Here is a recap of the Simpsonville City Council meeting on April 14.
Final approval: Rezoning for development
Council approved a rezoning request for 2.44 acres at 118 and 124 N.E. Main St., which was home of the former Simpsonville City Hall and Suntrust Bank. The applicant, Blue Ridge Land Holdings LLC, plans to use the property for a three-story, mixed-use development consisting of up to 80 multifamily units, 18,000 square feet of commercial retail space on the ground floor and 144 surface parking spaces.
This item was last discussed by the City Council in December 2025.
Approved: Funding for impact fee study, capital improvement plan
Council voted 4 to 3 to pass a resolution to approve funding for an impact fee study and capital improvement plan. The dissenting votes were Shannon Williams (Ward 3), Sherry Roche (Ward 4) and Mayor Paul Shewmaker.
Williams and Roche expressed concerns about using taxpayer funds to pay for this study, limitations on how the money may be utilized, how enacting impact fees may encourage the Council to just pass annexation and rezoning requests for money, and imposing a tax on existing residents if they decide to add expansions to their homes. Shewmaker also questioned the timing of passing this study since the city is still waiting to hear back on the feasibility and requirements for establishing a municipal park corporation.
Council previously rejected a similar resolution in September 2024. The study is expected to cost $69,600 and will be completed in six months.
Other items
Council unanimously voted to approve multiple items, including:
- An ordinance to rezone 206 Ladean Court from ID (innovative development) back to B-G (business general). The property was rezoned in 2022 and served as home to Scuffletown Food Truck Park. This item will go before the City Council for final approval May 12.
- An amended ordinance pertaining to junk or abandoned vehicles. The updated ordinance makes it illegal to abandon, accumulate or place derelict or junk motor vehicles on any street, alleyway or sidewalk, or anywhere within the corporate limits of the city, other than within an enclosed building. It also removes the prohibition for these vehicles if they were stored in a commercial garage, wrecker or storage facility.
- A resolution to include an updated fee schedule regarding public records requests. Some of the changes include establishing an $8 flat rate fee for all records requests when it takes less than one hour to process; allowing victims of a crime to receive reports electronically free of charge; and charges for staff time will begin if a request takes one hour.
