At its August 24 meeting, the Greenville City Council took the first step toward a major expansion of the city’s boundaries. Council members gave initial approval to six annexation applications, one of which covers roughly 135 acres along Woodruff Road and Interstate 385.
Details of the Woodruff Road annexation
The proposed area includes about 87.5 acres of real property and 47.6 acres of right‑of‑way. It contains 19 commercial parcels that line a high‑traffic retail corridor, most notably the 60‑acre Merovan Business Center, a Sam’s Club store and several other businesses.
Michael Frixen, Greenville’s deputy director of planning, said this would be the largest single annexation in the city’s history, surpassing the 2024 Cherrydale annexation on North Pleasantburg Drive and Poinsett Highway.
Legal and procedural background
The annexation request follows the state‑mandated 75 % annexation method. Property owners representing roughly 85 % of the real‑property value and 98 % of the assessed value in the area signed the petition, satisfying the statutory threshold.
The city’s Planning Commission unanimously approved both the annexation and a concurrent rezoning request on August 6. The new zoning designations will be Business General District (BG), Business Heavy District (BH) and Industrial Flex District (IX), reflecting the mixed‑use nature of the parcels.
Related council actions
In the same meeting, Council also addressed the Greenville Arena District’s plan to issue up to $60 million in accommodations‑fee revenue bonds. The bonds would help fund a $282 million renovation of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and its 12‑acre campus. Under an amended intergovernmental agreement, the city will cover 55 % of the annual debt service, with Greenville County responsible for the remaining 45 %.
Additionally, Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to appropriate about $8.3 million for the first phase of utility undergrounding along Augusta Street. Phase one will bury overhead power and communication lines from Lupo Street to Melville Avenue. Construction is slated to begin in October, with funding coming from a $5.8 million state allocation, an estimated $2 million contribution from Duke Energy, and $1.16 million from the city’s utility underground fund.
Implications for the community
The annexation will bring new commercial tax revenue to Greenville and allow the city to extend services—such as police, fire protection, and utilities—to the newly incorporated area. It also sets the stage for future development and infrastructure improvements along a key transportation corridor.
City officials emphasized that the annexation aligns with Greenville’s long‑term growth strategy, aiming to strengthen the local economy while maintaining the quality of life that residents value.
Original reporting: Greenville Journal — read the source article.
