Greenwood city officials are working on updating regulations tied to development, property maintenance, and code enforcement—an initiative highlighted by Mayor Doug Kinslow as essential after years without updates.
At a recent City Council meeting, four related ordinances were discussed:
1. Improve regulations for drainage, erosion, and stormwater management.
2. Implement a new property maintenance code.
3. Set rules for recreational vehicles and trailers on private property.
4. Revise the planning and development fee schedule.
These ordinances underwent their first readings and will be subjected to further discussions in upcoming meetings, with hopes for simultaneous implementation.
Building Inspector Hunter Mikles indicated that these updates would streamline administrative processes and provide clearer guidelines for code enforcement staff. Notably, in December, the city updated its development fee structure—which now calculates building permit fees based on square footage rather than the estimated cost of construction. Adjustments to the fee schedule include new charges for various development activities and a structure to account for inflation.
Council discussions also addressed a payment-in-lieu provision for sidewalk construction, aimed at ensuring sufficient funding for city projects. Council members expressed concern over the attractiveness of this option for developers over actual construction.
Overall, Kinslow emphasized the need for comprehensive reviews to ensure Greenwood’s regulations are up-to-date and effective, commending the efforts of the city’s codification committee in identifying outdated provisions.
