'Not being zoned is a risk': Leaders call for zoning as rural areas become target for development

GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) – Over the summer, the Greenville County Planning Commission approved a large subdivision project in a rural area of District 25.

Despite opposition to the project from residents and certain members of the departmental council, the developers continue to move forward.

“The infrastructure isn’t there and they don’t care,” said Starr Lynn Birk, who lives near the project site.

That’s the opinion of dozens of residents living on and around Owens Road since the Owen’s Glen subdivision was approved.

The subdivision of 288 homes on 121 acres was approved by the planning commission in August. But residents say the narrow and windy roads make it impossible to carry out a project of this scale. Councilor Ennis Fant, who represents the area, agrees.

“My understanding is that (developers) would still like to build it and develop it. They just haven’t found a way to access the sewers yet,” he said.

The county turned down the developers’ $100,000 offer for an easement, which would have allowed them to use a former county-owned landfill to lay sewer infrastructure needed for the subdivision. After that, the project stalled, but developers are now offering that money to private landowners in order to move it forward.

Which Fant says he can do because the area is not zoned.

“In general, people get upset when things happen to them that they don’t want. When there is no zoning, this is how it happens. With zoning, there is some control over what can happen next to you,” he said.

This is the subject of Thursday’s meeting. While developers target unzoned rural areas, Councilman Rick Bradley and Fant advocate for zoning in their districts to better manage growth.

Thanks to a petition bringing together two-thirds of the owners, this can happen. Those in the area who want their property zoned can get it.

“Well, I’ve always been pretty against zoning. However, if it can prevent as many developers from coming in and putting houses against each other, it might be a good idea,” Brik said after the meeting.

As for Owens Glen, zoning won’t help as the project is approved. Bradley suggests making a reasonable deal with the developers.

“And maybe we could talk to the developer about it and say, hey, if you do this, we’ll let you have the sewers — just a thought in the back pocket,” he said. “Instead of 288 (housing units), would you settle for 100? 150? Can we live with 150? »

We’ve reached out to the project’s development team for comment. We will continue to follow this story as things progress.

Learn more about zoning in Greenville County Click here.