Narrative Summary
Summary
The Fort Mill Town Council held a regular meeting on October 27, 2025, with all seven members present. The council advanced a significant mixed-use rezoning on approximately 15.9 acres in the downtown area, approved two budget amendments totaling roughly $9.1 million for road, utility, and stormwater projects, and passed first reading of a business license ordinance update required by state law. Personnel and informational matters, including the appointment of a new code enforcement officer and an update on the town's solicitation ordinance website, rounded out the agenda. The meeting concluded with an executive session on contractual matters related to 123 N. White Street, with no action taken.
Key Decisions & Votes
- Minutes: October 13, 2025 Council Meeting — Motion to approve minutes of the October 13, 2025 council meeting. Vote: 7-0.
- First Reading and Public Hearing: Zoning Map Amendment (Mixed Use Development District) — Motion to approve first reading of an ordinance rezoning approximately 15.9 acres (York County Tax Maps 020-06-01-051 through 020-06-07-034) from GI, General Industrial & R-10, One Family Residential to MXU, Mixed Use Development District, adopting a Mixed Use Concept Plan and Development Conditions. Vote: 6-0, with Councilman Wolfe recusing. Applicant is Unique USA (Jerry Gronske); conditions include a 500-space parking deck, diagonal parking on Watson Street, and an employee discount lease agreement with the Town and Fort Mill School District.
- Second Reading: Budget Amendment #26-01 — Motion to approve second reading of an ordinance amending the FY2026 budget to establish project and accounting structure for road improvements ($657,000), water & sewer improvements ($2,203,475), and stormwater improvements ($205,365). Vote: 7-0.
- Second Reading: Budget Amendment #26-02 — Motion to approve second reading of an ordinance amending the FY2026 budget to appropriate $6 million in Water & Sewer Fund cash reserves for a gravity sewer line near Link Street and water main replacement along Old Nation Road. Vote: 7-0.
- First Reading: Business License Ordinance Update — Motion to approve first reading of an ordinance amending the Business License Ordinance class schedule as required by SC Act 176 of 2020 and updated NAICS codes. Vote: 7-0. Must be adopted by December 31, 2025 to take effect for the 2026 license year.
- Resolution: Appointment of Code Enforcement Officer — Motion to appoint and commission Emily Hawkins as a Code Enforcement Officer for the Town of Fort Mill. Vote: 7-0.
Watchlist Flags
- Rezoning: First Reading and Public Hearing: Zoning Map Amendment (Mixed Use Development District) — Council approved first reading of a rezoning of approximately 15.9 acres from General Industrial and One Family Residential to Mixed Use Development District for a project by Unique USA (Jerry Gronske); a public hearing was held and no members of the public came forward to comment. A second reading will be required before the rezoning is finalized.
> "An ordinance to change zoning designation for approximately 15.9 acres from General Industrial & One Family Residential to Mixed Use Development District, including adoption of a Mixed Use Concept Plan and Development Conditions."
Action Items & Upcoming Dates
- By December 31, 2025 — Town must adopt updated Business License Ordinance class schedule (second reading) per SC Act 176 of 2020.
- Ongoing — Developer/applicant (Unique USA) to execute employee discount lease agreement with the Town and Fort Mill School District.
- Second reading of the Zoning Map Amendment (Mixed Use Development District) required before rezoning takes effect.
Agenda Items
-
Minutes: October 13, 2025, Council Meeting
Approval of minutes from the October 13, 2025 council meeting.
- Outcome
- approved
- Motion
- To approve the minutes of the October 12, 2025, council meeting
- Moved / seconded
- Councilman Wolfe / Councilman Helms
- Vote
- 7-0
- Source ref
- page: p.2
- Tags
- minutes
-
Old Business #1
First Reading and Public Hearing: Zoning Map Amendment (Mixed Use Development District)
An ordinance to change zoning designation for approximately 15.9 acres from General Industrial & One Family Residential to Mixed Use Development District, including adoption of a Mixed Use Concept Plan and Development Conditions. Key modifications include a parking deck (500 spaces vs. 425 required), diagonal parking on Watson Street, defined maintenance responsibilities, street resurfacing, and an employee discount lease agreement with the Town and Fort Mill School District.
- Outcome
- approved
- Motion
- To approve First Reading of an ordinance amending the zoning map of the Town of Fort Mill to change the zoning designation for York County Tax Maps 020-06-01-051; 020-06-01-052; 020-06-01-053; 020-06-01-054; 020-06-01-058; 020-06-07-034, containing approximately 15.9 +/- acres from GI, General Industrial & R-10, One Family Residential District to MXU, Mixed Use Development District; to adopt a Mixed Use Concept Plan and Development Conditions; and other matters relating thereto
- Moved / seconded
- Councilwoman Cook / Councilman Helms
- Vote
- 6-0 with Councilman Wolfe recusing
- Source ref
- range: pp.2-3
- Tags
- zoning mixed-use development rezoning public hearing parking Watson Street Railroad Avenue Williamson Street Link Street
-
Old Business #2
Second Reading: Budget Amendment #26-01
Budget amendment to establish project and accounting structure for 2025 road and utility improvements previously approved by Council. Includes Road Improvements ($657,000), Water & Sewer Improvements ($2,203,475), and Stormwater Improvements ($205,365).
- Outcome
- approved
- Motion
- To approve Second Reading an ordinance amending budget for the Town of Fort Mill, South Carolina for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. Amendment #26-01
- Moved / seconded
- Councilman Wolfe / Councilman Garrison
- Vote
- 7-0
- Source ref
- page: p.3
- Tags
- budget road improvements water and sewer improvements stormwater improvements
-
Old Business #3
Second Reading: Budget Amendment #26-02
Budget amendment to appropriate $6 Million of Water & Sewer Fund cash reserves for construction of a gravity sewer line near Link Street and replacement of water main along Old Nation Road. These projects were identified as top water and sewer priorities. Town previously attempted to obtain grants for the Link gravity sewer line without success.
- Outcome
- approved
- Motion
- To approve Second Reading of an ordinance amending budget for the Town of Fort Mill, South Carolina for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. Amendment # 26-02
- Moved / seconded
- Councilman Hudgins / Councilman Wolfe
- Vote
- 7-0
- Source ref
- page: p.3
- Tags
- budget water and sewer gravity sewer line water main replacement
-
New Business #1
First Reading: Business License Ordinance Update
An ordinance to update the Business License Ordinance class schedule to comply with South Carolina Act 176 (Business License Standardization Act) and reflect changes to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Must be adopted by December 31, 2025 for the 2026 business license year.
- Outcome
- approved
- Motion
- To approve First Reading of an ordinance amending the Business License Ordinance of the Town of Fort Mill to update the class schedule as required by Act 176 of 2020
- Moved / seconded
- Councilwoman Cook / Councilman Garrison
- Vote
- 7-0
- Source ref
- range: pp.3-4
- Tags
- business license ordinance Act 176 NAICS
-
New Business #2
Resolution: Appointment of Code Enforcement Officer
Resolution to appoint and commission Emily Hawkins as a Code Enforcement Officer for the proper security and general welfare of the Town of Fort Mill.
- Outcome
- approved
- Motion
- To appoint and commission Emily Hawkins as a Code Enforcement Officer for the proper security and general welfare for the Town of Fort Mill
- Moved / seconded
- Councilwoman Cook / Councilman Wolfe
- Vote
- 7-0
- Source ref
- page: p.4
- Tags
- code enforcement personnel resolution
-
Information/Discussion #1
Solicitation Website
Chris Pettit explained that information regarding the new Solicitation Ordinance was available on the Town's website.
- Outcome
- informational
- Motion
- No motion recorded
- Moved / seconded
- Not recorded / Not recorded
- Vote
- No vote recorded
- Source ref
- page: p.4
- Tags
- solicitation ordinance website
-
Executive Session #1
Executive Session: Contractual Matters
Executive Session to discuss incident to contractual matters relating to 123 N. White Street. No votes were taken during Executive Session.
- Outcome
- no_action
- Motion
- No motion recorded
- Moved / seconded
- Not recorded / Not recorded
- Vote
- No vote recorded
- Source ref
- page: p.4
- Tags
- executive session contractual matters
Votes
-
Minutes: October 13, 2025, Council Meeting
To approve the minutes of the October 12, 2025, council meeting
- Vote
- 7-0
- Outcome
- approved
- Source ref
- page: p.2
-
First Reading and Public Hearing: Zoning Map Amendment (Mixed Use Development District)
To approve First Reading of an ordinance amending the zoning map of the Town of Fort Mill to change the zoning designation for York County Tax Maps 020-06-01-051; 020-06-01-052; 020-06-01-053; 020-06-01-054; 020-06-01-058; 020-06-07-034, containing approximately 15.9 +/- acres from GI, General Industrial & R-10, One Family Residential District to MXU, Mixed Use Development District; to adopt a Mixed Use Concept Plan and Development Conditions; and other matters relating thereto
- Vote
- 6-0 with Councilman Wolfe recusing
- Outcome
- approved
- Source ref
- range: pp.2-3
-
Second Reading: Budget Amendment #26-01
To approve Second Reading an ordinance amending budget for the Town of Fort Mill, South Carolina for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. Amendment #26-01
- Vote
- 7-0
- Outcome
- approved
- Source ref
- page: p.3
-
Second Reading: Budget Amendment #26-02
To approve Second Reading of an ordinance amending budget for the Town of Fort Mill, South Carolina for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. Amendment # 26-02
- Vote
- 7-0
- Outcome
- approved
- Source ref
- page: p.3
-
First Reading: Business License Ordinance Update
To approve First Reading of an ordinance amending the Business License Ordinance of the Town of Fort Mill to update the class schedule as required by Act 176 of 2020
- Vote
- 7-0
- Outcome
- approved
- Source ref
- range: pp.3-4
-
Resolution: Appointment of Code Enforcement Officer
To appoint and commission Emily Hawkins as a Code Enforcement Officer for the proper security and general welfare for the Town of Fort Mill
- Vote
- 7-0
- Outcome
- approved
- Source ref
- page: p.4
Public Hearings
-
Zoning Map Amendment for Mixed Use Development District (Old Business Item #1)
Mayor Savage opened the floor for a public hearing. No one came forth to speak. Jerry Gronske with Unique USA spoke during the public comment period prior to the hearing about the project planned in regard to the rezoning request.
- Speakers
- None recorded
- Source ref
- page: p.2
Action Items
-
Adopt updated Business License Ordinance class schedule by ordinance before December 31, 2025
- Owner
- Town Staff
- Due
- 2025-12-31
- Source ref
- range: pp.3-4
-
Execute employee discount lease agreement with Town and Fort Mill School District (separate from rezoning approval)
- Owner
- Developer/Applicant
- Due
- Source ref
- page: p.2
Upcoming Dates
-
Deadline for Town to adopt updated Business License Ordinance class schedule per Act 176 of 2020
- Date
- 2025-12-31
Watchlist Flags
-
First Reading and Public Hearing: Zoning Map Amendment (Mixed Use Development District)
- Category
- rezoning
Uncertainty Notes
-
no_schema_validation
- Field
schema_version- Value
- Not applicable
- Note
- Schema is 0.1.0-draft; final validation must happen downstream in Codex.
-
vote_granularity
- Field
facts.agenda_items[*].vote- Value
- Not applicable
- Note
- Approved minutes record tallies but not per-member dissent.
-
needs_adjudication
- Field
generated_narrative.claim_check- Value
- Not applicable
- Note
- Claim checker flagged 1 item(s); see claim_check.issues. Pass-2 (Pattern C implicit-year resolution) did not clear these.