Greenville High parking expansion decision deferred: City Council notes

Here is a recap of the Greenville City Council meeting on June 23.

Deferred: Property rezoning for proposed Greenville High parking

Council unanimously deferred a rezoning application for a 0.38-acre property adjacent to Greenville High Academy in the Green Avenue neighborhood. 

Greenville County Schools originally requested rezoning the property at 402 Ansel St. from RH-D, House D District, to CM, Campus District, to create 19 additional high school parking spaces. Tim Waller, spokesman for GCS, said there is an immediate need for approximately 100 more parking spaces at the high school. 

Several Green Avenue residents spoke in opposition to the application at the meeting. Concerns were raised about the proposal’s impact on pedestrian safety, surrounding property values and the neighborhood’s integrity. 

At the beginning of Monday’s meeting, Greenville City Mayor Knox White read a statement from Superintendent Burke Royster and the GCS Board of Trustees formally requesting that the item be deferred by city council. 

“Deferring the issue … will afford Greenville County Schools and the city of Greenville an opportunity to continue discussions and seek solutions to parking issues around Greenville High School,” according to the statement. 

The city’s Planning Commission previously recommended denial of the application during its June 5 meeting. This action now requires a two-thirds supermajority vote by council to approve the application. 

Greenville City Manager Shannon Lavrin said that the item would most likely be back on the agenda at council’s Aug. 11 meeting. The city plans to work with the school district and neighborhood on identifying possible parking solutions. 

Final Approval: Lease agreement for Falls Cottage

Council gave final approval to a new lease agreement for Falls Cottage at 615 S. Main St. Michael Minelli, owner of Passerelle Bistro, has leased the historic building at the entrance of Falls Park to open a new eatery called Stone Cottage. 

The new dining spot will offer grab-and-go food items and be used as a small event space for parties of 20 to 30 guests. According to the city, Stone Cottage will open in spring 2026 after renovations are completed.

Initial Approval: Annexation and rezoning applications 

Four annexation and two rezoning applications received initial approval from council. Each application was previously reviewed and approved by the city’s Planning Commission. 

The largest parcel approved for annexation was 34.3 acres at 100 St. Joseph’s Drive. The property consists of St. Joseph’s Catholic School’s campus. Council approved zoning the parcel as CM, Campus District.

Council also approved the annexation of  0.63 acres located between Calhoun Street, Jenkins Street and Short Minus Street in the Sterling Special Emphasis Neighborhood. The property would be rezoned RN-A, Neighborhood A District. According to the city, the Greenville Housing Fund plans to create five affordable housing duplexes on the site. 

The other approved applications include:

• The annexation of approximately 1.85 acres located at 12 Webb Road, with the new zoning of BH, Business Heavy District
• The annexation of approximately 4.72 acres at 351 Halton Road, with the new zoning of BH, Business Heavy District
• The rezoning of approximately 0.27 acres at 104 Pine St. from RH-D, House D District, to RN-A, Neighborhood A District
• The rezoning of approximately 0.18 acres on Mauldin Road near the Augusta Road intersection from MX-2, Mixed-Use 2 District, to RH-C, House C District

Approved: Greenville Water annexation covenant with Gantt Fire Department

The Gantt District Fire Department is constructing a new 8,294-square-foot fire station at 5604 Augusta Road to replace its existing Station 2. The property sits within the city’s annexation area. 

Greenville Water requires property owners within this designated area to sign an annexation covenant to receive new water service. Council approved a resolution that will authorize Greenville Water to allow Gantt District Fire Department to connect the new facility to the water system without an executed annexation covenant.

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