Spartanburg County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Spartanburg County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Wrecker service and towing rule overhaul
Chapter 82 would be amended to revise the Sheriff's Office wrecker rotation list, wrecker operating requirements, and rules for nonconsensual towing from private property.
Joint industrial park agreements with Cherokee and Union counties
A slate of ordinances would create, amend, or dissolve joint industrial park agreements with Cherokee and Union counties — adding and removing Spartanburg property from shared parks used for economic development deals.
Woodruff-Roebuck Water District bonds and service area
The water district would be authorized to enlarge its service area and issue up to $20 million in general obligation bonds to fund water infrastructure.
Data Center Development Moratorium
Three development agreements are headed through the process: a high-performance computing center on S. Pine Street and data centers on Tyger River Industrial Drive and near Jones Road (~137 acres). These deals shape where large industrial-tech facilities land and what the county gets in return.
Automatic License Plate Reader restrictions
An ordinance would limit who can use automatic license plate readers and how the data they collect can be used, with penalties for violations — a privacy-versus-policing question.
Development Agreements for Numara, LLC and Valara Holdings, LLC
A dozen fee-in-lieu-of-tax and joint park ordinances are being considered for companies including Michelin, Milo's Tea, Red Rock, Airsys, Pivot Energy, and others. These deals reduce what companies pay in property taxes in exchange for investment and jobs.
2910 E. Main Street developments
Two projects at the same East Main Street address — a commercial subdivision and a townhome development — are up for commission action in District 3. Whatever the commission decides shapes retail and housing growth along that corridor.
Zoning permit extensions
Two projects — Tyger Pines in District 6 and The Trailer Park in District 2 — are seeking more time on their zoning permits through the consent agenda.
Roadside parking ban in unincorporated areas
First reading passed of an ordinance banning parking, stopping and standing along certain county roads — a safety measure that will affect drivers and residents along the designated roads once finalized.
Police Chief Appointment
Spartanburg has a new police chief: Art Littlejohn was just sworn in. If you care about public safety and how the department runs, he’s now the person to watch.
Front Setback and Bufferyard Variances for Chavez Property
The owner of the Chavez Property at 2034 Chesnee Highway Unit C is requesting two variances: a 39-foot reduction in the front setback from a minor road and a reduction in the left-side bufferyard requirement.
Setback Variance Request at 1401 Asheville Highway
Gustavo Martinez and Elda Cruz are requesting a 28-foot variance to reduce the front setback from 50 feet to 22 feet at 751 New Cut Road in Una.
FY 2026-2027 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan Adoption
County officials reviewed ongoing transportation improvements, noting over $161 million collected in revenue and significant progress on subdivision reclamation, intersection upgrades, and downtown capital projects.
Sheriff's Office Grant Applications and Law Enforcement Resources
Council approved multiple grant applications for the Sheriff's Office to secure funding for advanced forensic DNA testing, ballistic vests, and laboratory equipment upgrades, bolstering departmental capabilities without county matching funds.
Commercial and industrial site plans (Ironbay Garage Units, Overhill Warehouses, Shoppes at Turkey Creek)
Three major land development applications were scheduled for action: a retail preliminary plat and two site plans for garage/warehouse uses. Their outcomes affect commercial and industrial growth in Districts 2, 3 and 6.
Residential subdivision growth across Districts 1–6
More than two dozen subdivision and final plat items were on the agenda, covering new neighborhoods and phases across most council districts. These approvals shape where new homes, roads and infrastructure will go.
Unpermitted church construction resolved through variances
A Forest Hill Road church built additions without permits and got caught by county code enforcement in 2025. Instead of tearing buildings down or moving them, the church sought setback variances, which the board granted unanimously. Neighbors in the industrial/commercial area raised no objections.
NorthMark Strategies Project Information
The committee received an informational briefing regarding the NorthMark Strategies Project proposed at 4000 S. Pine Street. No formal decisions or votes were scheduled for this briefing.
Valara Data Center Air Emissions and Public Health
Residents and environmental attorneys raised concerns that the proposed Valara data center's natural gas generators could emit harmful levels of formaldehyde and fine particulate matter. The developer countered that the project will fully comply with state environmental permits and utilize advanced emissions controls.
Joint Government Center Construction
Spartanburg just hoisted the final beam onto its brand-new joint government center. This shared space is designed to make local services way easier and faster to access for everyone living in the area.
Homeless Shelter
Spartanburg is exploring the creation of a new low-barrier homeless shelter to provide immediate resources and housing support for individuals currently living without shelter. This initiative aims to address chronic unsheltered homelessness by expanding city-backed services.
Industrial Development Appeal at 430 Jones Road
Developers appealed staff's denial of a permit for a 200,000-square-foot industrial building on Jones Road, arguing they corrected site plan issues in time. Planning staff and the board maintained the initial application was properly denied, and new applications are blocked by a pending county-wide data center moratorium.
Council Appointment
Spartanburg County Council has named Jennifer Gilbert as acting town administrator and filled several temporary roles, putting new leadership in charge of day-to-day operations. For residents, the practical question is whether services and decisions keep moving smoothly while the county sorts out permanent leadership.
Unpermitted Signage Notice of Violation Appeal
A Landrum property owner appealed a county violation notice for putting up commercial advertising signs without getting the required zoning permits. The board upheld the violation, noting that signs need permits and must follow spacing rules.
Residential Setback Variances for Cowpens Corner Lot
A property owner requested three setback variances to build a single-family home on a tiny, legacy corner lot in Cowpens. Because the lot touches two streets, standard setbacks left almost no room to build, so the board approved the reductions.
Funding for Power Up Small Business Program and Chapman Cultural Center
Council debated a funding amendment to redirect fee-in-lieu-of-tax revenues to keep the Power Up small business initiative running and support the Chapman Cultural Center after federal pandemic funds expire.
Copper Line Townes Preliminary Plat
Review of a major preliminary plat for Copper Line Townes in Council District 6 under the Unified Land Management Ordinance.
Cotton Owens Drive Flex Development Site Plan
Review of a major site plan for Cotton Owens Drive Flex Development in Council District 3.
Variance Request for 107 Yellow Lane Lot Frontage
A variance request to reduce the minimum lot frontage requirement under the subdivision regulations for 107 Yellow Lane in Greer.
Animal Services and Trap-Neuter-Return Program
Public commenters raised concerns regarding the suspension and funding of the Trap-Neuter-Return feral cat program and animal overpopulation. Council clarified that TNR funding will continue and additional animal services funding is under review.
Cybersecurity Incident
Spartanburg County is dealing with a sudden tech outage and bringing in cyber experts to fix it. You can expect some delays and hiccups when trying to use county services right now.