City council meeting to order for this fine day of July the 13th.
We're going to stand for a moment of silence and we all have heard about the passing of Lindsey Graham.
Keep his family in prayer. Our state as well and the country.
He has been a force for many.
Amen.
Mayor Pro Tem, leaders and the players, please.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which
it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you.
We have item three, proof of the minutes for the June 22nd.
Before I go there, Councilwoman Smith is on vacation, so she's missing us.
I'm sure she's watching online.
Hey, Megan, how are you?
But, and I'm back.
So I was on vacation on the last one,
but she will be out today.
Approve of the minutes for June 22nd,
2026 City Council meeting.
So moved.
Second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Any that oppose?
Aye's have it.
The Termofono.
Item four, approve of the agenda
for the July 13th, 2026 City Council meeting.
second. All in favor? All right. Any that oppose?
Aye's have it. We have public comment. At this time we have a couple
public comments and the way it's going to work. Once you get up to the mic
and after you restate your name, you have two minutes
to state your comment. And so we have Ms. Moultrie,
Ms.
Moultrie from Whitlock Street.
Okay. Moultrie didn't make it. Ms. Jones. Ms. Jones from Fairfax.
Ms. Jones from Fairfax. Well, I went by and talked with the clerk today, and the mayor
has a public comment that he wanted to make in recognition of a student athlete at Sponberg
high school. And I have to read off her bio guys and just bear with me. And Ms.
Riley Vaughn, if you don't mind standing or coming down front so everybody can see
you. But this was sent to her coach back in June 25th, 2026. Dear Coach Jones,
the
as the 2025-2026 Gatorade South Carolina Girls Track and Field Player of the Year.
In receiving this award, they join a 41-year legacy that includes past winners such as Payton
Manning, Paige Becker, Jason Tatum, and Mallory Swanson, and many others to name.
As the top award high school sports Gatorade player of the year, award honors the most elite high school student athlete in 12 varsity sports for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character.
All finalists, all the final candidates selected to determine by the selection committee, assets and thousands of...
Okay, okay, okay now I want to get to you know in order for Riley to win this award
her
Resumé
Resumé, let me know when that two minutes go up
As I go through her resume. I look at this
Come on. Come on. Come on. Oh that Wi-Fi. Yeah
Come on
You got you have to hear this
And we're gonna, there we go.
All right, this is just 2026 Tracking Field Highlights.
She holds a record at Clemson-Spottenburg High School
Endowment.
She's a record holder.
Qualified for the Adidas, New Balance,
Under Armour and Nike High School Nationals.
Nominated various time for the mile split
after the other week.
All county, all region, all state.
state champions for both for both shot putts and discus. Discus, county champion
meet record holder, region, upper state champion, state champion, under armor,
high school, national champion, shot putt, county champion, meet record holder,
region champ, meet record holder, broke school record twice. Upper state
championship, meet high school record holder, broke school record three times,
state champion, under Armour High School National, top three finisher, all-American.
And not only is she a student athlete really guys, but community service, Turkey
giveaway, back-to-school supply giveaway, Humane Society volunteer, stopped the
pantry or total ministry located in Spartanburg, McCracken Middle School
leadership workshop, prom and homecoming, cleanup crew, set up crew, work day volunteer,
bake sale fundraiser, concession volunteer for football, basketball, volleyball, community
carnival volunteer, prom homecoming ticket sales, youth group, connected scholars,
bra mentor, delta gyms, church activities, member of massodontia missionary Baptist church,
student leadership student body vice president this coming year correct so
that says she's a junior well rising senior so she's still in high school now
student body vice president junior leadership of Spartanburg coach oh
ambassador student organizations student council beta club national high school
national honor society within my high school and nationally move alpha theta
a war. Interact Club, Junior Leadership of Spartanburg, Fine Arts, Eight Years,
Yellow Player, Five Year Piano Player, man this list goes on and on.
Exemplary student but we were on vacation when we got the message and I was out
at the last council meeting but I just wanted all of you all to meet Miss
Raleigh Vaughn, a rising high school senior, the South Carolina State Gatorade
Female Athletes of the Year. Congratulations to you Raleigh. We are so proud of you.
In the back, Ryan's video and everything, get close to him.
Ruth, get that camera together. I want to make sure you get this.
On
her intern, she's an intern in this year with attorney.
Awesome, awesome, awesome. Very, very good.
Mr. Mayor, I just want to note I'm going home and talking to my
Ryzen 11th grader. He needs to step it up a bit. Congratulations.
Awesome, awesome man. Great news to come back as they are
about to head back to school within a couple of weeks. So
school starts early this year. But great. That was good
news for me. I'm so proud of her. Has an older brother
ahead to LSU this year as well. Yeah, yeah. So great, great family. Thank you guys.
From my player of the year, I mean, she was back in the day, but her resume...
Awesome, awesome, awesome, love it, love it.
Thank you, Robert.
Let's turn my phone off.
I'll say someone else's.
All right.
Good.
Now, item six, public hearing.
We have ordinance to amend the city of Spineburg, South Carolina, zoning ordinance and comprehensive
plan, land use element by amendment section 206, change the district boundaries specifically
to property located at 154 Ridge Street from the current zoning DT-5 urban center zone
to DT-4 general urban zone to accommodate the development for a single family dwelling
and providing the effective date, and okay, all right.
Frelin and Frazier had a bunch of stuff to read there.
Planning director, Ms. Frazier, thank you.
Good evening, mayor and council members.
I don't have anything as exciting as Riley's information,
but we'll try to make this fun for you as well.
The item before you this evening is a rezoning
of 154 Ridge Street.
The owner applicant is Okanab Property Group,
Christopher Jefferson, someone that I know you're familiar with as the developer.
This particular home is part of the city's scattered site affordable housing program.
So this lot was released to Mr. Jefferson early in 2025. So the request is to reclassify this
parcel from a DT-5 to DT-4 in order to accommodate a single family residence,
affordable single-family residence. DT-5 requires two-story homes which then
made it a bit prohibitive in terms of affordability. So where we are in the
rezoning process as we always do we make sure that there is a public
information session so that was conducted on May 14th. We did not
receive any public comments or written or into the office and then
Then following the public information session, we also held the Planning Commission meeting
on May 21st.
This was the formal hearing.
We had two members from the public that did attend.
They were nearby neighbors, I believe, but they were there to speak to a different project.
So we did not receive any comments at that time either.
However, at that point in time, the Commission approved the rezoning as vote to 4-0.
so unanimously they voted to approve the project. So that brings us to where we are today which is
the first of the public hearings in order for this to be reviewed by you and then if it is approved
it would move forward to final approval and adoption at your next council meeting which would be
the 27th of this month. Just a little bit of context and I'll go through this quickly just
to give you an idea of where this location is in the Northside neighborhood, right off
of church, particularly off of Magnolia. Very small lot, .11 acres as I mentioned is currently
vacant and is surrounded by DT5 and DT4. This is an aerial of that. This is an older
image from the tax map. So if you've gone by there recently, you know that the other
townhomes by Mr. Montgomery are up and leasing and that's a good portion of that area that
you see that's currently graded but there's townhome development right there adjacent
and then it also is adjacent to the Ellington. I'll show you that a little bit closer here.
So with the DT for general urban zone this is a zoning classification that is really
geared toward more residential and predominantly residential, but you'll see some mixed use.
So the trendset that you see highlighted there, T4, really shows a general kind of
land use pattern that you would see there. A bit dense, but not as dense as what you see
T5 and T6, which is closer to the urban core. So this is the project right here, 154.
You
DT-5 where you see the Ellington, the senior housing, that entire parcel is the Ellington.
So it's not bifurcated or anything like that.
That's all of the Ellington, and that's actually their drive.
And then you see the fire station there in DT-5.
With all rezonings, we always check with what we consider our blueprint, which is the
comprehensive plan.
So what does that say in terms of this particular project?
In fact, it falls within the center infill growth center, which means we're looking for infill either mixed use or residential.
So it comports with that.
Also, as part of any rezoning analysis, we have by law five criteria that we have to review, not just staff, but also the planning commission.
And so this is what each application is reviewed against.
For consistency with the comprehensive plan, I think I mentioned that it does compatibility
with the zoning.
You see that all the other surrounding zoning is of like zoning.
Suitability of the property, and this is the single family piece.
It's not a departure from anything that would be too intense.
Markability, being affordable, we certainly hope that we'll have someone in there.
And then the availability of sewer and water and storm water, that's a part of it as well.
So here is the site plan and the floor plan.
So it's a proposal.
So three-bedroom, two-bath structure. And once we get past this piece and they move to construction
is when we would start looking at site, you know, the site plan review. So there would be
another layer of review once this goes toward construction. This is an example of what the
typical home would look like on that site in terms of being a one-story home. And this
This is a property also that was delivered by Okanab Property Group.
And here are some other examples of projects that have been delivered as well.
So that is really the overall summary, but I'm here to entertain any questions you may
have.
Sure, Ms. Frazier.
Just, I do have a question with that 154 directly beside it.
Is that, if you go back one more, that's just a little wooded area.
I have not been on that street and I don't know how long is that a shadow? It's green space just green space that
Who is part of the Ellington? It's part of that property. There's no way he could
Talk to get a little bit more on that
parcel there
That's I'm not sure if that was discussed when it was she was young lady here is here representing Hogan how?
Yes, sir. Sorry. What was the question the
A site right there beside 154 that the green space. Yes, sir. So that does belong to the Ellington apartments
We recently had to get them to agree to actually move a power pole from 154 over into that green space
The lot is big enough to develop the as the site plan shows. So
We weren't gonna really fight them on trying to make that part of the development. Good. Thank you
Any questions? I'm sorry.
I have one. So this is a great project and I'm glad we're seeing this property
develop with a single family home. I guess my question is why would we have
released the property to Oak and Ave well before we had it properly zoned for
this use?
I'm not quite sure. So what I what we believe happened is when the
The Ellington development was originally approved.
They, I believe all this entire, the Ellington lot was DT-4 as well.
So they got it rezoned to DT-5 and somehow this just got roped in along with that rezoning.
That's what we believe had.
Councilman, I believe Martin Livingston can probably address that piece because it
has something to do internally in terms of finance, I believe.
The question
was why didn't City Council rezone the property before we transferred it?
Well, I guess the question is why did we deed the property to a developer before we knew
exactly what they were going to do with it.
Oh, so we knew exactly what they were going to do.
They were going to do single-family housing.
The zoning designation does allow for single-family housing to be built, but it would have been
a two-story home.
The rezoning allows them to build a single family home.
That's one story.
So that's part of the reason for the rezoning.
But all of the lots that were provided to Oakland Avenue had to be single family homes,
either two-story or single-story structures.
And so the rezoning was required so that they can meet the requirements.
So the rezoning is just so that they can build a single story?
Single story.
That's correct.
All right.
Thank you.
I drove by I should have noticed that there's not that much of a privacy
you got from the apartments that are there. Are we going to place a fence or
something there for privacy? The people that would be moving into the
property. You can certainly ask them to do that if necessary. You will do that.
We
No.
I mean, the builder guy can do it though.
So you can use that buffer requirement, right?
So that is something we can take to our builder to fit into our budget, yes ma'am.
Okay, because it needs to be some privacy there because the people in the apartments are looking right down in their backyard.
I agree, yes ma'am.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Any other questions?
Thank you.
This is a public hearing.
Make a motion to open a public hearing.
Second.
all in favor. The way the public hearing works we will have anyone from the
audience to come up and speak in favor or against. Each side has 20 minutes to
present their case. No one person can speak any longer than 10 minutes. So if
you would like to come up and speak in favor of this project come up to the
mic introduce yourself and let us know your thoughts. If you would like to
speak in favor of 154 Ridge Street. If you would like to speak against this
project, this development going on Ridge Street, if you would like to speak
against the project going on Ridge Street.
The mayor, I move that we close the public.
Second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Any other opposed?
Ayes have it.
Any other questions?
I recommend a motion.
Mr. Mayor, I make a motion.
We approve the resigning request to DT-4.
Second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Any other opposed?
Ayes have it.
Thank you.
Resolution item seven.
Resolution certifying the building as an abandoned building site.
site pursuant in South Carolina Abandoned Building Revitalization Act, Title XII, Chapter
67, Section XII-67-100, South Carolina Code of Laws in 1976 as amended regarding the building
light at 630 Walford Street, City of Spartanburg. Mr. Chris Story, City Manager, presenting.
Mr. Mayor, members of council, you're familiar with South Carolina Abandoned Building Revitalization
Act. It's a tool to encourage reuse of vacant or underutilized properties in the state, which
has the effect of strengthening neighborhoods and encouraging development within already
developed areas as opposed to additional expansion of the urbanized area. And so we believe it's
important tool for accomplishing some of our redevelopment objectives. 630
Walford Street was vacant for, according to our records, about 15 years. It is
located near where the railroad track goes underneath Walford Street, just
the short-distance west of where Walford Beach Arch Street. It is a
The commercial structure is sort of a smaller light warehouse type of structure that's been
in place for generations but set vacant for about 15 years.
It is now experiencing a $2 million renovation.
It meets the statutory definitions of abandoned building and we have recommended your approval
of the resolution which would allow the developer to apply for credits against some state taxes
and fees that would have no bearing on the city's revenue, what would in fact increase
the revenue for the city, county and school district is the increased property value
from the positive investment there.
And it's, as you can see here, it's a property that was in need of some significant work.
And so it'll diminish the attractive nuisance that comes with vacant commercial structures
and strengthen the community's tax base so we recommend your approval.
Welcome any questions that you have.
Chris, I do have one.
They are doing a great job with that building.
Yeah.
But it's way into being renovated.
Yes.
Okay.
Yeah, they filed their notice of intent to rehabilitate, which, because it's a credit
against state taxes, it is administered by the South Carolina Department of Revenue
and so they filed about 18 months ago with that organization and so this resolution
essentially would affirm for the state that nothing in our records would indicate that
the building is not eligible. You were just confirming its eligibility for the credits
which would become real after the point at which the full renovation is totally complete,
which it is almost, it's close to complete.
What do they intend to use? I mean, I know it's going to be warehouse space of some
sort, but is it specific to a company or is it not? It's not specific to an
individual company that I know of. There's a auto related business nearby and
they may have some interaction with there. I wanted them collision-placed fixed
cars.
The backside of that building, I believe it's
called Greenville Street? Is it? Yes. Okay. Greenville Street that comes off of
Arch runs along the back there. Well, you can't see it off of Greenville much.
So the
the main portion of that, I guess the forward-facing part of that building would
be Wofford Street? That's correct.
It's not accessed off the rear. It is. You
can.
Yeah.
Okay. Yeah. But
any other questions?
Do I hear a motion?
Because
that one the public here. Yeah, do I hear a motion? Make a motion. We approve the
resolution is read. Second. All in favor. Any that oppose? It's habit. Awesome.
Awesome. Item eight staff update. Mr. Story. Mr. Mayor, I've got a real short
I just want to thank the event team, since we were last together, we had what we think
may be a record crowd for Red, White and Boom, about 8,000 folks actually in the ballpark
itself, and others, of course, watching from blocks nearby, and it's a tremendously
successful America 250 sort of special edition of our red, white and blue and
just want to thank the team for all their efforts for that. And certainly welcome
any questions that you all have on any other topics but no other substantive
updates. I tell you Chris with red, white and boom we were out early we
Shea and I did the parade over in Converse Hyde and went downtown for the kickoff with
the Bun Jovi experience and the parade down to the park.
And once you got to the park, and we all know how hot it was, you had a cooling station
which was the city bus running with AC free waters everywhere.
where it was just really special just for the staff
and the team to see that need, just that forward thinking,
to place a bus out there for you to sit on
and cool down and grab a, you know, bottled water,
not anything stronger than water, Jamie.
But it was special and to have those 8,200 inside the park
and the ones all around.
But good stuff, good stuff.
I know you're really looking at Ruth when you said that.
Awesome, awesome. Any other questions?
All right, thank you.
You guys rolling.
City Council update.
Let me start.
I just want to say that I did enjoy the little activity
for my being there for the Tuit 50th birthday celebration
in the park of Arnett Park.
So I think that we did a wonderful job in putting on the events and thank you to the event staff
also, I want to thank each and every one of you who are here with us today and
Hope to see you again in two weeks
All right councilman form. Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor. There's there's a lot to talk about but I think I'll keep my remarks brief and
Focused as you pointed out earlier South Carolina's in mourning at the loss of our senior senator
and I think
I think we can all agree that regardless of politics, Senator Graham led a great American
life. He loved this country, he served his country admirably, and was a consequential
figure in its history. And so I think one of the things that I've been particularly,
this has particularly impressed me over the course of the last 48 hours is the tribute
support in for senator Graham has been the fact that that the tributes are
coming from friend and fellow like fierce advocates that were supporters of
his as well as you know staunch adversaries who who fought with him
tooth and nail on a daily basis have all spoken with great admiration for
I think that's a powerful lesson for all of us as we engage civically, and we do so both
at the state and local level. And so I think irregardless or regardless of the politics of
it, part of his legacy will be that civility and respect, and it's a lesson for all of us.
Thank you for that. He was a great person, just a great overall human being.
Mayor Pro Temp.
Yes, I got up on yesterday morning and I saw that flashing across the television and I thought it was out
of order
and I asked Horace to come in and I said, God, do you see this?
My heart, because my sympathy goes out to Lindsey Graham's family, it also goes out to the family of Nolan Wells.
Because my heart goes out to them as well.
And I just want to really take a moment to explain something.
I've had a lot of phone calls and I've gotten a lot of text messages from friends who were
very upset about something that they have seen on Facebook.
And so they are questioning me about it and I just want to kind of explain something.
I moved back to Spartanburg in February of 2007 after being away for 32 years.
Horace retired, got from the Air Force in 1996 after 21 years of service, and we lived
in Florida up until 2007.
And we moved back to Spartanburg mainly because his mother was ill, and that's why we came
But once I returned to Spartanburg, I got busy cleaning up my neighborhood.
I chose to live in this neighborhood because there were a lot of homes that were really
run down.
And the first thing that I did before I started unpacking, I was cleaning up my neighborhood.
Starting in 2007, I wanted to know more about Spartanburg because I did not know.
so I enrolled in every class session and tours that were offered because I wanted to know much
more about the city and the county of Spartanburg as possible. The BMW plant was built during my
absence in 1994 and for a couple of years after returning I just assumed the plant was in Greenville
County because of its location. I spoke this assumption in a class in a session that I
was taking during the early years of my return. Because of this era, an elected official has
posted on his Facebook page that I am not fit for public office because I did not
know that BMW was in Spartanburg County, rather than Greenville County. I ask for the sake of our
community, especially the young people who look up to our elected officials, please try and set
a more positive image for our city. And that's it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for clearing
Mayor. Councilwoman Rogers. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here.
I am coming off vacation time myself with family. I was able to spend some time on the
north tip, northwestern tip of Washington on an island with about the size city of Spartanburg.
It was just an amazing experience to literally be on an island that was very connected by
ferry to all these surrounding islands, but to see so many similarities to the place that
we love and call home and that my uncle and my aunt have really loved where they've been
for the last 30 years.
I look forward to comparing and contrasting and bringing some thoughts, but it is definitely
a sustainable community that really interacts with nature, respects the fact that they're
on the coast, and leans into surrounding islands. There's transit, there's multiple farmers markets,
there's events, there was a sailboating competition this weekend, which was beautiful to see.
So just to share with you, it's a pleasure to not only serve and witness this community
and hear about all the events, all the time.
The event staff is doing so much.
Communications, thank you.
But also to just pick up and go to a place
that reminded me so much of the home that I appreciate.
I hope everyone had a lovely holiday.
And one last thing.
I think we've all said it.
I will finish.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman Brown.
Mr. Mayor, things are pretty quiet, so thank you all for being here. Appreciate it.
Awesome, awesome.
Councilman Farmer and I had the opportunity to be at Duncan Park this past Saturday for the 100th year of Duncan Park Stadium.
outstanding event. That morning, we had little ones out there participating, practicing, playing
a little baseball. They had a program around 11. A college game, one, two o'clock, went
on that afternoon. And as was spoken during the program, you had the privilege, if you
wanted to go downtown, to watch a Spartanburg game. So Spartanburg was full of baseball
on this past Saturday, but to recognize the 100 anniversary of Duncan Park was
special as well. You know, we had some great attendance. Again, thanks staff for
being a part of it and thank all the partners from friends of Duncan Park,
Piles, I'm not going to start naming because I'm going to leave someone off, but
it's plenty of partners and they know who they are and we do truly appreciate
them. As I continue to look at Ms. Riley, one very important thing I forgot to mention,
Riley is a 5.0 student as well. So, you know, just add that to the checklist.
Just add that
one on. So, that one knew quite there. So, again, and the sentiments were made about
Lindsey Graham again regardless of which side of the table you said Lindsey was a
good person he was a good person he did a lot for all country no matter which way
you look at it BMW is one of them you know he's very instrumental in helping
BMW come this way so again thank you all for being here we do have an executive
session, so do I? I'll make a motion to move into the executive session. Second. All in favor?
Aye. Aye. Let's go, let's go. Thank you guys for being here in the audience.