Land near Rock Hill business park could be added as industrial site

Nearly 50 acres in southeastern Rock Hill could be added as land available for industrial development after requests for annexation and rezoning gained initial approval Monday night from the Rock Hill City Council.

The land sits at the intersection of Springdale and South Anderson roads, near the Antrim Business Park where a 1.6 million-square-foot Ross Distribution Center is under development and several other commercial and industrial properties are located.

On Monday, the council gave the first of two approvals needed to annex the South Anderson Road property and change the land classification to allow for industrial use. The land sits just outside city limits but next to land inside the city.

Most of the land – about 32 acres – is already zoned to permit industrial development. The landowner is seeking a rezoning on a separate piece of land next to the 32 acres. The 14 acres up for annexation and rezoning currently can be used only for residential development.

The landowner wants to combine his two properties so he can create a larger development site, city officials said.

No specific development plan for the property exists yet, officials said. The landowner could not be reached Monday.

Earlier this month, the Rock Hill Planning Commission unanimously approved the zoning change for the land, sending the request to the City Council for a vote.

At least seven homeowners with houses near the property were invited to comment on the industrial zoning change but raised no concerns during an earlier public hearing. Two churches nearby and their representatives have not raised an issue either, city officials said.

The annexation and zoning change would allow the entire 46 acres to be developed for some manufacturing purposes and other commercial uses such as distribution centers or storage. The zoning would not allow a business that generates hazardous waste.

City officials say the rezoning to permit industrial development will support job growth in the area. And the change is compatible with the city’s long-term land-use plans, said Eric Hawkins with the city’s planning department.

The nearby Antrim Business Park is one of four privately owned corporate or industrial parks in Rock Hill. The city’s economic development arm – the Rock Hill Economic Development Corp. – owns and operates four others.

Earlier this month at Antrim, Coroplast opened its newest facility, starting production in Rock Hill of adhesive tapes used in the automotive industry. Antrim also is home to a Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership and Terex Corp., a manufacturer of heavy equipment.

Vacant land on Springdale Road, across from the business park, could be developed as a joint venture between the city and York County, officials have said.

City Manager David Vehuan said Monday no decision has been made on a new business park in the area.

Also on Monday, the City Council approved a 3 percent pay raise for Vehaun and extended his contract to a two-year term. Vehaun’s raise came after a positive performance review by council members, said Mayor Pro Tem Jim Reno.

The city manager’s review and salary increase followed the same formula city departments use annually to evaluate other employees, Reno said. With the raise, Vehaun will earn about $180,000. He has been Rock Hill’s city manager for four years and worked for the city for nearly 30 years.

This story was originally published October 27, 2014 at 9:37 PM.