Greenville, August 9, 2025
News Summary
Greenville City Council is updating the GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan to enhance resiliency and community input in light of significant population growth. The review will address flooding, public health, and safety while encouraging public engagement through meetings and surveys. Key focus areas include open space, affordable housing, and transportation, with resilience measures against natural disasters. The plan is set to be reassessed every five years to meet state mandates and community needs.
Greenville City Updates GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan with Focus on Resiliency and Community Input
Greenville City Council has initiated an update of the GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan, aiming to address significant changes in the community and comply with state mandates concerning resiliency planning. This update follows the plan’s initial approval in February 2021, after an extensive two-year development process, and intends to enhance the city’s growth strategies up to the year 2040.
The updated GVL2040 plan will be reassessed starting in 2025, incorporating new data, community objectives, and essential elements of resiliency that were not included in the original plan. The review is expected to comprehensively examine the city’s vulnerability to flooding, high water events, and other natural disasters, with a focus on various sectors, including public health and safety.
In the past five years, Greenville’s population has grown by 10%, prompting city management to assert the necessity of revisiting the existing plan. This review process is mandated every five years by state law, ensuring that the city adapts effectively to ongoing changes and challenges.
Public Participation and Input
A public meeting will kick off the GVL2040 update on March 25, 2025, at the Prisma Health Welcome Center at Unity Park from 4 to 6 p.m. The meeting serves as a platform for gathering community input, which is critical for shaping the future of the plan. Residents are encouraged to participate through online surveys and public workshops, which will be available throughout the update process. The first public survey, designed to take approximately 10 to 15 minutes, can be restarted from the same device if needed.
Additionally, a second survey focusing on economic development is scheduled for launch in September 2025. City staff plans to present draft updates to the GVL2040 plan to the Planning Commission and City Council in August 2025, allowing for public feedback on suggested changes in subsequent sessions planned for September and October 2025. The updated comprehensive plan is anticipated to be submitted for review by November 2025.
Key Areas of Focus
The GVL2040 plan emphasizes several key priorities, including open space, affordable housing, and transportation and mobility. A significant component of the updated plan will be the introduction of resiliency measures aimed at countering issues related to power outages and flooding. Collaborations with Duke Energy to bury power lines underground are among the strategies being considered to enhance infrastructural resilience.
In addition, the updated comprehensive plan encourages the development of nodes, which are designed to create compact, walkable, mixed-use activity centers that promote community interaction and counter urban sprawl. City officials believe that this node/corridor model will enhance livability and functionality throughout Greenville.
The current GVL2040 plan serves as a guiding framework for city leaders, helping inform budget allocations and future city projects, ensuring they align with the long-term vision for Greenville.
Timeline for Updates
City management highlights the review period from April to June 2025 to reassess key priorities related to the plan. Further public input sessions and surveys are scheduled for the summer of 2025, allowing for continued community engagement during this vital update process.
Conclusion
As Greenville undergoes this pivotal update of the GVL2040 plan, community input will be essential in sculpting the future landscape of the city, accommodating a growing population while ensuring safety and livability for all residents.
FAQs
What is the GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan?
The GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan is a long-term strategy approved by the Greenville City Council aimed at guiding the city’s growth through 2040, focusing on key areas such as open space, housing, and transportation.
Why is the GVL2040 plan being updated?
The update is necessary to integrate new data, goals, and state-mandated resiliency measures, ensuring the city effectively addresses challenges like flooding and population growth.
How can residents participate in the update process?
Residents can participate by attending public meetings, completing online surveys, and engaging in public workshops that will take place during the update period.
What are the key focus areas in the updated GVL2040 plan?
The updated plan will prioritize open space, affordable housing, transportation, and resiliency measures against natural disasters.
When will the updated GVL2040 plan be finalized?
The updated plan is expected to be submitted for review by November 2025, following public feedback sessions in the late summer and fall of that year.
Key Features of the GVL2040 Update
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Population Growth | Greenville’s population has increased by 10% in the last five years. |
| Public Input | Public meeting on March 25, 2025; surveys and workshops ongoing. |
| Resiliency Focus | Assessment of flooding impacts and collaboration with Duke Energy for infrastructure improvements. |
| Node Development | Creation of compact, walkable mixed-use activity centers to promote community interaction. |
| Timeline | Submission of updates for review expected by November 2025. |
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Journal: GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan Update
- Fox Carolina: City Preparing Update to GVL2040 Plan
- Greenville Journal: GVL2040 Nodes and Corridors
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Urban Planning
- Wikipedia: Comprehensive Planning
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
