Summary of the York County Council Meeting on September 3, 2024

The York County Council Meeting on September 3, 2024, included the following key highlights:

Invocation and Oath of Office: The meeting began with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance led by the Honorable Allison Love from District 2. The first agenda item was the oath of office for newly appointed board and commission members, but the member scheduled for the oath did not appear.
Public Forum: Several residents spoke during the public forum, primarily focused on issues such as animal overpopulation and road development. Notable public comments included:
- Sarah Levens and Mark Bixley emphasized the animal overpopulation crisis, urging the council to implement spay/neuter policies for stray animals to reduce shelter overcrowding.
- Alison Miller, a resident who fosters animals, highlighted the personal and financial burdens she has faced fostering animals, particularly with limited rescue support.
- Nancy Wilson expressed concerns about road infrastructure in the Concord area, particularly about the lack of proper development for emergency services access and school buses.
- Additional comments covered local zoning issues and concerns from residents about changes affecting their communities.
Consent Agenda: The council voted to approve the consent agenda unanimously. The key item discussed involved a bid for an HVAC system, which only received one bid, valued at $2.3 million. While there was some discussion, the council ultimately decided not to pull the item from the consent agenda and approved it with no additional amendments or objections.
Public Hearings on Rezoning Requests: Multiple rezoning cases were heard:
- Rezoning Case 24-35:
  - Location: Archer Drive, Archer Heights subdivision, Rock Hill, SC.
  - Tax Map Number: 62400-00186.
  - Requested Zoning Change: From UD to RMX1 to allow for a single-family home on a third of an acre.
  - Council Decision: Approved unanimously.
- Rezoning Case 24-36:
  - Location: Walker Road, York County.
  - Tax Map Numbers: 75200-0016 and 75200-0097.
  - Requested Zoning Change: From RMX2 to RUD for agricultural purposes across 24.48 acres.
  - Council Decision: Approved unanimously.
- Rezoning Case 24-38:
  - Location: Broad Hurst Lane, York County.
  - Tax Map Number: 11900-0018.
  - Requested Zoning Change: From AGC to RUD for a single-family home on a 4.939-acre parcel.
  - Council Decision: Approved with a deed restriction to prevent further subdivision.
- Rezoning Case 24-39:
  - Location: Oakridge Road, York County.
  - Tax Map Number: 47800-0076.
  - Requested Zoning Change: From RSF30 to OI for the establishment of a commercial office.
  - Council Decision: Denied due to community opposition and inconsistency with the surrounding rural residential area
Other Rezoning Requests: Several other rezoning matters were discussed, including:
- Rezoning Case 24-32:
  - Location: Tax Map Numbers 58100-00-054, 58100-00-062, 58100-00-064, 58100-00-065, 58100-00-071, and 58300-00-071.
  - Requested Zoning Change: From RMX1 to RUD for 15 parcels totaling 215.29 acres.
  - Council Decision: Motion to approve with a deed restriction of a 5-acre minimum lot size. The developer is working on a deed restriction to prevent further subdivision beyond the specified minimum size.
- Rezoning Case 24-34:
  - Location: Tax Map Numbers 72000-00-007, 72000-00-008, and 72000-00-260.
  - Requested Zoning Change: From RSF40 to I (Industrial) for three parcels totaling 6.5 acres.
  - Council Decision: Motion to approve. The area will host services including a daycare and doctor’s offices, which will contribute to local tax revenue and service availability in the region .
Adoption of the York County Strategic Plan: The council discussed the adoption of the York County Strategic Plan, outlining key goals such as public safety, customer service, economic development, and infrastructure improvements.