Greenville downtown entertainment district gets initial OK: City Council notes

Here is a recap of the Nov. 24 meeting of Greenville City Council.

Initial approval: Entertainment overlay district

Council approved the first reading of an ordinance establishing an Entertainment District Overlay in downtown Greenville. The overlay would prohibit new special-use exception permits for businesses seeking to operate between midnight and 5 a.m. New encroachment permits allowing outdoor cafes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. will also not be issued within the overlay. 

The proposed Entertainment District Overlay would apply to businesses within the boundaries of College Street and Bettie Place to the north, Richardson Street to the west, North Spring Street to the east and McBee Avenue to the south. This portion of the Central Business District has the highest concentration of late-night activity. 

According to the city, the overlay aims to protect public safety and limit downtown crowds when existing businesses close at 2 a.m. Businesses currently operating under existing special exception, conditional use or cafe encroachment permits would not be impacted. The city’s Planning Commission approved the proposed overlay at its Nov. 6 meeting. 

A second reading of the ordinance is required. If approved, the overlay would go into effect immediately. The city plans to evaluate the safety, compliance and economic performance of the overlay after one year. Any recommended changes would be presented to the city manager and council by the end of 2026.

Initial approval: Haynie-Sirrine neighborhood rezoning

Council gave initial approval to a rezoning application for the Haynie-Sirrine neighborhood located south of downtown Greenville. It is bordered by University Ridge and Augusta Street, with Church Street running through the center of the special emphasis neighborhood. 

The Haynie-Sirrine Neighborhood Association requested the city rezone the neighborhood in 2023 under the new Greenville Development Code. Haynie-Sirrine currently has a Planned Development zoning classification tied to the neighborhood’s 2002 master plan. Greenville City Council approved a new neighborhood plan for Haynie-Sirrine in September 2024.  

City staff used the new Haynie-Sirrine Neighborhood Plan to rezone the neighborhood’s 91.96 acres of land. The new zoning aims to offer more protection to the neighborhood and help guide future development. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the rezoning application on Nov. 6.

Approved: Abandoned building certification

A $36 million mixed-use and affordable housing project called The Alliance is planned on Laurens Road. The project will include 4,135 square feet of commercial space and 100 residential units for households earning 70% or below the area median income. 

The Alliance will be built at 1200, 1204 and 1206 Laurens Road, which includes the original site of the Laurens Road Church of God. Council approved an abandoned building and abandoned building site certification application for these properties at Monday night’s meeting. 

With the certification, Laurens Road Affordable LP, the property owner and developer, can receive state income tax credits of 25% of the property’s actual rehabilitation expense under the South Carolina Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act. 

Approved: Annexation applications

Council gave initial approval to six annexation applications, including the land parcel containing the historic American Spinning Mill. The 30.14 acres at 31 Victor St. and 300 Hammett St. will be zoned to Industrial Flex District (IX) in the city. 

The other approved annexations include:

• 2.82 acres of land at 4 and 10 Alexander St., with the proposed city zoning of Industrial Flex District (IX)
• 1.11 acres of land at 214 N. Duvall Drive, with the proposed city zoning of Business Heavy District (BH)
• 0.36 acres of land at 170 Otis St., with the proposed city zoning of House D District (RH-D)
• 0.17 acres of land owned by United Housing Connections at 25 N. Vance St., with the proposed city zoning House D District (RH-D)
• 0.02 acres of land at 514 Arlington Ave., with the proposed city zoning Neighborhood Flex B District (RNX-B)

Information: GVL2040 5-Year Update

A five-year review of the GVL2040 comprehensive plan has been underway for the past year. City staff are completing the review process which included months of public input and stakeholder engagement. Council received a progress report on this effort at its work session on Nov. 24.

As part of the review process, city staff are examining the city’s top priorities highlighted in GVL2040, which include open space, affordable housing, economic development, transportation and mobility.

A new state-required element of resiliency will also be incorporated into the comprehensive plan. The South Carolina Office of Resilience defines resilience as the “ability for communities, economies and ecosystems to anticipate, absorb, recover and thrive when presented with an environmental change and natural hazard.”

City staff will work to prepare recommendations for the five-year update of GVL2040 using public input this winter. The adoption process for these changes is expected to take place early next year with an anticipated adoption of the updated comprehensive plan in spring of 2026.

Recognition: Russell Stall and Mary Duckett

City Councilman Russell Stall received a special recognition at his final City Council meeting on Nov. 24. He has served in public office since 2017 and did not run for reelection. Stall’s at-large council seat will be filled by Tina Belge. 

The city also held a special recognition for the late Mary Duckett, community activist and president of Southernside Neighborhoods in Action. Duckett was one of the leaders behind the creation of Greenville’s Unity Park. She passed away on Sunday, Nov. 16. 

Additional Items

• During its work session, council reviewed a new digital tool that will be offered by the city: a 3D model of downtown Greenville. The model will be used by city staff, architects, developers and residents to study the height and massing of planned downtown developments.
• A resolution was approved accepting the dedication of Canvas Street and a total of 0.36 acres of public right-of-way into the city street system. 
• First reading was passed of an ordinance appropriating $254,581 in the capital projects fund to close out the renovations of the Public Safety Campus and Municipal Complex on Halton Road.  
• Council approved the appointment of Lucas Marchant as assistant presiding judge for the Greenville Municipal Court. 
• Initial approval was given to a rezoning application for 0.38 acres at 706 Hampton Ave. The property is requested to be rezoned from House D District (RH-D) to Neighborhood A District (RN-A)
• Final reading was approved of an ordinance updating the business license class schedule as required by the South Carolina Business License Tax Standardization Act. 
• Council gave final approval to two ordinances to repeal and replace the bylaws for the city’s Design Review Board and the Historic Review Board.