When to use this process

If you want to develop land or redevelop land, the first step is to submit a sketch plan for our review. 

We will help you look at big-picture issues such as: 

• Would the property need to be annexed into the City of Rock Hill?
• Would the property need to be rezoned to allow the proposed land use?
• Does the proposed land use have any special requirements?
• Would the Zoning Board of Appeals or Board of Historic Review need to consider any requests?
• Does the site have water and sewer infrastructure accessible to it? If so, will the City agree to serve it? 
• Does the site have any major constraints, such as steep topography or buffers from adjacent properties?
• Would a Traffic Impact Analysis be required?

Similar processes:

Use the Commercial Paving Application or the Residential Driveway or Patio Application if no buildings are proposed to be added to or expanded on the site, and the area you are proposing to pave is relatively small and unlikely to affect existing stormwater drainage patterns. 

Get ready

Required documents 

1. Sketch plan - This is not required to be drawn by a design professional such as a professional engineer, although that often is helpful. If you move forward with the project, a design professional must be the one to draw and submit most other types of plans, such as site plans and civil plans.
   • If a survey of the property has been recorded in the past, you may obtain it from the York County Register of Deeds office to use as the starting place for your sketch plan.
2. Willingness and Capability to Serve Letter Application (PDF) 

Helpful regulation references

Many regulations of the Zoning Ordinance (PDF) and other local development regulations effect site layout. While all apply, these are the key sections that affect site layout: 

• 6.3: Neighborhood design standards
• 6.7 and Appendix 6-A: Street design standards
• 6.4-6.6: Lot standards
• 4.3.3: Use-specific standards
• Chapter 8: Development standards
• Chapter 9: Site and building design standards
• Chapter 7: Construction standards 

If property is within an overlay district, also see:

• Chapter 3: Airport Overlay District regulations
• Chapter 6 for the Road Corridor Protection Overlay District (PDF) standards
• The City’s Historic Design Guidelines (PDF)

It is also helpful if the sketch plan includes:

1. Conceptual layout for water and sewer systems.
2. Conceptual layout for stormwater drainage patterns and areas for stormwater ponds. 
3. Existing and proposed easements should also be shown for water, sewer, stormwater, and electric.
4. The location of the nearest hydrant, and how a fire truck would be able to reach within 150 feet of all points of the building.

Apply

1. Apply Online using the button above.
   •  Click on “New Applications"
   • Click on “Development Plan Review”
   • Click on “Site Plans and Subdivision Plats"
   • Click on "Sketch Plan" and follow the prompts from there
2. City staff will review your request and send comments back to the designated contact person on the application within approximately 10 business days.
3. There is no fee for a sketch plan review.

Next Steps

If you decide to move forward with the project, you may reach out to the Zoning & Addressing Coordinator at 803-326-3893 to schedule a meeting with City staff to discuss the comments and to talk through the next steps.