updates

The Comprehensive Plan is a crucial document outlining the city’s policies for development and includes the Future Land Use Maps that forecast the types of uses for various parcels within the city limits. “Our Comprehensive Plan should realistically and accurately reflect existing land uses, as well as future growth,” said Carol Coleman, Greenwood City/County Planning Director. She added that the document needs to be flexible and is subject to necessary revisions.

To make these changes, the city enlisted consultants from Arnett Muldrow and Orion Planning. They were brought in to address an unprecedented interest in developing residential subdivisions over the past three years, particularly high-density, smaller lot subdivisions. “The State of South Carolina is seeing immense population growth, and Greenwood is no exception,” said City Manager Julie Wilkie. The planning process aimed to ensure the community’s growth remains healthy and responsible.

Major Changes Recommendations

The consultants recommended several changes to the Comprehensive Plan. One notable update involved redefining the categories of low-, medium-, and high-density residential uses to align them with the city’s zoning ordinances. It was noted that many existing properties were classified under high-density residential on future use maps. The recommended changes reclassify many of these areas into medium-density zones, promoting the development of larger lot subdivisions while still accommodating higher-density areas where appropriate.

These changes have now been approved by the city council. “We are grateful for the quick and diligent assistance from Arnett Muldrow and Orion Planning,” said Julie Wilkie, emphasizing that the updates will facilitate sensible and responsible growth in the city.

Moratorium Lifted

With these approvals, the city council lifted a temporary moratorium that had been in place since May 6. This moratorium paused the creation of subdivisions of land into five or more parcels smaller than 7,000 square feet. It was initially set to expire on September 3 but was lifted ahead of schedule following the council’s approval of the new guidelines.

“Greenwood is fortunate to have a proactive council that recognized the need to make some adjustments to address the rapid growth in our city,” said Mayor Brandon Smith. He expressed excitement about implementing the consultants’ recommended changes and thanked the public for their patience during the temporary moratorium.

Additional Council Business

In other business, the council approved the first reading of a Planned Development District at Marshall Road and 25 bypass. The development includes residential and commercial uses and is projected to complete in five to seven years. This 146-acre property plans to host 362 single-family detached residences, 109 townhomes, and commercial usage on all four corners.

Additionally, the council approved the first reading of the Kitson Mill redevelopment project, which will occur in two phases. This project aims to deliver 400 residential units consisting of apartments, lofts, and townhomes. The redevelopment will also involve repurposing old mill buildings for commercial use and restoring the former mill office as the leasing office.

The council also authorized a contract to begin the Waller Avenue Streetscape plan, funded partially by a $750,000 federal Community Development Block Grant. The city’s share of the project cost is $482,000. This streetscape plan aims to revitalize Waller Avenue, enhancing its appeal and functionality.

More Information

To view the updated current and future city land use maps and renderings of the Waller Avenue Streetscape plan, residents are encouraged to check the city’s website for more details.