GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) – The City of Greenville has released a draft of new development code. The code is growth driven and took over a year to write. Zoning regulations may not be an interesting topic for most people, but this new code can make the difference whether you live next to a park or in a 10-story building.
Beth Brotherton, Communications Director for the City of Greenville, said:
More than 400 pages of documents, including “roadmaps,” “guides,” and “blueprints,” determine how Greenville sees growth.
“This is really positive. Knowing that people are moving here and that Greenville is growing, we’re thinking ahead about how we’re going to plan,” says Brotherton.
The Greenville 2040 Plan sets our priorities for the future. Like affordable housing, green spaces and transportation. A new development or zoning code will put it into action.
“It looked at a map and said, ‘Oh, we can build a big building there. A 19-story building can go there. Thankfully, there are only residential buildings next to my house, so You can’t go there, you can go here,” Brotherton explained.
City officials say the code is interactive and easy to read for the average person. For developers, it provides clear guidelines on what can and cannot be built in a particular area. It’s been over ten years since the city created a new ordinance. Recent economic growth has only amplified concerns about forced displacement.
“All good things come at a price, so we need to make sure all the greatness of Greenville doesn’t depopulate the black community,” said a lifelong Nicolltown resident and community leader. Advocate Yvonne Rieder said:
Reeder hopes the new rules will prevent sprawling growth and provide more affordable housing.
“In Nicoltown, we’re only about 400 meters from downtown, and because of the rapid growth of downtown, we just don’t want to be devoured,” she said.
The code specifies design requirements and also offers height incentives to developers in exchange for affordability.
“It will be a blueprint for development and growth,” Brotherton said.
In-depth information session
Code and coffee, a conversation session with the project team
8am – 11am | Thursday, January 26
Prisma Health Welcome Center, Unity Park, 111 Welborn Street
Evening office hours, drop-in open house sessions
5-7pm | Thursday, January 26
Greenville Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive
If you can’t make it to them, you can find all the information and an interactive map here. After months of meetings seeking public input, city officials expect the code to be approved by Congress sometime this spring.
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