The Rock Hill Zoning Ordinance provides for five different Planned Development (PD) districts, covering residential, commercial, institutional and employment-based projects, as well as traditional neighborhood design. These districts are designed to encourage innovative land planning and site design, through greater flexibility and design freedom in exchange for more detailed initial planning.

Process: As part of this more detailed planning, the PD rezoning process involves some additional requirements and information beyond that for other rezoning requests. However, like all rezoning processes, it begins with a mandatory pre-application conference with staff to discuss the specifics of your proposed application and answer your questions on the process to follow. To set up your pre-application process, please call Eric Hawkins at 803/329-8763.

At your pre-application conference, you will be advised on the steps to hold the mandatory neighborhood meeting that is required for rezoning to Planned Development which must be help prior to your formal application. In addition, staff will be able to answer questions regarding the various plans, studies and exhibits that are required as part of your application.

After completing the above steps, you will need to Planned Development Checklist and Instructions form along with the required fees and attachments as noted on the form. Your application will be reviewed to determine if it is complete, and if so, it will be scheduled for Public Hearing at the next available Planning Commission meeting, based on the adopted Planning Commission Calendar.

A Staff Report will then be prepared outlining the facts of the application, the relevant characteristics of the surrounding area, potential impacts on the area, and whether the application complies with the appropriate standards of the Zoning Ordinance. The Staff Report will also include a recommendation to the Planning Commission, including any recommended conditions to eliminate areas of non-compliance or mitigate adverse effects of the proposal.

The application will then be considered at the Planning Commission meeting after a Public Hearing based on the Commission’s adopted procedures. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council, who will consider the first reading of an ordinance to rezone the property, where substantive discussion of the issue will generally take place. Final adoption by the City Council requires a second ordinance reading, where there will generally not be substantive discussion, unless there were unresolved issues at first reading.

Contact: For further information on the Rezoning process, please call Eric Hawkins, at 803/329-8763.

Related Information:
Planning Commission
Planning Commission Public Hearing Procedures 
Planned Development Districts
Understanding Rock Hill's Zoning Districts