York County Council Approves Rezoning, Vendor Preference, and Economic Development Grants in August 18 Meeting

The York County Council meeting on August 18, 2025, included the recognition of a retiring sheriff’s department corporal, a presentation on the county’s new organizational core values, and several rezoning decisions. The council deferred one rezoning case, approved four others on first reading, and denied one on second reading. Additionally, the council approved several new appointments to various boards and commissions, accepted grants for a new corporate headquarters, and authorized multiple public works and infrastructure projects. The council also discussed and referred several items to committees for further consideration, including a study on storm water in Regent Park and a review of the county’s industrial zoning code.

Recognition of Corporal Lawrence Strom

Sheriff Breeden recognized Corporal Lawrence Strom for his 25 years of service and retirement from the York County Sheriff’s Department. He noted Strom’s long tenure on patrol and his work on the mounted patrol and dive team. The council presented a clock to Corporal Strom as a token of appreciation.

Presentation of York County Organizational Core Values

Staff presented the new York County Organizational Core Values, which were created with input from every employee. The core values are: Respect, Dedicated, Integrity, Knowledgeable, and Friendly. The presentation explained that the goal is to embed these values into all aspects of the organization, from daily decisions to hiring and employee recognition. The logo for the values features a circle representing unity and puzzle pieces symbolizing how employees fit together.

Public Forum Session

The public forum session was limited to 30 minutes, with a two-minute speaking limit per person. Several citizens spoke:

• Ashley Horn requested the resignation of attorney Stafford J. McQueen III, who is representing the York County Board of Zoning Appeals in the Silfab Solar appeals case. She raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest and the attorney’s decision to remain “neutral” in court.
• Lucille Hinton spoke on behalf of residents of Eagle Point Road, requesting that the road be widened to prevent accidents.
• Frank Jernack addressed the Silfab Solar approval process, stating that zoning compliance was not the same as construction plan approval and that the community was denied a fair appeal path.

Consent Agenda

The council approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes of the County Council Meeting from July 21, 2025. It also included a number of rezoning actions.

• Case #25-20: The council approved the second reading to rezone a 4.07-acre property at 450 Corporate Blvd, Rock Hill, from Urban Development (UD) to Industrial Development (ID). The purpose is to allow for trucking operations and vehicle service with overnight outdoor storage. The request is consistent with the City of Rock Hill’s future land use map. Both staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval.
• Case #25-21: The council approved the second reading to rezone a 1.112-acre portion of three parcels at Highway 97, Hickory Grove, from Agricultural Conservation (AGC) to Rural Development (RUD) and from RUD to AGC. The change allows for the recombination of the parcels, and it has little to no bearing on the Future Land Use map. Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval.
• Case #25-23: The council approved the second reading to rezone a 1.0-acre portion of a 6.62-acre parcel at 66 Maynard Grayson Road, Clover, from AGC to RUD. The purpose is to create a one-acre parcel for a single-family home. While the request does not align with the Future Land Use Map, it is compatible with surrounding areas. Both staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval.
• Case #25-27: The council approved the second reading to rezone two properties totaling 24,000 square feet at 133 Sutton Road S and 1802 Brian Kelly Lane, Fort Mill, from Residential Single Family-30 (RSF-30) to Residential Mixed Use (RMX-10). The purpose is to reconfigure lot lines, which will result in the demolition and reconstruction of one home. The Planning Commission recommended approval with a deed restriction, but staff found it unnecessary.
• Case #25-28: The council approved the second reading to rezone a 3.9-acre property at 158, 110, 130 Hands Mill Hwy, Rock Hill, from UD to General Commercial (GC). The purpose is to combine the parcels to construct a gasoline station and convenience store, which aligns with the Future Land Use Map designation of Neighborhood Residential within a Community Center node.

Public Hearing & Rezoning Actions

• Case #25-24: The council held a public hearing for the first reading to rezone a 7.2-acre property at 1365 West Main Street, Rock Hill, from ID to GC. The applicant, Patrick Traynor, seeks to develop a self-storage facility with boat and RV storage. Despite not being consistent with the City of Rock Hill’s future land use map, staff recommended approval because the GC zone is less intense than the current ID district and better serves the nearby residences. The council moved to defer the motion for another two weeks.
• Case #25-29: The council held a public hearing for the first reading to rezone an 11.49-acre property at N. Dobys Bridge Road, Fort Mill, from RMX-10 to RUD. The applicant, Kris Kellogg, intends to develop an event venue, specifically a wedding venue. Staff recommended approval, noting that nearby properties are already zoned RUD and the development would remove two residential curb cuts. The council approved the motion.
• Case #25-30: The council held a public hearing for the first reading to rezone a 28.0-acre property at 1299 Schlumberger Road, Fort Mill, from AGC and Office Institutional (OI) to ID. The applicant, York County Natural Gas Authority, plans to use the existing building for a Support Operations Center. Staff recommended approval as the request is consistent with the Future Land Use Map. The council approved the motion with the added condition that the applicant voluntarily records a deed restriction limiting the types of ID uses permitted.
• Case #25-31: The council held a public hearing for the first reading to rezone 9.62 acres at 914 and 1008 Allwood Road, York, from RUD to AGC. The purpose is to aggregate parcels within two zoning districts for later redistribution to family members, which is consistent with the Future Land Use designation of Agriculture. The council approved the motion with a condition that the properties must be combined and recorded within 90 days.
• Case #25-32: The council held a public hearing for the first reading to rezone a 3.45-acre property at 1831 Windsor Woods Drive, York, from RSF-40 to RUD. The purpose is to allow a manufactured home. Staff recommended approval because the RUD zoning is compatible with nearby properties. The council approved the motion.
• Local Vendor Preference Ordinance: The council held a public hearing and considered the second reading of an ordinance to establish a local vendor preference program. The ordinance applies to services, supplies, and construction up to $25 million, with a tiered preference up to 5% for local vendors who are not the lowest bidder, giving them the opportunity to match the lowest bid. The council approved the motion.

Old Business

• The council unanimously approved the third reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 155 of the Zoning Code to convert the Agricultural Conservation-I (AGC-I) and Rural Development-I (RUD-I) districts to legacy status.
• The council also unanimously approved the third reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 154 and 155 of the Land Development and Zoning Codes. The amendment revises the family exemption for land division, changes minimum lot width and setbacks on arterial roads, and expands the use of shipping containers as a conditional accessory use.
• Case #25-22: The council denied the second reading to rezone a 1.0-acre property at 1728 Harris Road, Fort Mill, from RSF-40 to Light Industrial (LI). The purpose of the change was to permit an existing, un-permitted HVAC service business. Both staff and the Planning Commission recommended denial.

New Business

• Project Cross Grants and Agreements: The council authorized applying for and accepting a $600,000 grant from the South Carolina Coordinating Council Economic Development Set-Aside Grant program for “Project Cross”. Project Cross is a corporate headquarters planning to invest over $20 million and create 81 new jobs. The council also adopted an inducement resolution and approved the first reading of an ordinance for a Fee In Lieu Of Tax (FILOT) agreement with Project Cross.
• Other New Business: The council approved a variety of other items, including:
  • Finance & Operations: Approved a contractual agreement with Kofile Technologies Inc. for the preservation and restoration of historic land records, a purchase order for coroner transport services, and various procurement exemptions for forensic and toxicology services.
  • Public Works: Approved a contract for professional auditing services, an engineering amendment for Highway 55 sewer improvements, and a contract with Allied Universal Security Services for armed security.
  • Grant & Funding: Approved a grant for a trailer-mounted generator for the Emergency Operations Center/911 center and a grant for a permanently installed stand-by generator. The council also ratified applying for a SCDOR Comfort Letter to receive $100,000 in Utility Tax Credit funding from AT&T for Project Unagi.

Committee & Other Reports

• Economic Development Committee: Chairman Watts Huckabee reported on the July 10, 2025 meeting. The committee approved three “capstone projects” to integrate into the department’s strategic plan: Project Trail Mix, Next Crop York, and a Digital Main Street initiative. The council referred a new item to the committee to identify high-growth areas for corridor studies and small area plans.
• Public Works Committee: Chairman William “Bump” Roddey reported on the July 30, 2025 meeting. The committee discussed the upcoming Animal Services facility project and the need to get the cost down to around $16 million. They also discussed exploring ways to get funding to animal rescues to help with overpopulation and pet surrenders. The council referred the Regent Park storm water study to the Public Works committee for evaluation.
• Finance & Operations Committee: The committee met at 5:30 PM on the same day and approved several appointments to various boards and commissions, and approved discretionary funds for two organizations.