Hesitancy from Shelby City Council members on rezoning requests
- Chuck Thompson
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent
The City of Shelby continues to grow as new residential zoning requests bring forth new housing construction but not all rezoning applications have been approved, just yet.
A couple of rezoning requests were presented to the city council during their most recent public meeting last week. These included Audrey Godfrey, senior planner for the City of Shelby, presenting the request to rezone a parcel on S. Post Road and is a request to rezone from R6-CZ to GB (general business).
The site is on the southeastern side of the city along Joes Lake Rd. The property is approximately 9.18 acres near Pinnacle Classical Academy. The applicant is proposing to transition from the previously site-specific zoning designation to a general zoning district. The Planning & Zoning Board recommend approval of the rezoning.
Mark Richardson, who spoke on behalf of the builder, Greenway Residential Development told city council the plan is to build apartments on the property, located near the intersection of S. Post Road and Joes Lake Road, the main traffic intersection for Pinnacle Classical Academy’s students, staff and parents and the current neighborhoods now surrounding the school.
Greenway Residential Development, located in Rock Hill S.C., states on their website, “Greenway Residential Development, LLC was formed in 2009 to fulfill its founder’s vision of developing, constructing, and operating affordable housing communities in the Atlantic Seaboard and the Southeastern United States.”
Council member Dave White had concerns with it being rezoned GB (general business). He inquired why they were requesting a rezoning if apartments were being built, which it was already approved for. His main concern was that it could be sold to someone else and then the GB zoning could be used for commercial / retail business in the residential and school zone area.
Richardson replied, “It would be a difference. We’re three-story garden-style product.”
Mike Philbeck, who was familiar with the project as the broker of the property, spoke on behalf of the request, helping to clarify the issue. Philbeck noted the current conditional zoning was “site specific” for 27 duplexes and nothing else could be built with the zoning as it was. The original zoning was in fact for GB and was changed some years before. Changing the city zoning back to GB would basically alleviate any red tape or other issues to build affordable housing in the wake of Hurricane Helene for those displaced looking for an affordable place to reside.
“I believe this would be a good use for this,” noted Philbeck, reassuring the council that the developers would be building residential housing and not place a commercial business there with the new zoning. “Being residential, it would do what you want do to on that corner.”
Despite one resident speaking out, stating he had just bought a house and invested more in it, and was against building affordable housing and bringing down the value of his own property, no one else opposed it openly during the meeting.
Council Member Rev. Charles Webber inquired if there was any data to support what would be built which would bring down any property values in the surrounding area.
He was informed by City of Shelby Attorney Jason Lunsford that, “…I don’t know if there is; I’m not aware of it – but that would go outside the scope of the request and what we could consider.” Something that was not required for a legislative hearing.
“This is kind of a tough one here,” added Mayor Stan Anthony, for city council to consider. “We’re relying on the trust of the people here that they are going to do what they say they are going to do. However, you can’t really take this into consideration into this matter… you have to go with what you feel is right in this situation.”
General Business zoning is required for the Helene funding to go through to build the apartments. However, if the funding doesn’t go through then all bets are off the table.
Trust was placed in the reputation of the builders to do as they claimed and ultimately the rezoning was unanimously approved by city council with a motion made by Council Member Andrew Hopper, with a vote of 6-0.
The second rezoning request was for a petition to rezone parcel 27791, 2.5 acres located at 1415 S. Morgan St, from Residential R20 to Corridor Protection Conditional District (CPD-CZ) for a proposed multi-family development.
(Morgan St. rezoning decision continued below...)
The property was annexed by The City of Shelby in December 2025. The property is an expansion of the existing Palisades development. Located southern side of the city along Dekalb, near the intersection of Morgan St. The property is roughly 2.5 acres.
Council Member Violet Arth made a motion to table the rezoning request until the developer submits a more detailed application for the future development’s relation to the rail trail and tree buffer line in more detail for the surrounding area and if they can or cannot save any of the old trees on the property. The continuation date is scheduled for a month later during the public meeting on June 18.
The next City of Shelby Council meeting will be held on June 4, 2026, in chambers.
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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent.
The Shelby Independent.
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