News Summary
The Greenville City Council has approved the annexation of 34 acres of St. Joseph’s High School property, allowing for rezoning to a campus district. Meanwhile, opposition grows against the proposed Inn at Altamont luxury hotel near Paris Mountain, with residents expressing concerns over traffic and environmental impact. Planning staff recommended approval, but the commission voted against it, highlighting a rift in community sentiment. Discussions will continue in upcoming meetings.
Greenville, SC – The Greenville City Council approved an ordinance aimed at annexing approximately 34 acres of property owned by St. Joseph’s High School during its recent meeting. This decision facilitates the rezoning of the land, which was previously regulated under Greenville County zoning, to now fall under the city’s jurisdiction. The designated area for St. Joseph’s will be classified as a campus district.
In a separate development, the Greenville County Council expressed unanimous opposition to a proposed luxury hotel project in the area of Paris Mountain. This hotel project, dubbed Inn at Altamont, is conditional upon the annexation of the site into the city of Travelers Rest. The resolution opposing the project was brought forward by councilman Steve Shaw from District 20, responding to a significant amount of resident feedback that expressed concerns regarding the implications of the hotel.
Public sentiment against the proposed hotel has been vocal, with numerous residents attending a public hearing at the city hall of Travelers Rest. Their concerns primarily centered around issues such as increased traffic, potential environmental impacts, public safety issues, and the prospect of subsequent developments if the hotel were to be constructed. These concerns have been echoed by six conservation groups that have joined residents in highlighting the potential negative effects of the hotel project.
The proposed hotel is set to include 150 luxury rooms and, according to developers, would provide economic opportunities for the area. They have indicated plans for nearly 400 apartment units should the hotel project fail to gain approval. However, skepticism regarding these claims has been expressed by legal counsel and community leaders, who are not convinced that economic benefits can justify the potential disadvantages of the project.
Despite widespread opposition, city planning staff have recommended approval of the hotel plan, arguing that it aligns with the comprehensive plan. However, the planning commission voted 5-1 against endorsing the city council’s approval of the annexation necessary for the hotel’s development. This decision highlights a substantial divide between resident concerns and city planning recommendations.
The ongoing discussions about the hotel project are scheduled to continue in the planning and development committee meeting on May 5, with the full city council expected to take its first official vote on the proposal later in May.
In addition to these developments, the Cottages at Chanticleer Homeowners Association has also filed for annexation. They are seeking to annex 13.01 acres of land currently zoned as R-M20 (multifamily residential district) and rezone it as RH-C (House C District) under the city. The application for this annexation has garnered support from at least 75% of property owners in the vicinity and is scheduled for a hearing by the Greenville Planning Commission on February 6 at 4 p.m. at Greenville City Hall.
This series of developments reflects the ongoing challenges of urban planning, resident advocacy, and the quest for balance between growth and preservation in the Greenville area. As these discussions unfold, the outcomes will likely have significant impacts on both the community and local governance.
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Journal: Greenville County Passes Resolution Opposing Hotel Annexation
- Reflector: Greenville Council Approves Annexing 10th Street Site
- WYFF4: Inn at Altamont at Paris Mountain
- Fox Carolina: Planning Commission Recommends Denial of Paris Mountain Luxury Hotel Annexation
- WYFF4: Inn at Altamont Denied in Travelers Rest, Paris Mountain
- Wikipedia: Urban Planning
- Google Search: Greenville annexation
- Google Scholar: Greenville annexation
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Annexation
- Google News: Greenville County
