According to heraldonline.com, York County Council voted on Monday to advance the rezoning of a Walmart-owned property at U.S. 21 and Flint Hill Road in Fort Mill, South Carolina, toward industrial use for a warehouse and distribution facility.
Rezoning Process and Planning Concerns
The proposal requires two additional council votes before final approval. County planning staff and the York County Planning Commission both recommended against the change—from general commercial to industrial zoning—citing traffic impacts and proximity to residential areas. The site sits adjacent to a mobile home community just south of the intersection, and nearby operations already include a trucking business, a cement facility, and a garbage truck operation.
The 27-acre parcel includes 24 acres slated for rezoning. Walmart originally purchased the land for $6.3 million in 2008, with initial plans calling for either a Walmart Neighborhood Market or a Walmart Supercenter. A Walmart Supercenter would have generated nearly 13,000 daily vehicle trips; the proposed distribution center is projected to generate 6,100 daily trips.
Property representative Bridget Grant of Moore & Van Allen stated that a Walmart store is no longer viable due to land restrictions. Under the plan, two buildings totaling 275,000 square feet would be constructed at the center of the site, while U.S. 21 frontage would remain designated for commercial outparcel space.
Community and Council Perspectives
Neighbors expressed divided views during Monday’s hearing. Jalen Hodges, a local resident, emphasized unmet community needs:
“This land was supposed to be a grocery store, and that’s the kind of thing that our neighborhood actually needs.” — Jalen Hodges
Bobby Long, who has lived beside the site for nearly 70 years, raised concerns about access points but acknowledged improvements:
“This looks a whole lot better than what we had to begin with.” — Bobby Long
He noted the required 250-foot buffer between warehouse structures and residences represents an upgrade over earlier Walmart proposals.
Councilwoman Debi Cloninger, whose district includes the site, pointed to longstanding ownership and intent:
“For years and years, as long as I’ve been there, it has been owned by Walmart who never intended to use it for residential, ever.” — Debi Cloninger, York County Councilwoman
Meanwhile, Councilman Andy Litten cautioned that infrastructure upgrades—including road improvements—should precede rezoning, calling the current traffic conditions a “nightmare.”
Zoning Conflicts and Legal Framework
A key point of confusion involved conflicting designations: county zoning law classifies the property as general commercial, while the non-binding comprehensive land use plan labels it as neighborhood residential. Jonathan Buono, Director of York County Planning and Development Services, clarified that the plan serves only as an aspirational guide:
“It’s a guide. It’s a vision.” — Jonathan Buono, Director of York County Planning and Development Services
Councilman Tom Audette underscored the site’s logistical advantages, noting its proximity to Interstate 77 and the Carowinds Boulevard exit. The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 21, and a final decision could occur as early as Oct. 5.
Source: heraldonline.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
